Occupational fatalities in Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: Occupational fatalities are a worldwide problem. Certain occupations pose a greater risk than others. Recent statistics on global occupational injuries and diseases that might lead to temporary or permanent disability and even worse might lead to death, are staggering. The purpose of this study was to estimate the death rates from occupational injuries in Jordan over a period of four years; to estimate occupational fatality rate that results from accidental injuries and identify the most risky concurrent occupations with the type of injuries, the age and nationality of the victims. METHOD: A total of 88 work related fatalities were admitted to three hospitals in Amman through 2008-2012 and were examined by a forensic (occupational) physician at the time. They were categorized according to, age, nationality, occupation, type of injury and were all tested for toxic substances. RESULTS: The occupation with the most fatalities was construction (44%); falling from a height was the commonest type of accident (44%) and head injuries were the leading injury type (21.6%); 9.1% of the deaths were positive for alcohol. Moreover, 22.7% of deaths were between ages of 25-29. Consequently, the mean occupational fatality rate was 2 per 100.000 workers during 2008-2012. CONCLUSION: Constructions and other types of occupations are more extensive problems than what is usually anticipated, especially when safety precautions are not effective or implemented. They may cause injuries and death, which will have a socioeconomic burden on families, society, governments and industries. Not to mention the grief that is associated with the death of a worker at his work site to all concerned parties.

Accidental genital trauma in the female children in Jordan and the role of forensic medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency and the nature of genital trauma in female children in Jordan, and to stress the role of forensics. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted between March 2008 and December 2011 in Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan. Sixty-three female children were examined for genital trauma after immediate admission. The mechanism of injury was categorized and reported by the examiners as either straddle, non-straddle blunt, or penetrating. RESULTS: Straddle injury was the cause of injuries in 90.5% of patients, and contusions were the significant type of injury in 34% of patients, followed by abrasions in both labia majora and labia minora. Only one case suffered from non-intact hymen and 2 had hematuria. These 3 cases (4.7%) required surgical intervention and follow-up after 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: Straddle injuries were the main cause of genital trauma and rarely affect the hymen; however, due to the sensitivity of the subject and the severity of the traumas, forensic physicians should provide consultation and cooperate with gynecologists to exclude or confirm hymenal injuries, where empathy is necessary to mitigate tension associated with such injuries for the sake of the child and the parents as well, along with good management of the injury type.