ACCESO DIRECTO A LOS SUMARIOS:

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Archivos de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Journal of Occupational Health Psychology
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Safety Science
Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health
Work & Stress

Dale AM, Descatha A, Coomes J, Franzblau A, Evanoff B. Physical examination has a low yield in screening for carpal tunnel syndrome. Am J Ind Med. 2011;54(1):1-9.

Background: Physical examination is often used to screen workers for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In a population of newly hired workers, we evaluated the yield of such screening. Methods: Our study population included 1,108 newly hired workers in diverse industries. Baseline data included a symptom questionnaire, physical exam, and bilateral nerve conduction testing of the median and ulnar nerves; individual results were not shared with the employer. We tested three outcomes: symptoms of CTS, abnormal median nerve conduction, and a case definition of CTS that required both symptoms and median neuropathy. Results: Of the exam measures used, only Semmes-Weinstein sensory testing had a sensitivity value above 31%. Positive predictive values were low, and likelihood ratios were all under 5.0 for positive testing and over 0.2 for negative testing. Conclusions: Physical examination maneuvers have a low yield for the diagnosis of CTS in workplace surveillance programs and in post-offer, pre-placement screening programs.

Lander L, Eisen EA, Stentz TL, Spanjer KJ, Wendland BE, Perry MJ. Near-miss reporting system as an occupational injury preventive intervention in manufacturing. Am J Ind Med. 2011;54(1):40-8.

Background: A database of near-misses (NM), minor injuries, and OSHA recordable injuries was established at a mid-size electrical manufacturing plant as part of injury prevention efforts. The utility of a NM reporting system was evaluated by estimating its impact on the annual incidence of minor and OSHA recordable injuries. Methods:Logistic regression was performed to examine the effects of predictor variables (year, age, duration of employment) on the type of event (NM, minor, OSHA recordable). Poisson regression was fit to model the annual rate of OSHA recordable injuries as a function of time. Results: 1690 events were reported between 1999 and 2006 including 261 NM, 1205 minor, and 205 OSHA recordable injuries. The expected rate of OSHA recordable injuries decreased by 0.84 (95% CI: 0.73-0.97) annually. Conclusions: The implementation of a NM reporting system was associated with decrease in the rate of OSHA recordable injuries. NM reporting systems may be valuable injury interventions in manufacturing.

Romano D, Gadea R, Santos T, García AM. Utilización de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COV) como disolventes en empresas españolas. Arch Prev Riesgos Labor. 2011;14(1):28-37.

Objetivo: Trabajadores de prácticamente todos los sectores de actividad están expuestos a compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COV), sustancias que pueden ocasionar graves daños sobre la salud y el medio ambiente. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir el uso de COV en empresas españolas, incluyendo información sobre su toxicidad, principales usos y medidas preventivas aplicadas para su utilización. Métodos: Se describen los datos obtenidos en 156 empresas de diferentes sectores y características participantes en el proyecto denominado "Prevención y control de sustancias disolventes peligrosas", desarrollado por el Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud (ISTAS) en colaboración con Comisiones Obreras. En cada una de estas empresas se obtuvo información sobre el uso de COV en los procesos productivos a través de la observación, la consulta de fichas de datos de seguridad (FDS) y de entrevistas con delegados y técnicos de prevención. Resultados: Los COV utilizados con mayor frecuencia son hidrocarburos aromáticos (xileno, tolueno y etilbenceno). Los usos más frecuentes son recubrimiento y limpieza de superficies y en adhesivos. Se identificó la utilización de 132 COV diferentes, un 40% de los mismos con efectos tóxicos conocidos sobre la salud. La mayoría se utilizan de forma habitual en las empresas. El 43% de las FDS localizadas para estos productos presentan errores, siendo mayor el número de errores conforme disminuye el tamaño de la empresa (p=0,031). La medida preventiva más utilizada son los equipos de protección individual. Conclusiones: Los resultados muestran la necesidad de reforzar la aplicación de la normativa en las empresas, así como de desarrollar actividades preventivas específicas sobre COV, en particular la sustitución de los productos más tóxicos.

Miranda H, Punnett L, Gore R, Boyer J. Violence at the workplace increases the risk of musculoskeletal pain among nursing home workers. Occup Environ Med. 2011;68(1):52-7.

Background: Despite the high prevalences of workplace physical violence and musculoskeletal symptoms among health care workers, very few studies have examined the relationship between these two phenomena. Methods:We surveyed 920 clinical nursing home workers by questionnaire regarding musculoskeletal pain in the low back, shoulders, wrists or hands, and knees. Information was also collected on exposure to physical assaults at work during the preceding 3 months, other workplace safety features, physical workload and psychosocial work environment. Log-binomial regression was used to estimate the prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% CIs. Results: Almost one-half of respondents reported being assaulted at least once during the preceding 3 months by a resident or resident's visitor. The prevalence of low back pain increased from 40% among non-assaulted workers to 70% among those assaulted three or more times. The highest risk was found for widespread pain (three or more areas), with an adjusted PR of 2.7 (95% CI 1.8 to 3.9) for workers assaulted three or more times. Good workplace safety buffered the effects, so that violence increased the risk of most pains considerably less in a work environment perceived to be safe. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a dose-response association between physical assaults and musculoskeletal pain in a health care setting where violence is a frequent occurrence. This emphasises the need to address violence as a workplace hazard through practical measures for prevention as well as in future aetiological research on musculoskeletal disorders.

Baldi I, Gruber A, Rondeau V, Lebailly P, Brochard P, Fabrigoule C. Neurobehavioral effects of long-term exposure to pesticides: results from the 4-year follow-up of the PHYTONER Study. Occup Environ Med. 2011;68(2):108-15.

Objectives: The aim of the PHYTONER study is to investigate the role of pesticides on neurobehavioral performances in French vineyard workers. Methods: 929 workers affiliated to the health insurance system for farmers in the Bordeaux area of south-western France were enrolled in the study in 1997-1998. They were contacted for a first follow-up in 2001-2003. Participants completed a questionnaire and nine neurobehavioral tests. They were classified according to their life-long pesticide exposure, as directly exposed, indirectly exposed or non-exposed. Educational level, age, sex, alcohol consumption, smoking, psychotropic drug use and depressive symptoms were taken into account in the analysis. Results: 614 subjects were available for investigation at follow-up. Follow-up analysis confirmed that the risk of obtaining a low performance on the tests was higher in exposed subjects, with ORs ranging from 1.35 to 5.60. Evolution of performances over the follow-up period demonstrated that exposed subjects had the worst decreases in performance. The risk of having a two-point lower score on the Mini-Mental State Examination was 2.15 (95% CI 1.18 to 3.94) in exposed subjects. Conclusions: These results suggest long-term cognitive effects of chronic exposure to pesticides and raise the issue of the risk of evolution towards dementia. The PHYTONER study is the first to provide prospective data on the natural history of neurological disorders associated with pesticide exposure.

OTROS ARTÍCULOS DE AUTORES ESPAÑOLES:

Cambra K, Martínez-Rueda T, Alonso-Fustel F, Cirarda FB, Ibáñez B, Esnaola S, et al. Mortality in small geographical areas and proximity to air polluting industries in the Basque country (Spain). Occup Environ Med. 2011;68(2):140-147.

Conte JC, Rubio E, García AI, Cano F. Occupational accidents model based on risk-injury affinity groups. Safety Science.2011;49(2):306-314.

Pérez-Alonso J, Carreño-Ortega A, Callejón-Ferre AJ, Vázquez-Cabrera FJ. Preventive activity in the greenhouse-construction industry of south-eastern Spain. Safety Science.2011;49(2):345-354.