Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Costs derived from work accidents in fruits and vegetables processing plants: The case of Alicante province (Spain)

Author(s):

David  López Lluch *, Fernando Vidal Giménez, Francisco J. Del Campo Gomis, Margarita M. Brugarolas Molla-Bauza

Recieved Date: 2012-09-20, Accepted Date: 2013-01-18

Abstract:

This article aims to analyse the costs generated by accidents at work in the fruit and vegetable processing plants and its application in the province of Alicante, Spain. A work accident can be defined as any body injury that a worker (acting as an employee) suffers during or as a result of work. Agriculture is one of the most hazardous sectors. Work-related non-fatal accident rates are 1.7 times higher than the average and the number of fatal work accidents is three times higher than the average. The agricultural sector and the agro-food industry are economic activities whose preventive policies would have a significant positive impact on workers safety and health. The primary data was obtained through personal interviews in all the companies of the province. We analyse and quantify their different type as well as the type and amount of investments to prevent such accidents through interviews with human resource responsible in these companies. The results show how 61% of the companies recorded accidents with injuries and 41% of the companies recorded 10 or more accidents with injuries. Also, every accident at work has an average cost between 1,000 and 3,000 euros (41% of companies), with a sick leave average duration of 8 days per accident. Companies include the training of workers (25%) and the prevention service contract or allocating a designated employee (22%) as their main choices prevent work accidents. In conclusion, these percentages could indicate that it does not appear that investment in prevention is among their priorities. 

Keywords:

Cost, work accident, fruit and vegetables, processing plants, prevention, Alicante

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 693-695

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