Traktör İlişkili Ölümler (Devrilme, Düşme, Kaza, Yıldırım Çarpması)

Abstract

Objective: Tractor-related accidents are more common than other agricultural vehicles. Tractor overturning is one of the major risk factors for farmers. In this study, it was aimed to discuss the sociodemographic characteristics, autopsy findings, the cause of death and measures to be taken of the tractor-related deaths with literatüre.Material and Methods: In this study, reports of tractor-related deaths were investigated retrospectively in cases where an autopsy was performed in the Morgue Department of Istanbul Council of Forensic Medicine between 2008 and 2012.Results: It was determined that 42 (0.2%) of 20,559 cases who were autopsied in Istanbul between 2008-2012 were tractor-related deaths. Thirty-eight (90.5%) of the cases were male and four cases (9.5%) were female. The average age was 44.54 ± 20.66 (min: 2, max: 80) with the most common death occurring at 60 years and above. Twenty-six (61.9%) of the cases were drivers. The most common death occurred in July and November (n: 7, 16.6%). The death occurred due to tractor overturns in 50% of the cases (n: 21), whereas the reason for death was falling from the tractor in 31% (n=13), traffic accident in 7.1% (n=3), run-over in 7.1% (n=3) and lightning strikes in 4.8% (n=2).Conclusion: In the prevention of tractor-related deaths, is necessary to prohibit the use of tractors as a means of transport and increase the use of seat belts and roll-over protective structures (ROPS) in all tractors.