TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - Causes and characteristics of work-related eye injuries in western Turkey
JO  - Indian journal of ophthalmology
A1  - Serinken, Mustafa
A1  - Turkcuer, Ibrahim
A1  - Cetin, Ebru Nevin
A1  - Yilmaz, Atakan
A1  - Elicabuk, Hayri
A1  - Karcioglu, Ozgur
SP  - 497
EP  - 501
VL  - 61
IS  - 9
N2  - OBJECTIVES: To analyze descriptive data and characteristics of work-related eye injuries (WREI) admitted into the emergency department (ED) and obtain information to utilize in planning measures to prevent WREI. Materials and     METHODS: This prospective study recruited patients with WREI admitted to the center in the two-year study period. Only the casualties occurred at the workplace and while working constituted the sample. The data were collected via face-to-face contact in the ED.     RESULTS: Males comprised the majority of the sample (95.3%, n = 778) and mean age of the patients was 28.1 ± 6.5 (range: 15-54) with the biggest percentage in between 25 and 34 years of age (46.2%, n = 377). Most patients were working in the metal and machinery sectors (66.4%, n = 542). Nearly half of the patients had less than 1 year of experience (50.4%, n = 411). The most common mechanism of WREI was noted to be exposures to welding light (26.9%, n = 219), followed by drilling/cutting injuries (21.1%, n = 172). "Carelessness" and "hurrying up" were the most commonly reported causes of WREIs among 'worker-related causes' (21.4% and 16.1%, respectively). Lack of protective measures ranked the highest among workplace-related causes (18.7%, n = 207).     CONCLUSIONS: Programs to increase awareness on workplace safety and sound preventive strategies for both parties-employers and employees are to be pursued. Occupational safety efforts should include training on workplace eye safety and campaigns to raise knowledgeability on this disease among workers.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0301-4738
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0301-4738.119435
ID  - ref1
ER  -