Profiles of women who have suffered occupational accidents in cleaning: perceived health, psychosocial risks, and personality variables

Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2023 Mar;96(2):331-340. doi: 10.1007/s00420-022-01927-8. Epub 2022 Oct 18.

Abstract

Purpose: The main goal was to identify the variables (sociodemographic, work, psychosocial, perceived health, and personality) associated with occupational accidents suffered in the past by women in the cleaning sector.

Methods: A sample of 455 women was evaluated.

Results: A total of 23.5% of the workers (n = 107) had suffered an occupational accident with medical leave. In general, women who had suffered some accident in their life had a worse situation in all areas evaluated. Two subsamples of women had a greater association with accidents. Specifically, the presence of work accidents was 15.9 times higher among those who presented a worse perception of their physical effort and a greater tendency towards risky behaviours and 13.5 times higher among those who had a moderate perception of physical exertion and a disability.

Conclusion: In general, the characteristics of female workers were found to be associated with different accident rates. Preventive actions should be designed individually.

Keywords: Accident rate; Health perception; Psychosocial risk; Risk behaviour; Working women.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational*
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Personality*