Belize

Organization responsible for the statistics

Periodicity

Source

Objectives and users

• Actuarial reviews
• Annual reports
• Managerial decision making

Major users:

Coverage

Persons:

106,204 persons were insured as at 31 December 1996.

Economic activities:

Geographic areas:

The statistics do not cover persons working outside the country, nor persons normally resident outside the country.

Establishments:

Types of occupational accidents covered

Statistics on occupational diseases are compiled together with the data on occupational injuries.

Commuting accidents are included only if the transport was operated by the employer or on his behalf with expressed or implied permission from the employer.

Concepts and definitions

Occupational accident or injury (employment accident or injury):

a personal injury by accident arising out of or during the course of a person's insurable employment.

Commuting accident (employment injury - accident while travelling):

an accident which happens while travelling as a passenger, with the expressed or implied permission of the employer, in a transport operated by his employer or on his employer's behalf.

Worktime lost because of an occupational injury (period of incapacity):

the period, starting with the day of the accident or injury, during which a person is temporary unable to work but is not in receipt of Disablement Benefit.

Fatal occupational injury:

death resulting from personal injury due to an occupational accident or disease.

Temporary incapacity to work (injury benefit period):

temporary incapacity for work of up to 156 days, due to an occupational accident or disease.

Permanent incapacity to work (100 per cent or total disability):

permanent incapacity for work due to total disability resulting from an occupational accident or disease.

Minimum period of absence from work: none.

Maximum period for death to be considered a fatal occupational injury: none.

Types of information compiled

(a) personal characteristics of persons injured: sex, age;

(b) amount of worktime lost: none;

(c) characteristics of accidents: type of accident, cause of accident;

(d) characteristics of injuries: bodily location of injury, nature of injury or disease, extent of disability;

(e) characteristics of employers or workplaces: economic activity, size, district.

Measurement of worktime lost

It is measured from the day of the accident for the period of temporary incapacity to work, up to a maximum of 156 days.

Temporary absences for medical treatment because of an occupational injury are not counted as worktime lost.

Classifications

(a) fatal or non-fatal accidents:

(b) extent of disability;

(c) economic activity;

(d) occupation:

(e) type of injury;

(f) cause of accident;

(g) duration of absence from work:

(h) characteristics of workers;

(i) characteristics of accidents:

(j) characteristics of employers or workplaces:

Crossclassifications:

Reference period

An injury is included in the statistics for the period (year) when the claim regarding the accident was submitted.

Worktime lost is included in the statistics for each of the periods (years) in which the benefit was paid.

Estimates

Historical background of the series

The original object of compilation was for an actuarial valuation of the Social Security Scheme.

In 1991, the classification used for economic activities was changed.

Documentation

Series available:

1. number of deaths giving rise to industrial death pensions and number of recipients, by age of deceased person;
2. number of disablement and death cases by economic activity and type of accident;
3. number of occupational accidents by consequences and economic activity and district.

Bibliographic references:

The data from the actuarial tables can be made available on request, in printed form only.

Data published by ILO:

Confidentiality:

International standards

Method of data collection

Legislation:

All occupational injuries, and occupational diseases on the prescribed list must be reported no later than four days after the accident or injury.

Claims for benefits should be submitted within the following periods after the date of the accident:

• injury benefit: 13 weeks;
• disablement benefit: 26 weeks;
• death benefit: 26 weeks;
• funeral grant: one year.

Reporting:

A leaflet entitled Employment Injury Benefits provides employers and employees with information about the Social Security system.

Data reported:

1. information about the person injured: name, address, social security number, date of birth, occupation;
2. information about the employer: name, address;
3. information about the accident: date and time of accident; place of accident; description of accident;
4. information about the injury;
5. names and addresses of witnesses;
6. first medical certificate: statement by physician of incapacity to work, nature of incapacity, expected period of incapacity.

The second section is completed by the employer:

1. name and address of employer;
2. information about the claimant: occupation on the date of the accident; when the claimant began working; whether the employment was full- or part-time; actual earnings four weeks before the accident (each week);
3. information about the accident: date and time of accident; hours when the claimant was expected to work on the day of the accident; whether the claimant was authorized to be in that particular place at the time of the accident; activity of the claimant at the time of the accident; cause of accident, if caused by machinery (type of machine, whether machine was moved by mechanical power at the time of the accident); description of the accident;
4. information about the injuries observed at the time of the accident;
5. information about the reporting of the accident: who reported it and to whom, time and date when the accident was reported;
6. any discrepancies between the information reported and that revealed by investigations;
7. if the accident occurred while the claimant was travelling: whether the transport was operated by the employer or on his behalf; type of transport; whether the transport was operating in the ordinary course of public transport service; whether the claimant was using the transport with the employer's express or implied permission.

A Witness Report is sent to the named witnesses, who are asked to provided the following information:

1. whether the person actually saw the accident happen;
2. a description of what the person saw or any other knowledge he has of the accident;
3. if the person did not see the accident, whether and when the claimant mentioned it to him.

Changes planned: