1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences, Gadag
2Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, SDM Medical College, Dharwad
Medical intervention (preventive as well as curative) plays a crucial role in preventing fatal occupational accidents. Availability of emergency medical care determines the survival of accident victim; mortality is substantially reduced with immediate and well equipped emergency care. Even preventive measure such has regular health check up to determine the fitness of the individual or general health education, training in first aid etc. may mitigate the occupational hazard.
A study all the cases brought to the department of medico legal autopsy with alleged history of deaths due to fatal industrial accidents were selected on continuous basis for period of 18 months from tertiary care hospital. Data such as pre recruitment medical checkup, availability of regular medical checkup facility at work place, first aid facility, distance of nearest medial emergency facilities, post-accident medical intervention were analyzed. 46% of the victims were treated in tertiary centers, 1.6% in secondary centers and 52.3% died before reaching medical establishments
128 cases of deaths due to fatal industrial accidents are studied. In 96.1% of the cases procedure of pre-recruitment medical checkup was not followed, in 99.2% of the cases facility of regular medical checkup at work place was not available, facility of first aid was not available in majority of the cases (99.2%).
It is imperative that an employer address all the potential risk factors regarding medical facilities at the workplace and educate all employees in risk awareness.
Autopsy, Occupational Injuries, Emergency Medical Services, health education
