Epidemiologic Characteristics of Compensated Occupational Lung Cancers among Korean Workers

An understanding of the characteristics of occupational lung cancer is important to establish policies that prevent carcinogen exposure and to compensate workers exposed to lung carcinogens. This study analyzed the characteristics of occupational lung cancers in workers who were compensated under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Law between 1994 and 2011. A total of 179 occupational lung cancers were compensated. The main carcinogenic exposure was asbestos, followed by crystalline silica and hexavalent chromium. The mean exposure duration and latency were 19.8 and 23.2 yr. The most common industry was manufacturing, followed by construction and transportation. The most common occupation was maintenance and repair, followed by foundry work, welding, painting, and spinning or weaving. Although asbestos was predominant carcinogen, the proportion of these cases was relatively low compared to other developed countries. Proper surveillance system is needed to monitor occupational lung cancer and improve prevention measures.

Return-to-Work According to Impairment Type Among Occupationally Injured Workers in Korea

This study examined the association between return-to-work and impairment type. Database of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service was used to identify disabled persons; and return-to-work information was obtained from the Korea Employment Information Services database. The study participants were 79,328 persons who received Workers' compensation and who were confirmed as disabled during 2009-2011. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between return-to-work and impairment type, adjusted by age, sex, impairment severity, pre-injury businesses size, and pre-injury occupational category. Compared to injuries of the upper limbs, the odds ratio of return-to-work was 0.63 (95% CI, 0.60-0.65) for injuries involving the lower limbs, 0.62 (95% CI, 0.59-0.66) for the spine, 0.75 (95% CI, 0.66-0.86) for the eyes, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.77-1.25) for the oral cavity, 0.44 (95% CI, 0.37-0.53) for the ears, 1.02 (95% CI, 0.83-1.25) for the figure, 0.75 (95% CI, 0.72-0.79) for pain, and 0.36 (95% CI, 0.32-0.41) for neuropsychiatric impairment. These findings indicate that impairment type influences return-to-work rates.

A New Disability Rating Method according to the Job Using the Korean Academy of Medical Science Disability Guideline

The purpose of this study was to develop a disability rating scale according to job classification using the Korean Academy of Medical Society (KAMS) guidelines. All jobs were categorized based on their level of physical activity and professional skills. The KAMS guidelines were used for the impairment rating. We modified the California Schedule for rating permanent disabilities. The differences were plotted to compare between the impairment rate and the job-adjusted disability rate. The KAMS job-adjusted disability rates were then compared to the McBride and workers' compensation rates. A total of 1,206 occupations were classified into 44 groups. The occupational disability indexes were rated on a scale of 1 to 7. The differences in the McBride disability rates varied inconsistently from 0% to 35%, while the differences in the KAMS disability rates were between 0% and 18%. The KAMS disability rates were slightly higher than the McBride disability rates for the upper extremities, but were lower for the lower extremities and internal organs. This is the first Korean job-adjusted disability rating method. There are several limitations, but its impairment rating is more scientific and reflects the current Korean occupational environment.

Doenças do trabalho e benefícios previdenciários relacionados à saúde, Bahia, 2000 / Work-related diseases and health-related compensation claims, Northeastern Brazil, 2000 / Enfermedades del trabajo y beneficios de la previsión relacionados a la salud, Bahia (Brasil), 2000

OBJETIVO: Estimar a contribuição das doenças relacionadas ao trabalho nos afastamentos por problemas de saúde em geral e ocupacionais. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados dados sociodemográficos, ocupacionais e de saúde referentes a 29.658 registros dos benefícios por incapacidade temporária concedidos por agravos à saúde pelo Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social, no Estado da Bahia, em 2000. Foram considerados casos todos os diagnósticos clínicos constantes da CID-10, com exceção das causas externas e fatores que influenciam o contato com os serviços de saúde. A vinculação do diagnóstico com a ocupação baseou-se no código CID-10 e se a espécie do benefício era "acidentária". RESULTADOS: Dentre os benefícios, 3,1 por cento foram concedidos para doenças do trabalho: 70 por cento eram doenças do sistema osteomuscular e do tecido conjuntivo e 14,5 por cento do sistema nervoso. No geral, benefícios concedidos numa freqüência maior que o dobro da esperada foram: para tenossinovites na indústria da transformação (Razão de Proporção-RP=2,70), síndrome do túnel do carpo na intermediação financeira (RP=2,43) e transtornos do disco lombar no ramo de transporte, correio e telecomunicações (RP=2,17). Entretanto, não foi estabelecido nexo causal para estas doenças, nesses ramos de atividade, em percentual significativo de benefícios. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem a existência de possíveis fatores de risco ocupacionais para enfermidades nesses ramos de atividade, como também o sub-registro da vinculação das patologias com o trabalho, camuflando a responsabilidade das empresas e a perspectiva de prevenção pela reorganização do trabalho.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the contribution of work-related diseases to sick leaves due to general and occupational health problems. METHODS: Sociodemographic, occupational and health data from 29,658 records of temporary disability benefits, granted on account of health problems by the Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (National Institute of Social Security) in the state of Bahia (Northeastern Brazil), were analyzed. All constant ICD-10 clinical diagnoses were taken into consideration, except for those referring to external causes and factors that influence contact with health services. The link between diagnosis and occupation was based on the ICD-10 code and whether the type of compensation was due to a "work-related accident/disease" or not. RESULTS: From all the benefits, 3.1 percent were granted due to work-related diseases: 70 percent were musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases, while 14.5 percent were related to the nervous system. In general, benefits granted at more than two times the expected frequency were as follows: tenosynovitis in the manufacturing sector (Proportion Ratio-PR=2.70), carpal tunnel syndrome in the financial intermediation sector (PR=2.43), and lumbar disc degeneration in the transportation, postal service and telecommunications sectors (PR=2.17). However, no causal connection could be established for these diseases, in these activity sectors, in a significant percentage of benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the existence of possible occupational risk factors for diseases in these fields of activity, as well as the underreporting of the link between diseases and work, thus disguising the responsibility of companies and the perspective of prevention through work reorganization.

OBJETIVO: Estimar la contribución de las enfermedades relacionadas al trabajo en las licencias por problemas de salud en general y ocupacionales. MÉTODOS: Fueron analizados datos sociodemográficos, ocupacionales y de salud referentes a 29.658 registros de los beneficios por incapacidad temporal concedidos por agravamientos a la salud por el Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social, en el estado de Bahia (Nordeste de Brasil), en 2000. Fueron considerados como casos todos los diagnósticos clínicos constantes de CID-10, con excepción de las causas externas y factores que influencian el contacto con los servicios de salud. La vinculación del diagnóstico con la ocupación se baso en el código CID-10 y si la especie de beneficio era "accidentaria". RESULTADOS: De los beneficios, 3,1 por ciento fueron concedidos para enfermedades de trabajo: 70 por ciento eran enfermedades del sistema osteomuscular y del tejido conjuntivo y 14,5 por ciento del sistema nervioso. En general, beneficios concedidos en una frecuencia mas grande que el doble de lo esperado fueron: para tenossinovites en la industria de transformación (Razón de Proporción-RP=2,70), síndrome del túnel del carpo en la intermediación financiera (RP=2,43) y trastornos del disco lumbar en el ramo del transporte, correo y telecomunicaciones (RP=2,17). Sin embargo, no fue establecido nexo causal para estas enfermedades, en estos ramos de actividad, en porcentual significativo de beneficios. CONCLUSÕES: Los resultados sugieren la existencia de posibles factores de riesgo ocupacionales para enfermedades en estos ramos de actividad, como también el sub-registro de la vinculación de las patologías con el trabajo, camuflando la responsabilidad de las empresas y la perspectiva de premención por la reorganización del trabajo.