OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENT SERIES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE IN TURKEY: A FIVE YEARS RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
E. D. K. Kalkan, E. Özkara
Abstract: Occupational accidents (OA) cause many deaths or injuries and have severe individual and social consequences, despite being preventable public health problems. Our study aims to obtain regional up-to-date data, risky working areas and the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, guide for preventive measures.
The data was obtained retrospectively from the university hospital in Izmir, Turkey, from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020. Parameters include socio-demographic characteristics, injury type/localization, and sector. SPSS 24.0 was used for statistical analysis.
The total number of cases included in the study was 186. Results indicated that 92% of the cases were male, most cases was working as a construction worker (29%), most of the accidents occurred in the building-construction sector (33.4%), and common mechanism of injuries was with cutting/penetrating/crushing tool (32.3%). Upper extremity injuries were the most common body parts (n:100). The bone fracture occurred in 61.3% of all cases and had a high rate (83.8%) of injured by falling from a height (p=0.002).
This study revealed that the building-construction sector is one of the riskiest areas. Traffic accidents were more frequent in our study than in the literature. The regional characteristics of OA need to be evaluated and the COVID-19 pandemic may increase OA exposure in some occupational groups like motorcycle couriers. It is necessary to reveal the environmental and social factors that cause OA and to take precautions. Keywords: forensic traumatology, medicolegal evaluation, occupational accidents.
 cause many deaths or injuries and have severe individual and social consequences, despite being preventable public health problems. Our study aims to obtain regional up-to-date data, risky working areas and the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, guide for preventive measures.
<br />The data was obtained retrospectively from the university hospital in Izmir, Turkey, from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020. Parameters include socio-demographic characteristics, injury type/localization, and sector. SPSS 24.0 was used for statistical analysis.
<br />The total number of cases included in the study was 186. Results indicated that 92% of the cases were male, most cases was working as a construction worker (29%), most of the accidents occurred in the building-construction sector (33.4%), and common mechanism of injuries was with cutting/penetrating/crushing tool (32.3%). Upper extremity injuries were the most common body parts (n:100). The bone fracture occurred in 61.3% of all cases and had a high rate (83.8%) of injured by falling from a height (p=0.002).
<br />This study revealed that the building-construction sector is one of the riskiest areas. Traffic accidents were more frequent in our study than in the literature. The regional characteristics of OA need to be evaluated and the COVID-19 pandemic may increase OA exposure in some occupational groups like motorcycle couriers. It is necessary to reveal the environmental and social factors that cause OA and to take precautions.&redirect_uri=http://rjlm.ro/index.php/arhiv/991)