1.Worksite survey of occupational disease diagnosis
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(1):1-9
The worksite survey of occupational disease diagnosis is a series of occupational health investigations in the workplace initiated by the occupational disease diagnosis institution or the public health administrative department in order to understand whether there is a causal relationship between the workers' diseases and the workplace in the process of occupational disease diagnosis and verification. The main purpose of the worksite survey is to find out whether there are occupational hazards that cause health damage to workers in the workplace, and to analyze whether there is a causal relationship between the exposure to occupational hazards at the corresponding concentration (intensity) and the diseases suffered by workers. In actual work, it is necessary to determine whether it is necessary to organize worksite survey according to the legal situation and actual work of occupational disease diagnosis. The mainly works of worksite survey includes three aspects: preliminary preparation, survey implementation and survey report writing. It is necessary to pay attention to the key and difficult tasks such as preparation before survey, survey plan and questionnaire, complexity and uncertainty of worksite survey and sampling and detection of occupational hazard factors in workplace. After the worksite survey,it is necessary to write a written occupational disease on-site investigation report to provide objective, reliable and scientific evidence for occupational disease diagnosis.
2.The core issue of the management of occupational health technical service institutions in China under new circumstances
Xiaodong SHI ; Shijie HU ; Han ZHAO ; Dongshan LIU
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(1):82-88
Occupational health technical service (OHTS) is one of the core contents in the technical support system of occupational disease prevention and control, and efficient management of OHTS institutions is necessary for improving the service ability. At present, OHTS institutions in China face several issues, such as uneven distribution in terms of quantity, function, unclear area coverage and roles and overlapping responsibilities among different types of institutions, and insufficient service capabilities with inconsistent service levels in some institutions. With the implementation of the national reform like the “separating permits from business license” and “delegate power, streamline administration and optimize government services"”policies, the management mode and operational approach of OHTS institutions have been profoundly changed. In light of this, five key recommendations are proposed to improve the management of OHTS institutions and enhance their management effectiveness, ensuring the sustainable development of national OHTS services. Firstly, it is necessary to clarify the relationship between national and provincial administrative levels in managing OHTS institutions to ensure their healthy and orderly development. Secondly, multiple measurements are taken to strengthen OHTS institutional capacity building to address regional disparities in technical capabilities and service quality. Thirdly, both technical capabilities and service quality should be focused on strengthening the supervision and management of OHTS institutions, preventing the decline of key conditions such as staffing, laboratories, equipment, and quality management after obtaining qualifications. Fourthly, “dual randomized- inspections and one open” and “internet+supervision” methods are used as basic tools for managing OHTS institutions operating across multiple provincial regions and enforcing cross-regional law. Fifthly, professional integrity of radiological health service institutions should be restored to effectively apply their technical advantages in their specialized fields.
3.Analyzing the influencing factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in passenger drivers
Xinyang YU ; Yingfei XIANG ; Yonglin LUO ; Meifang XU ; Xiao YIN ; Min YANG ; Huiqing CHEN ; Shijie HU
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(2):155-159
Objective To investigate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in passenger drivers and its influencing factors. Methods A total of 951 passenger drivers in Guangdong Province were selected as the research subjects using the judgmental sampling method. A Musculoskeletal Injury Questionnaire was employed to assess the prevalence of WMSDs in the past year. Results The prevalence of WMSDs in passenger drivers was 41.11%. The result of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that married drivers had a higher risk of WMSDs than single drivers (P<0.05). The lower the frequency of physical exercise, the longer the driving time per week, the longer the continuous driving time, the more restricted the driving working space, the poorer the foot comfort during driving, and the more affected the normal meal, the higher the risk of WMSDs (all P<0.05). The risk of WMSDs in drivers with sleep time ≤ 8.0 h/d was higher than that in drivers with sleep time > 8.0 h/d (P<0.01), and the risk of WMSDs in drivers with the same posture for a long time on the shoulder was higher than that in drivers without this poor working posture (P<0.01). Conclusion WMSDs were prevalent among passenger drivers, which was associated with demographic and adverse ergonomic factors. Intervention on lifestyle and adverse ergonomic factors could further reduce the risk of WMSDs of passenger drivers.
4.Diagnostic analysis of an occupational heat illness case caused by part-time work
Ruiyan HUANG ; Bin LI ; Xijin SHE ; Xiaoyi LI ; Shijie HU
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(2):212-215
This study analyzes the legal application of a dispute over employer identification in a case of occupational heat illness caused by part-time work to clarifying matters related to employer determination in occupational disease diagnosis using a case analysis method and factual reconstruction. The analysis is based on relevant civil laws and regulations, occupational disease diagnosis laws and regulations, and jurisprudential theories. The occupational disease diagnostic institution identified the part-time employer as responsible for the patient′s heat illness, which was both reasonable and lawful. This attribution safeguarded the rights of the worker, the primary employer, and the part-time entity. In occupational disease diagnosis, attention should be paid to de facto employment relationship, and the principle of "accountability lies with the actual employer at the time of the incident" should be followed to standardize employer identification. The health administrative department has supervisory responsibilities over occupational disease diagnoses. Workers′ compensation rights can be protected through the advance payment mechanism for work-related injury insurance. It is recommended to further improve internal procedures for occupational disease diagnosis, strengthen the dissemination of relevant laws and regulations and enhance the capabilities of occupational disease diagnosis physicians, to further protect workers' occupational health and their associated legal rights.
5.Analysis of the epidemic status and key risk factors of occupational diseases in Guangdong Province during the “13th Five-Year Plan” period
Shanyu ZHOU ; Ruiyan HUANG ; Xianzhong WEN ; Xudong LI ; Shu WANG ; Yongshun HUANG ; Shijie HU
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(5):517-522
Objective To analyze the epidemic status of newly diagnosed occupational diseases in Guangdong Province during the “13th Five-Year Plan” period, and scientifically evaluate the critical risk factors for occupational disease prevention and control. Methods The data of newly diagnosed occupational diseases reported by internet in Guangdong Province from 2016 to 2020 was collected from Report Card of Occupational Diseases using Occupational Diseases and Health Hazard Factors Monitoring Information System under China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Data was used to determine the epidemic status and identify key risk factors. Results A total of 4 846 cases of occupational diseases were reported in Guangdong Province during the “13th Five-Year Plan”period, with an increase rate of 39.13% compared with the “12th Five-Year Plan” period (3 483 cases). The annual distribution of newly diagnosed occupational disease cases showed a trend of increasing and then declining. The top five percentage on types of occupational diseases were occupational noise-induced deafness, occupational silicosis, occupational chronic benzene poisoning, other occupational pneumoconiosis and occupational hand-arm vibration disease, accounting for 45.23%, 16.28%, 11.52%, 7.92% and 4.60%, respectively. Cases from the Pearl River Delta region accounted for 92.76%, while five non-Delta cities had “zero reported cases”. Regarding industry sector, cases were primarily concentrated in manufacturing, construction, and mining, accounting for 84.21%, 5.49% and 3.59%, respectively. Regarding industry categories, cases were concentrated in metal products, non-metallic mineral products, manufacturing of cultur, education, art, sports and entertainment goods, manufacturing of computer, communication and other electric devices, and manufacturing of specialized equipment, accounting for 11.70%, 10.17%, 8.60%, 7.82%, and 4.81%, respectively. A total of 196 enterprises (accounting for 7.39%) reported an average of three or more new cases per year, while 19 enterprises (accounting for 0.72%) reported an average of ten or more cases per year. Conclusion The epidemic status of occupational diseases in Guangdong Province showed a “triple concentration” characteristic in disease types, regions, and industries during the “13th Five-Year Plan” period. Particular attention should be paid to epidemic status of occupational noise-induced deafness, occupational silicosis, occupational chronic benzene poisoning, other occupational pneumoconiosis, and occupational hand-arm vibration disease, and also pay special attention to the prevention and control of occupational diseases in the Pearl River Delta region, cities with “zero reported cases”, manufacturing industry and occupational disease-prone enterprises.
6.New quality productive forces and high-quality development of occupational health
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(4):361-366
The new quality productive forces are the advanced form of productivity where innovation plays a leading role and aligns with new development concepts. The concept of new quality productive forces provides crucial momentum and strategic tools for the high-quality development of occupational health. From the perspective of occupational health, studying the impact of "new-quality" production factors, issues related to advanced manufacturing industries including biotechnology, new energy, new materials and new technologies, the ergonomics associated with digital intelligence, as well as occupational psychology in emerging industries, will be the direction and focus on the high-quality development of occupational health. In the current period of strategic opportunity for incubation and formation of new quality productive forces, occupational health work should balance the disposal and establishment of new work, building the new before abolishing the old, prioritizing the resolution of severe occupational hazards to safeguard the development of new quality productive forces. Meanwhile, it is essential to seize the historical opportunities presented by the new wave of technological and industrial revolutions, deepen the application of artificial intelligence and big data in the field of occupational health, effectively drive the formation of new quality productive forces in occupational health, study and provide high-quality solutions to the occupational health safety problems in development. It is the mission of occupational health in this era to offer innovative technical and institutional reserves to address future occupational health challenges, promoting the high-quality development of occupational health, and ensuring the development of new quality productive forces and occupational health care of workers in the new era!
7.On the right to occupational disease diagnosis
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(1):1-5
The right of occupational disease diagnosis is a worker's right to occupational health protection, and a procedural right to protect substantive rights. Its contents include the submission of occupational disease diagnosis, the application for occupational disease diagnosis and appraisal, as well as the cooperative obligation of the parties. The right of occupational disease diagnosis and appraisal is the embodiment and extension of the right of occupational disease diagnosis. For workers, the right of occupational disease diagnosis is private, and waiving the diagnosis of occupational diseases is a personal right. For employers, there is no legal right to request initial occupational disease diagnosis, but there is a right to apply for occupational disease diagnosis appraisal and to request re-diagnosis of occupational diseases. The cooperative obligation in occupational disease diagnosis is to guarantee the initiation and smooth progression of the right to occupational disease diagnosis. After workers request occupational disease diagnosis, if they unreasonably refuse to cooperate in health examinations or medical examinations during the diagnosis process, it can be considered as waiving the right to occupational disease diagnosis. If the employers apply for appraisal of occupational disease diagnosis without paying the appraisal fee, it can be handled as waiving their rights or withdrawing their appraisal applications. When workers apply for occupational disease diagnosis or appraisal of occupational disease diagnosis, but the employer refuses to pay the corresponding fee, it does not affect the progress of occupational disease diagnosis and appraisal work. In this case, the employer should bear the corresponding administrative responsibilities according to law.
8.Discussion on the managing mode for suspected illegal and irregular acts in occupational medical examination institutions
Xiaoyi LI ; Ruiyan HUANG ; Minghui XIAO ; Xiwen TAN ; Leyi XU ; Aichu YANG ; Jiabin CHEN ; Shijie HU
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(1):43-48
ObjectiveTo establish a managing mode for illegal and irregular acts of occupational medical examination (OME) institutions to the requirements of the new situation. Methods The OME institutions from the “Guangdong Province Key Occupational Disease Monitoring and Management Platform” were selected as the study subjects using the judgment sampling method. The clues of suspected illegal and irregular acts of OME institutions were found and submitted to the local health commission for investigation and managed according to the case information monitoring and on-site quality assessment. The OME institutions found to have illegal and irregular acts were filed and investigated according to the national law after investigation and verification. A “follow-up inspection” was conducted on five OME institutions for closed loop management. Results A total of 12 OME institutions were found to have suspected illegal and irregular acts, including seven institutions that did not meet the filing requirements for effective personnel, five institutions that conducted projects beyond the scope without filing to the provincial health authorities within 15 work days from the start of the project, and two institutions that failed to fulfill the obligation of informing and reporting to the health authorities, employers, and workers as required. After submitting relevant clues and evidence to the local health commission for investigation and management, seven institutions were not given penalty, and five institutions were given administrative penalties including two institutions were fined and warned, and three institutions were warned. No illegal or irregular acts were found in the five institutions inspected during the “follow-up inspection”. Conclusion It is beneficial to explore the managing mode of “clue discovery, clue submission, investigation and disposal, follow-up inspection” for OME institutions suspected of illegal and irregular acts, which helps urge OME institutions to work in accordance with laws and regulations and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers' occupational health.
9.Analysis on occupational health risk assessment methods
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(2):121-128
Occupational health risk assessment is a legal requirement. In legal terms, "occupational health risk assessment" is a means which focuses on occupational disease monitoring and special investigations, analyzing relevant information collected, and ultimately identifying high-risk industries and regions, and proposing reasonable, feasible, and scientific risk management and control recommendations to reduce occupational health risks in key industries and regions. The collection and selection of information are the foundation and core of occupational health risk assessment work. Causation determination is an important basis for information classification in occupational health risk assessment. The establishment and application of mathematical models are the prospects and directions for high-quality development of occupational health risk assessment work. However, the current research does not pay adequate attention on mathematical models for occupational health risk assessment methods, resulting in no substantial progression or improvement in occupational health risk assessment work. The key to future occupational health risk assessment work is to accurately grasp the definition of occupational health risk assessment in a legal term, to streamline and improve the indicator system of occupational health risk assessment, to actively explore and apply mathematical models for occupational health risk assessment, and to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of occupational health risk assessment work.
10.Clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of a Chinese pedigree affected with Spastic paraplegia type 5A
Mengyuan LIU ; Dongxiao LI ; Yuke LI ; Daoqi MEI ; Shijie DONG ; Yanli WANG ; Weiyu HU ; Chao GAO
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(4):437-442
Objective:To explore the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of a Chinese pedigree affected with Spastic paraplegia type 5A (SPG5A).Methods:A pedigree suspected for Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) at Henan Children′s Hospital on August 15 2022 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the pedigree was collected. Peripheral blood samples were collected from members of the pedigree. Following extraction of genomic DNA, trio-WGS was carried out, and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing.Results:The child, a 1-year-old boy, had presented with microcephaly, hairy face and dorsal side of distal extremities and trunk, intellectual and motor development delay, increased muscle tone of lower limbs, hyperreflexes of bilateral knee tendons, and positive pathological signs. His parents and sister both had normal phenotypes. Trio-WGS revealed that the child has harbored a homozygous c. 1250G>A (p.Arg417His) variant of the CYP7B1 gene, for which his mother was heterozygous, the father and sister were of the wild type. The variant was determined to have originated from maternal uniparental disomy (UPD). The result of Sanger sequencing was in keeping with the that of trio-WGS. SPG5A due to maternal UPD of chromosome 8 was unreported previously. Conclusion:The child was diagnosed with SPG5A, a complex type of HSP, for which the homozygous c. 1250G>A variant of the CYP7B1 gene derived from maternal UPD may be accountable.

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