Medico-Economic Implications of Industrial Hand Injuries in India

Abstract

625 five consecutive cases of industrial hand injuries attending the Employee’s State Insurance Hospital, Jaipur, have been studied from 1983 to October 1986. The incidence of injuries was 361 per 10,000 workers per year. 47% were due to entrapment of the hand in active machines, 25% occurred during lifting and transportation of heavy objects and 12% while handling tools. The injuries resulted in residual deficit in 55% of cases and were serious enough to require absence from work of more than four weeks in 48% of cases. On an average 35 days were lost per injure worker. The average economic loss per injured worker was Rs. 6900 (approximately £275) for workers in the wage-range of Rs. 5400 to 19,200 (£216 to £768) per annum.