Work-Related Injuries among Insured Construction Workers Presenting to a Swiss Adult Emergency Department

A Retrospective Study (2016–2020)

Bibliographic Data

ID15511647
AuthorsRalf Dethlefsen (Department of Orthopedics, Thun General Hospital, 3600 Thun, Switzerland), Luisa Orlik (Department of Internal Medicine, Thun General Hospital, 3600 Thun, Switzerland), Martin Müller (0000-0002-5575-442X, University Hospital of Bern), Aristomenis K Exadaktylos (0000-0002-2705-5170, University Hospital of Bern), Stefan Scholz (0009-0004-9810-8331, Suva), Stefan M Scholz (0000-0001-9877-3121, Suva), Jolanta Klukowska‐Rötzler (0000-0001-7956-2724, University Hospital of Bern), Mairi Ziaka (0000-0001-5298-7925, Department of Internal Medicine, Thun General Hospital, 3600 Thun, Switzerland, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue18
Pages11294-11294
Publication date2022-09-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph191811294
PMID36141566
OpenAlexW4294953134
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited55

Occupational injuries are one of the main causes of Emergency Department visits and represent a substantial source of disability or even death. However, the published studies and reports on construction-occupational accidents in Switzerland are limited. We aimed to investigate the epidemiology of fatal and non-fatal injuries among construction workers older than 16 years of age over a 5-year period. Data were gathered from the emergency department (ED) of Bern University Hospital. A retrospective design was chosen to allow analysis of changes in construction accidents between 2016-2020. A total of 397 patients were enrolled. Compared to studies in other countries, we also showed that the upper extremity and falling from height is the most common injured body part and mechanism of injury. Furthermore, we were able to show that the most common age group representing was 26-35 years and the second common body part injured was the head, which is a difference from studies in other countries. Wound lacerations were the most common type of injury, followed by joint distortions. By stratifying according to the season, occupational injuries among construction workers were found to be significant higher during summer and autumn. As work-related injuries among construction workers are becoming more common, prevention strategies and safety instructions must be optimized

Emergency department · Family medicine · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Pathology · Poison control · Psychiatry · Retrospective cohort study · Suicide prevention · Medicine · Occupational Health and Safety Management · Occupational Health and Safety Research · Trauma and Emergency Care Studies · Emergency Medicine · Surgery

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