Work-related deaths and traumatic brain injury.
BACKGROUND
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the workplace is a significant contributor to the number of work-related deaths that occur per year. This study aimed to quantify and characterize these deaths in Ontario.


METHODS
The study design was a case series with analytic and surveillance components. Data was obtained from the Chief Coroner's Office of Ontario from 1996-2000.


RESULTS
A total of 488 work-related injury fatalities were identified. Evidence of TBI was apparent in 45% of these cases (n = 211). Industries with the highest rate of work-related TBI mortality expressed per 100,000 working population included primary industry (59.1), agriculture (24.5), construction (20.0) and transportation/communications/utilities industries (13.9). Deaths involving TBI were more likely to be due to falls than non-TBI-related deaths among workers (p = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this research indicate that prevention programmes should focus on decreasing falls at all ages and increasing the use of personal protective equipment.
Tricco
Andrea C
AC
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Colantonio
Angela
A
Chipman
Mary
M
Liss
Gary
G
McLellan
Barry
B
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003644:Death Certificates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology