Serious occupational burn injuries treated at a regional burn center.
This article will present the epidemiology of occupational burn injuries among patients admitted to a regional burn center. Patients admitted to University of Alabama at Birmingham University Hospital Burn Center between November 1994 and December 1999 for occupational burn injuries were studied. Descriptive statistics were generated for demographic, clinical, and outcome characteristics. Approximately one-quarter of all burn center admissions had sustained occupational burn injuries. The most common burns were flame, electrical, and scald burns. The most heavily represented occupations were "manufacturing" (19.1%), "electrician" (16.2%), and "laborer" (16.2%). Burn type varied with occupation. Over $16 million in hospital charges was accrued by patients sustaining occupational burn injuries. Understanding the epidemiology of serious burn injuries in the workplace is crucial to directing prevention efforts toward worker groups at highest risk.
Taylor
Allison J
AJ
Center for Injury Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294-0016, USA.
McGwin
Gerald
G
Cross
James M
JM
Smith
Donald R
DR
Birmingham
Barbara R
BR
Rue
Loring W
LW
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D002053:Burn Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D017132:Workplace