[Health risk among workers employed in rubber footwear plant]. / Ryzyko zdrowotne wsród pracowników zakladu obuwia gumowego.

The aim of the study was to assess the health risk of workers performing specific jobs in the process of the rubber footwear production by defining the cause and length of temporary work disability, as well as mortality causes and level. The analysis was carried out in the groups of workers performing the following jobs: mixing, mill operation, pressing and vulcanizing (A); semi-product preparation and calendaring (B); finishing and sorting (C); production of polyvinyl chloride footwear (D); and auxiliary works (E). The sickness absence study covered all workers (208 men and 315 women) employed in a large rubber footwear company and performing all above-listed jobs in 1995. Standardized sick days ratio was used to analyze the risk of temporary work disability. Mortality rate was estimated on the basis of the results of the cohort study performed in the same company among workers who had worked at least three months during the years 1945-1985. The follow-up continued until 31 December 1997. The present study included sub-cohorts composed of 5628 men and 7197 women, performing jobs listed above. The results of both studies indicated the enhanced risk of cardiovascular diseases among workers employed in the basic phases of the production process. The increased risk of the diseases of the digestive system was observed in men and women employed in: finishing, sorting and packing of the products (group C); in men involved in mixing, pressing and vulcanizing (group A); and in women engaged in auxiliary works (group E). In addition, the enhanced risk of sickness absence due to the diseases of the respiratory, digestive, or genitourinary systems was related to the enhanced risk of death from malignant neoplasms in a given site. The analysis showed that the temporary work disability may be regarded as a parameter useful in early assessment of health effects of the work environmental hazards.

[Sickness absence among workers with occupational locomotor system diseases]. / Czasowa niezdolnosc do pracy osób z przewleklymi chorobami narzadu ruchu wywolanymi sposobem wykonywania pracy.

A long-term analysis of the data on temporary incapacity for work may be useful in identifying the most essential changes in the pattern of the causes of the disease-related incapacity for work and give the alert for taking necessary measures to protect the human health. The aim of the analysis is to define the causes of temporary incapacity for work prior to the diagnosis of chronic diseases of the locomotor system induced by the way the job is performed and the work overload in workers' groups of the highest disease incidence. The sickness absence study was carried out in the group of 395 workers with the locomotor system diseases due to the above-mentioned causes, diagnosed during the years 1996-1997. The analysis was based on numbers of days of work disability, numbers of cases and the average duration of disease. The rates of work disability days in the study group were compared with relevant rates in the occupationally active population of Poland. The analysis of sickness absence during a five-year period before the certification of the occupational diseases of the locomotor system revealed the sickness absence higher by 52% in male workers and by 60% in female workers than the average sickness absence in the general population. In this group, the diseases of the musculoskeletal system were the major cause of work disability, being responsible for 48% of sickness absence. The highest work disability was found in male workers with shoulder pain syndrome (about 49 days/person/year) and female workers with tenosynovitis and bursitis (45 days/person/year). As to the selected occupational groups, the first place was occupied by the group of workers engaged in metal processing (53 days/person/year), in which diseases of the musculoskeletal system made over 50%. In miners, besides locomotor diseases, a high level of sickness absence was due to the diseases of the nervous system and sense organs (17% of absence). In the group of dentists, the circulatory system diseases were the major cause of work disability in men (38% of absence), and the musculoskeletal system diseases in women (36% of absence). The study indicates that sickness absence can prove to be a substantial parameter that renders it possible to identify persons with enhanced risk of occupational disease by physicians involved in prophylactics and to take necessary preventive measures.

[Accidents and their health effects in firemen of rescue and firefighting teams]. / Analiza wypadkowosci i jej skutków zdrowotnych wsród strazaków jednostek ratowniczo-gasniczych.

Accidents, traumas and poisoning are the most frequent causes of health impairments among firemen, determined by the nature of their occupation. Their work is directly related with the exposure to various harmful chemical and physical factors, involving at the same time mental stress during rescue and firefighting actions. The aim of the analysis performed was to determine the accident rate, range and causes of accident-related absenteeism among firemen of the rescue and firefighting brigades, as well as to indicate major traumas resulting from accidents at work. The study was carried out in a group of 1503 firemen (7% of the total number of firemen in Poland) employed in the rescue and firefighting brigades, selected at random throughout the country. Workers' personal data, as well as the data on the number of accidents and the number of days of work disability during the years 1994-97 were analysed. Accidents and accident-related absenteeism by age, certified causes and sites (body parts) of traumas were also analysed using the following parameters: the accident rate (the number of accidents per 1000 workers), accident severity rate (the number of work disability days per one accident), and absenteeism rate (the number of accident-related work disability days per 100 employed). In the period under study (1994-97) 352 accidents, involving 301 persons were registered. Thus, the accident rate was 70.3. These accidents were responsible for the period of work disability three times higher (293.5 days/100 workers) than that observed in the male population employed in the national economy, and eight times higher (770.2 days/100 workers) in the 50-59 age group. Dislocations and distortions were the most frequent causes of accident-related absenteeism--48, whereas fractures occupied the second place--25%. Burns were classified among the most severe injuries, resulting in more than 90 days of absenteeism annually, but they made only 7% of absenteeism with frequency rate of 2.2/1000. Legs, ankles and feet were the most frequent sites of injuries (60% of accidents with 170.2 days of absenteeism per 100 workers) which may be of significance in preventing hazards occurring in this occupational group.

[Temporary work disability among firemen employed in rescue and fire brigades]. / Analiza czasowej niezdolnosci do pracy strazaków zatrudnionych w jednostkach ratowniczo-gasniczych.

Workers of rescue and fire brigades participating in actions are exposed to harmful effect of toxic substances, chemicals or physical factors. They also experience enormous emotional shock evoked by direct threat or contact with victims of disasters and fires. The aim of the study was to define the pathology which increases the risk of temporary work disability among firemen. The study covered 150 firemen employed during the years 1994-97 in rescue and fire brigades selected at random. The data on the number of days and cases of work disability during the period of four years for each firemen covered by the study were analysed. In the group under study a mean annual number of work disability due to sickness accounted for 1443 days per 100 employed. The major causes of work disability were as follows: diseases of the respiratory system (22% of total sickness absenteeism); diseases of the nervous system and sense organs (19%); diseases of the musculoskeletal system (18%), diseases of the circulatory system (13%); mental disorders (8%); and diseases of digestive system (7%). Sickness absenteeism among workers of rescue and fire brigades was lower by 30% on average than that among men employed in the national economy. But in the 50-59 age group, it was higher by 68%. In this age group, the highest level of sickness absenteeism was associated with mental disorders (15 times higher than in other male occupational groups); diseases of the musculoskeletal system (higher by 53%); diseases of the respiratory system (2 times higher); neoplasms (7 times higher); diseases of the nervous system (higher by 46%). It should be stressed that the study revealed increased work disability due to lung (by 33%), bladder (6 times higher) and brain (over 3 times higher) cancers. The results of this study find their confirmation in many other epidemiological studies of this occupational group.

[Health-related absenteeism among workers employed in various work environments]. / Zdrowotne przyczyny absencji chorobowej pracowników zatrudnionych w róznych warunkach srodowiska pracy.

The state of health in working people is determined by a number of factors among which working conditions and the kind of job performed play undoubtedly a crucial role. The observation and analysis of trends in sick absenteeism may provide indirect information on health problems of the occupationally active population. The aim of the analysis presented was to define the magnitude and the causes of temporary work disability among workers employed in individual branches of the national economy, and finally to identify high risk groups of workers because of their employment in specific working conditions. The statistical material used as the basis for the calculation of absenteeism indicators embraced the data on the number of work disability days, derived from a 15 representative sample of punched cards, concerning certificates of temporary work disability. In order to accomplish the objectives of the analysis, the trends in sick absenteeism observed before 1989, the period preceding the structural changes and the transformation of Polish economy were taken into consideration. The analysis indicates that the level of sick absenteeism in the branches of the national economy (forestry, building construction, transport, industry) and the proportion of chronic diseases in its structure prove the effect of working conditions on the workers' health. Considering individual branches of industry, the highest levels of sick absenteeism are observed in the following branches: mining for men (5.61), non-ferrous metals for women (10.04) and men (4.95), ferrous metallurgy for women (9.99) and men (4.93), and petroleum products for women (11.76). The analysis of sick absenteeism in the branches selected in view of hazardous working conditions shows that: (1) in many branches chemical hazards in the work environment are responsible for an increased sick absenteeism due to diseases of the circulatory system, particularly among men, mental disorders and neoplasms, both among men and women, and complications of pregnancy among women; (2) physical work overload increases sick absenteeism mainly due to diseases of the musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous systems, as well as due to cardiac disease and arterial hypertension; and (3) hot microclimate contributes to sick absenteeism because of diseases of the circulatory system, including cardiac disease and arterial hypertension, particularly among men, as well as acute and chronic respiratory diseases.

[Some occupational determinants of work disability]. / Niektóre uwarunkowania zawodowe niezdolnosci do pracy.

Occupational determinants play a significant role in the studies of the causes of work disability. The duration of employment is that particular variable, frequently analysed, which reflects indirectly the effect of work conditions on the worker's health state and also on his her disease-related work disability. Therefore, the aim of this work was to show the difference in sick absenteeism between various occupational groups, depending on the duration of employment. The empirical material embraced data on work disability, among workers employed in the automative industry plant during the years 1989-94. Out of 8,599 persons covered with the study, 77% left the job, including 7% of those who left the job because of health problems. An analysis of the impact of occupational determinants on the sick absenteeism was carried out on the basis of the absenteeism rate adjusted by age, sex and occupational activity in groups of the production, auxilliary and administrative workers, as well as in occupational groups exposed to possibly similar harmful factors. The duration of worker's employment in the plant showed a positive influence on sick absenteeism, since together with extended period of employment the decrease in the rate of general sick absenteeism was observed. However, in a number of disease categories an increase in absenteeism together with extended duration of employment, and a high level of absenteeism among workers involved directly in the production, were noted. This proves an adverse effect of work conditions on work disability among workers. The effect of harmful factors present at workposts is also confirmed by the increasing sick absenteeism together with the prolonged duration of employment in various occupational groups. In the group of welders the highest level of sick absenteeism was observed among persons with duration of employment ranging from 11 to 20 years (rate: 10.52), and it was related to diseases of the respiratory (3.10) and circulatory (2.09) systems. In this group the increase in absenteeism together with prolonged duration of employment was related to diseases of the genitourinary system (about fourfold), musculoskeletal system (about threefold) and nervous system and sense organs (about 20%). It may be concluded that in selected high risk occupational groups, the duration of employment may reflect the effect of work conditions on workers' sick absenteeism, and the analysis of work disability caused by individual diseases provides an image of health effects due to hazards to which those groups are exposed.

Medical causes of female sickness absence during economic transition in Poland.

The current transformation of property relations and economic restructuring, along with many other factors, influence the health condition of workers. The present study was undertaken to investigate the trends in the rate and causes of female sickness absence during the period of economic transition in Poland, based on the absence analysis in one of the largest (before the process of restructuring) plants of the motor car industry. Vital for the current trends in the workers' absenteeism is the reduction in the rate of employment. The group investigated was composed of 3215 women and 5373 men employed during the years 1989-94. The main variable examined was the reason for the worker's discharge: (1) quitting the job because of health problems, (2) retirement, (3) termination of work contract due to economic problems of the plant, (4) change of affiliation agreed between the former and present employers. The structural transformations in the plant under study brought about the discharge of about 77% of workers during the period between 1989 and 1994, mostly owing to the termination of work contracts for economic reasons, and earlier retirement. The increase in the rate of sickness absence involved to a higher extent female workers; it amounted to 30% compared to 12% for male workers. Among the workers quitting employment, the rate of sickness absence was twice as high as that for the workers still under employment. The largest differences were noted for the female population; they concerned cardiovascular diseases, neoplasms and complications of pregnancy, delivery and the puerperium. The economic transformation processes make a considerable impact on the occurrence of sick absenteeism in workplaces. Workers leaving their jobs because of health problems, as well as those discharged for economic reasons belong to the highest risk group.

Sickness absence in a rubber plant in Poland.

The disease-related temporary incapacity for work, its causes and duration are essential factors in the assessment of health status of the occupationally active population. The aim of the present study was to investigate the main causes of work disability among the rubber industry workers, with special regard to sickness absence among workers directly enganged in manufacture. The study was performed in 1995 on a sample of 973 workers (456 males and 517 females) at a plant producing rubber footware. The number of days of work disability from a particular disease, frequency and duration per year were examined. The analysis concerned such parameters of sickness absence as the lost time rate, average duration of absence, and percentage of workers on a sick-leave. The results revealed that during the period under study the main medical causes of the sickness absence included: a) for males--cardiovascular diseases (48% of the total sickness absence), respiratory diseases (18%), gastrointestinal disease (8%) and the nervous system and sense organs diseases (8%); b) for females--cardiovascular diseases (24%), respiratory diseases (16%), pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium complications (11%) and neoplasms (10%). The sickness absence of workers directly involved in the manufacture appeared to be by 72% higher than that noted for workers of other departments, with the age- and gender-standardized lost time rate of 4.74. The differences can be related mainly to a higher percentage of the sick in the group of 'production workers' (43%) as compared to the 'non-production' ones (28%). The findings of our study indicate that in the rubber industry workers a high rate of absence due to some groups of diseases may be associated with exposure to hazardous agents in their work environment.

[The effect of systemic changes on sick-day absenteeism in the workplace. II. Causes of work disability among persons under termination of employment]. / Wplyw przeobrazen systemowych na absencje chorobowa w zakladzie pracy. II. Przyczyny niezdolnosci do pracy osób odchodzacych z zatrudnienia.

During the period of transformations and restructuring of workplaces in Poland, the reduction of employment becomes quite common, what seems to make a considerable impact on sick absenteeism. The analysis presented aimed at defining how far the risk of sick absenteeism increases among workers under termination of employment because of different reasons, and indicating morbidity causes in case of which sick absenteeism is most extensive. The study was carried out in one of the largest plants of the motor car industry (before the process of restructuring), and it covered a cohort of 5,373 men and 3,215 women employed during the years 1989-94. The workers who terminated their employment during those years made 77% of the whole cohort under study. The case index, calculated as the ratio of the number of cases to the number of man-days under observation, was taken as an analysis parameter. Poisson regression model involving a number of variables (age, departments, current workers, workers discharged according to particular reasons, and the period preceding the termination of employment) was used in the statistical analysis. The study indicated an increased risk of sick absenteeism in the group of workers approaching the termination of employment in comparison with that among current workers. The highest risk of work disability, both among men and women, was observed in persons leaving their jobs because of long-lasting illness or disability pension. The highest risk indices were noted in men whose sick absenteeism was caused by neoplasms (RR = 14.42); endocrine secretion disorders (RR = 4.83); cardiovascular disorders (RR = 3.60); mental disorders (RR = 3.04); and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (RR = 2.95); and in women with neoplasms (R = 6.42); diseases of the musculoskeletal system (RR = 4.01); and cardiovascular diseases (RR = 3.99). Risk of sick absenteeism was over 50% higher among retiring workers than among current workers (RR = 1.50 for men; and RR = 1.53 for women). Among workers discharged because of economic reasons, statistically significant risk of sick absenteeism was also observed (RR = 1.51 for men; and RR = 1.37 for women). In the group of workers leaving their jobs, following the agreement of the parties, an increased risk of sick absenteeism was noted in men (RR = 1.45). The economy transformation processes make a considerable impact on the occurrence of sick absenteeism in workplaces. Workers leaving their jobs because of health problems or of their own accord, as well as those discharged because of economic reasons belong to the highest risk groups.

System for analysing sickness absenteeism in Poland.

The National System of Sickness Absenteeism Statistics has been functioning in Poland since 1977, as the part of the national health statistics. The system is based on a 15-percent random sample of copies of certificates of temporary incapacity for work issued by all health care units and authorised private medical practitioners. A certificate of temporary incapacity for work is received by every insured employee who is compelled to stop working due to sickness, accident, or due to the necessity to care for a sick member of his/her family. The certificate is required on the first day of sickness. Analyses of disease- and accident-related sickness absenteeism carried out each year in Poland within the statistical system lead to the main conclusions: 1. Diseases of the musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous systems accounting, when combined, for 1/3 of the total sickness absenteeism, are a major health problem of the working population in Poland. During the past five years, incapacity for work caused by these diseases in males increased 2.5 times. 2. Circulatory diseases, and arterial hypertension and ischaemic heart disease in particular (41% and 27% of sickness days, respectively), create an essential health problem among males at productive age, especially, in the 40 and older age group. Absenteeism due to these diseases has increased in males more than two times.

[The effect of system restructuring on absenteeism due to sickness in the work place. I. Sickness absenteeism during the period 19989-1994]. / Wplyw przeobrazen systemowych na absencje chorobowa w zakladzie pracy. I. Absencja chorobowa w okresie 1989-1994.

The current transformation of property relations and economic restructuring, along with many other factors, influence the health condition of workers. The objective of the study was to illustrate the size of the problem and to identify the major causes of work disability among persons employed in enterprises undergoing those processes during the years 1989-94 against the situation observed in the whole country during the same period. The study was carried out in one of the largest industrial plants undergoing the process of economic restructuring. The group investigated was composed of 8,588 workers (including 62.6% of males). In individual years the number of workers in this group was decreasing, and in 1994 the employment status in the group accounted for 37% in relation to the number of workers employed during the first year under observation. The analysis of work disability was based on the rate of sickness absenteeism calculated as a relationship between the number of days of work disability and the number of working days during that particular period. Due to the application of this method it was feasible to consider both workers employed and persons who left the plant, regardless of their employment duration during a year. The study showed a 20 per cent increase in sickness absenteeism during the period of 1989-94. The highest rate (8.60) was noted in 1994. It was higher by 16% in comparison to the rate for the whole country. The greatest difference between these rates was observed in 1990 (the rate in the group investigated was higher by 46%). As to the causes of work disability, the main differences concerned two categories of illnesses, diseases of the circulatory system, a major cause of sickness absenteeism in the group studied (21%), and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, a major cause of sickness absenteeism in Poland. The change in the relationship between sickness absenteeism and the age during the period of the plant restructuring resulted from the fact that a large number of workers left the job. It was observed that the rate of the sickness absenteeism was almost directly proportional to the percentage of persons leaving the plant in individual years. The study showed that changes in the size and the structure of employment resulting from the plant restructuring influence the level of sickness absenteeism, and the age-related diversification in causes of diseases, and in consequence alter the established regularities.

Female sickness absenteeism in Poland.

It is observed that the working activity period has recently been decreasing in Poland; this applies to both the male and female populations. Since women constitute 48% of all workers employed in the national economy, this tendency may pose an important problem for the community and public health. The main information source for the absenteeism analysis are medical certificates which in Poland obligatorily document every instance of a sick-leave from work, irrespective of the length of sickness. A 15% random sample of all sickness certificates constitutes a database for the monitoring system of sickness absence. The lost time rate is the main parameter analysed by the system. In 1994 the rate of female sickness absence in Poland amounted to 25.1 days per one employee. In Poland the main causes of female sickness absence are: respiratory diseases--18% of all sickness absence (in the 16-19 age group--49%), and disorders of female genital tract and complications of pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium (17% of all sickness absence and 48% in the 20-29 age group). The most important chronic diseases that substantially contribute to the level of sickness absence include: musculoskeletal diseases (15%), diseases of the circulatory system (15%) and the nervous system and sense organs (11%). Over the period of 1990-1994 the highest rate of the female sickness absence related to gynecological diseases and pregnancy complications (mean annual increase--22%), and the musculoskeletal diseases (mean annual increase--10%).

[Analysis of work absenteeism due to illness in the provinces]. / Analiza przyczyn chorobowych czasowej niezdolnosci do pracy w województwach.

Sickness absenteeism in individual regions (voivodships) depends on various factors involved in temporary work disability, such as industrial advancement, industrial structure, socio-economic development, and recently also unemployment in individual regions as well as changes in the social insurance system. Certificates recording temporary work disability served as a reference material for the analysis. The material under study was derived from the nation-wide database covering a 15% random sample of those cards. Sickness absenteeism was expressed by the rate lost time which defined the percentage of work disability in days in relation to the product of calendar days and the mean number of the employed. In 1994 lost time rate in Poland accounted for 6.69 and it was very much diversified depending on individual regions. The lowest rates were registered in the region of Warsaw (3.17), Lomza (4.23), Suwalki (4.48), Koszalin (4.55) and Olsztyn (4.58), whereas the highest ones occurred in Sieradz (12.07), Nowy Sacz (11.10), Premysl (10.08), Tarnow (9.98) and Tarnobrzeg (9.89) regions. Over a twofold increase in sick absenteeism in comparison with 1990 was noted in Siedlce, Tarnobrzeg, Tarnów, Ostroleka, Sieradz and Zamosc regions. The Sieradz region shows the highest rate of sick absenteeism due to diseases of the musculoskeletal system (2.87), gynecological diseases and complications of pregnancy (1.52), the Nowy Sacz region due to diseases of the respiratory (1.82) and the circulatory (1.90) systems, and the Przemysl region due to neuroses, psychoses and other mental disorders (0.85). A considerable increase in sickness absenteeism in low industrialised regions (Siedlce, Ostroleka, Chelm, Zamosc and Sieradz) observed during the last five years applies mostly to chronic diseases and it related with the right to sickness benefits which discloses poor health of workers employed in agriculture. Industrial restructuring and establishment of small-scale enterprises have also contributed to essential changes in regional diversification of sickness absenteeism. These changes confirm the need verifying the discussed relationship through an in-depth study.

[Selected diseases of the spine and spinal cord as a cause of work disability]. / Wybrane choroby kregoslupa i rdzenia kregowego jako przyczyna czasowej niezdolnosci do pracy.

Diseases of the musculo-skeletal and peripheral nervous systems has become one of the most serious health problems of the working population in Poland. They also make one third of the total sickness absenteeism. The analysis of the magnitude of temporary work disability due to diseases of the spine and spinal cord as well as changes observed over five recent years are presented. The reference material is derived from the national database on sickness absenteeism, covering a 17% random sample of punched cards of certified work disability. The sickness absenteeism is expressed by the number of work disability days per 100 persons employed in a given year. In 1955 the rheumatoid spine diseases proved to be the cause of 194 days of work disability per 100 employed and made 9% of the total sickness absenteeism. In the last five years sickness absenteeism due to these diseases have doubled. In rheumatoid pathologies of the spine, 50% of absenteeism was caused by discopathy. Among diseases of the peripheral nervous system, 78% of absenteeism was caused by diseases of nerve roots and plexus. During the period under discussion a 126% increase in absenteeism caused by these pathologies was noted and it applied mostly to males. In 1995 rheumatoid diseases of the spine as well as diseases of nerve roots and mostly plexus were the cause of 375 days of work disability per 100 employed what made 18% of the total sickness absenteeism. Sickness absenteeism due to these disease has increased by 134% over the last five years. The highest level and dynamics are observed among coal miners.

[Temporary work disability in Poland--analysis of morbidity causes in the years 1985-1994]. / Czasowa niezdolnosc do pracy w polsce--analiza przyczyn chorobowych w latach 1985-1994.

Observation and analysis of sickness absenteeism, its morbidity causes, range and trends in certain periods of time, help to identify major health problems in the working population and the dynamic of changes. They also permit to anticipate the consequences reflected in permanent work disability. Certificates recording temporary work disability serve as a reference source for the analysis. The material under study comes from the national sickness absenteeism data base developed and managed by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz. It covers a 15-percent random sample of those cards. During the last decade, temporary work disability showed a rapidly growing tendency. During the years 1985-1994 mean annual rate of sickness absenteeism growth accounted for 6.4%, and since 1990 this rate has evidently increased reaching 10% per year. The rate of sickness absenteeism growth was considerably higher among males (9.8%) than among females (4.1%). The highest mean annual rates of growth were noted in absenteeism caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system (33%--males; 15%--females), the nervous system (18%--males; 4% females) and the circulatory system (12% in general) including arterial hypertension (52%--males; 17% females). A differentiated trend in work disability due to individual disease categories observed during the analysed decade was responsible for changes in the structure of sick absenteeism noted in the same period. Thus, sickness absenteeism because of diseases of the respiratory system has decreased while diseases of the musculoskeletal system have contributed to its increase (at present they account for 18.2% in males and 15.4% in females), the same applies to diseases of the nervous system (17.2% in males) and to gynecological diseases (17.1% of female absenteeism). During the past five years a high dynamics of sickness absenteeism growth can be mostly attributed to a modified system of sickness allowances as well as to social and economic transformations, restructuring of industry and an increased unemployment in our country.

[Work disability in certain occupations among workers in the electronics industry]. / Niezdolnosc do pracy niektórych grup zawodowych pracowników przemyslu elektronicznego.

Occupational and working environment factors have always occupied an important place in studies on sickness absenteeism. The study performed during the years 1987-1988 in two electronic industry plants involved such elements of the working environment as the place of a worker in the production process and the occupation performed. Our analysis was aimed at indicating differences in the temporary work disability, in particular due to some groups of diseases, between occupations essential for the manufacturing process. The frequency of sickness absenteeism in general and due to main groups of diseases expressed in terms of percentage of sick persons with temporary work disability was analysed. The Chi 2 test was used to determine the relationship between individual groups. The analysis of sickness absenteeism in individual groups was performed according to sex and age. The analysis allowed to indicate groups of workers with increased risk of sickness absenteeism in the plants under study. They are mostly workers involved in the basic production and in chemical processes. Sickness absenteeism of those workers was higher than the average by 26% in Plant I and by 33% in Plant II. The highest sickness absenteeism rate for that group was due to diseases of the nervous system--71%; the gastrointestinal system--46%; and the musculo-skeletal system--81%. The relationship between the occurrence of sickness absenteeism and the type of activity was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in both Plants but in relation to selected groups of occupation it was significant only in Plant I.

[Changes in the parameters of sickness absenteeism analysed over a 20 year period]. / Zmiany w parametrach absencji chorobowej analizowanej w Okresie 20-letnim.

Sickness absenteeism increase in a given industrial plant within homogeneous employee groups may be due to: increased incidence, increased duration of absences, and increased frequency of obtaining the certificates of temporary work disability in some determined diseases. The study involved the same plant in which studies during the sixties and the seventies had been performed. The purpose of the study was to determine which of the parameters was responsible for the changes in absenteeism rate during the period 1967-1987. The analysis showed that the sickness absenteeism increase in the plant over the 20-year period discussed was 46% in men and 40% in women. The increase resulted from increased average duration of absence from ca 7 days to ca 11 days. The increase of the average number of the days of absence per one sick person was ca 9 days per year. Taking into account the employees' age it is to be noticed that in the youngest groups the increase of sickness absenteeism rate among young men was accompanied by an increase in the number of cases per one sick person per year, whereas the increase in the rate of sickness absenteeism among young women resulted also from the increase of the percentage of absentees. In those groups there was also observed an increase of average duration of absence over the same period.

[Study of the changes in the morbidity and disease incidence patterns based on the absenteeism data analyzed during the 20-year period]. / Zmiany w obrazie zachorowalnosci i chorobowosci na podstawie absencji analizowanej w okresie 20-letnim.

The aim of the study was to determine which of the absenteeism parameters was responsible for the changes in absenteeism rate in the period between 1967 and 1987 and to detect the major reasons of sick absenteeism over the period. The study was carried on in an electronic plant. Changes in the sick absenteeism rate in this plant reflect general variations in morbidity and disease incidence during these years. The changes result mainly from an extremely fast growth of absenteeism rate caused by circulatory and musculoskeletal system diseases and from a constant level of absenteeism rate observed as a result of digestive system diseases. Overall, the analysis showed that the duration of individual cases of absenteeism grew with time, the process which resulted in higher absenteeism among workers suffering from circulatory and musculoskeletal system diseases, chronic gastric and duodenal ulcer diseases, hepatopathies, gallbladder diseases, +pancreatic diseases and from pregnancy, delivery and puerperium complications. This growing duration of absenteeism cases may be related to the intensity of the observed pathologies, to complications and to effectiveness of medical treatment.

[Absenteeism as an indicator of health status of patients with long-term and frequent diseases]]. / Absencja chorobowa jako miernik stanu zdrowia w grupach osób dlugo i czesto chorujacych.

Results of the feasibility analysis of using sickness absenteeism as a measure of worker health condition, especially in long (above 30 days p.a.) and often (above 3 cases p.a.) ailing workers have been reported. Information on health condition of 5197 random-selected textile industry workers and their sickness absenteeism over one year period served as teh basis of the study. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value of the sickness absenteeism due to most frequently diagnosed illnesses in the investigated population were employed. Sickness absenteeism has proved to be a specific, but not very sensitive health condition measure. In the groups of long and frequently ailing persons, sickness absenteeism has proved to be the more sensitive but less specific measure than in the whole investigated group. Among the frequently ailing group, the percentage of persons absent because of digestive system diseases, circulatory system diseases and back diseases satisfactorily approximates the percentage of the chronically sick.

[Diagnosis and the reasons for absenteeism among workers with frequent and long-term diseases]. / Rozpoznania lekarskie a przyczyny absencji chorobowej osób dlugo i czesto chorujacych.

The study was aimed at determination of the realation between sickness absenteeism and medical diagnosis in the groups of employees ailing frequently and for a long time. The analysis covered 5197 randomly selected workers of textile industry in Lodz, From among them a group of 1157 employees ailing for a long time (over 30 days of sickness absenteeism annually) and a group of 888 frequently ill workers (over 3 cases of absence during that period), were selected. In about 63% of the group analysed, the physicians found at least one chronic disease. The most prevalent were: diseases of circulatory, osteo-muscular and digestive systems. The study revealed a statistically significant dependence between absenteeism due to some determined disease and corresponding to that medical diagnosis in all nosologic groups analysed--both in the case of the long ailing and frequently ill patients. The relation between the absenteeism and medical diagnosis was more pronounced in the separated groups of long and frequently ailing workers than in the whole population covered by the study. This relation was most evident in the case of digestive system diseases (Yule's coefficient = 0.89) in frequently ill persons. The values of sickness absenteeism coefficients have been the highest for those causes of absence which comply with medical diagnosis and for all nosologic units they have been markedly higher in the groups of long ailing employees. The results of the study showed, that absenteeism is a better measure of health status for long ailing and frequently ill groups of workers than for the whole population analysed.