Psychosocial factors at work and occupational injuries: A prospective study of the general working population in Norway.

BACKGROUND

We examined the effects of psychosocial stressors at work on subsequent injuries, taking into account organizational and mechanical working conditions.

METHODS

Randomly drawn from the general population, the cohort comprised respondents with an active employee relationship in 2006 and 2009 (n = 6,745).

OUTCOME MEASURE

"Have you, over the past 12 months, afflicted injuries that were caused by an accident at work, and resulting in time off work after the day of the accident?".

RESULTS

High job strain (Odds ratio [OR] 2.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-4.57), high role conflict (OR 3.01; 95% CI 1.70-5.31), and high emotional demands (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.15-3.35) predicted injury at follow up (P < 0.01). The population risk attributable to each of these factors ranged from 11% to 14%.

CONCLUSIONS

Excess risk of occupational injuries was attributable to job strain, role conflict, and emotional demands. These factors are potentially amenable to preventive measures.