Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Volume 40, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 49-54

The impact of migration on deaths and hospital admissions from work-related injuries in Australia (Article)

Reid A.* , Peters S. , Felipe N. , Lenguerrand E. , Harding S.
  • a School of Public Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
  • b School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Australia
  • c Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Australia
  • d Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
  • e Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

Objective: The shift from an industrial to a service-based economy has seen a decline in work-related injuries (WRIs) and mortality. How this relates to migrant workers, who traditionally held high-risk jobs is unknown. This study examined deaths and hospital admissions from WRI, among foreign and Australian-born workers. Methods: Tabulated population data from the 1991 to 2011 censuses, national deaths 1991-2002 and hospital admission for 2001-10. Direct age standardised mortality and hospital admission rates (DSRs) and rate ratios (RRs) were derived to examine differences in work-related mortality/hospital admissions by gender, country of birth, employment skill level and years of residence in Australia. Results: DSRs and RRs were generally lower or no different between Australian and foreign-born workers. Among men, mortality DSRs were lower for nine of 16 country of birth groups, and hospital admissions DSRs for 14 groups. An exception was New Zealand-born men, with 9% (95%CI 9-13) excess mortality and 24% (95%CI 22-26) excess hospital admissions. Conclusions: Four decades ago, foreign-born workers were generally at higher risk of WRI than Australian-born. This pattern has reversed. The local-born comprise 75% of the population and a pro-active approach to health and safety regulation could achieve large benefits. © 2015 Public Health Association of Australia.

Author Keywords

country of birth Australia Migrants work-related injury fatalities

Index Keywords

hospitalization Australia Population Surveillance sex ratio human epidemiology middle aged statistics and numerical data Young Adult Humans Hospital Mortality occupational accident Occupational Injuries Adolescent male female risk factor Risk Factors adult migration New Zealand Sex Distribution age distribution Transients and Migrants Accidents, Occupational mortality health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84956688987&doi=10.1111%2f1753-6405.12407&partnerID=40&md5=042ee069505c0b57190b3a4e634d7155
DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12407
ISSN: 13260200
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English