TY - JOUR
T1 - Surveillance of work-related diseases by occupational physicians in the UK
T2 - OPRA 1996-1999
AU - Cherry, N. M.
AU - Meyer, J. D.
AU - Holt, D. L.
AU - Chen, Y.
AU - McDonald, J. C.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are grateful to the OPRA participating physicians, with special thanks to those on the steering committee and also to the project secretary, Sue Whittaker. The ODIN surveillance schemes, including EPIDERM and OPRA, are supported in part by a grant from the Health & Safety Executive.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - The Occupational Physicians' Reporting Activity (OPRA) surveillance scheme for occupational physicians has now been in place for 4 years. During this period, an estimated 43,764 new cases of work-related disease have been reported. Musculoskeletal conditions make up nearly half (49%) of all cases; mental ill-health and skin disease account for 20% each, with respiratory conditions (8%) and hearing loss (5%) seen in lower proportions. Overall, eight of 42 diagnoses made up four-fifths of the new cases reported by occupational physicians. These were hand and arm disorders (8052 estimated cases), contact dermatitis (7104), disorders of the lumbar spine (6000), anxiety and depression (4788), work-related stress (3336), hearing loss (2100), elbow disorders (2040), and asthma (1680). Dermatitis and hearing loss were most frequent in manufacturing industries, lower back complaints in health care, and upper limb disorders in automotive manufacture. Psychiatric illnesses presented a different pattern, mainly affecting those in health, education and social service.
AB - The Occupational Physicians' Reporting Activity (OPRA) surveillance scheme for occupational physicians has now been in place for 4 years. During this period, an estimated 43,764 new cases of work-related disease have been reported. Musculoskeletal conditions make up nearly half (49%) of all cases; mental ill-health and skin disease account for 20% each, with respiratory conditions (8%) and hearing loss (5%) seen in lower proportions. Overall, eight of 42 diagnoses made up four-fifths of the new cases reported by occupational physicians. These were hand and arm disorders (8052 estimated cases), contact dermatitis (7104), disorders of the lumbar spine (6000), anxiety and depression (4788), work-related stress (3336), hearing loss (2100), elbow disorders (2040), and asthma (1680). Dermatitis and hearing loss were most frequent in manufacturing industries, lower back complaints in health care, and upper limb disorders in automotive manufacture. Psychiatric illnesses presented a different pattern, mainly affecting those in health, education and social service.
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Occupational disease
KW - Occupational physicians
KW - Surveillance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033652892&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/occmed/50.7.496
DO - 10.1093/occmed/50.7.496
M3 - Article
C2 - 11198674
AN - SCOPUS:0033652892
SN - 0962-7480
VL - 50
SP - 496
EP - 503
JO - Occupational Medicine
JF - Occupational Medicine
IS - 7
ER -