Abstract

GARCIA, C.A. et al. Fatal traumatic accidents at the work-place in Seville: Epidemiological and toxicological study. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2008, n.52, pp.137-146. ISSN 1988-611X.

This retrospective study analyzes the fatal traumatic accidents (FTA) at the work-place occurred in the province of Seville during four years (2004-2007). In this period, 99 cases of FTA were registered from a total of 3632 forensic autopsies. Thirteen cases occurred in a work-place outside the Seville province and were excluded from the study being finally 86 cases analyzed. All victims were men (mean age 41±14 years, range 16-74). Fatalities occurred preferably in January, Tuesday and between 8-15 h. The mean mortality rate of FTA in the whole period was 2.6 per 100.000 workers. The sectors that register the higher number of fatalities were services, including transportation, followed by construction and industry. The most frequent manner of death was falling and jumping followed by compression and traffic accidents. Death was usually due to brain trauma and massive hemorrhage. Toxicological analyses performed in 71 cases (the remaining 15 cases died after prolonged hospital admission) demonstrated toxicological compounds in 26 cases (30%) being ethanol the most consumed substance in 21/26 cases (alone in 17/21 cases and associated to cocaine and cannabis in 2 cases respectively), followed by cannabis alone in 4/26 cases and cocaine alone in 1/26 cases. Prevention strategies of FTA must be focussed in the importance in abstinence of toxics consumption as a way to reduce the number of these dramatic deaths.

Keywords : accidental deaths; traumatism; work-place; toxicology; forensic pathology.

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