INNOVA Research Journal, ISSN 2477-9024  
Agosto, 2017). Vol. 2, No.8 pp. 172-183  
(
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33890/innova.v2.n8.2017.253  
URL: http://revistas.uide.edu.ec/index.php/innova/index  
Correo: innova@uide.edu.ec  
Temporal and spatial distribution fatal occupational injuries in Ecuador  
Distribución temporal y espacial fatal de lesiones ocupacionales en el ecuador  
Vilaret Serpa A.  
Silva Peñaherrera G M.  
Merino Salazar P.  
Suasnavas Bermudez P R.  
Gómez García A R.  
Universidad Internacional SEK Ecuador, Ecuador  
Espinoza Samaniego Ce.  
Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Ecuador  
Autor para correspondencia: antonio.gomez@uisek.edu.ec  
Fecha de recepción: 09 de Mayo de 2017 - Fecha de aceptación: 10 de Mayo de 2017  
Abstract: Ecuador is a country in South America, divided geographically by the Andean Mountain  
Range. With the approval of the Resolution No C.D. 333 in 2010, companies are compelled to report  
all occupational accidents and diseases to the corresponding Occupational Health Public Organisms.  
Currently, there are no studies on the geographic and temporal distribution of deadly occupational  
accidents in the country. The objective of this study was to determine the temporal and geographic  
distribution of fatal occupational accidents (FOA) in Ecuador. Ecologic Study of temporal and  
geographical distribution of FOA in the 24 provinces of Ecuador between 2010 and 2016. Data was  
obtained thru official secondary information sources. Gross and Adjusted Mortality Rates were  
calculated for workers affiliated to the General Mandatory Insurance, allowing the space representation  
in terms of the object of study. During the period analyzed, 1.748 workers have passed due to work  
related accidents in Ecuador. The Gross Mortality Rate (x100.000-affiliated workers) presents a  
decreasing tendency from 2010 (13.2) to 2014 (6.3), increasing for 2015 (9.5). The main provinces  
with a higher Adjusted Mortality Rate (x10.000-affiliated workers) are located in the Amazon Region:  
Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana and Sucumbíos. Ecuadorian Geography implies important  
differences in terms of FOA distribution by provinces and the compliance of legal norms in Safety and  
Occupational Health thru time. The temporal distribution and geographic representation of this  
phenomenon will allow the corresponding public control entities to identify provinces with high  
mortality rates and implement specific actions to prevent. The results of this study will help establish  
future research lines that will analyze more in depth this issue.  
Key words: occupational accidents; mortality rate; geography; ecuador  
Resumen: Ecuador es un país de América del Sur, dividido geográficamente por la Cordillera Andina.  
Con la aprobación de la Resolución C.D. 333 en 2010, las empresas se ven obligadas a denunciar todos  
los accidentes y enfermedades profesionales a los correspondientes Organismos Públicos de Salud  
Ocupacional. Actualmente, no existen estudios sobre la distribución geográfica y temporal de los  
accidentes laborales letales en el país. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la distribución  
temporal y geográfica de los accidentes de trabajo mortales (FOA) en Ecuador. Estudio Ecológico de  
la distribución temporal y geográfica de FOA en las 24 provincias de Ecuador entre 2010 y 2016. Los  
datos se obtuvieron a través de fuentes oficiales de información secundaria. Las Tasas de Mortalidad  
Revista de la Universidad Internacional del Ecuador. URL: https://www.uide.edu.ec/  
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Bruta y Ajustada fueron calculadas para los trabajadores afiliados al Seguro General Obligatorio,  
permitiendo la representación espacial en función del objeto de estudio. Durante el período analizado,  
1
(
.748 trabajadores han pasado por accidentes laborales en Ecuador. La Tasa Bruta de Mortalidad  
x100.000 trabajadores afiliados) presenta una tendencia decreciente desde 2010 (13.2) a 2014 (6.3),  
aumentando para 2015 (9.5). Las principales provincias con mayor Tasa de Mortalidad Ajustada  
x10.000 afiliados) se ubican en la Región Amazónica: Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana y Sucumbíos.  
(
La geografía ecuatoriana implica importantes diferencias en términos de distribución de FOA por  
provincias y el cumplimiento de las normas legales en Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional a través del  
tiempo. La distribución temporal y la representación geográfica de este fenómeno permitirán a las  
correspondientes entidades de control público identificar las provincias con altas tasas de mortalidad e  
implementar acciones específicas de prevención. Los resultados de este estudio ayudarán a establecer  
futuras líneas de investigación que analizarán más a fondo esta cuestión.  
Palabras clave: accidentes de trabajo; tasa de mortalidad; geografía; ecuador  
Introduction  
Ecuador is geographically located in the north occidental coast of South America,  
bordering with Colombia to the North and Peru to the South. Its territory is divided into 24  
provinces [1].  
Ecuadorian Society is characterized by its social, ethnic and regional diversity, mainly  
due to the Andean Mountains, which divide the country in three geographic areas: Coastal  
Region, Andean Region and Amazon Region, and a fourth Insular Region (Galapagos Islands)  
[
2].  
Furthermore, important differences exist in terms of economic activities distribution and  
the workforce by region, 53% is concentrated in the Andean Region, 42% in the Coastal Region,  
.6% in the Amazon Region and 0.4% in the Galapagos Islands. The main economic activities  
4
in the country [3] are wholesale and retail commerce, manufacturing industries, and social  
services and health activities.  
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), 2.3 million people die every  
year due to work related accidents and diseases, estimating a direct and indirect cost of 2.8  
billion of dollars [4], amount that was qualified as unacceptable in the XX Worldwide Congress  
of Safety and Occupational Health in 2014 hosted in Frankfurt Germany [5].  
For Latinamerican and Caribbean Countries, the available data show there are 11.1  
registered fatal accidents per 100.000 workers. In this sense, ILO recommends to promote  
effective inspection systems to ensure the compliance of national policies [6] since they cause an  
economic impact in the productivity of businesses [7-9] and a public health constraint for the  
countries [11-12].  
In the last years, a tendency to investigate labor accidents from different approaches  
exists (causes, consequences, economic activities, etc.). Nevertheless, the analysis must not only  
focus in statistical data but also in a spatial perspective, that includes geographic distribution to  
the problem of study [18; 20].  
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In Ecuador, with the approval of the Resolution No C.D. 333 – Regulations for the Audit  
System of Occupational Risks in the year 2010, the obligation to notify the occurrence of  
occupational accidents or diseases to the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) was  
reinforced; marking a starting point and occasion for the analysis of the work related accident  
rates.  
The objective of the current study was to determine the temporal and geographical  
distribution of fatal work injuries between 2010 and 2016.  
Material – Methods  
Ecologic Study of temporal and geographical distribution of fatal work injuries (ATM)  
between 2010 and 2016. ATM Data was obtained on the webpage of the General Occupational  
Risks [22] Insurance belonging to IESS.  
Based on this information, the variables were grouped by work injuries, geographic  
distribution of the 24 provinces by region and time components for the period of study.  
Afterwards, relative data was obtained on the number of workers affiliated to the  
Mandatory General Insurance [23-24] per province per year, permitting the calculation the Gross  
Mortality Rate (x100.000-affiliated workers) and the Adjusted Rate per Province (x10.000-  
affiliated workers).  
Finally, the procedure for the statistics analysis employed absolute and relative  
frequencies, averages, maximums-minimums, variation percentage compared to prior years,  
lineal tendency (R2) and a geographic representation of the Mortality Rate by province.  
Results  
Table 1 shows the distribution of FOA and affiliated workers by province and year.  
During the period of the study, there have been 1.748 casualties due to work related accidents  
according to the statistics generated by the Occupational Risks General Insurance from IESS,  
with an average of 250 ± 33 deaths per year.  
2
015 stands out (n=298) for being the year with the greater number of FOA and  
Pichincha (n=406; 23,2%), Guayas (n=392; 22,4%), El Oro (n=119; 6,8%) and Manabí (n=113;  
,5%) as provinces with higher number of fatalities. The Gross Mortality Rate presents a  
6
decreasing tendency from 2010 (13.2) to 2014 (6.3), raising in 2015 (9.5).  
In terms of the temporal distribution, Figure 1 shows a decrease of FOA from 2012 to  
2
013 (-1,4%; -1,9%), remaining stable for 2014 with 215 deaths. Nevertheless, in 2015 a 4.7%  
increase with respect to the prior year is observed. Finally, we can see a fatality reduction  
tendency (R²=0,097), predicting 216 FOA for the year 2020.  
With respect to the geographic distribution of FOA, Figure 2 shows in a scale of colors  
the provinces with higher Adjusted Mortality Rates for 2010 nationwide. The higher rates  
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correspond to the provinces of Azuay (4,5), Bolívar (3,6) and Cañar (2,4). For 2011 these  
provinces also lead the Mortality Rate (8,6; 3,8; 3,2), respectively.  
Figure 1. Temporal Distribution of fatal occupational accidents in Ecuador, 2010-2020.  
*
Estimation of FOA in Ecuador: 2017-2020.  
Figure 3 shows the main provinces with higher mortality rates due to work injuries in  
012; Bolívar (4,9), Sucumbíos (3,3) and Napo (2,7), Loja (2,6), Morona Santiago (2,4),  
2
Cotopaxi (2,2), Orellana (2,2) and Esmeraldas (1,7). In 2013, Bolívar (4,7), Morona Santiago  
(2,9) and El Oro (2,9) stand out as the provinces with greater rates.  
For 2014 we can appreciate a raise in the Mortality Rates of the Amazon Region  
Provinces, especially in Morona Santiago, Pastaza, Orellana and Sucumbíos, Fig. 4. Finally, in  
016 the main provinces with higher Mortality Rates were Napo (5,0), Los Ríos (3,7), Pastaza  
2,4) and Galápagos (2,3), Figure 5.  
2
(
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Table 1. Distribution of fatal occupational accidents and IESS affiliated workers by province per year.  
a Workers affiliated to the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security per year and province.  
b Workers affiliated to the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security in 2015.  
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Figure 2. Adjusted Rate of Fatal Work injuries: main provinces in 2010.  
Figure 3. Adjusted Rate of Fatal Work injuries: main provinces in 2012.  
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Figure 4. Adjusted Rate of Fatal Work injuries: main provinces in 2014.  
Figure 5. Adjusted Rate of Fatal Work injuries: main provinces in 2016.  
Conclusions  
Ecuador has a total area of 270.670 Km2, including the Galapagos Islands (7.844 Km2).  
It is considered a small country compared to Colombia and Peru. The Andean Mountain Range,  
implying important differences in terms of cultural diversity and fatal work accident distribution  
by provinces, divides the country geographically.  
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Between 2010 and 2016 there have been 1.748 dead workers in consequence to work  
injuries, with an average of 250±33 deaths per year, being 2015 the year with higher mortality,  
2
98 deaths, and Pichincha (n=406), Guayas (n=392), El Oro (n=119), Manabí (n=113) and  
Azuay (n=99) the provinces that registered the greater number of fatalities.  
The enforcement of Resolutions 333 and 390 [21,25-26] (2010 y 2011, respectively) had  
a significant impact on the decrease of deaths due to work injuries in the years to follow, keeping  
a reduction tendency until 2015. This happened mainly due to principal matters: first, the  
characteristics of these legal norms compel enterprises to implement an occupational health and  
safety management system allowing the control of risk factors at their workplaces [27-28]; the  
second issue relies in the awareness campaigns and training performed by IESS nationwide  
during these years.  
In 2014, both Resolutions were reinforced with the implementation of a National System  
of Occupational Risk Prevention Management [29] (SGP), again forcing employers to perform  
self-audits on the risk prevention management of their businesses to reduce occupational  
accident rates through the identification, measurement, evaluation and control of the existing  
workplace risks [30].  
Despite the public initiatives of this year, the noncompliance of businesses in the  
effective application of the principles of a preventive action was demonstrated, triggering an  
increase in labor injuries: fatalities (2014=215; 2015=298), work injuries (2014=23.093;  
2
015=24.379) and occupational diseases (2014=704; 2015=892) [22], without considering  
possible sub-notifications [31-32].  
Early 2016, the Management Board of IESS overturned the Resolutions of 20102011 and  
the SGP by Resolution No. C.D. 513 – Regulations of the Occupational Risk General Insurance  
[
33], emphasizing again on the integration of preventing measures in all phases of labor  
processes, observing a small descent of FOA with respect to the prior year.  
Related to regional economic activities, it is interesting to highlight that Morona  
Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza and Sucumbios provinces are characterized by being areas of  
oil exploitation, the province of Cañar a mining and quarries exploitation area, and Cotopaxi,  
Guayas and Pichincha areas of manufacturing industries mainly. These aspects are associated to  
the number of FOA in the period of study.  
Even if it is not the object of this research, diverse study prove the relationship between  
the implementation of occupational health and safety management systems and business  
productivity [34-35]; similarly between the FOA timing with the fluctuation in the  
implementation and derogation of legal norms in the matter of study.  
FOA is just one of the problematic facets for the country. Occupational accidents and  
diseases are generating disabilities in the working population, production losses for enterprises  
due to work absenteeism and an unknown impact on health. All of this due to the non-  
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compliance of politics by employers and lack of inspections from public control organisms,  
among other aspects.  
FOA temporal distribution and geographic representation will allow the Ecuadorian  
Social Security Institute, the Labor Ministry and the Public Health Ministry to identify areas with  
high mortality rates and determine regulatory actions in safety and occupational health for  
Ecuador. At the same time, the results of this study will orient the development of future research  
guidelines.  
Finally, it is important to perform an appropriate FOA follow-up from its temporal and  
geographic distribution. It is needed for the changes of the legal norms in the country and the  
economic dynamics characterized in the XXI century. It will deepen the analysis to broaden the  
knowledge on this social issue8-34.  
Conflicts of interest  
All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.  
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