The Costs and Characteristics of Occupational Injuries Admitted to a Trauma Unit |
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Authors: | Duncan Macdonald Kaveh Sanati Ewan Macdonald |
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Institution: | 1. Public Health and Health Policy, University of Glasgow, UKdjmmacd@hotmail.com;3. Public Health and Health Policy, University of Glasgow, UK |
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Abstract: | AbstractOccupational injuries requiring admission to a trauma unit were examined to outline the events surrounding the injury and to examine the costs. Sixty-nine patients were admitted over a 12-month period, representing 4.30% of all work-related injuries attending the emergency department and 4.25% of all admissions to the trauma unit. Most were male (91%), working in skilled trade occupations (65%), with a mean age of 38.8 years. Personal protective equipment was used only by 46% of injured workers who should have been using it. Sixty-one percent of patients believed that their injury was preventable. Half of the injuries were to the upper limb, fall was the most frequent mechanism (25%) and the median duration of admission was 2 days. The direct hospital costs were estimated at over 300 000 GBP. Failure to use protective equipment and to follow health and safety guidelines suggests that opportunities exist for injury prevention. |
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Keywords: | occupational health occupational safety injury prevention |
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