The Trend of Occupational Accidents and Their Under-Reporting Estimations in the Factories of Pakistan; 1993-2009

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the occupational accidents trends and their under-reporting estimations in Pakistan during 1993-2009. Accident rates and Index value analysis method base on year 1993 used to compare the changing profile of occupational accidents. Occupational accidents underreporting (Ur) in non-reporting factories (NRFs) calculated by considering their proportional accident rate equal to the number of reported occupational accidents by RFs. Total 10330 occupational accidents investigated in RFs. Total 819 fatal accidents found with average fatality rate of 25 fatal accidents per 105 workers in RFs. Total 9511 non-fatal accidents found with an accident rate of 271 nonfatal accidents per 105 which was high (567 non-fatal accidents per 105) from 1993 to 1996. Occupational accidents Ur (77%) estimated three times higher than reported occupational accidents (23%) in RFs with their continuous increasing trend. This study concludes the weak organizational safety culture in Pakistan. Enforcement at governmental level for safety reporting and labor laws reforms required to reduce the Ur of occupational accidents in the factories of Pakistan.