OBJECTIVES: To confirm the HAVS in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration with using the objective diagnostic methods METHODS: Several tests were used to help substantiate a clinical diagnosis of HAVS. Some other diseases were excluded by a medical interview, hematologic assessment, urinalysis, X-rays. The hand-arm vibration acceleration level of the grinder was evaluated for considering HAVS. Peripheral vascular changes were examined by a cold provocation test. An electromyography was implemented to ascertain the peripheral neural changes. RESULTS: 8 workers with symptoms in hands & fingers, exposed to hand-arm vibration were examined. Some other diseases(primary Raynauds disease, secondary Raynauds disease in not occupational origin) were excluded by a medical interview, hematologic assessment, urinalysis, X-rays. The hand-arm vibration acceleration level of the grinder was 7. 9 m/sec2. The recovery time of a skin temperature followed finger cooling was significantly prolonged in 6 workers with HAVS. The nerve conduction velocity was reduced in 6 workers with HAVS. CONCLUSIONS: So we report 6 cases of HAVS in grinding workers exposed to hand-arm vibration diagnosed objectively by an exclusion of some other disease, handarm vibration acceleration level, cold provocation test, electromyography.
Acceleration ; Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Fingers ; Hand* ; Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome* ; Neural Conduction ; Raynaud Disease ; Skin Temperature ; Urinalysis ; Vibration*

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms and related factors among VDT operators in bank. The subjects were 950 women workers. The characteristics of subjects were 26.6 years of average age, 5.7 years of average VDT use duration and 6.5 hours of daily VDT use time. The results were as follows. The prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms more than severe in Likert scale were 51.4%, 43.9% at the shoulder, 38.3%, 31.8% at the lower back, 38.0%, 31.3% at the neck, 31.2%, 25.2% at the upper back, 21.7%, 16.5% at the wrist and 13.6%, 8.8% at the fingers (while on duty, after home-coming). General characteristic variables affecting the musculoskeletal symptoms were married, number of child and daily house-working time. Work-related factors affecting the musculoskeletal symptoms were VDT working career, daily working time, daily VDF use time, VDF use time without rest, daily work-load and regular rest. As the result of the multiple logistic regression analysis, daily working time, daily VDT use time and VDT working career were significant variables accounting for the musculoskeletal symptoms.
Child ; Cumulative Trauma Disorders ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Neck ; Prevalence* ; Shoulder ; Wrist

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the chronological subjective symptoms and related factors in ex-workers who were occupationally exposed to Carbon disulfide. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-seven subjects (147 males and 30 females) were randomly selected among ex-workers and interviewed by well trained doctors, who filled out a structured questionnaire developed by authors on the subjective symptoms. The questionnaire was composed of symptoms in the head and neck, and those of the neuro-psychological, respiratory, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems. Other factors such as general and occupational characteristics including work department, work duration, duration since cessation of exposure, and compensation for occupational disease were also investigated. RESULTS: The mean subject age was 55.4 years. The mean cumulative exposure index (CEI) was 38.96 +/- 31.18. CEI was significantly higher in the compensated group (47.61 +/- 32.51) than in the non-compensated group (26.81 +/- 24.75)(p=0.000). Symptom complaints were significantly higher in the compensated group in all organ systems, and their incidence increased gradually until 10 years after cessation of work, and then decreased. The mean duration for cessation of exposure at the time of compensation was 10.97 years. The significantly different factors between the compensated group and the non-compensated group were total cumulative exposure index and the time interval between the cessation of work and the time of compensation. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that total cumulative exposure index and the time interval between the cessation of work and the time of compensation may be important factors affecting the compensation for occupational disease. Therefore, further studies will be necessary.
Carbon Disulfide* ; Carbon* ; Compensation and Redress* ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Neck ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupations* ; Poisoning* ; Questionnaires