The Status and Characteristics of Industrial Accidents for Migrant Workers in Korea Compared with Native Workers

Objectives: To analyze the status and characteristics of the industrial accidents of migrant workers with comparison to those of native workers. Methods: The industrial accident rate of migrant workers was estimated by the annual number of industrial accidents divided by the total number of annual labor population multiplied by the annual admission rate of industrial accident insurance. The characteristics of industrial accidents for total migrant workers were assessed and compared with those of total native workers (from 2004 to 2006). In addition, we compared the industrial accidental characteristics of the 7,210 native workers and the 458 migrant workers employed in the Incheon area who received compensation from the industrial accident insurance in 2006. Results: In 2004, 2005 and 2006, the total annual industrial accident rates of the migrant workers were 0.93%, 0.90%, and 1.06%, the injury accident rates were 0.90%, 0.86%, and 1.00%, the number of injury deaths per 10,000 persons were 2.29, 2.22, and 2.39, and the disease rates were 0.011%, 0.014%, and 0.027%, respectively. As for the cause of injury, rolled/jammed and cutting-type injuries were more prevalent in the migrant workers. With the standardization of job category, industry size and work tenure, the rolled/jammed-type injury was still significantly more prevalent in the migrant workers. Conclusions: Even considering the exclusion of the possible missing numbers of the submission of industrial accident cases, and the numbers of workplaces not registered for industrial accident insurance, the publicized statistics confirm the higher industrial accident rate of migrant workers compared to native workers. Especially, the injury death rate was 2.2 times higher for migrant workers than for native workers in 2006. In addition, the remarkably lower occupational disease rate of the migrant workers compared to that of the native workers, suggested that numerous cases of disease were not reported. Finally, the lack of communication and former education that usually lead to the most prevalent injury type, i.e., the rolled/jammed type, supported our conclusion that the migrant workers were in need of more education regarding workplace safety.