Longitudinal study of vibration-induced white finger among coastal fallers in British Columbia.

Abstract

SO, SLAKOV J. Longitudinal study of vibration-induced white finger among coastal fallers in British Columbia. Scand J Work Environ Health 13 (1987) 305-308. Symptom-based vibration-induced white finger was determined longitudinally from a questionnaire administered to 71 full-time fallers exposed 2-4 h daily to generally heavy (> 11 kg), large displacement (> 95 cc) chain saws. The prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon among 55 fallers (after 16 fallers were excluded because of possible confounders) was 51 010 in 1979-1980. This figure did not differ significantly from the prevalence in 1984-1985 (53 010). Among the 28 fallers reporting symptoms in 1979-1980, seven reported no symptoms in 1984-1985, while four indicated improvement in the severity of symptoms resulting in a decreased stage assessment. Evidence for actual recovery was weak because of discrepancies in the symptom reporting. Reported recovery and improvement in the group with symptoms in 1979-1980 was counterbalanced by a significant 30 010 onset of new symptoms among fallers who were asymptomatic in 1979-1980. Six of the eight fallers reporting new symptoms were exposed only to anti vibration saws, a finding suggesting that the type of saws used in the present investigation is not preventing the onset of new disease. Weighted 4-h equivalent acceleration levels from the handlebars of saws commonly used by the cohort group in 1984 ranged from 4.0 to 12.4 m/s-.

Epidemiological Evidence for New Frequency Weightings of Hand-Transmitted Vibration

“…Seventeen studies were of cross-sectional type 8, 9, 11,13-15,17-23, 25, 26, 28, 29) and four had both cross-sectional and longitudinal design 12,27,30,31) . Most of the studies reported disagreement with the occurrence of VWF predicted by the ISO models.…”

“…Overestimation of VWF risk was found in eleven studies (52.4%), mainly in worker groups exposed to high magnitudes of low frequency vibration from percussive tools such as rock drills, road breakers, stone hammers, and sand rammers 9, 11, 13, 14,18-21, 23, 25, 26) . Seven studies reported underestimation of the risk for VWF (33.3%) in workers who operated tools producing vibration with high frequency components (riveting tools, grinders) 8,12,15,18,20,27,30) . Good agreement with the ISO prediction was found in three studies of forestry workers 20) , snowmobile drivers 22) , and stone workers using rotary tools solely 25) (14.3%).…”

A cross sectional epidemiological survey of shipyard workers exposed to hand-arm vibration.

“…A high prevalence of symptoms associated with exposure to vibration has been seen in workers using gasoline powered chain saws, rock drills, grinders, riveters, and jackhammers.5 Four longitudinal studies, all of chainsaw operators, have been conducted in the United Kingdom,6 Finland,7 Japan,8 and Canada. 9 Nevertheless, much remains unknown about the pathophysiology, characteristics of the critical exposure, and quantitative assessment of a disease with one of the highest attack rates in the contemporary occupational setting. Accordingly, particular reliance has been placed on symptom reporting as the basis for staging of disease and on epidemiological associations with occupation to identify workers at high risk.…”

The Hand-Arm Vibration International Consortium (HAVIC): Prospective Studies on the Relationship Between Power Tool Exposure and Health Effects

“…33,71,72 In a two-year follow-up of Finnish forestry workers, Farkkila et al 24 observed a 21% loss of muscle force in chainsaw users with VWF compared with a 5% loss in asymptomatic controls. In an earlier study, Hellstrom et al 73 observed no strength losses, although symptoms are commonly described in the questionnaire 74 . Thus, there is particular attention to measuring strength and determining subjective loss.…”