[Occupational injury incidence due to biological material in a tertiary referral public hospital in Santa Fe province].

UNLABELLED: Occupational accidents due to biological materials cause significant harm to workers and institutions.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of accidents in doctors and nurses at the Hospital Provincial del Centenario (HPC) and particularly in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) between 2009 and 2013.

METHODS: retrospective cohort study from the survey information of injuries by accidents with biohazard in doctors and nurses workers from HPC.

RESULTS: medical workers reported 45.7% (95% CI 37.2 to 54.3%) of accidents and nurses 38.4% (from 30.3 to 47.1%). The incidence rate ratio (IRR) (doctors / nurses) (2009-2013) = 0.953 (0.661-1.373). EMS workers ages and seniority were significantly lower than those of other care areas taken together. Reports of accidents from the EMS were 34.1% (95% CI: 26.2 to 42.6%) of the total. EMS workers had age and seniority average significantly less than workers in other services. In EMS, the IRR (doctors / nurses) (2009-2013) = 6.337 (2.264 -17.733). SGM medical workers ages and seniority were significantly lower than those of nurses working in this service.

CONCLUSION: The EMS was particularly vulnerable to occupational injuries, medical workers have a higher risk of accidents compared to nursing workers. The younger age and lower seniority of medical workers could be related at least partly to these findings.