The Analysis of Work Accident Dynamics As Planning Toolfor Preventive Policies in Agriculture

Health and safety in the work premises are important aims of public health policies. A long time ago the Lombardy region implemented prevention programmes to reduce the number of work accidents, in particular in agriculture, one of the most dangerous productive sector, which is, at the same time very important for the regional economy. As significant example of prevention activities in agriculture, is the regional project carried out with aim to find out and prevent work accidents which frequently occur and cause considerable injuries. So in 2001 a “regional register of agricultural work accidents” was set up with the purpose to describe in details the dynamics of work accidents by collecting and sharing different information of the event. The regional register results is more useful than INAIL database, because, through an epidemiological analysis, the collected information makes it possible to point out the recurring accident dynamics and so to find out strategies aimed at preventing in particular the ones most dangerous ones the basis of the characteristics of the territory, the importance of the injuries and the predictability of the event. The know-how of accident dynamics becomes the starting point to plan from time to time operative programs of health and safety prevention on the basis of the highlighted emergencies. In this context, the aim of this paper is to illustrate the main dynamics of agricultural work accidents and their evolution in relation to the years 2001-2007. The yearly comparison of accident dynamics is a useful tool to test the effectiveness of the preventive measures implemented in the region.