PATTERN OF ACCIDENTS IN AN IRON FACTORY IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI-ARABIA

Objectives: To determine the pattern, types and causes of occupational accidents and identify the at risk groups in an iron forging factory, Design: Retrospective search of the company's accident report and the General Organization for Social Insurance's notification form retaine d by the hospital contracted. Setting: Steel Buildings Company, Damman , Eastern Province. Subjects: The administrative staff and laborers in the company during 1989 (total 547) and 1990 (total 628). Excluded we re those permanently stationed elsewhere. Results: A total of 104 and 114 incidents were recorded with 851 and 1107 lost man-days, in 1989 a nd 1990, respectively. Saudis, who were younger (p<0.0001), had signif icantly higher relative risk of accidents. Both incident and frequency rates were high for the laborers. The commonest types of injuries in both years were wounds followed by sprains. Fall of or hit by objects were the prime causes, and hands and fingers were the body parts most frequently injured. Negative human behavior was a major contributory f actor. Conclusions: The pattern of accidents was remarkably similar be tween the two years. Young, inexperienced employees were at greater ri sk. A training program in safe work practice has much to commend it. I t is recommended that a center be established to collate and analyze d ata with the objective of preventing work related disorders.