Evaluation of Non-fatal Work-related Injuries Presenting to Al Khor Hospital Emergency Department in Qatar

Abstract

Work-related injuries constitute a large sector of patients seen at Al Khor Hospital's Emergency Department. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics, frequency and mechanism of work-related injuries presenting to the emergency department. Patients of all ages with work-related injuries presenting to the Emergency Department at Al Khor Hospital at any time, from May to November 2009, were included in the study. Domestic injuries were excluded from the study. Character of the patients and injuries were described. The study included 903 patients. The mean age was 32.73 years (standard deviation 8.565). Most patients were construction workers, 346 (39.1%), and mechanical workers, 262 (29.6%). The types of non-fatal work related injury were: hands injuries, 329 (36.4%), contusions, 239 (26.5%) and cuts, 205 (22.7%). The main mechanisms of injury involved heavy objects falling on patients, 191 (21.2%). Wearing personal protective gear was reported in 546 (60.5%) patients, and having training to use it was reported in 510 (56.5%) cases. Wearing protective equipment was lower in mechanical workers (62.6%) and construction workers (57.4%) who had the higher percentage of work related injuries (29.6% and 39.1 % respectively), [E1] P value < 0.001. There was a positive correlation between the level of education and wearing protective equipment (P value 0.002). Our findings affirm that safety precaution and proper training on how to use the personal protective equipment is needed from companies in industrial areas to reduce the incidence of work related injury.