Descriptive study of claims for occupational mental disorders or suicide

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify the characteristics of claimed mental disorders. Because the workers believed the cause of the mental disorders was work-related stress or a specific event, we could identify the major work-related stressor for claimed cases. METHODS: We included claimed cases of occupational mental disorder or suicide reported during 2010–2014 to the Korea Workers Compensation and Welfare Service (KCOMWEL), established by Industrial Accidents Insurance (IACI) Act. We conducted qualitative analysis using a form specifically developed for this study as well as a quantitative analysis. RESULTS: Of the 569 claimed cases, 142 cases were recognized as occupational mental disorder or suicide. The approval rate was 24.9 %. Suicide was the most commonly approved mental disorder (23.0 %), followed by major depressive disorder (14.9 %). Regarding profession, 109 workers were managers, and 95 workers were office clerks. The main work-related stressors of the approved cases were acute stressful events (76 cases), long working hours (12 cases), and changes in workload (6 cases). The primary stressful events were work-related legal problems, workplace violence, and employment status-related issues. CONCLUSION: Claims due to mental disorders or suicide increased during the 5-year study period, and the approval rate was approximately 33 %, and the main stressor of the claimed cases was an acute stressful event such as physiologic trauma, employment-related issues, fear of legal or financial responsibility, abrupt change in organizational responsibility, or workplace violence.

A case of laryngeal cancer induced by exposure to asbestos in a construction site supervisor

BACKGROUND: Construction site supervisors are exposed to many chemicals, dusts, and metals including asbestos. Asbestos is a hazardous chemical that is carcinogenic. Laryngeal cancer is not a rare disease in Korea. The most common causes of this disease are tobacco and alcohol, and representative occupational cause is asbestos. However, up to now, no case of laryngeal cancer induced by asbestos has been reported in Korea. In this study, we report such a case in a construction site supervisor. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old man who had been experiencing hoarseness for 2 months was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. The pathologic diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma in situ, based on examination of a biopsy specimen obtained by resection of the lesion. The patient had been exposed to asbestos for 38 years at construction sites where he worked until diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. He had been exposed to asbestos when demolishing buildings and inspecting materials. CONCLUSION: The patient in this case worked with construction materials including asbestos and supervised construction for 38 years, and was thus exposed to asbestos at construction sites. Much of the asbestos was highly concentrated especially during demolition processes. We therefore consider the laryngeal cancer of this patient to be a work-related disease.

Health status and related factors in farmers by SF-12

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to understand farmers' health status by general characteristic, and to find out the related factors. METHODS: All the 984 subjects were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire and SF-12. Among them, only 812 were eligible for analysis. Statistical methods used included frequency, t-test, ANOVA, binary logistic regression with SPSS 19.0. RESULTS: In binary logistic regression, marital status, smoking, regular exercise and monthly day off were associated with physical component score. Marital status, smoking and score of pesticide protective device wearing were associated with mental component score. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that effort to develop health promotion programs for workers of agricultural industry considering these results can improve their perceived health status.