Verhoogde sterfte bij een Amsterdamse organisatie

High mortality in an Amsterdam company? The Amsterdam municipal health service received a request from a local company to investigate possibly high mortality. Applying mortality probabilitiesfor the city of Amsterdam by age gives an expected probability for males working in the company of 16.3 and for females of 2.1 deaths annually. The number of observed deaths for the company is estimated to be between 16 and 20 per annum, males and females. It seems highly unlikely that there is heightened mortality inthe Amsterdam company. However, statistics is only one instrument if there is concern about high mortality. Another aim should always be to address concerns appropriately. Good communication and continuing to monitor the situation are other instruments besides statistical research.