Maori work-related fatal injury, 1985-1994

Aims. To document the rate of work-related fatal injury for Maori; to estab lish whether a difference exists between Maori and non-Maori; and to examin e possible explanations in the event that differences did occur. Methods. Coronial files collected as part of the examination of work-relate d fatal injuries occurring between 1985 and 1994, excluding motor vehicle f atalities on public roads, were reviewed. Maori were identified by either t he classification recorded upon death certificates or if they were identifi ed as Maori within coroner's files. Results. 89 Maori were identified within the 741 worker fatalities. Agreeme nt between the data sources used to identify ethnic status was approximatel y 52%. The crude rate for the decade was significantly higher for Maori tha n non-Maori. A significant linear decline across years was evident for the non-Maori rates but not for Maori rates. Conclusions. This study, the first to specifically investigate work-related injury for Maori, confirms that an overall disparity exists between Maori and non-Maori, and that it is probably due to differences in employment pat terns.