Judith A McInnes1, Heather Cleland2, Lincoln M Tracy3, Anne Darton4, Fiona M Wood5, Tracey Perrett6, Belinda J Gabbe7. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 3, 553 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia. Electronic address: Judy.mcinnes@monash.edu. 2. Victorian Adult Burns Service, Alfred Hospital, 55 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia. Electronic address: H.Cleland@alfred.org.au. 3. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 3, 553 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia. Electronic address: Lincoln.Tracy@monash.edu. 4. NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation Statewide Burn Injury Service Network, Level 6, Clinical Services Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, Reserve Rd, St Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia. Electronic address: Anne.Darton@health.nsw.gov.au. 5. Burn Injury Research Unit, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia. Electronic address: Fiona.Wood@health.wa.gov.au. 6. New Zealand National Burn Centre, Plastic Surgery Department I Level 2 Staff Centre, Middlemore Hospital, 100 Hospital Road, Otahuhu, Private Bag 93311, Auckland, 1640, New Zealand. Electronic address: tracey.perrett@middlemore.co.nz. 7. Pre-hospital, Emergency and Trauma Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 3, 553 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia; Farr Institute, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK. Electronic address: Belinda.Gabbe@monash.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Burn injuries to workers can have a devastating impact, however knowledge of the epidemiology of work-related burn injuries in Australia and New Zealand is limited. PURPOSE: To describe epidemiological characteristics of work-related burn injuries in Australia and New Zealand, and to compare these with non-work-related burns. METHODS: Adult burn injury data, 2009-2016, were extracted from the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic, injury, management and outcome characteristics. Differences between work-related and non-work-related injuries were assessed using Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. RESULTS: Of 10,574 adult patients treated in burn centres in Australia and New Zealand, 2009-2016, 17% had work-related burns. Most work-related cases were male (85%), less than 35 years old (53%), and had sustained flame (33%), scald (30%) or chemicals (17%) burns. Proportions of chemical, scald and electrical burns were greater for work-related than for non-work-related burns, with this being most marked for chemical and electrical burns (17% vs. 3% and 7% vs. 1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Almost one in five cases of working-aged people admitted to Australian and New Zealand burns centres was work-related. Through identification of vulnerable groups, this study informs policy and strategies to minimise occupational burn risk.
BACKGROUND: Burn injuries to workers can have a devastating impact, however knowledge of the epidemiology of work-related burn injuries in Australia and New Zealand is limited. PURPOSE: To describe epidemiological characteristics of work-related burn injuries in Australia and New Zealand, and to compare these with non-work-related burns. METHODS: Adult burn injury data, 2009-2016, were extracted from the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic, injury, management and outcome characteristics. Differences between work-related and non-work-related injuries were assessed using Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. RESULTS: Of 10,574 adult patients treated in burn centres in Australia and New Zealand, 2009-2016, 17% had work-related burns. Most work-related cases were male (85%), less than 35 years old (53%), and had sustained flame (33%), scald (30%) or chemicals (17%) burns. Proportions of chemical, scald and electrical burns were greater for work-related than for non-work-related burns, with this being most marked for chemical and electrical burns (17% vs. 3% and 7% vs. 1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Almost one in five cases of working-aged people admitted to Australian and New Zealand burns centres was work-related. Through identification of vulnerable groups, this study informs policy and strategies to minimise occupational burn risk.