Work-Related Burn Injuries in a Tertiary Care Burn Center, 2013 to 2018

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The features of work-related burn (WRB) injuries are not well defined in the literature and they vary depending on geographical location. We wanted to describe these characteristics among patients treated in the UNC Burn Center to evaluate the potential impact of commonly accepted prevention efforts. Adults of working age, admitted between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2018, were identified using our Burn Center Registry. Demographic data, characteristics of injury, course of treatment, and patients’ outcomes were described. Differences between work-related and non-work-related injuries were evaluated using the Chi-square test and Student t-test where appropriate. Three thousand five hundred and forty-five patients were included. WRB cases constituted 18% of the study population, and this proportion remained relatively stable during the study timeframe. Young white males were the majority of this group. When compared with non-WRB patients, they were characterized by fewer co-morbidities, decreased TBSA burns, decreased risk of inhalation injury, shorter time of intensive care treatment, shorter lengths of hospital stay, and lower treatment cost. In contrast to non-WRB, among which flame injuries were the main reason for admission, work-related patients most often suffered scald burns. They also had a dramatically increased proportion of chemical and electrical burns, making the latter the most common cause of death in that group. WRB are characterized by a characteristic patient profile, burn etiologies, and outcomes. Learning specific patterns at this group may contribute to optimize work safety regulations and medical interventions.</jats:p>

Epidemiology of work‐related burn injuries: A ten‐year retrospective study of 429 patients at a referral burn centre in the north of Iran

“…In addition, the average length of stay in the present study was more than in the study conducted in North Carolina study. 10 The higher mean TBSA in the present study than in the North Carolina study may be responsible for these inconsistencies. Consistent with other studies, most patients who suffered work-related burns worked in "food preparation and serving related" occupations.…”

“…Among all burned patients admitted to our tertiary health care centre during the study period, 4.65% had a history of burning injury in their workplace, which was explicitly lower in prevalence than recent similar reports. 7,10,26 Data about the prevalence of occupational injuries caused by burn varies significantly from country to country due to differences in socio-economic status, development level, type of industries, lack of proper recording and reporting systems, and other related factors. 27 Also, the lower prevalence in the present study may be due to the underreporting of work-related burns by health providers.…”

“…32 The mortality rate in the present study was higher than in some studies. 10,26 This could be due to the high average percentage of body burns, which were often caused by flames, or the lack of awareness of proper first aid at the workplace. Consistent with the present study, Clouatre et al reported that the upper limb was the most frequently burned body part.…”

“…Consistent with other studies, most patients who suffered work-related burns worked in "food preparation and serving related" occupations. 10,37 These workers are at risk because of coming into contact with fire & flames, and high-temperature liquids while cooking with hot oils and moving containers with hot water.…”

“…9 Comprehensive investigations have shown that thermal, chemical, and electrical burns account for the major proportion of hospitalised patients. 10,11 Failure of instruments, carelessness, dangerous behaviour, and shortage of protective equipment may lead to work-related burns. 11 Patients suffer from a wide spectrum of physical, psychological, emotional, and financial complications because of the severity and grade of burn injuries.…”