Occupational fatalities among coal mine workers in Zonguldak, Turkey, 1994-2003.
BACKGROUND
Fatal underground coal mine injuries are a worldwide problem. Zonguldak holds 95% of all Turkey's coal reserves.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate fatalities in the underground coal-mining industry in the Zonguldak province.


METHODS
Retrospective study of fatal underground coal-mining accidents from 1994 to 2003 through evaluation of industry records.


RESULTS
There were 164 deaths available for analysis. The median age was 36 years (range: 14-56 years). Eighty-one fatalities (49%) were due to subsidence, 33 (20%) were due to underground railway accidents and 18 (11%) were due to gas poisoning. Asphyxia was the most common cause of death (99, 60%). The majority of fatalities (144, 87%) occurred instantaneously at the scene of the incident. The remainder (20, 13%) occurred on the way to the hospital or in the emergency room or the intensive care unit.


CONCLUSIONS
The underground coal-mining industry in Turkey requires strategies to improve safety and reduce the number of fatalities occurring. These strategies should focus on improved underground safety through engineering measures.
Kucuker
Hudaverdi
H
Forensic Medicine Department, Afyon Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. drhkucuker@aku.edu.tr
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003032:Coal Mining / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*