Relationships of neurosensory disorders and reduced work ability to alternative frequency weightings of hand-transmitted vibration

Bovenzi, Massimo; Prodi, Andrea; Mauro, Marcella

doi:10.5271/sjweh.3490

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In a 3-year follow-up study of 249 hand-arm vibration exposed workers and 138 referents, the workers had a higher prevalence and cumulative incidence of neurosensory disorders in hands and a reduced work ability compared to the referents [29]. The intensity of the daily vibration exposure and the duration of exposure in years were significantly related to both neurosensory findings and work ability [29]. The vibration perception threshold was the most sensitive QST-parameter to diagnose adverse health neurosensory findings in a study of chain saw workers and stone cutters [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vibration-induced injuries in workers exposed to transient and high frequency vibrations

Gerhardsson

Ahlstrand

Ersson

et al. 2020

J Occup Med Toxicol

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Background: The risk of developing vibration white fingers and neurosensory symptoms increases with the duration and intensity of the exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of developing vibration white fingers (VWF), neurosensory symptoms and musculoskeletal disorders among workers exposed to transient and high frequency vibrations. Methods: The study included 38 vibration exposed workers from a loader assembly plant in Sweden (30 males and 8 females). All participants answered questionnaires and had a structured interview about work and medical history. A following medical examination included the determination of vibration and temperature perception thresholds and musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck, shoulder, elbow and hands. The individual vibration exposure expressed as A (8)-values and vibration exposure in minutes per day, were obtained from questionnaires answered by the participants. Results: The prevalence of VWF was 30% among the male workers and 50% among the females. The corresponding prevalence of neurosensory symptoms was 70% among the males and 88% among the females. Musculoskeletal findings were common among the male workers. Dominant symptoms/syndromes were tension neck syndrome, biceps tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar entrapment in hand/wrist. A total of 32 diagnoses were observed among the male workers and four diagnoses among the female workers. Numbness in fingers and age had the strongest impact on perceived work ability. Conclusions: ISO 5349-1 considerably underestimates the risks of VWF for this group of workers exposed to transient and high frequency vibrations. It is therefore important to develop a risk assessment standard also covering this frequency range.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vibration-induced injuries in workers exposed to transient and high frequency vibrations

Gerhardsson

Ahlstrand

Ersson

et al. 2020

J Occup Med Toxicol

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“…This being the case we needed to know the cut-off from normal of sensory perception using monofilaments in the fingers of asymptomatic non-vibration exposed male heavy manual workers and whether previously published normal data for the Purdue pegboard applied to heavy manual workers. Both questions were addressed by an expert re-analysing his previously published data on non-vibration-exposed maintenance workers as medians and interquartile ranges (Bovenzi et al 2015 ). This was done as normal limit values by age and hand.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

International consensus criteria for diagnosing and staging hand–arm vibration syndrome

Poole

Bovenzi

Nilsson

et al. 2018

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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PurposeIn the 30 years since the Stockholm Workshop Scale (SWS) was published, the scientific literature on hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) has grown and experience has been gained in its practical application. This research was undertaken to develop an up-to-date evidence-based classification for HAVS by seeking consensus between experts in the field.MethodsSeven occupational physicians who are clinically active and have had work published on HAVS in the last 10 years were asked to independently take part in a three-round iterative Delphi process. Consensus was taken when 5/7 (72%) agreed with a particular statement. Experts were asked to provide evidence from the literature or data from their own research to support their views.ResultsConsensus was achieved for most of the questions that were used to develop an updated staging system for HAVS. The vascular and neurological components from the SWS are retained, but ambiguous descriptors and tests without adequately developed methodology such as tactile discrimination, or discriminating power such as grip strength, are not included in the new staging system. A blanching score taken from photographs of the hands during vasospastic episodes is recommended in place of self-recall and frequency of attacks to stage vascular HAVS. Methods with the best evidence base are described for assessing sensory perception and dexterity.ConclusionsA new classification has been developed with three stages for the clinical classification of vascular and neurological HAVS based on international consensus. We recommend it replaces the SWS for clinical and research purposes.

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“…Literature on factors that predict work ability based on longitudinal data that span 10 years or more is rather limited. Studies have found that working conditions, such as the psychosocial work environment (Feldt et al 2009) and physical work demands (von Bonsdorff et al 2011b), including hand-transmitted vibration (Bovenzi et al 2015), and individual factors such as musculoskeletal pain, depressive symptoms (Punakallio et al 2014) and mental work strain (von Bonsdorff et al 2011b), are related to an adverse development in work ability. Based on these previous findings, we designed this study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between work-related factors and musculoskeletal health with current and future work ability among male workers

Boschman

Noor

Lundström

et al. 2017

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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PurposeThe purpose was to increase job-specific knowledge about individual and work-related factors and their relationship with current and future work ability (WA). We studied cross-sectional relationships between mental demands, physical exertion during work, grip strength, musculoskeletal pain in the upper extremities and WA and the relationships between these variables and WA 11 years later.MethodsWe used a dataset of a prospective cohort study (1997–2008) among employees of an engineering plant (n = 157). The cohort was surveyed by means of tests and written questions on work demands, musculoskeletal health, WA score (WAS; 0–10), and mental and physical WA. Spearman correlation coefficients and logistic regression analysis were used.ResultsAmong manual workers, we found weak correlations between grip strength and current and future physical WA. We did not find predictors for future poor WA among the manual workers. Among the office workers, we found that musculoskeletal pain was moderately and negatively related to current WAS and physical WA. More handgrip strength related to better future WAS and physical WA. Musculoskeletal pain (OR 1.67 p < 0.01) and lower handgrip strength (OR 0.91 p < 0.05) predicted future poor WA among office workers.ConclusionsOur results showed cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between musculoskeletal health and work ability depending on occupation. However, the present implies that predicting work ability in the far future based on health surveillance data is rather difficult. Testing the musculoskeletal system (grip strength) and asking workers’ about their musculoskeletal health seems relevant when monitoring work ability.

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Relationships of neurosensory disorders and reduced work ability to alternative frequency weightings of hand-transmitted vibration

Cited by 16 publications

References 29 publications

Vibration-induced injuries in workers exposed to transient and high frequency vibrations

Vibration-induced injuries in workers exposed to transient and high frequency vibrations

International consensus criteria for diagnosing and staging hand–arm vibration syndrome

Relationships between work-related factors and musculoskeletal health with current and future work ability among male workers

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