Interesting study from Hungary:

Professional opera choristers, professional wind players and glassblowers have a higher prevalence of reflux symptoms compared with control subjects. Gastroesophageal reflux in these professions should be considered as a work-related disorder that may have an impact on quality of life and may negatively interfere with professional performance.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Work-Related Disease?
István Preguna, Tamás Bakucza, János Banaib, László Molnárc, Gábor Pavlikd, István Altorjaye, Péter Oroszf, László Csernayg, Zsolt Tulassaya, László Herszényia. Dig Dis 2009;27:38-44 (DOI: 10.1159/000210102)

A patient’s perception of their illness can influence their coping ability, compliance with treatment and functional recovery. This study compares perceptions of illness, fitness to return to work and time to return to work among employees with those of their occupational physicians (OPs). 84 employees and 9 OPs filled in several questionnaires including the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Employees had more negative perceptions (longer duration, more symptoms and concersn) about their illness than OPs. Positive perceptions (shorter lasting illness, more treatable, less symptoms and concern) were associated with an earlier return to work. Unhelpful negative beliefs about illness need to be addressed by OPs.

Perceptions of illness and their impact on sickness absence
Prosenjit Giri, Jon Poole, Peter Nightingale and Alastair Robertson
Occupational Medicine 2009 59(8):550-555; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqp123

To provide a measure of the incidence of work-related mental ill-health reported by specialist psychiatrists and occupational physicians to the Health and Occupation Reporting Network (THOR) during the period 2002–05. Cases were analysed by age, gender, industry and precipitating event.

Estimated annual average incidence rates (95% confidence intervals) of work-related mental ill-health diagnoses reported to THOR between 2002 and 2005 by psychiatrists were 89 (78, 101) per million and by occupational physicians were 1589 (1443, 1735) per million.

Work-related anxiety and depression and stress continue to constitute a significant proportion of all work-related mental ill-health diagnoses in the UK, with workload and interpersonal relationships reported as significant risk factors.

Work-related mental ill-health and ‘stress’ in the UK (2002–05)
Melanie Carder, Susan Turner, Roseanne McNamee and Raymond Agius
Occupational Medicine 2009 59(8):539-544; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqp117

Sinonasal adenocarcinoma is a rare cancer, frequently associated with occupational exposure to inhalable wood dust. This case–control study was aimed at assessing potential risk factors and at characterizing initial clinical symptoms, both serving as matrix to identify persons at increased risk and to improve management of this cancer.

Cases were significantly engaged in mainly woodworking occupations compared to controls. The main initial clinical symptoms were nasal obstruction 6 months (71%) and epistaxis 4 years (41.9%) prior to diagnosis. Hardwood dust from beech and oak proved to be the most common occupational exposure, with a mean exposure period of 32.3 years and a latency of 43.5 (34–58) years.

The researchers conclude  that the study confirms the importance of regular screenings for persons exposed to wood dust even years after the end of occupational or private exposure. Banal clinical symptoms such as epistaxis and nasal obstruction might be predictive, requiring early and thorough investigation.

Characterization of initial clinical symptoms and risk factors for sinonasal adenocarcinomas: results of a case–control study
by Susanne Mayr, Kamber Hafizovic, Frank Waldfahrer, Heinrich Iro, Birgitta Kütting International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Nice post from an important health blog called the Pump Handle on a special version of John Lennon’ Immagine, that starts like this

Imagine no more injuries
Or ‘blame the worker’ schemes
No workers killed in explosions
Or mangled in machines
Imagine all the workers
Going home in one piece!

Imagine Health & Safety
Lyrics By Luis Vazquez, 2009, All Rights Reserved
Sung to the tune of Imagine, by John Lennon

Emergency responders frequently incur injuries while providing medical, fire, and law enforcement services. From a study in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System – Occupational Supplement (NEISS-Work) for injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2000-2001, it turned out that sprains and strains were the leading injury (33-41%) among EMS, firefighter, and police occupations. Police officers and career firefighters had the highest injury rates (8.5 and 7.4 injuries per 100 full-time equivalent workers, respectively). The researchers conclude that The physical demands of emergency response are a leading cause of injuries.

Occupational injuries among emergency responders
Audrey A. Reichard, MPH, OTR, Larry L. Jackson, PhD
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, published Online: 5 Nov 2009

Working safely in a laboratory is important. It is stressed in a funny way in this video made by alumni of the University in Berkely, California USA.

A musical extravaganza on the importance and execution of laboratory safety. See more at http://www.TheSoundsOfScien…

To investigate changes of physical performance during long working hours and extended workweeks among construction workers, 19 construction workers with 12-h workdays and extended workweeks participated. Heart Rate (HR) during each of the two separate workdays corresponded to a relative workload of 25%. Sub-maximal HR was lower, reaction time faster and handgrip strength higher in the end of each test day. No trends of decreased physical performance were found after a workday or a work period.

Changes in physical performance among construction workers during extended workweeks with 12-hour workdays
Anne Faber , Jesper Strøyer, Nis Hjortskov and Bente Schibye
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, online 27 October 2009

Last year, the number of occupational disease claims rose by 6% according to figures from the Center for Insurance Statistics (CVS) in the Netherlands. More than three quarters of these claims relate to asbestos-related diseases. The reports of mesothelioma increased by 10% and its financial burden increased by 72% to 10 million euros.

The annual financial burden of all occupational diseases is 14 million euros. This burden increased by 46% in 2008 as compared to 2007 . Nellie Martens, linked to the Asbestos Institute, explains the long latency of asbestos: it takes on average 38 years before mesothelioma becomes visible. Since only in 1993 the asbestos ban went into force, it is to be expected that more patients will be diagnosed in the coming years. Until 2017 the number of victims will remain stable or rise slightly, and after that the number decreased gradually.

The average claim size of occupational diseases has increased slightly over 2008 and came out to almost 31,000 euros. Mesothelioma claims increased the most, rising almost 20%. The RSI claims have fallen sharply in the past six years.

In the October podcast, HSE’s Steve Coldrick talks about the Asbestos – the Hidden Killer campaign:

Listen to October 2009 Podcast – Asbestos: The Hidden Killer