Abstract

CORDEIRO, Ricardo et al. A monitoring system for work-related accidents in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2005, vol.21, n.5, pp. 1574-1583. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2005000500031.

The authors report on the development of a work accident monitoring system in Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, with the following characteristics: information feeding the system is obtained in real time directly from accident treatment centers; the system has universal monitoring, covering all work-related accidents in Piracicaba, regardless of the nature of the worker's employment conditions, place of work, or place of residence; health surveillance and promotion of health initiatives are triggered by identification of sentinel events; spatial distribution analysis of work-related accidents is a basic tool in designing accident awareness strategies and accident prevention policies. The system was implemented in November 2003 and by October 2004 had identified 5,320 work-related accidents, or a 3.8% annual proportional incidence of work-related accidents in the municipal area. We illustrate spatial analysis of registered work-related accidents and present a detailed investigation of one example of a serious accident.

Keywords : Occupational Accident; Information Systems; Sentinel Surveillance; Spatial Analysis.