Study of Pattern of Deaths at Work Place- A Postmortem Study Done in Tertiary Care Hospital

Pattern of deaths at work place cases among autopsies conducted at M.S.Ramaiah Medical College Hospital, Bangalore during October 2006 to January 2008, was studied. The aims of this study were to study the cause and pattern of deaths at work place, the distribution of such deaths in various occupational settings, age and sex distribution. Total numbers of 52 cases were studied. Detailed information regarding the deceased and circumstances of death was collected from the police and relatives by a questionnaire. Complete autopsy of the body was carried out in each case.

Maximum number of work place related deaths occurred in the age group 21-30 years. Males were more than females. Most of the deaths at work place occurred during morning times followed by afternoon hours. Majority of the deaths occurred among construction workers. Pre existing medical conditions were the precipitating factors in few cases. Vast majority of deaths occurred at work site. Allegation of homicide was made in few cases prior to conduction of post mortem examination, which was disproved later by police investigations. Maximum numbers of deaths were due to unnatural causes followed by natural causes. Among unnatural, accidental deaths were more. The maximum numbers of deaths were due to fall from height at work site, followed by electrocution.