Reporting of occupational diseases

Reports of occupational diseases sent to the California Department of Public Health reveal strikingly that it is one world so far as hazards to health among occupational groups are concerned. The same chemical may cause illness to the factory worker who manufactures it, to the truckers and stevedores who handle and transport it, to the farmer who uses the material, to the packers and canners of the food treated with it, and to the person who consumes the foods that may be contaminated with it. 

Quadland HP. 1944. Carbon disulphide Part 4 of the literature study of reports of occupational diseases attributed to volatile solvents. Ind Med 13 143-149. 

Any person who manufactures, processes, or distributes in commerce any chemical substance or mixture shall maintain records of significant adverse reactions to health or the environment, as determined by the Administrator by rule, alleged to have been caused by the substance or mixture.. .. Records required to be maintained imder this subsection shall include records of consumer allegations of personal injmy or harm to health, reports of occupational disease or injury, and reports or complaints of injury to the environment submitted to the manufactm-er, processor, or distributor in commerce from any... 

Any person who manufactures, processes, or distributes in commerce any chemical substance or mixture shall maintain records of significant adverse reactions to health or the environment, as determined by the Administrator by rule, alleged to have been caused by the substance or mixture. Records of such adverse reactions to the health of employees shall be retained for a period of 30 years from the date such reactions were first reported to or known by the person maintaining such records. Any other record of such adverse reactions shall be retained for a period of five years from the date the information contained in the record was first reported to or known by the person maintaining the record. Records required to be maintained under this subsection shall include records of consumer allegations of personal injury or harm to health, reports of occupational disease or injury, and reports or complaints of injury to the environment submitted to the manufacturer, processor, or distributor in commerce from any source. Upon request of any duly designated representative of the Administrator, each person who is required to maintain records under this subsection shall permit the inspection of such records and shall submit copies of such records. 

Skin diseases are the second most common form of occupational disease with contact dermatitis accounting for 10 to 15% of all occupational illnesses with an annual associated cost of at least 1 billion [7], Although irritant dermatitis accounts for the majority of cases of contact dermatitis, studies have reported that contact allergies are relevant in between 20 to 50% of contact dermatitis cases [8], In 2003 there were 49 cases of occupational skin disease reported for every 100,000 workers in private... 

Similar results of observations carried out at the Institute of Occupational Diseases in Leningrad were reported by Matussevich [68]. He also mentioned the nails turning yellow. 

It is estimated that there are 3.8 million cases of occupational diseases due to exposure to chemicals in the world each year. Of these, acute pesticide poisoning accounts for about 3 million cases. About 220,ci00 of these are fatal. Over 90 % of exposure incidents and about 99% of deaths take place in the third world countries [13]. German Development expert reports on the careless use of pesticides, in Sri Lanka — there they spread DDT with bare hands, people are powdered white , On the Antilles island of Trinidad a total... 

Promoting the Reporting System and Network of Occupational Diseases... 

The reported occurrence of occupational diseases in 1991 and their distribution by industry are presented in Tables 28.7 and 28.8. 

We could find no study which links the extent of exposure to dangerous chemicals at the workplace to the occurrence of occupational diseases or occupational related diseases. However, the annual report of the German Federation of institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention (Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschafen - gives an idea of what the size of... 

Of course, these cases only represent those officially notified to the Berufsgenossenschafien and listed in the official list of occupational diseases. A considerable number of occupational related dis are not recognised wifiiin the German syston and are therefore not mentioned in the annual report. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that links between occupational exposure to dangerous chemicals and the effects on the health of individuals exposed are in many cases very difficult to prove with certainty, in particular if the effects occur years after the exposure or are to the result of exposure of several similar dangerous chemicals. 

Each year, approximately 300,000 new cases of occupational diseases were reported. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed in 1970 because workplace accidents were causing an average of 14,000 deaths every year in the United States. Each year, 2.5 million workers were disabled in workplace accidents, and approximately 300,000 new cases of occupational diseases were reported. OSHA s mission is to ensure to the extent possible that every working person in the United States has a safe and healthy working environment. 

Roche LM (1993) Use of employer illness reports for occupational disease surveillance among public employees in New Jersey. J Occup Med 35 581-586... 

Choudat D (1994) Occupational lung diseases among dental technicians. Tuber Lung Dis 75 99-104 Christy WC, Rodnan GP (1984) Conjuged progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) report of the disease in husband and wife. Arthritis Rheum 27 1180-1182 Conrad K, Mehlhorn J, Liithke K, Dorner T, Frank KH (1996) Systemic lupus erythematosus after heavy exposure to quartz dust in uranium mines clinical and serological characteristics. Lupus 5 62-69... 

Kanerva L, Jolanki R, Toikkanen J, Keskinen H, Savela A, Karjalainen A (1998) Occupationally induced allergies in 1995-96 (in Finnish). Tyoterveyslaitos, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Allergia ja tyo-ohjelma (Allergy and work program), Helsinki, pp 9-161 Karjalainen A, Aalto L, Jolanki R, Keskinen H, Savela A (1998) Ammattitaudit 1997. Occupational Diseases 1997. New cases reported to the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases. Tyoterveyslaitos, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, pp 88... 

Only a few cases of immediate-type contact urticaria caused by epoxy-resin compounds have been reported. In particular, epoxy resins (Jolanki et al. 1997a) and organic acid anhydride hardeners (Jolanki et al. 1997b) should be regarded as potential causes of the contact-urticaria syndrome. In Finland during 1990-1994, five cases of contact urticaria from phthalic anydrides and two from epoxy resins or epoxy paints were reported to the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases (Kanerva et al. 1996b). 

Kanerva et al. (1996b) reviewed the cases of contact urticaria, including protein-contact dermatitis, reported to the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases from 1990 to 1994. Bakers ranked first among the 15 most common occupations associated with contact urticaria with 140.5 cases per 100,000 employed persons, compared with 21.2 cases among 100,000 nurses, the occupation that ranked 15th. 

From among approximately 12,000 employed laboratory assistants, 83 cases of occupational dermatoses were reported to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases) during 1990-1996. Of the 83 cases, 31 were allergic contact dermatitis, 20 were irritant contact dermatitis, and 18 were contact urticaria (including protein contact dermatitis). In addition, 6 cases were of unspecified (allergic/irritant) contact dermatitis, 7 were other dermatoses (mainly chemical burns), and... 

Diseases A new requirement incorporated in regulation 4 is for the reporting of certain diseases contracted as a result of work. The list of diseases is contained in schedule 2 to the Regulations which gives not only the diseases but the occupation to be followed if the condition is to be reportable. 

Report accidents/cases of occupational disease to the appropriate authority. 

Accident frequency and severity rates are an inadequate means to evaluate the effectiveness of a health and safety plan. Cases of occupational disease are under-reported in these statistics. The emphasis is on injury-producing accidents, not all accidents. Since accidents are a rare event, in small organizations the basis for comparison may be limited. Chance is a factor both in frequency and severity. 

---