Occupational lumbar disc herniation among Thai workers claimed for compensation.

The study was conducted at the Medical Committee Office to the Compensation Fund, from March to August 2000, the documents and medical records of 37 claimants of Thai workers who were diagnosed with occupational lumbar disc herniation were analyzed, 78.4 per cent were male. The most common age was between 26-35 years. About half of the workers had a monthly salary of less than 6,150 baht and had worked for less than 5 years. The most common risk factor was lifting, which accounted for 64.9 per cent and the chance of severity was twice that of other types of work. Ergonomic intervention should be properly implemented.