Analysis of flaws in graphical representations of statistical data in the field of occupational safetyand health

The relevance of statistical data in society, imposes an urgent need for statistical literacy of all individuals. This need resulted in a reinforcement of the study of Statistics, with repercussions at all levels of education, and with a particular focus on the training of professionals whose activity will involve the processing of statistical data. In the area of occupational safety and health, as in other areas, the professionals involved in the process of collecting, organizing, analysing and reporting statistical data, use various statistical methods and tools, which, in the outcome of the process, will allow them to appreciate, translate, reveal, and communicate the information contained in the data. Due to the important contribution that statistical graphs provide in the task of organizing and presenting data in reports, improving the efficiency in the transmission of information, it is imperative to ensure the correctness and adequacy of these representations. In this research, triggered by the authors' concern with the inadequacy of many of the graphs produced in the field of safety and health at work, we analysed the statistical graphs belonging to three technical reports, in the context of safety and health at work, focusing on aspects that violate the guide principles for the construction of statistical graphs. For this purpose, we undertake an exploratory approach investigation, using qualitative methods, and bibliographic data collection. The results reveal the presence of numerous weaknesses in the graphs, violating some of the most important principles that should govern the construction of statistical graphs, and which may compromise the validity and usefulness of these graphs.