Emergency department surveillance of occupational injuries in Shanghai's Putuo District, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: Although the People's Republic of China has an enormous worker population, occupational injury data availability has been hindered by the lack of a national surveillance system. This study compared work with non-work-related injuries by diagnosis, cause, and demographic characteristics of cases treated in a moderate-sized emergency department (ED) in Shanghai.

Methods: Data on all injury cases presenting to the ED were collected prospectively from November 1, 1998 through November 31, 1999 at the Putuo District Hospital.