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PubMed1977

[Important occupational diseases and their prevention].

In spite of the increasing industrialization no increase in tht total number of occupational diseases has been registered during the past 10 years. This fact must mainly be attributed to the improvement in the security measures taken in all occupational fields and the extension of the occupational medical care. Nevertheless, we are actually faced with a high number of occupational diseases. While the frequency of diseases diminished obviously for some occupational diseases, it increases for others partly considerably. The change in the structure of the statistics concerning occupational diseases is, amongst others and besides the continuous change of technic and the development of new products, also due to alterations of the law respective to the accident insurance right. In this connexion it is referred to the deafness due to noisy working conditions. Among the 10 most frequent occupational diseases, which are mainly manifested in internal organs, some--like pneumoconioses and lead-poisoning--are regarded as classic but still actual occupational diseases. Contrary to this, other occupational diseases--like asthma bronchiale or health injuries by halogen-hydrocarbon--became increasingly important only during the last few years. Corresponding details are given. The danger of health through working material or working methods will in most cases be recognized only after years of occupation. Very often the discovered diseases at that time are no longer reversibel. Consequently, the main task of the doctors for occupational diseases is the prevention of occupational diseases. In 1971 the professional associations put together, in cooperation with occupational medical experts, uniform principles for the necessary preventional examinations in the field of occupational medicien. The quality of the tests carried out with reference to suitability and supervision of working places as well as the extension of such tests to all fields of occupational danger will determine whether or not the number of occupational--therefore not fatal-diseases will decrease essentially.

Asthma↗
PubMed1982

[The dermatologist's report or/and medical report on well-founded suspicions of occupational disease].

The "Hautarztverfahren" (method of registering occupationally induced dermatoses at an early stage) can be a great help before a real occupational disease occurs. The limits of practising this desirable procedure are relatively small and are to be shown. Section 5 BeKVO (law of occupational diseases) is important for the medical proceedings in case of a well-founded suspicion of an occupational disease no. 5101. The consequences of the started procedures will be shown using examples. Figures will document that 50% of well-founded cases of suspicion concern occupationally induced dermatoses. Of these about 8% receive compensation. For those remaining, measures are normally carried out, according to Section 3.

Dermatitis, Contact↗
PubMed2005

[Occupational diseases in Poland, 2004].

BACKGROUND: Our annual analysis of the epidemiology of occupational diseases is intended to indicate morbidity categories characterized by the highest risk of developing pathologies associated with working conditions and to assay variations in the frequency of those pathologies, depending on occupational exposure, medical factors, social and economic circumstances, legal regulations, and ongoing transformation of the national economy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This work is based on the data compiled from "Occupational Disease Reporting Forms" received by the Central Register of Occupational Diseases in 2004. The data comprised information on individual diseases, gender and age of patients, and duration of occupational exposure to harmful agents responsible for the development of specified pathologies. These data were further classified by sectors of the national economy and voivodships (provinces). The incidence was specified in terms of the number of cases per 100,000 paid employees and per 100,000 employed persons. RESULTS: In Poland, the number of occupational diseases diagnosed in 2004 accounted for 3790 cases. The incidence rate was 41.0 cases per 100,000 paid employees. The highest incidence rates were noted for: chronic disorders of the voice organ (9.5 per 100 thousand), pneumoconioses (8.1), contagious and parasitic diseases (5.8), permanent bilateral hearing loss (5.5) and skin diseases (2.0). As much as 72.4% of patients affected by occupational diseases, had been exposed to harmful agents for longer than 20 years. In the industrial sectors of the national economy, the highest incidence was noted among workers employed in the mining industry (328.9 cases per 100,000 paid employees), particularly in coal mining (380.1). The highest incidence rates were recorded in the Lubelskie (122.0 cases) and Silesian (85.6 cases per 1000 workers) voivodships. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of occupational diseases in Poland continues to abate. The downwards trend is primarily due to a lower incidence of hearing loss and chronic diseases of the voice organ.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Compensation for occupational diseases in the RSA.

Compensation legislation for occupational disease in the RSA is at present complex and non-uniform, and the administrative bodies that process compensation claims are understaffed. In this setting occupational disease, particularly in migrant workers who are often ignorant of their rights under the law, frequently goes uncompensated. General practitioners and medical officers need to be aware of the basic provisions in the law, and how to submit claims in the best interests of their patients. Some case studies are included to illustrate problematic areas. The responsibilities of doctors in the diagnosis and compensation of occupational diseases are addressed.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Occupational diseases in the period of socioeconomic transition in Poland.

OBJECTIVES: Current situation in the epidemiology of occupational diseases is a resultant of many contributing factors, such as occupational exposures of the working population, social and economic conditions, medical measures, legislation, and ongoing changes in the national economy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This work is based on the information compiled from reporting forms on occupational diseases gathered in the Central Register of Occupational Diseases run by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lódź, Poland. RESULTS: A systematic downward trend in the number of occupational diseases has already been observed over several years. In 1998, as many as 12 017 cases were recorded (117.3 per 100,000 workers), while in 2005, this number was reduced to 3249 (34.8 per 100 000). In 2005, the highest incidence rates were noted for chronic voice disorders, pneumoconioses, infectious and parasitic diseases, hearing loss, and skin diseases. The observed decrease in occupational pathology is associated with continued transformations in the national economy. Changes in the nature and level of occupational exposures have influenced the profile of occupational pathologies. Medical preventive measures, such as vaccinations covering high-risk groups have contributed to the reduced incidence of occupational diseases. For example, the number of cases of occupation-related viral hepatitis was seven times lower in 2005 than in 1993. The 2005 data show that over 50% of occupational diseases were diagnosed in workers employed outside industry. CONCLUSIONS: Changes taking place on the labor market, new technologies and most of all transfer of the workforce from industry to the service and administration sectors, will certainly affect the profile of occupational and work-related pathologies. In the present-day environment, the work-related stress has become a dominant factor.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Improvement in detection, registration and estimation of occupational diseases of the railroad transport].

Misdetection of occupational diseases in railway workers is discussed. The reason is that medical staff has poor knowledge of occupational diseases and patients with their signs and symptoms are not all registered. The paper gives scientific rationale for creating a register of occupational diseases in the system of enterprises subordinate to the Ministry of Railways.

Humans↗
PubMed1998

[The decrease of risk of occupational diseases among rail road workers: future strategies].

Diagnosis, registration and prophylaxis of occupational diseases among railway workers remain unsatisfactory so far. Thus, creation of the Railway Register of Occupational Diseases is essential. The Register includes several blocks related to each other and covering enterprises, medical and social institutions. Given relatively low primary occupational morbidity in railway transport, the Register's software considers incidence of occupational diseases in Russian Federation among analogous occupations, matched in working environment classes, length of service and occupational hazard. The authors obtained the matched incidences of occupational diseases, and can extrapolate the relationships revealed to railway workers, forecast high risk of occupational diseases among these workers.

Forecasting↗
PubMed1994

Occupational disease profile in Taiwan, Republic of China.

Lack of knowledge of the exact contents of the materials and improper handling of the toxic chemicals lead to the occurrence of occupational illnesses in the developing countries. However, the incidence of occupational diseases was usually underestimated. This article presents the profile of occupational diseases in Taiwan from two sources, i.e. occupational disease benefit payments of labor insurance and the review of relevant literature. The primarily documented occupational diseases in Taiwan were pneumoconioses. The second most common occupational disease was carbon monoxide intoxication, followed by lead poisoning and noise-induced hearing loss. Less than five percent of occupational diseases were due to the other causes, including decompression syndrome, heat stroke, toxic hepatitis, neurological disorders and hematologic disorders. The number of occupational diseases recognized in Taiwan was considered to be seriously underestimated due to the shortage of occupational medical specialists. Priority in the development of occupational medicine in Taiwan is to educate industrial hygienists and physicians to recognize health hazards in the work environment and to diagnose occupational diseases. Recognition of occupational diseases could subsequently highlight the health hazards in the workplace and prevent workers from overexposure.

Humans↗
PubMed1998

Bacterial pollution of cutting fluids: a risk factor for occupational diseases.

An outbreak of occupational diseases involving 38 metal workers with local infections on the hands and the face (53%), bronchitis (29%), and bronchopneumonia (18%) urged an examination of 150 samples of emulsions which the workers used in processing metals. Among the isolated bacteria, the most frequent was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (48%), followed by Escherichia coli (44%), Proteus spp. (11%), Enterococcus faecalis (9%), Enterobacter aerogenes (7%), Citrobacter spp. (5%), Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus (3%), and the sulphite reducing Clostridia (1%). Moulds and yeasts were isolated from all tested samples. Most samples counted about 3 x 10(5)/ml of colony forming units. It was concluded that all emulsions and other substances which come in direct contact with the workers should be regularly monitored. Furthermore, preservatives should be added to prevent microbial infection.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2004

Occupational disease in Connecticut, 2001.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the magnitude and patterns of occupational disease in Connecticut. METHODS: Collecting and standardizing data on occupational diseases from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey, workers' compensation reports, and physician reports for the 2001 calendar year, and using capture-recapture analysis to estimate unreported cases. RESULTS: The rate of occupational illnesses dropped to 35.1 cases per 10,000 workers in 2001 (from 6,396 cases reported in 2000 to 5,514 in 2001). Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) accounted for more than half of the cases. There was a low proportion of cases that were reported to both workers compensation and the Department of Public Health, indicating widespread under-reporting of cases; it is estimated that there are actually over 30,000 cases of occupational disease each year. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational disease is one of the highest incident conditions of any type of medical condition, and there is a high level of under-reporting.

Connecticut↗
PubMed1997

[Morbidity of occupational diseases in Poland in the years 1994-1996].

The authors analysed all cases of occupational diseases diagnosed in Poland over the last three years. The following variables were considered: age, gender of patients, duration of exposure to factors inducing occupational disease, nosologic units, and the types of work places by the European Activity Classification and their localization by voivodships. The obtained results helped to formulate the following conclusions: 1. The number of occupational diseases in the period under study ranged annually between 11,156 and 11,320 cases. The incidence rates (number of cases/100,000 employed) fell within 116-131. 2. The general incidence of occupational diseases was shaped by: hearing impairment, chronic diseases of voice organs, communicable and invasive diseases, pneumoconioses, skin diseases, vibratory syndrome and poisoning. 3. The majority of diagnosed diseases occurred at least after 10 years of occupational exposure to causal factor. 4. The highest incidence of occupational diseases by the European Activity Classification was observed in mining and quarrying, manufacture, education and health services. 5. The analysis of the occupational disease incidence in individual work places indicated a number, however small, of enterprises which are a major source of these diseases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Occupational diseases notified in men and women in Spain in 2004].

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of the occupational diseases incidence is an essential requisite for the adoption of rational control measures. The official statistics of the occupational diseases don't include the sex variable. The objective of this study is to describe occupational diseases recognized by the Spanish social security system in 2004 and assess the differences between men and women. METHODS: We describe the information of the Spanish Occupational Disease Registry notified in 2004. The considered variables are: sex, age, economic activity, occupation, and time in the workplace, size of the company and Autonomous Community. Percentages, crude and specific incidence rates per 100.000 workers and rates ratios have been computed as indicators. RESULTS: 28.728 occupational diseases were recorded in Spain in 2004. Women's incidence rate was 188,7 per 100.000 workers and 217,8 for men. The average age of occurrence was 39.4 +/- 1 years for men and 37.6 +/- 11 years for women. The exposure time was lower than 3 years for 52.7% of the recorded diseases in women, and 44,6% in men. CONCLUSIONS: We appreciate gender differences in the occupational diseases notified and recorded in Spain in 2004. The global incidence rate was higher in men, but the specific incidence rates in most of the economic activities and occupations were higher in women. Occupational diseases in women are mostly notified by big companies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Occupational disease 2108. Degenerative changes of the cervical spine as a causality criterion in the assessment of discogenic diseases according to BeKV 2108].

With the second amendment to the Ordinance on Occupational Diseases (BeKV) of 18 December 1992, discogenic diseases of the spine are included in the disease register of occupational diseases for the first time. If occupations that impose stress on the spine have been practised for many years, the possibility exists of recognizing degenerative diseases as an occupational disease. In assessment practice, the radiological data on the spine exposed to stress is compared with that of regions which are remote from the stress (cervical/thoracic spine). This pattern of the distribution of degenerative disease is then used as the basis for determining a causal relationship between the occupation causing the stress and disease of the axial skeleton. The pattern of degeneration of the cervical spine was investigated in two groups, one with ( n =153) and one without ( n =333) occupations that impose stress on the lumbar spine. A cumulative score of degenerative changes was elaborated and presented as a new classification. No differences were found between the groups with regard to either the frequency of occurrence, segmental distribution or severity of disease. In both groups, degenerative changes correlated with age. The prevailing assessment practice is discussed on the basis of these data.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Actual problems of the treatment of the main forms of occupational diseases].

The article presents data on the treatment of dust induced diseases of the lungs, occupational bronchial pathology, lead poisoning, allergic skin diseases, occupational hypoacusis and occupational NS disorders. The treatment techniques included relatively new therapies of which non-medicinal techniques were preferred, such as needle therapy, entherosorption, phytotherapy, manual therapy, vacuum massage, etc.

Dermatitis, Occupational↗
PubMed1978

[Occupational diseases in Poland in the years 1971--1977].

The authors present results of analysis of occupational diseases morbidity in Poland in the past 7 years. Data included in individual occupational disease card provided information source. The analysis, apart from general coefficients of occupational diseases prevalence involved: age, sex, duration of exposure to occupational hazard inducing a disease, type of the hazard, and distribution of diseases throughout the country according to voivodeships and branches of national economy. From the material presented, the following conclusions may be drawn: 1. Occupational diseases prevalence in Poland in the years 1971--1977 was slightly decreasing. 2. The greatest coefficients of occupational diseases morbidity resulted from: occupational hearing impairments, infectious and invasing diseases, intoxications, pneumoconioses, vibration disease and diseases of skin and mucous membranes. 3. Most occupational diseases found in Poland in the years 1971--1977 resulted from long-lasting occupational exposure to a hazard. 4. The greatest occupational diseases morbidity in Poland in the period concerned, was that of persons aged 40--59.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The diagnosis and reporting of occupational diseases: the performance of physicians in Thailand.

The diagnosis and reporting of occupational diseases are important components of any occupational disease surveillance system. These two factors were assessed in 222 Thai physicians by using a self-administered questionnaire. Study results show that a proper diagnosis of occupational disease is hampered by the following: lack of knowledge about occupational medicine; a shortage of environmental data; a lack of consultation services and laboratory facilities. Concern about possible legal implications also prevents physicians from making a diagnosis of occupational disease. Evidence shows that financial incentive seems to play a crucial role in physicians' compliance with the reporting system. A number of remedial approaches are proposed, including the improvement of professional training, the development of standard practice guidelines, and novel financial measures for healthcare providers. Improvement calls for the collaborative effort of all responsible agencies and warrants further research that will guide policy and practice.

Adult↗