Demographic characteristics of occupational accidents presented to the Emergency Department of Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Hospital

Occupational health and safety and work accidents have been well-known terms for a long time. However, the rates of fatal work accidents in our country appear to be higher compared to developed countries. Furthermore, work accidents are legal processes, and physicians have an important role in these processes with their forensic reports. The aim of our study is to examine the demographic characteristics, mechanisms of occurrence, clinical processes, and forensic report outcomes of 235 work accident cases admitted to the emergency department of Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Hospital between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021, in order to make recommendations for occupational health and safety and to provide information about these clinical and forensic processes involving emergency physicians. The mean age of the 235 included cases is 33.9±10.9. There were 192 males (81.7%) and 43 females (18.3%). The most common shift during which accidents occurred was the day shift with 125 cases (53.2%). The most frequently observed mechanism of work accidents was injuries caused by machinery/tools, accounting for 47.2% (n=111). The most common injury site among cases admitted to the emergency department due to work accidents was the upper extremity, accounting for 38.2% (n=90). The most common diagnosis given to cases admitted to the emergency department due to work accidents was simple soft tissue contusion, accounting for 34.9% (n=82). Out of the cases, 90.6% (n=213) had no life-threatening conditions, while only 1.2% (n=3) had life-threatening conditions. It was stated that 61.7% (n=145) of the cases could be treated with simple medical intervention, while 17.9% (n=42) could not. Among the 235 cases admitted to the emergency department due to work accidents, 92.3% (n=217) were discharged, 4.3% (n=10) were admitted to related departments, and 0.4% (n=1) patient lost their life. Regular training sessions for employees on the risks associated with their job and taking preventive measures can help prevent work accidents. Physicians are more inclined to consult relevant specialties for conditions that cannot be resolved with simple medical intervention. In terms of legal processes, the current state of life-threatening conditions, the current status of resolution with simple medical intervention, and the outcome of the report are highly important. Training sessions between emergency department physicians and forensic medicine specialists are necessary to establish a standard for writing forensic reports.