Trends in major occupational injuries in different industrial divisions in Taiwan during 1983-1993

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the time trend in occupational injuries in main industrial divisions in Taiwan from 1983 through 1993 with newly developed quantification methods. Methods: Data concerning deaths and permanent disabilities caused by occupational injuries were retrieved from the computer files of Taiwan's Labor Insurance Bureau and statistical analyses were performed by using the indices of the cumulative injury rate for from 15 to 64 years of age (CIR15-64), modified severity index (MSI), proportion of potential workdays lost (PPWDL) and foregone earnings lost. Results: Mining and quarrying was the most risky industry, when expressed in both frequency and severity. The mean rates over the 11 year period were as follows: disabling frequency rate, 24.0; incidence rate, 0.012 (yr(-1)); CIR15-64, 0.491; disabling severity rate, 7,591.7; modified severity index, 22.5; and the PPWDL, 3.72 (10(-3)). In terms of frequency, incidence rate and CIR15-64, manufacturing was second and agriculture third. With regard to severity, MSI and PPWDL, agriculture ranked second and construction ranked third. The overall trend in occupational injuries in Taiwan has steadily improved in the past decade. All indicators of human capital loss in 1993 were nearly down to one third of those reported in 1983. The estimated potential salary lost in all industries of 1993 was 584.6 million US dollars. Conclusions: Mining and quarrying was still ranked the most risky industry during 1983-93. We have demonstrated that CIR15-64, MSI, PPWDL and foregone earnings lost supplemented disabling frequency and severity rates in the aspect of human capital loss. There was a consistently improved trend in occupational injuries in Taiwan during 1983-93.