Epidemiology of occupational accidents in five Portuguese hospitals between 2000-2010

Hospital workers perform their activity in terms of potential professional risk, namely accidents at work. These setting a public health problem by the individual, social and economic repercussions that entail. Analyze the epidemiology of occupational accidents in five Portuguese hospital units between 2000 and 2010 and examine the variables that correlate with work absenteeism. Retrospective cross-sectional epidemiological study for the period of January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010. The information was obtained through anonymous survey for accident notification 3382 workers. Data collection was performed by one of the researchers, after authorization of the Board of Directors between March and September 2011 on working days between the 09:00 and the 17:00 hours in occupational health service. During the study period were reported 3382 accidents. The highest prevalence was found in females (82.9%), in the superior health technicians (57.8%) followed by the medical auxiliaries (32.9%), in the age group 18-29 years (30%) and undergraduate qualifications (58.5%). On workers with more than 10 years service time (46.2%) in naming scheme (64.7%) and the practice shift schedule (82.6%). The highest accident rate occurred in internment (40.7%), internal-medicine service answering for 13.7% followed by the emergency department (13.1%). On average the accidents occurred at 12.8 hours (± 4.6 s), on Monday (18%) in the first two working days after weekly rest (56.8%) and between the 1st and 3rd hour of work (47.1%). The main cause of accidents was the stinging needle / hack per object (51.1%) and the agent of injury tools / utensils (49%). Resulted in inability 31.9% and the number of days lost was 45817. The upper limbs (55.3%) were the most affected body part injured and the most frequent injury was wounds (44.9%). Through the pearson correlation, we see that the number of days lost is positively and significantly correlated with the time of service, the type of injury and age and negatively with the academic qualifications, the number of hours completed by the accident, the day of the week and the year. Labour absenteeism increases with age, time of service, low academic qualifications and in the early hours of work. The data provide scientific support to implement preventive measures and health protection of workers in hospitals