Citation

Lerer LB, Myers JE. Am. J. Ind. Med. 1994; 26(4): 521-527.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7810550

Abstract

We reviewed 8,502 deaths registered at the Salt River state mortuary, Cape Town (medical examiner records) for an 18-month period (1/1/90-6/30/91). When fatal occupational injuries located from this data source were matched with the records of the occupational safety inspectorate of the Department of Manpower, it was found that 28% had not been reported in terms of statutory regulations. Unreported deaths accounted for 25% of all fatal occupational injuries in the construction industry. None of the fatal occupational injuries in agriculture and fishing had been reported. Falls constituted 45% of the unreported fatalities. High levels of unreported fatal occupational injury indicate deficiencies in current occupational safety surveillance and enforcement in South Africa.

Language: en