RESUMO
Background: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in occupational disease claims and identify patterns of WRMSDs for each body part by industry and occupation. Methods: This study analyzed the raw data of occupational disease claims for musculoskeletal disorders deliberated by the Occupational Disease Decision Committee of the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service in 2020. The data was classified into 6 body parts with the highest numbers of occupational disease cases by using the complete enumeration data on principal diagnoses and 4 types of subdiagnoses in the raw data. The characteristics and approval rates of WRMSDs by body part, industry and occupation were examined and summarized. Results: A total of 13,015 occupational disease cases for WRMSDs were classified, and lumbar spinal (back) diseases accounted for the largest proportion of claimed diseases, followed by shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and neck diseases in a descending order. The occupations with the highest and second highest numbers of occupational disease cases by body part were found to be automobile assemblers and production-related elementary workers for the neck, school meal service workers and cooks for the back, construction frame mold carpenters and school meal service workers for the shoulder, elementary workers in mining and food service workers for the elbow, food service workers and automobile parts assemblers for the wrist, and ship welders and school meal service workers for the knee. Conclusions: This study examined the characteristics and approval status of WRMSDs by body part and occupation. Based on the study results, management strategies for the prevention of WRMSDs should be established regarding occupations with a high risk of WRMSDs for each body part.
RESUMO
Acute respiratory illness caused by exposure to welding-associated zinc oxide fumes is known as metal fume fever (MFF). MFF is generally characterized as a self-limiting disease. Few studies have reported chemical pneumonitis associated with zinc fume inhalation. We report a case study involving severe episodes of MFF accompanied by chemical pneumonitis due to the inhalation of zinc oxide fumes while operating an arc welder. A 54-year-old man developed flu-like symptoms after arc welding galvanized steel in a poorly ventilated area. Despite intravenous antibiotics therapy, his clinical course worsened, and his urine zinc concentration was remarkably elevated (3579 µg/24 h; reference range, 0-616 µg/24 h). A chest computed tomography revealed extensive consolidation, ground-glass opacity in the lungs, and right pleural effusion. After corticosteroid treatment, the patient's symptoms and radiologic findings significantly improved. It should be noted that the inhalation of zinc oxide fumes can occasionally induce acute lung injury via inflammatory responses and oxidative stress.
