Zimbabwe

Organization responsible for the statistics

National Social Security Authority.

Periodicity

Compilation: monthly.

Publication: quarterly.

Source

Workers' Compensation Insurance Fund.

Objectives and users

Compensation purposes.

Major users:

Workers' Compensation Scheme, government agencies, researchers and interested institutions.

Coverage

Persons:

Insured employees. These comprise: any person who has entered into, or works under, a contract of employment or of apprenticeship or of learnership with an employer, whether the contract is expressed or implied, is oral or in writing, and whether the remuneration is calculated by time or by work done or is in cash or in kind, and any person undergoing rehabilitative treatment or training, including any person whose occupation is conveying for gain persons or goods by means of any vehicle, vessel or aircraft, the use of which he has obtained under any contract other than a purchase or hire-purchase agreement, whether or not the remuneration of such person under such contract consists of an agreed sum or a share of the takings.

The following are excluded: employers, any person employed casually by an employer and not in connection with the employer's trade or business or any person employed casually for the purposes of any game or recreation unless so employed by a club or association of persons; any outworker, i.e. any person to whom articles or materials are given out by an employer to be made up, cleaned, washed, ornamented, finished or repaired or adapted for sale on premises not under the control of the employer; and persons earning above a specified amount.

About 1,200,000 employees are covered.

Economic activities:

All economic activities and sectors except public administration, domestic services and the informal sector.

Geographic areas:

All areas.

The statistics cover only insured employees working within the country. However, if the employer carries on business chiefly within the country and the usual place of employment of the worker is in the country and the accident happens to the worker while he is temporarily employed by him outside the country for less than twelve months, the injury is included in the statistics. Persons normally resident outside the country who are involved in occupational accidents within the country are not included.

Establishments:

All types and sizes of establishments.

Other:

Enterprises not registered with the compensation scheme are excluded.

Types of occupational accidents covered

The statistics cover reported injuries due to all types of occupational accidents.

Statistics of occupational diseases are compiled and published along with those on occupational injuries.

Commuting accidents are not covered.

Concepts and definitions

(Source: National Social Security Authority (Accident Prevention and Workers' Compensation Scheme), Notice 1990).

Occupational accident:

an unlooked for mishap or untoward event or process of work arising out of and in the course of a worker's employment, which was not expected or designed by the worker and which results in injury to him.

Occupational injury:

a personal injury incurred as a result of an occupational accident, including diseases contracted as a result of a workplace.

Working time lost because of occupational injuries:

the actual number of working days lost because of occupational injuries.

Fatal occupational injury:

an occupational injury resulting in death.

Temporary incapacity to work:

a condition of a temporary nature caused by an accident which results in a loss or diminution of wage earning capacity in the work at which such worker was employed at the time of the accident.

Serious disablement:

a worker suffering a degree of permanent disability of 30 per cent or more.

Permanent incapacity to work:

a permanent condition caused by an accident which results in a person's inability to work (working definition).

Minimum period of absence from work: one day.

Maximum period for death to be considered a fatal occupational injury: none.

Types of information compiled

(a) personal characteristics of persons injured: sex, age, marital status, occupation, earnings, number of dependents;

(b) amount of worktime lost: number of days lost;

(c) characteristics of accidents: time of day, date, day of week, agency of accident, type of accident, activity of worker during accident, place of occurrence;

(d) characteristics of injuries: body part injured, nature of injury, type of disease, percentage disability;

(e) characteristics of employers or workplaces: size of labour force, location, economic activity;

(f) other:

unsafe factor leading to accident and injury.

Measurement of worktime lost

Worktime lost is measured in workdays, calculated for all injuries as follows: Actual number of days lost + (Percent permanent disability x 60 days) + (number of days of light duty / 2).

Temporary absences for medical treatment are not counted as worktime lost.

Classifications

(a) fatal or non-fatal accidents;

(b) extent of disability;

(c) economic activity:

(based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities, Revision 2): agriculture; forestry; mining and quarrying; food, drink and tobacco; textile and leather; wood and wood products; paper, printing and publishing; chemical and petroleum products; nonmetal products; basic metal production; fabricated metal products; other manufacturing; electricity production; building and construction; commerce and distribution; transport and storage; national railways; communication; finance, insurance, real estate and business service; local authorities; personal services;

(d) occupation:

electricians; engineers and mechanics; surveyors, architects; doctors, nurses; other professional workers; administrative workers; clerks; sales workers; domestic workers; postmen and messengers; policemen and security guards; service workers; farm managers; tractor drivers; animal handlers; agricultural workers; forestry workers; fishermen, hunters; sugarcane cutters; mining supervisors; machine operators; lashers; general mine workers; manufacturing machine operators; production supervisors; painters, floor layers, etc.; packers, labellers; butchers; welders; bricklayers; general production workers; drivers; forklift crane operators; general transport workers; general workers not elsewhere classified;

(e) type of injury:

nature of injury: cuts, lacerations, puncture; contusions, crushing; scratches, abrasions; amputations; dislocations; fractures; back injuries; dental injuries; ulceration of the cornea and nasal passage; foreign body in the eye; foreign body in the ear; other wounds; concussion and internal injuries; sprains and strains; electrical shock; chemical burns; heat burns; electric burns; effects of radiation (arc-eye); dermatitis; hearing loss; effects of physical stress factors; pneumoconiosis; respiratory tract diseases; scheduled and unscheduled diseases; poisoning; other;

part of body: eyes; head and neck; trunk; fingers and hands; arms and shoulders; feet and ankles; legs; body system; multiple body parts; not specified;

(f) cause of accident:

cause of injury (agency of accident): machinery; plant, equipment and pressure vessels; electric hand tools; hand tools; ladders and mobile ramps; means of transport; agro-chemicals; other chemicals; materials and substances being worked upon; physical stress factor; ergonomic stress factor; working surfaces outdoors; working surfaces indoors; working surfaces underground; animals; persons; other;

chemical stress factor: silica dust; acids; alkalies; ammonia and compounds; alcohol; carbon dioxide and monoxide; formaldehyde; agrochemicals; glue adhesive, paste; paints, lacquer and shellac; plastic and resins; solvents and degreasers; soaps and detergents; cements; derivatives of coal and petroleum; mineral oils and cutting fluids; explosives; lead and compounds; zinc and compounds; phosphorus and compounds; benzene and homologue; cobalt and compounds; chromium and compounds; nitrous fumes; other chemicals;

(g) duration of absence from work:

none;

(h) characteristics of workers:

sex; age group (16-20, 21-25, 26-30, 31-35, 36-40, 41-45, 46-50, 51-55, 56-60, 66 and above, age not specified); demographic age group (15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65 and above, age not specified); broad demographic age group (below 25, 25-39, 40-54, 55 and above, age not specified); marital status (single, married, not specified);

(i) characteristics of accidents:

type of accident: road traffic accident; fell from a tractor or trailer; falls of person from a height; struck by objects; shot or assaulted; drowning; electrocution; caught in machinery; rock fall (earth, stones); collapse of structures; snake bites; burnt by fire; struck by lightning; fell off a horse; burnt by hot water; pricked by a screw-driver; charged by animal; caught in between objects; run over by a scoop train; food poisoning; land-mine explosion; other;

activity of worker at the time of accident: operating plant and machinery; manual work with tools; manual work without tools; driving; passenger; construction; blasting; walking; other;

(j) characteristics of employers or workplaces:

place of occurrence (mines - surface; mines - underground; industrial - inside; industrial - outside; construction sites; offices; roads; farms; other);

(k) other:

region (six regions).

Crossclassifications:

economic activity and type of accident;
economic activity and agency of accident;
nature of injury and body part;
economic activity and body part;
economic activity and nature of injury;
economic activity and occupation;
occupation and age group;
economic activity and place of occurrence;
economic activity and activity of worker at the time of accident;
age group and sex;
age group and marital status.

Reference period

One month, three months and one year.

An injury is included in the statistics for the period (month, quarter, year) in which the accident occurred.

Worktime lost is recorded in each of the periods (month, quarter, year) in which worktime was lost.

Estimates

Total number of persons injured.

Rates of fatal injuries per 1,000 insured employees.

Incidence rates of non-fatal injuries: number of persons injured per 1,000 insured employees.

Frequency rates: number of persons injured per 1,000,000 hours worked (total hours worked are calculated as the number of insured employees x 250 x 8).

Severity rates: total number of workhours lost per 1,000 hours worked.

Historical background of the series

The statistics were first compiled in 1964 with the aim of monitoring the incidence of occupational injuries and assisting in the compensation of work-related injuries.

Most of the changes that have been introduced since then were in response to needs, and conform with the ILO standards. As industries expanded, new classifications were designed and the coverage was increased.

Documentation

Series available:

The following tables are published:

total number of occupational injuries reported, by economic activity, for calendar years and for financial years (ten years)
total number of fatal occupational injuries reported, by economic activity, for calendar years and for financial years (ten years)
occupational injuries reported, by economic activity and region
fatal occupational injuries reported, by economic activity and region
incidence and frequency rates of occupational injuries reported, by economic activity
incidence and frequency rates of fatal occupational injuries reported, by economic activity
occupational injuries reported:
- by type of accident
- by economic activity and agency of accident
- by nature of injury and part of body
- by part of body and economic activity
- by nature of injury and economic activity
- by chemical stress factor and economic activity
- by occupation and economic activity
- by occupation and age group
- by economic activity and place of occurrence
- by economic activity and activity of work at the time of accident
- by age group and sex
- by age group and marital status
rejected claims by region and reason
dressing accounts (number of workers treated and cost) by region

Bibliographic references:

The data are published in:

National Social Security Authority: Annual analysis of occupational injuries reported (annual).

Central Statistical Office: Quarterly Digest of Statistics.

Only the major classifications are published. Specific cross-tabulations can be obtained on request, on diskette and magnetic tape (data from 1994 onwards).

Data published by ILO:

The following data are furnished regularly to the ILO for publication in the Yearbook of Labour Statistics (including occupational diseases): number of persons fatally injured, number of persons injured with lost workdays, total of these two groups; rates of fatal injuries. The number of persons at risk (number of employees insured) is also supplied and stored in the LABORSTA database.

Confidentiality:

There are no restrictions on the publication or release of data as long as the name of the person injured and the employer are not revealed.

International standards

The current international statistical standards and guidelines were followed.

Method of data collection

Legislation:

The National Social Security Authority (Accident Prevention and Workers' Compensation Scheme) Notice, 1990.

All injuries and diseases occurring or contracted during the course of work are covered by the compensation scheme. The claim for compensation should be submitted within 14 days of the accident in which a worker is disabled and unable to work for at least one day.

Reporting:

Written notice of the accident causing the disablement or death of a worker should be given by or on behalf of the worker to the employer as soon as reasonably possible after the accident. This notice constitutes a claim for compensation. It should be accompanied by a certificate from a medical practitioner or dental surgeon, showing the nature and extent of the worker's injury or illness, whether or not he is fit for work and the reason for any unfitness, and the period of likely temporary disability. The employer is required to make a record of the accident within three working days of the accident, and to submit this to the general manager of the National Social Security Authority within 14 days of the accident.

If an injured worker is unable to return to work after a period of more than one month from the date of the injury, he should, at the end of that month and thereafter at the end of every period of 30 days of his temporary disablement during which he is unable to return to work, furnish the general manager or the employer a certificate from a medical practitioner or dental surgeon, showing that he is unfit to return.

A standard form is used for reporting the injury. The legislation provides guidance regarding the compensation scheme.

Data reported:

The employer is required to provide the following information, as well as any further particulars that may be required by the general manager of the National Social Security Authority:

information about the employer: name, address, economic activity;
information about the injured worker: name, address, identity number, age, sex, married or single, length of time in job;
information about the worker's earnings: annual payments and average monthly earnings at the date of the accident: average wage or salary, bonus or commission, housing allowance, other allowances, overtime;
normal working hours on the day of the accident; date and time when the worker stopped work because of the injury; date and time when the worker returned to work (if relevant); date and time the accident was reported to the immediate supervisor; reason for any delay in the submission the claim form;
information about the place of occurrence: physical address, site of accident;
description of how the accident happened;
information about the injury: nature of injury and part of body injured; severity of injury (serious, minor, treated at clinic, hospital); if injury resulted in disablement, whether employer would be able to re-employ the worker after rehabilitation;
information about protective measures: protective clothing or equipment provided for the work being done which might have prevented injury; whether injury resulted from failure to use clothing or equipment, and reason for not using it; whether protective clothing or equipment failed to prevent injury and reason for this;
information about unsafe acts: whether the worker deliberately disobeyed safety regulation, law or rule, or was wilfully negligent; whether worker was under influence of alcohol or drugs;
information about any investigation of the accident: whether employer is satisfied with the report on how the accident happened; whether the action of the injured worker was in line with his duties; names of any witnesses.

Changes planned:

None.