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Med. Pr. 2003;54(4)

TEMPORARY WORK DISABILITY IN OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS AT RISK OF VIBRATION SYNDROME

CZASOWA NIEZDOLNOśĆ DO PRACY W GRUPACH ZAWODOWYCH ZAGROŻONYCH ZESPOŁEM WIBRACYJNYM (ss. 327-334)

Zuzanna Szubert, Wojciech Sobala Z Zakładu Epidemiologii środowiskowej Instytutu Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera w Łodzi

Abstract

Background. Vibration syndrome is an occupational pathology that affects those groups of workers who, performing their jobs, use tools and devices being the source of vibrations harmful to their health. The assessment of causes of diseases responsible for temporary work disability among persons exposed to vibrations may provide a signal that some preventive measures should be taken. This is of vital importance in view of considerable problems faced in diagnosis and certification of this occupational pathology. The aim of this study was to point out to this group of diseases, which mostly contribute to work disability in the group of persons with diagnosed vibration syndrome,taking account of occupational groups with the highest incidence of diagnosed diseases. Materials and Methods. The study was carried out in a group of 447 males with vibration syndrome diagnosed in 1996 ś1997. In this group, the following sub-groups were distinguished:lumbermen and sawyers (32%), miners (17%), grinders, turners and other metal-processing occupations (15%), masons,concrete placers and other construction occupations (9%), and operators of heavy machines (8%). The study material was obtained using two tools: Occupational Disease Certificates and Individual Sickness Absence Charts. The analysis, based on work disability rates, incidence rates and average duration of sickness absence. Results. The analysis showed the following:
ś temporary sickness-related work disability higher by 73%t han that in the general population; the relatively largest (twofold) difference applied to males aged 30ś30 years;
ś diseases of the musculoskeletal system, responsible for 40% of sickness absence, were the underlying cause of work disability (mostly dorsopathies, disorders of muscle, ligament and fascia);
ś considerable variation in the severity of work disability cases dependent on the form of vibration syndrome;the largest number of days/per sickness absence case were found among those with diagnosed vibratory angioneuropathy and mixed syndrome 73 and 69 days, respectively;
ś the largest number of sick-leave days were observed among workers involved in metal processing ś over 57 days per person, including 41% of the musculoskeletal systemdiseases;this was followed by masons and other construction workers ś 55 days; relatively low level of sickness absence due to diseases, occurring prior to vibration syndrome certification, was observed in miners ś 43 days/person/year, including 41% of the musculoskeletal system diseases.
Conclusions. The study indicated that temporary sickness absence analyzed in individual occupational groups exposed to vibration can be regarded as an essential parameter facilitating a prevention physician to identify persons at a higher risk of occupational disease.

Key words

sickness absence, vibratory syndrome