A statistical study on temporary work and occupational accidents: specific risk factors and risk management strategies

Temporary work, supplied by temporary-help agencies and sometimes referred to as "job in leasing", was only recently introduced in Italy, and has since spread considerably thanks to its flexibility and cost effectiveness. In this study, trends in the rates of occupational injuries in different sectors of Italian industries in the period 2000-2004 are explored, contrasting direct employment and temporary work. Data on occupational injuries from the National Organization for Labour Injury Insurance as well as data directly obtained through a field survey in three large manufacturing firms were analysed to highlight the interaction between injury frequency index (FI) and the characteristics of the labour force. FI for temporary workers ranged between 89.23 and 94.10, i.e., between 136.4% and 175.2% more than the value found for direct employees in the most hazardous industrial sector. Also accident severity (assessed on the basis of time lost due to injuries) is twice the overall value of the severity index. The results from the field survey confirmed the trend: FI for direct employees ranges from 25.7 to 45.0 in respect of total hours of work in the range 1.99 x 10^6-2.40 x 10^6; whereas FI in temporary workers ranges from 86.2 to 163.5 in respect of total hours of work ranging from 1.25 x 10^5 to 1.28 x 10^5. Given this evidence, an empirical statistical analysis, based on responses from injured temporary workers was carried out. The questionnaire was intended to collect data on a variety of control variables relating to personal characteristics of respondents. The analysis of the questionnaire data using ANOVA and response surface methodology highlighted the interaction between short duration of work assignments, inadequate training period and FI increase. Reasons can be traced to lack of experience in the activity, insufficient specific knowledge (formal and informal knowledge) about a particular installation and to inadequate training period. Means of promoting safety include diffusion of information on regulatory provisions, management training in safety, enhancement of specific training and formation.