Impact des variations d’effectifs de travailleurs sur l’incidence annuelle des accidents du travail dans une exploitation agricole de bananes plantain de 2010 à 2012 en Côte d’Ivoire

Objective. To search the impact of the variations in the workforce on occupational accidents. Methods. The study, retrospective and analytical, took place on a plantain farm from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2012. It concerned the workers under contract victims of documented work accidents. Results. In 2011 the workforce was reduced by 19.81%, the workload has increased by 24.70%. In 2012, the workforce was increased by 42.5% while maintaining production targets, which reduced the workload. The average seniority of the victims was 5.58 +/- 3.71 years. Labourers and workers accounted for 98.03% of the victims of work accidents. Work accidents occurred in plantations in 2/3 of the cases; 517 victims with an average age of 29 +/- 1.34 were identified, 608 nonfatal work accidents were reported 262 of which in 2011 (43%) with 1003 working days lost; 93.09% of work accidents were actual accidents. The machete was the cause of 36% of work accidents, falls on the same level 23%; 34% of the lesions were located in the upper limbs, 49.5% consisted of wounds; 47% of the work accidents were attributable to manual weeding and harvesting. Incidence differences were statistically related to the context of workforce reduction. Possible confounding factors were mentioned (non-compliance with instructions, instructions poorly explained, incorrect application of safety instructions, age). Conclusion. The reduction of the annual incidence and severity of work accidents should incorporate the respect of the ratio land area/worker and the training of the workers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.