Occupational accidents: social insurance costs and work days lost

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of occupational accident benefits granted within the total for health-related social security benefits, viewing the costs according to benefit type and the impact on productivity according to work days lost. METHODS: Records of benefit decisions from the National Benefits System of the National Social Security Institute for the State of Bahia in 2000 were utilized. Occupational accidents were defined in accordance with the clinical diagnoses of External Causes, Injuries and Poisoning (SS-00 to T99) of the International Classification of Diseases, 10(th) Revision, and with the benefit type, which distinguishes between occupational and non-occupational health problems. RESULTS: A total of 31,096 benefits granted due to illnesses or health problems were studied. Of these, 2,857 (7.3%) were caused by work accidents. Greater proportions were found among workers in the manufacturing, construction, electricity and gas industries, accounting for 18% of the total benefits. The costs of occupational accident benefits were estimated to be R$8.5 million, with around half a million work days lost during the year studied. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that these data are under-reported and are restricted to workers who were able to receive health-related benefits, the findings reveal that avoidable health problems have a major impact on productivity and on the budget of the National Social Security Institute, thereby reinforcing the need for their prevention.