Abstract

The indirect costs to employers of occupational accidents, i.e. costs aside from direct compensation, are unknown.

Following a literature review, a questionnaire concerning the costs of 34 accidents compensated by the CSST (Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail du Québec, Québec Occupational and Safety Commission) was distributed to 12 companies in high-priority economic sectors.

The questionnaire was validated. The average indirect cost of each accident was $822.93, compared to $1,189.05 paid in direct compensation. Indirect costs, in this context, do not include social costs such as health care. The two principal components of corporate indirect costs are material losses and accident management. The value of indirect costs was highly correlated to the number of lost work-days.

This preliminary study will be followed by a larger-scale study, funded by the IRSST (RS-87-39), in which several companies have expressed interest. This second study should increase corporate appreciation of the effect of preventive measures on the reduction of indirect accident costs. The results of this study were presented at conferences at all the joint sectorial occupational health and safety associations, as well as at universities.