[Epidemiological characteristics of burn workers in Hunan Province].
OBJECTIVE
To understand the epidemiological characteristics of workers who are burn patients, and to provide basis for prevention and treatment of burn at work.


METHODS
We investigated 4 078 burn workers in 9 cities in Hunan provincial enterprises, and different trades managed by municipal government from January 1st, 2005 to December 31st, 2010.


RESULTS
The incidence rate of employment injury was 94.84 per 10 thousand workers each year in Hunan. That of the enterprises directly managed by Hunan Medical Insurance Bureau was 93.71 per 10 thousand workers each year, and that of the enterprises managed by Medical Insurance Bureaus of cities or districts was 95.02 per 10 thousand workers each year. The burn incidence accounted for 2.00% of the total work injury in Hunan Province (7.35% in the enterprises directly managed by Hunan Medical Insurance Bureau and 1.39% in districts and industries). There were 4 078 burn patients from the sorted units [1 823 out-patients and 2 255 in-patients; 3 498 males (85.78%) and 580 females (14.22%) with age of (38.64±11.56) years]. The ratio between males and females was 6.03:1. Among the 4 078 patients, 2 979 were from the rural area (71.78%), with 1 100 out-patients and 1 379 in-patients. The burn was mostly mild and moderate (64.66%), and mainly occurred on the face, head, arms, and legs (61.55%). The main causes of burn were heating power (74.1%), chemical stuff (14.37%), and electric power (10.78%). The death rate was 1.42%. The burn accidents often happened between July and September. The average time from being burned to be in the hospital for treatment was 3.91 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Burn accidents, especially mild and moderate burn, occur mainly in young, married and poorly educated males from rural areas. Heating power, chemical stuff, and electric power are the key causes for burn. Work injury prevention measures should be improved in high risk enterprises.
Department of Work Injury Prevention, Work Injury Rehabilitation Center of Guangdong, Guangzhou 510440; Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
Huixia
H
Liu
Feiyue
F
Liu
Shuiyuan
S
Xiao
Pengxiang
P
Zhou
D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*