Warning of injuries from labor accidents

15/10/2023 11:48

Recently, Viet Duc University Hospital has continuously received and treated many cases hospitalized due to occupational or labor accidents. Notably, up to 80% of patients with occupational accidents are self-employed and do not receive safety equipment when working.

Most recently, a case of female patient N.T.T, 52 years old, in Nam Dinh had one toe amputated due to being caught in a brick making machine.

Dr. Tran Manh Hung, MD, PhD – Department of Lower Extremities Surgery, Viet Duc University Hospital informed that : On September 10, Mrs. T was admitted to the hospital in a conscious state, Glasgow 15 points, hemodynamics stable, right foot had one wound was 10x5cm in size, with many dirty foreign objects and blood clots, spreading from the inner of right foot to the underside, revealing broken bone ends and torn muscle tendons. During surgery, the injury crushed the right big toe, and opened fractures of the 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones of right leg. Doctors repaired the stump of the 1st toe, removed it off, and osteosynthesis for the 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones. After 3 days of surgery, the patient is currently alert, stable, the surgical wound on right leg is fine, she is monitored and expected to be discharged in the next few days.

A male patient, D.V.T, 50 years old, in Ha Nam is also being treated for spinal injury due to a labor accident at Viet Duc University Hospital. Mr. T has been a construction worker for more than 10 years but has never once used personal protection equipment (PPE) during his work. Due to negligence, he fell high from the scaffolding, leading to broken his spine. Mr. T said: “We work privately with no insurance, no PPE to protect us at all. Knowing that there are many unfortunate risks that happen, no one wants an accident, but now I have to endure it, I just hope to be cured so I can go back to work soon because I am the main breadwinner in the family.”

At Viet Duc University Hospital, the number of labor accidents has to be hospitalized such as falling from scaffolding, collapsing walls, caused by brick making machines, saws, plows… is increasing and most laborers are not equipped with PPE. Work accidents may only cause minor injuries but can be more serious such as broken arms and legs, in many cases requiring amputation of arms and legs, and in some cases paralysis, loss of mobility, and being in a persistent vegetative state for life. This not only affects laborers but also becomes a burden on families and society.

Doctors recommend that people need to be careful during work, be fully equipped with necessary labor PPE and strictly comply with labor safety regulations to avoid tragic accident occurring.