title: Occupational fatalities in Jordan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occupational fatalities are a worldwide problem. Certain occupations pose a greater risk than others. Recent statistics on global occupational injuries and diseases that might lead to temporary or permanent disability and even worse might lead to death, are staggering. The purpose of this study was to estimate the death rates from occupational injuries in Jordan over a period of four years; to estimate occupational fatality rate that results from accidental injuries and identify the most risky concurrent occupations with the type of injuries, the age and nationality of the victims.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 88 work related fatalities were admitted to three hospitals in Amman through 2008-2012 and were examined by a forensic (occupational) physician at the time. They were categorized according to, age, nationality, occupation, type of injury and were all tested for toxic substances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The occupation with the most fatalities was construction (44%); falling from a height was the commonest type of accident (44%) and head injuries were the leading injury type (21.6%); 9.1% of the deaths were positive for alcohol. Moreover, 22.7% of deaths were between ages of 25-29. Consequently, the mean occupational fatality rate was 2 per 100.000 workers during 2008-2012.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Constructions and other types of occupations are more extensive problems than what is usually anticipated, especially when safety precautions are not effective or implemented. They may cause injuries and death, which will have a socioeconomic burden on families, society, governments and industries. Not to mention the grief that is associated with the death of a worker at his work site to all concerned parties.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Head of Forensic Division, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan. Electronic address: imadabdallat@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Emad M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Al-Abdallat
authors.affiliation: King Fahd Military Medical Complex, P.O.Box No. 946, Dhahran, 31932, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmad Mohammad A
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Oqailan
authors.affiliation: An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
authors.forename: Rayyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al Ali
authors.affiliation: Analytical Toxicology, University of Jordan, Jordan.
authors.forename: Arwa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hudaib
authors.affiliation: Analytical Toxicology, University of Jordan, Jordan.
authors.forename: Ghada A M
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Salameh
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000032:analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Accident; Fatalities; Jordan; Occupational