[Trade-specific occurrence of occupational hand injuries]

The purpose of the investigation was to estimate the trade-specific incidence of occupational hand injuries, to estimate the trade-specific cumulative incidence proportion and to investigate whether age, gender and trade each were independent risk-indicators for occupational hand injuries. In a retrospective design, 823 patients with occupational hand injuries treated at Odense University Hospital were included in the investigation. The population at risk was 96,512 persons engaged in active employment within the municipality of Odense. The overall incidence of occupational hand injuries was estimated to 1.7 percent and 0.3 percent for significant injuries. The incidences in the production- and building industries were significantly higher than the incidence in the service industries. Gender and occupation were both found to be independent risk-indicators for occupational hand injuries, age only for the minor injuries. Occupational hand injuries seem to be so common, that prevention-trials should continuously be intensified. The target-groups should firstly be employees in the production industries, however prevention-trials directed against specific age- and gender behaviour patterns should also be considered.