Scrutiny of INPS (National Institute of Social Welfare) files resulted in a epidemiologic survey of 341 fatal occupational accidents in Campinas, SP (Brazil), that occurred between 1972 and 1978. The main epidemiologic types were: violent incidents resulting in the death of young adults (63.3% were under 40 and 95.6% were male); the professional category most victimized was that of the transport vehicle drivers (19.4%), followed by construction helpers (10.4%); construction work as an activity held the highest occupational accident mortality (29.9%); motor vehicle traffic accidents were the most frequent external causes of death (50.1%) and was followed by other accidents (22.9%) and accidental falls (12.6%); skull trauma was the most frequent lesion-type injury. Considering these statistics, certain aspects of prevention were stressed with priority being given to civil construction and to company participation in the prevention of traffic accidents when the vehicle is being used for company purposes.
Accidents, industrial; Epidemiology; Occupational safety; Occupational health
