Some Aspects of Evaluation of Occupational Diseases Presented on the Example of Evaluation of the Diseases from Vibration

Summary

Diseases caused by vibrations exceeding limits rank among the most frequently reported occupational diseases in our country inlong-term perspective. In 2002, they formed 16.3 % of all new diagnosed occupational diseases. For the first time, the disease wasdescribed in foreign scientific literature in 1911, whereas the first publication on the topic in our country occurred in 1929.In brief review, authors present the definition of vibrations, their physical characteristic, measurement, evaluation and review ofworking sites and occupations at risk. More space is devoted to the international terminology and characteristics of the mostcommon classification of diseases with the presentation of basic differences from our evaluation. The particular chapters aredevoted to the relationship between the disease and the duration of exposure in selected professions and to the protection of theexposed workers from the point of view of technical and health prevention, incl. analysis of possibilities and limitations in the fieldof protection and prevention. In discussion, authors focused on some particular problems of evaluation of professional contribution,which are consequences of recent legislative changes. They warn of insufficient protection of the patient against nonstandardbehaviour of some employers, which is responsible for the development of the occupational disease. The authors prepared theircontribution on the basis of long-term experience with the evaluation of the disease from vibration in the biggest industrial region inthe Czech Republic. They would welcome widespread field discussion on the presented topic from the point of view of prevention,diagnostic procedures and ethical problems.

Key words:
characteristic of vibrations, disease from vibration, duration of exposure, prevention of disease from vibration