Ergonomic aspects in the prevention of occupational cumulative trauma disorders of the locomotor system
Swat, K.
Medycyna Pracy 49(6): 589-602
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0465-5893 PMID: 10204148 Document Number: 492417
In recent years, a rapid increase in the number of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) induced by repeatability of certain functions in the course of work performance has been observed. In the United States, a twenty-fold increase in the number of registered CTDs of upper limbs has been noted during the last ten years. For example in 1993, CTDs constituted 60% of all occupational diseases. A similar observation was made in Australia, Canada, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom and other European countries. It is thought that this high incidence of cumulative trauma disorders result, to a great extent, from changes in technologies leading finally to almost unilateral involvement of the human locomotor system. Ergonomics plays a key role in the prevention of the locomotor system occupational traumas, since as the only one discipline, it is able to provide criteria for securing safety work without disturbing its inherent sense, namely the efficiency. Risk factors reported in Western countries will also emerge in Polish economy in the near future. In Poland like in other countries, employers, managers of work posts, safety and hygiene services, as well as occupational physicians frequently fail to identify CTD risk factors which occur in the working environment. In this paper, the author presents the literature data on CTD etiology, and the criteria for identifying occupational risk factors. The literature review clearly indicates that the studies of cumulative trauma disorders of the musculoskeletal system has recently been intensified. But the evaluation criteria, nomenclature and analytical methods still needs to be standardized.