Abstract
Objective: To analyze pattern of work related injuries sustained by patients admitted to The Orthopaedic Department of Hospital Ipoh. All patients admitted to Hospital Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia for acute injuries sustained during their work was analyzed prospectively. The period of this study was 1 year.
Parameters assessed were patients’ nationality, nature of occupation, duration of working experience, time of injury, adequacy of safely measures provided by the employer, whether normal duty or overtime, mechanism and type of injuries sustained and treatment given. Disability caused by the injury, outcome of the treatment and duration of sick leave were not analyzed. During this period, 386 patients were admitted (343 males and 43 females). Ages were ranging from 17 years to 78 years. Most of the patients were less than 25 years old (n=106) and only 3 patients were above 75 years of age. Malaysians were 80.8% (n=312) and foreigners were 19.2% (n=74). Among the foreigners, Bangladeshi were the highest 43.2% (n=32) and the least were from Pakistan, Nepal and Burma, 1.4% (n=1) each. Mostly were unskilled workers (labourer) comprising 50.8% (n=196). Largest group of patients have working experience of between 2 to 5 years 23.8% (n=92). On hourly analyses, highest number of accidents took place between 10am to 11am comprising 11.4% (n=44). 60.6% of patient (n=234) claims they were not provided with adequate safety gears.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor Jegan Krishnan. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park 5047, Australia.
