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.
Forensic Medicine Department, Afyon Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. drhkucuker@aku.edu.tr
Hudaverdi
H
Kucuker
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*