Accidentes de trabajo y enfermedades laborales en los sistemas de compensación laboral

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational injuries constitute an important public health problem in the world. In order to reduce damage, countries have introduced laws and technical standards for prevention, and to provide the victims with support by means of worker's compensation insurance and comprehensive health care. Objective: To understand the number of claims for compensation due to work accidents and occupational diseases, the characteristics of workers who submited a claim, and the most affected branches of industries. Methods: A systematic review following the "Prisma" methodology was conducted. The bibliographical research was carried out in searches of databases and scientific journals through keywords that were combined and then restricted to articles published between 2003 and 2013. Results: Eleven articles about research conducted in four continents (Europe, Asia, Oceania and America) were included. The studies were mainly retrospective with secondary sources, and the samples ranged from 307 to 1,320,792 records in different population groups, who had one or multiple claims of compensation for work-related accidents or illnesses. The male gender had the highest percentage of claims; the most affected industries were manufacturing and construction; the most common causes were sprains and strains followed by musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusions: The reviewed studies provided information to characterize the occupational requirements and to guide the strategies of prevention in the industries and working populations that are most affected. However, there are limitations to establish the severity of the injuries and the types of compensation awarded.