Unnatural Deaths in South African Platinum Miners
Author Information
Author(s): Lim Megan S. C., Murray Jill, Dowdeswell Robert J., Glynn Judith R., Sonnenberg Pam
Primary Institution: University College London
Hypothesis
What are the trends in causes of unnatural death among South African miners from 1992 to 2008?
Conclusion
Unnatural deaths were a common cause of preventable and premature death in this cohort of miners, with rates declining over time but occupational fatalities remaining high.
Supporting Evidence
- One quarter of all deaths in the cohort were from unnatural causes.
- Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of unnatural death at 38%.
- The rate of occupational injury mortality did not change significantly over time.
- Unnatural deaths were less frequent in this cohort than in the South African population.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many miners died from accidents or violence over 17 years, finding that while some types of deaths went down, work-related deaths stayed high.
Methodology
The study used retrospective data from multiple sources to analyze causes of death among miners.
Potential Biases
The cohort may not represent the entire population due to the healthy worker effect and other biases.
Limitations
The study excluded skilled workers and women, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
98% were black African men with a median age of 35.1 years.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95%CI -4%,-1%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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