Ethanol monitoring in labour fatal accidents: an overview between 1990 and 2007 in the centre of Portugal

Abstract

No much information is available on workplace drug testing, including ethanol, being this substance often implicated in labour accidental deaths. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of alcohol among in labour fatal accidents between January 1990 and December 2007, by presenting the requests and toxicological results of corresponding autopsies, from the Pathology Service of the Centre Branch of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and from a Legal Medicine Office. In the Forensic Pathology Service, between 1990 and 2007, a total of 261 autopsies were performed on labour accidents victims. Ethanol analysis was requested in only 50% of the cases, with 25% positive results. From the positive studied cases, 24% presented ethanol concentrations above 1.2g/L and 55% under 0.5g/L, with all the cases related to men aged between 41 and 50 years-old (24%). In the Legal Medicine Office, from April 2001 to 2007, 1219 autopsies were performed, 28 to labour victims, with only one female victim. Ethanol analysis was requested in 75% of the cases, with 48% positive results, 70% under 0.5g/L, with all the cases related to men aged between 51 and 60 years-old (24%)