Evaluating the mechanical injury problem in the wood-bamboo furniture manufacturing industry

This paper introduces the method and procedure of evaluating mechanical injury problems in the wood-bamboo furniture manufacturing industry in Taiwan. Epidemiological surveillance and scenario analyses were performed on 1695 workplace-related accidents to identify the general problem areas. Subsequently, on site investigations were conducted in 15 factories to determine the specific contributing factors of the two major hazard patterns in that industry: caught in/between as well as cut and laceration accidents. For the primary cause of the accidents, approximately 60% of the incidents were due to unsafe conditions, and approximately 40% of the incidents were attributed to unsafe acts. Two intervention measures are proposed to reduce the potential hazards resulting from unsafe conditions and unsafe acts.