Analysis of Required Investigations of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Spain

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are the most common source of occupational health problems in Western countries. In Spain, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can be reported either as accidents or occupational diseases. When reported as an occupational disease, a full diagnosis is performed, as the compensation system needs the approval of the social security authority and a mandatory investigation has to be performed. Although many methods are available for investigating the causes of occupational accidents, occupational diseases have not been analysed with the same depth, and there is a lack of investigation methods. This paper aims to analyse the role of 43 occupational investigations of causes of musculoskeletal diseases in the prevention cycle. This study is based on the occupational investigations performed by workplaces’ occupational health and safety specialists when musculoskeletal diseases are reported. The analysis of the data involves descriptive statistics and the Φ coeffcient. Based on administrative data, 68 workplaces employing 15,260 workers were surveyed and 41 workplaces with 13,201 workers submitted valid questionnaires to be analysed. The most frequent cause of reported musculoskeletal disease, in terms of primary risk, is repetitive movement. The only proposed measure with a significant association to the exposure by repetitive movements is job rotation (alternating workers between tasks within a job or between activities as a means to vary different levels of exposure). The investigation of occupational diseases has been useful in most of the cases for proposing preventive measures. Most of the workplaces surveyed have performed investigations and adopted preventive measures, but the managers of some workplaces were not aware of any disease notification regarding their workers when surveyed. More research is needed to provide tools for this important task

Chronic cough due to occupational factors

Within the large variety of subtypes of chronic cough, either defined by their clinical or pathogenetic causes, occupational chronic cough may be regarded as one of the most preventable forms of the disease. Next to obstructive airway diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are sometimes concomitant with chronic cough, this chronic airway disease gains importance in the field of occupational medicine since classic fiber-related occupational airway diseases will decrease in the future. Apart from acute accidents and incidental exposures which may lead to an acute form of cough, there are numerous sources for the development of chronic cough within the workplace. Over the last years, a large number of studies has focused on occupational causes of respiratory diseases and it has emerged that chronic cough is one of the most prevalent work-related airway diseases. Best-known examples of occupations related to the development of cough are coal miners, hard-rock miners, tunnel workers, or concrete manufacturing workers. As chronic cough is often based on a variety of non-occupational factors such as tobacco smoke, a distinct separation into either occupational or personally -evoked can be difficult. However, revealing the occupational contribution to chronic cough and to the symptom cough in general, which is the commonest cause for the consultation of a physician, can significantly lead to a reduction of the socioeconomic burden of the disease

Ergonomics as instrument for prevention against work injury or occupational diseases

Ergonomics as complex branch solves work of employee on concrete work place and follows up relationships between human, machine and work environment. Goal of ergonomics is achievement the most appropriate work environment and decreasing of work injuries and occupational diseases probability. This goal will be achievement by implementation of two instruments - process approach which is built on systematic approach and synergy effect of two basic principles technical and human which affect and affect and complement each other. A powerful tool for decreasing of work injuries and occupational diseases probability can be obtained with combination of process approach and synergy effect

Long-Term Efficacy of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Occupational Respiratory Diseases

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation is a well-recognized treatment option in chronic obstructive lung disease improving exercise performance, respiratory symptoms and quality of life. In occupational respiratory diseases, which can be rather cost-intensive due to the compensation needs, very little information is available. Objectives: This study aims at the evaluation of the usefulness of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with occupational respiratory diseases, partly involving complex alterations of lung function and of the sustainability of effects. Methods: We studied 263 patients with occupational respiratory diseases (asthma, silicosis, asbestosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) using a 4-week inpatient rehabilitation program and follow-up examinations 3 and 12 months later. The outcomes evaluated were lung function, 6-min walking distance (6MWD), maximum exercise capacity (Wmax), skeletal muscle strength, respiratory symptoms, exacerbations and associated medical consultations, quality of life (SF-36, SGRQ), anxiety/depression (HADS) and Medical Research Council and Baseline and Transition Dyspnea Index scores. Results: Compared to baseline, there were significant (p < 0.05) improvements in 6MWD, Wmax and muscle strength immediately after rehabilitation, and these were maintained over 12 months (p < 0.05). Effects were less pronounced in asbestosis. Overall, a significant reduction in the rate of exacerbations by 35%, antibiotic therapy by 27% and use of health care services by 17% occurred within 12 months after rehabilitation. No changes were seen in the questionnaire outcomes. Conclusions: Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective even in the complex settings of occupational respiratory diseases, providing sustained improvement of functional capacity and reducing health care utilization. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Introduction to Study of Occupational Diseases of Religious

Roll 54. Commencement (Kiel). Image 8 of 36. (2 June, 1953) [PHO 1.54.9]The Boleslaus Lukaszewski (Father Luke) Photographs contain more than 28,000 images of Saint Louis University people, activities, and events between 1951 and 1970. The photographs were taken by Boleslaus Lukaszewski (Father Luke), a Jesuit priest and member of the University's Philosophy Department faculty

Work-related allergic rhinitis: a contemporary review of the literature

Adverse health effects have been reported in workers exposed to inhaled allergens. Allergic rhinitis is a heterogeneous disorder that significantly affects daily activity, work productivity, sleep, learning, and quality of life in all generations. Occupational-ly-related hazards which contribute to the development of allergic rhinitis represent an important avoidable cause of morbidity. The occupational exposure to chemicals or biological agents is the cause of high incidences of allergic rhinitis and this risk is high when the organization and preparation are inadequate and there is a lacking or insufficient information, education and communication. The prevalence of work-related rhinitis, which encompasses both occupational rhinitis and work-exacerbated rhinitis, is estimated to be 31-61%. Data on occupational rhinitis itself are scarce. Although work-related asthma and allergies are a huge burden for society, investigation of oc-cupational exposures in early work life using an unexposed reference group is rare. Occupational allergic diseases are likely to worsen or become intractable as a result of continuous exposure to high concentrations of causative antigens, and are socioeco-nomically important diseases with which the patients might sometimes lose jobs due to work interruptions. It is important to adequately assess, communicate and manage risks in occupational chemical exposure settings with the aim to protect workers and the necessity to introduce periodic health examinations programs focusing on workers to monitor health and well-being and improve working conditions and the working environment

Impacts of Activities in Crushing Plant on Environment and Occupational Health of Workers Involved

Abstract With the development of societies there is a growing demand for raw materials for the construction industry, among which the crushed materials existing in the various categories, as set down the specifications of the services of competent bodies. In the long term and as a result of overuse such demands lead to exhaustion of mines and environmental degradation. These materials are produced in crushing plants, which have characteristics of development of its activities, being an aggressive environment for the people involved and, likewise, to the surrounding environment, deteriorating air, water and soil. As for the workers, since the production process, may present in the medium and long term, the emergence of so-called occupational diseases or occupational diseases, these diseases that can lead people to the inability to work and even death. It should be noted that occupational diseases relating to mineral extraction are properly characterized in the literature. In Brazil there's labor and welfare legislation they impose on public and private sectors, the zeal with health workers, and the non-compliance, characterizes the disrespect for life and health of employees, liable to punishment. Likewise, today, there is a growing concern in the world, both in public and private sectors, about the legacy of extractive activities, the need to reassess the system of production and exploitation of mineral resources used to make it sustainable and ensure the existence of future generations, compared to its current unsustainable, and especially with regard to the costs involved. The aim of this study is the importance of the process of comminution in the environment and humans. It will use a literature review, theoretical and descriptive method, as well as statistics from the Ministry of Social Security in Brazil. The reduction of environmental degradation and occupational diseases of workers require more appropriate production techniques as well as major prevention strategies. To do so, you should seek the development of new demands in the area of construction compatible with the reduced use of mineral inputs and labor. Keywords: Environment, crushing facilities, safety, occupational diseases

Occupational allergic respiratory diseases - occupational asthma

Introduction and objective: Occupational diseases, most often caused by allergens or irritants in the workplace, lead to a deterioration in the quality of life of employees and, in some cases, the inability to continue working in a specific position.It is important to prevent respiratory diseases, which will allow for earlier detection of changes and appropriate treatment. The aim of the study is to present the knowledge about occupational asthma on the basis of available scientific data, and to indicate appropriate preventive measures to reduce the incidence of this disease entity. Review methods:While writing the thesis, a database was used, ie Pubmed and Google Scholar. Brief description of the stage of knowledge: The group of the most common obstructive pulmonary diseases is bronchial asthma. This disease affects over a dozen percent of the population of civilized countries, and it affects various age groups and various social strata. Bronchial asthma can be mild, severe, and even fatal [1]. Occupational asthma is caused by inhaling antigens, which are abundant in the working environment of farmers, bakers and millers, including protozoa and airborne fungi. Summary: Allergic respiratory diseases are a significant problem in the work environment. In addition, an increase in these diseases has been observed in recent years. It is related to the improvement of diagnostic methods, as well as their more frequent occurrence [2]. The frequency and type of allergy occurrence depends on many factors. These factors include genetics, exposure to aeroallergens, and the type of work performed. Certain professions are associated with a particularly high risk of allergic respiratory disease. Such occupations include a baker, miller, and employees in the transport industry [3]