We reviewed 8,502 deaths registered at the Salt River state mortuary, Cape Town (medical examiner records) for an 18-month period (1/1/90-6/30/91). When fatal occupational injuries located from this data source were matched with the records of the occupational safety inspectorate of the Department of Manpower, it was found that 28% had not been reported in terms of statutory regulations. Unreported deaths accounted for 25% of all fatal occupational injuries in the construction industry. None of the fatal occupational injuries in agriculture and fishing had been reported. Falls constituted 45% of the unreported fatalities. High levels of unreported fatal occupational injury indicate deficiencies in current occupational safety surveillance and enforcement in South Africa.
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Lerer et al. (1994) studied this question.