Pattern of traumatic occupational injuries in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the labor market is thriving, employing a large workforce in occupations that carry a high risk for traumatic injuries such as construction, transportation, and manufacturing. These jobs usually involve physical exertion, power tools, high-voltage electricity, working at heights, and exposure to bad weather conditions that could potentially lead to injury. This study aimed to determine patterns of traumatic occupational injuries in Riyadh, KSA.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Khalid Hospital and Prince Sultan Centre for Healthcare, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, and the Al-Kharj Military Industries Corporation Hospital in Al-Kharj City in the KSA between July 2021 and 2022. Descriptive analysis elucidated the type, severity, and patterns of management of non-fatal traumatic occupational injuries. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Weibull model for length of hospital stay adjusted for age, gender, nationality, cause for injury, and injury severity scale (ISS) scores were constructed.

A total of 73 patients with a mean age of 33.8 ± 14.1 years were included in the study. The most common cause of occupational injury was falling from height (87.7%). The median length of hospital stay was 6 days (IQR: 4 - 7), with no mortalities. In the adjusted survival model, compared to migrants, Saudi nationals had a 45% lower median hospital stay (-62 to - 21), P < 0.01, and every 1-point increase in ISS was associated with a 5% increase in median length of hospital stay (CI: 3 - 7, P < 0.01).

Being a Saudi national and having lower ISS scores were associated with shorter durations of hospital stay. Our findings indicate the need for improved occupational safety measures, especially among migrant, foreign-born, and ethnic minority workers.