Occupational Injury Patterns of Turkey

Abstract

Introduction and aimEach year, a significant number of people die or become handicapped due to preventable occupational accidents or occupational diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate socio-demographic features, mechanism, causes, injury area, and sectoral features of occupational accidents in patients presented to our department.Materials and methodsThe study was carried out retrospectively after local ethics committee approval. Age and sex of the patients, mechanism of injury, type and exact location of injuries were all evaluated. The groups were compared using Chi-Square test, Student’s T test and Kruskall-Wallis test. p value <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.ResultsTotally 654 patients were included in the study. 93.4% of patients were male, and mean age was 32.96 ± 5.97 (18–73) years. Sectoral distribution of accidents was statistically significant and mostly occurred in industrial and construction workers (p < 0.05, respectively). There is a statistically significant relationship between educational level and sector of the worker (p < 0.05). While the most frequent cause of admission to emergency department was penetrating injuries (36.4%), the least was due to multiple traumas (0.5%). Distribution of occupational accidents according to injury type was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 9.79 ± 8.1. The mean cost of occupational injury was $1729.57 ± 8178.3. There was statistically significant difference between the sectors with respect to cost. Seventy-one patients (10.9%) recovered with permanent sequel and two (0.3%) died in hospital.ConclusionOccupational accidents are most commonly seen in young males, especially in primary school graduated workers, and during daytime period.

Forensic medical evaluation of patients admitted to the emergency department due to the occupational accidents

“…In the study, the average age was found to be 32.22±10.23 years, with 36.2% of the cases being in the 25-34 age group. As a result of our findings consistent with the literature, it was concluded that the younger age group was more involved in work life, that they were employed in more difficult and demanding jobs, and that they had more work accidents due to a lack of experience (10,15,22).…”

The investigation of the impacts of major disasters, on the basis of the Van earthquake (October 23, 2011, Turkey), on the profile of the injuries due to occupational accidents

“…In two other studies from Turkey, the primary cause of work-related accidents was reported as blunt traumas, with rates of 24.2% and 53%. 27,32 In the post-earthquake period, a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) was seen in falls from Table 1 Distribution of patients of occupational accidents in the pre-earthquake and postearthquake periods according to types of injury localization. a In pre-earthquake period, the total number is greater than the number of cases;…”

“…30,31,33 In previous studies, upper limb injuries were defined as the most common body region for occupational accidents. 6,15,27,29,32 Also, upper limb injuries were major body regions for two groups (35% and 53.8%) (P < 0.05 for both groups). In the post-earthquake period, head traumas increased 200% (P < 0.05) and upper limb injuries increased 130% (P < 0.05), parallel to the increase in the number of falls from heights.…”

“…30,31 Two different studies from Turkey emphasized that the rates of injury due to occupational accidents among employees in the construction industry were 28.7% and 32.9%, respectively. 27,28 According to them, the construction industry took first place in rates of occupational accidents. 27,28 Ozkan et al reported in their study that most occupational accidents (60%) occurred in the manufacturing industry, followed by the construction industry (23.8%).…”

“…27,28 According to them, the construction industry took first place in rates of occupational accidents. 27,28 Ozkan et al reported in their study that most occupational accidents (60%) occurred in the manufacturing industry, followed by the construction industry (23.8%). 32 It was emphasized that there are effective regional differences in the sectoral changes.…”