Abstract

This project identifies populations at risk for accidents involving the back or causing permanent disability, describes typical accident scenarios, and characterizes the most frequent and most serious injuries resulting from these accidents. CSST (Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail du Québec; Québec Occupational Health and Safety Commission) files on back accidents occurring during 1981 and on all accidents resulting in permanent disability were used as the source of data, and population sub-groups were defined in terms of occupation, economic sector of activity, age and sex. High-risk sub-groups were defined on the basis of measures of the incidence, severity, and prevalence of accidents. Other factors used in the ranking process were the causal agent of the injury, the type of accident, and the nature and site of the injury. The report provides an overview of the high social, human, and financial costs of these health problems, and assists in the formulation of research and intervention priorities.