A systematic review of the relationship between economic growth and occupational accidents

Background: Occupational health and safety are influenced by a range of internal and external factors, among which economic conditions are particularly salient. However, existing research has largely focused on internal determinants. Aim: This study systematically examined the relationship between economic growth and occupational accidents, with a particular focus on the mechanisms linking macroeconomic dynamics to workplace safety outcomes. Setting: The review drew on 19 international studies published between 2000 and 2020. Method: A quantitative approach was adopted, employing systematic mapping to identify studies published in the following databases: EBSCOhost, DynaMed, IEEE Xplore, IOP, SAGE, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Taylor & Francis and Wiley. Results: Only six European countries, four Asian and one in the Americas have conducted such research; these studies utilise a range of macroeconomic and occupational health and safety variables to examine the relationship between economic growth and occupational accidents. Conclusion: Evidence from several developed and high-income countries in Europe, Asia and North America suggests a direct effect of economic growth on the incidence of occupational accidents. Contribution: This review synthesises research from 2000 to 2020 on external economic factors and their impact on occupational accidents. The body of evidence remains sparse, despite early work dating back to 1938. Further research is needed, particularly in African and Latin American developing countries.