Workplace fatalities in Brunei Darussalam

In 2012, there were about 2.3 million deaths worldwide attributed to work. The highest workplace fatality rate (WFR) was reported on construction sites due to high risk activities. Globally, fall from height is the leading cause of fatal injuries for construction workers. The objectives are to determine Brunei Darussalam’s demographic distribution of occupational fatality; identify causal agents and industry where occupational fatalities commonly occur; and determine WFR by year. This cross-sectional study retrospectively reviewed records of occupational fatality which were notified to the Occupational Health Division, Ministry of Health, from January 2012 until December 2016. Notified occupational fatalities in Brunei over a five-year period was 50. Most of the cases were in 31–40 age group. 38% of fatality cases occurred in Indonesian workers. 60% were from the Construction industry. 38% were due to fall from height. WFR averaged 5.28 and the highest industry-specific fatality rate was seen in the Construction industry, ranging from 27.94 to 56.45 per 100,000 workers. WFR for Brunei Darussalam from 2012 to 2016 was similar to that of Malaysia, but higher than Singapore and the UK. Industry-specific fatality rate for the Construction and Manufacturing industries were higher than those of Singapore and the UK.