Epidemiologic study of occupational accidents recorded in Yazd province in the years 2007-2008

Abstract

Abstract Background: Occupational accidents are a non-separable part of workplaces especially industrial settings. These accidents lead to long-term off-work periods, impairment and disability among experienced workers and eventually affect industrial productivity. This study was designed to assess registered occupational accidents in different industries in Yazd. Methods: In a retrospective cross-sectional study on the files of registered occupational accidents in a 1-year period from March 2007 till March 2008, 533 occupational accidents were evaluated. Results: Among all industries, metal and construction had the highest frequency of accidents (24.7%). Accidents mostly occurred in the morning (65.7%). The most frequent type of accidents was entrapment (32%). These accidents had led to death (10.8%), and permanent impairment (9.3%). Conclusion: According to the results of this study a considerable amount of occupational accidents lead to impairment and disability, so more attention to worker training, safety measures and using appropriate personal protective devices is recommended.

Keywords

• occupational accident
• epidemiology
• metal industry
• construction industry