Changes in reindeer herding work and their effect on occupational accidents.

Abstract

The aims of the study were to investigate the risk of occupational accidents in reindeer herding work in the long run, and to find out if the changes of work processes caused by joining the European Union in 1995 can be seen in accident statistics. The information on reindeer herders' occupational accidents was obtained from the Farmers' Social Insurance Institution. The development of accidents, reindeer herders and handled animals was studied in 1991-2004. The work phase and contact-mode of the compensated accidents during the periods of 1991-1994 (N = 514) and 2001-2004 (N = 411) were compared. About 100 accidents of reindeer herders are compensated by the Farmers' Social Insurance Institution annually. The number of accidents much better with the number of reindeer handled than with that of insured reindeer herders. The changes in work processes could be seen as trends in the classification of accidents, but the differences were not statistically significant. In feeding tasks, both on the terrain and on farms, accidents had slightly increased, whereas in slaughtering they had decreased. Reindeer-caused accidents are now a bit more frequent than earlier. Attention should now be paid to the use of personal protective equipment when driving all-terrain vehicles and to safe working habits when in close contact with reindeer.