Job strain and the risk for occupational injury in small- to medium-sized manufacturing enterprises: A prospective study of 1,209 Korean employees

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine 2009-04, Vol.52 (4), p.322-330
• Main Authors: Kim, Hwan-Cheol, Min, Jin-Young, Min, Kyoung-Bok, Park, Shin-Goo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidents, Occupational - statistics & numerical data; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Chi-Square Distribution; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; job strain; Korea - epidemiology; Logistic Models; Male; Manufactured Materials; Middle Aged; occupational injury; Occupational psychology; Prospective Studies; prospective study; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Risk Factors; small-to medium-sized company; South Korea; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Work condition. Job performance. Stress
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20673

Background The aim of this study was to investigate whether job strain had an effect on the risk of occupational injury of workers at small‐ to medium‐sized manufacturing companies. Methods We conducted a prospective follow‐up survey and finally 1,209 workers in South Korea were included in this study. At time X1, we measured job stress with the Job Demand and Decision Latitude Questionnaire; and at time X2 (after 6 months), we evaluated occupational injuries through a single question. Occupational injuries were assessed using the question “Have you ever been injured at work, including minor scratches and cuts, in the previous four‐month period” by self‐reporting in the previous 4‐month period. Results For men, the high job‐demand group (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.13–2.59) and high strain group (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.02–3.14) showed the increased risk of occupational injury. For women, high job‐demand (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.18–3.78), low job control (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.02–3.17), and high job strain (OR = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.62–7.86) were significantly associated with occupational injury. Conclusion Workers under high job strain showed higher risk for occupational injury. The efforts to minimize stress‐related occupational injuries should be required. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:322–330, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.