Objective: To gain some preliminary understanding of the health situation in the workplace and to strengthen this field at the Primary Care level.
Design: A retrospective and analytical study into the period 1985 to 1988, both inclusive. SITE. Pathologies at work (accidents and work-derived illnesses) declared in Toledo province and in the rest of Spain during the period stated above.
Main measurements and results: A lower rate of accidents at work was observed in Toledo than in the rest of Spain (47.68 per 1,000 workers as against 66.44 per 1,000; chi 2 = 806.45). However Toledo showed higher mortality (0.35% as against 0.20%; chi 2 = 40.71) and a higher percentage of time off work (81.56% as against 68.77%; chi 2 = 483.93). Looking at work accidents in relation to sectors of activity, industry and construction, we found more in Industry and Construction than in Agriculture and Services. Work-derived illnesses made up a low percentage of work pathology (0.33% in Toledo and 0.39% in Spain). The main illnesses were: dermatosis, bursitis, illness caused by vibrations and disease arising from lead and its derivatives.
Conclusions: It is essential to study much more thoroughly both health at work and the more general work context, emphasising the key importance of Primary Care and the need to improve the present system for notifying pathologies at work.