J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2023 Feb;34(1):55-62.

Analysis of the severity in adult patients with fall injuries at industrial and construction sites in Korea

• Hwang I
• Kim S

Abstract

Objective
This study analyzes the severity of fall injuries that occur during work at industrial and construction sites in Korea, and presents data for future policies on industrial accident damage prevention.
Methods
Data of patients with injuries who were admitted to the emergency room were scrutinized. The final analysis included adult patients aged >19 years who suffered fall injuries during work at industrial and construction sites from 2011 to 2020.
Results
Severity of the fall injury was analyzed in 16,795 patients. Among the 16,211 men and 584 women included in the study, severe injuries were determined in 5,776 (35.6%) and 142 (24.3%) subjects, respectively. The highest number of falls was observed between 12 pm and 6 pm (8,012 cases), whereas the highest rate of severe fall injury occurred between 6 pm and 12 am (37.5%). The most common injury sites were the head and neck, which also had the highest rates of severe injury (58.5%). Most patients were transferred to general wards (5,709 patients) after receiving treatment in the emergency department. The analysis of 5,111 patients with fall injuries registered in the in-depth analysis data of six hospitals showed that the rate of severe injuries was higher in patients who fell on concrete floors.
Conclusion
Increased rate of severe injury was obtained in the male gender and was associated with age, working hours, and alcohol consumption. Additionally, the rate of severe injury was higher in patients with head, neck, and chest injuries, who underwent emergency surgery, and fell on concrete floors.

Keyword

Emergency department; Industrial; Construction; Fall