Objective
to describe the fatal accident victims’ work and the circumstances of work-related deaths in Salvador, Bahia state, Brazil, in 2004.
Methods
data collection by means of semi-open questionnaires applied to the victims’ families in household interviews, through verbal autopsy (VA). Content analysis was applied to the narratives. The reconstruction of the 91 work accidents (WA) is presented in two thematic sections: the victims’ work and their death circumstances.
Results
the strong presence of precarious working conditions, even among those in formal jobs, was evident, but it was especially obvious among non-registered workers. In order to earn the necessary minimum income, they worked longer hours. The streets emerged as a typical WA spot, in contrast to being classified as a commuting accident. Traffic deaths and its relation to work, a phenomenon that has not been sufficiently studied, are evidenced along with murder as circumstances of death caused by precarious working conditions.
Conclusions
preventing death and violence at the workplace demands integrated actions. Verbal autopsy has proved to be a promising technique to produce information on the WA causes, and it can help decrease underreporting.
work-related accidents; external causes; precarious employment; workers’ health; verbal autopsy