WORK-RELATED ACCIDENTS REFERRED TO INDUSTRIAL MEDICAL CENTER, KUWAIT, FROM 2015 TO 2017

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational accidents comprise an important health and economic burden for societies around the world especially developing countries. There are variety of factors that determine the frequency of accidents at work. Aim of work: This study aim to obtain an overall view of non-fatal occupational injuries through analyzing injury causes, types and mechanism of accidents and to propose forms of accident data collection, investigations, safety records and accident results to be followed in Shuaiba Industrial Medical Center. Materials and Methods: A record based retrospective descriptive study was conducted on non-fatal occupational-related injuries in Al Shuaiba Industrial Medical Center in Kuwait. The study included 1304 reported non-fatal occupational injuries referred to Al Shuaiba Industrial Medical Center from June 2015 to June 2017. Results: The reported injured workers were all males with mean age 35.2 ± 8.9, mainly laborers (76.7%), involved in different industrial work activities.The highest number of reported injuries came from the metal and machinery industries (44%), manufacture of wood, textile, glass, plastic and paper (23.8%), chemicals, oils and petrochemicals industries (10.2%). Upper extremities (44.1%) and eyes (26.8%) were the most frequently affected body parts injured. Sharp objects and machinery injuries (49.2%), being struck by heavy objects (32.9%), followed by falling from height (10.8%) were the commonest agent of injury. Over ninety percent of the reported injured workers (94.9%) had 4 days or more lost from work after the accident occurrence.Conclusion and Recommendations: Nonfatal occupational injuries in Shuaiba industrial area are mainly in manufacture sector. Implementation of appropriate health and safety practices, applying safety regulations at workplace are recommended.