Arctic Medical Research, Vol. 47: Suppl. 1, pp. 403-405, 1988 ACCIDENTS IN REINDEER HERDING WORK A. Pekkarinen, K. Kisko and H. Anttonen Oulu Regional Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland Abstract. The occupational accidents occurring in reindeer herding work in 1985 were ascertained by a questionnaire to all reindeer herders. The material was handled by statistical methods including e.g. chain flow analysis. Of those replying to the question­ naire (n=2855), 30% had been involved in some kind of work accident during 1985. The most serious accidents described in the questionnaire happened during slaughter­ ing, gathering for separation and during separation work. In the most common acci­ dent chain a slash or wound was caused by a knife in the region of the hands. The se­ cond common accident chain was slipping or stumbling, when on foot in the terrain, which gave rise to sprains and pulled muscles. The most serious accident which hap­ pened to each respondent led to an average of 20 days disabilitv. Arctic Medical Research, vol. 47: suppl. 1, pp. 403-405, 1988. The hazards associated with the use of snowmobiles in Of those replying to the questionnaire 33 'lo were involved reindeer herding work have been previously ascertain­ in full-time reindeer herding, for the remainder it was a secon­ dary profession. On average 73 days were used in reindeer her­ ed in a study carried out at the Oulu Regional Institute ding per year (range 1-365 days/year) and the length of par­ of Occupational Health (1). In addition a study (2) has ticipation in the work was about 20 years (range 1-60 years). been carried out by the Inari-Utsjoki regional na­ Men formed 961fo of the respondents and their average age tional health association into the snowmobile acci­ was 44 years (17-84 years). dents, of which 20 were work and 75 free-time acci­ In addition to standard statistical analyses of the questions dealing with work accidents, chain flow analyse!. were carried dents. In both studies the fact was brought out that out on the description of the most serious work accident hap­ snowmobile accidents occur with reindeer herders pening to the respondent. more often than the official statistics (3,4) report. The snowmobile and its use only, however, form a small RESULTS Part of the complex work of reindeer herding (5), which is done around the year and often under very Of those replying to the questionnaire, 300/o had been severe natural conditions. It is probable that, due to the involved in some kind of work accident during 1985. voluntary nature of safety work, it has remained rather When all, including minor, accidents were taken into neglected amongst reindeer herders doing their own account, most occurred during slaughtering (540 work. cases), machine service and repair (340) and reindeer In this study the number and type of accidents oc­ separation (296). curring in reindeer herding work was ascertained by It is our intention, as a corollary, to handle the most questionnaire. It is our intention to chart the accident severe accidents in reindeer herding work described by hazards of the various work stages by an investigation each respondent. Disability after an accident lasted on at the work site. In addition, a proper accident preven­ average 20 days (maximum 180 days). Accident tion method will be sought by comparing alternative notification was done in only 180/o of the cases. methods in the study. Most of the serious work accidents described in the questionnaire happened during slaughtering (26 O"/o), gathering for separation (20 OJo) and during separation MATERIAL AND METHODS work (20 lllo). Most accidents occurred in late autumn: Information on the work accidents occurring in reindeer her­ 620fo in October-November-December. At this time ding work in 1985 was gathered as a part of a larger question­ of the year all the previously confirmed risk work naire survey. The questionnaire was sent to all persons involv­ ed in reindeer herding work, a total of 3723 persons. Replies phases are carried out. In addition natural conditions, were received from 2855, or 77 'lo. e.g. temperature and light, are severe. Ciralmpo/ar Health 87 404 Injuries and injuries prevention NATURE OF ACCIDENT CAUSE OF ACC !DENT INJURY 160 ONTACT WITH ARTIFACT 131 IRE INDEER 18 fRACTURE S :=:=======~39 4 ETEPPING ON ARTIFACT 74 ISNOWMOB I LE PRAIN/PULLED MUSCLE 94 SLIPPING, ETC, LASH/CUT WOUND ONTUS ION, PUNCTURE 17 !FALLING OUND 46 fRUSHING UNDER HACHINEI 7 lfNTERHAL INJURY/ 10 lCQUSHING UNDER l IELECTR IC EQUIPMENT REINDEER ~ONSUSS I ON ETC , 72 =~~INlSUDDEN ll ~~~~~~~HINES AND 10 U~~~:~~lAL orn~~RY 58 ~UMP ING AND ANTLER 9 fYE INJURY [!NJURIES ~'PHYSICAL EFFORT 20 FICKS 60 ~~~NT Oil FOOT IN 4 FEAT /BURN INJURY a !WORKING ANO WALKWAY 5 ~OLD SURFACES 7 FROSTBITE Fig. 1. 1\vo most common ac­ 20 ~THER, WHAT? 14 ETHER INJURY cident chains. In Fig. I two of the most common accident chains About half of the respondents had no kind of pro­ are described. In the most common accidents, a slash tective equipment in use at' the time of the accident. or wound was caused by a knife in the region of the They were of the opinion that protective equipment hands. A second common accident chain was slipping would have had no influence on the occurrence of the or stumbling, when on foot in the terrain, which gave accident. The following reasons were given for neglec­ rise to sprains and pulled muscles. A significant cause ting to use protective equipment: interfere with work, of accidents was the animal being handled, the 31 lt/o, not needed, 30 lt/o, not available, 24 lt/o, too ex­ reindeer itself (25 O/o ). pensive, 6 O'Jo. Of the respondents 751r/o considered In addition to the cause of the accident, the ques­ changing of personal working methods and attitudes tionnaire also asked for the factors which influenced to be the most important way of preventing accidents: the occurrence of the accident. Respondents con­ Fifteen percent believed technical solutions were the sidered these to be haste and a tight schedule, in 32 OJo, most important. uncomfortable working position, 20 O/o, and the cold, 8 lli'o. DISCUSSION The average work disability per accident is presented On the basis of a summary of the accidents which oc­ by work phase in Tuble I and by cause group in Table curred, accident prevention in reindeer herding work II. When the accidents are examined by work phase those accidents which occurred during herding work Table I. Average work disability in accidents hap­ had the most serious results. They caused the most pening in various work phases disability days per accident (average 28). Herding is normally done on snowmobiles and thus attention Work disability should be paid to safety during snowmobile driving. days/accident Cross- country motorbikes are only, at present, used a N Average Range little in reindeer herding and so there is not a very large Gathering for marking 9 12 2- 30 material (11 cases), but those which did happen had Calf marking 9 21 0-100 very serious consequences (37 work disability days/ Gathering for separation 48 18 0-180 0- 65 event). Separation 41 12 Slaughtering 36 9 0- 35 Very common slash or cut wounds with a knife caus­ Herding 18 28 0-150 ed 10 work disability days/event, which is half of the Fencing work 12 21 5- 90 Fodder gathering 11 22 2-120 average. Sprains and pulled muscles, which usually Enclosure feeding 7 8 2- 15 happened when on foot in the terrain, caused 12-15 Hunting 5 6 0- 10 work disability days per event. Machinery Repair 2 12 5- 20 Cimimpo/ar Health 87 Pekkarinen et al.: Accidents in reindeer herding work 405 Table II. Average work disability in accidents in dif- should be laid on the changing of attitudes and work­ ferent cause groups ing habits. Work disability The study will be continued by doing safety analyses days/accident on the work phases of reindeer herding work. Until now education has been used as a method for preven­ N Average Range ting accidents: the contact persons of the reindeer her­ Reindeer 49 10 0- 40 ding associations and the occupational health staff of Snowmobile 36 22 2-180 Cross-country motorbike 11 37 0-180 health centres have been trained t<' recognise the basis Hand tools 37 10 0- 90 of accident prevention. Advic.: and guidance has Other machinery and begun by sending theme letters to the contact persons equipment 5 47 10-120 Physical effort 21 9 0- 29 of the herding associations in which they are advised in Moving on foot in terrain 31 15 1- 65 detail of the technical and personal prevention actions Working and walkway in the different work phases. The effect of the preven­ surfaces 3 9 7- 14 Other working tive action will be ascertained in a repeat questionnaire environment 8 9 0- 30 to be carried out in 1988. should be focused on slaughtering, gathering for REFERENCES separation and reindeer separation work, as over 600/o J. Virokannas H, Pekicarinen A. A survey of snowmobile of work accidents happened during these stages. These accidents. Arct med Res 1984; 38: 27-31. work phases were carried out in late autumn when 2. Korhonen L, Rapeli M, Qvarnberg Y. 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