RESUMO
During 1985, welders submitted 21% of all claims for eye injuries received by the Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta. Since then the proportion of similar claims has remained high. A descriptive study of welder eye injury claims reveals that, although most injuries are reversible (55% of workers return to work in less than 2 days and 95% in less than 7 days), some workers sustain permanent visual impairment. Eye injuries occur most frequently in metal-work industries, and cold particles, most often metal, are the most common source of injury. Preventive measures should stress the importance of wearing eye protection constantly while working with metal pieces and in metal industries. Goggles probably should not be removed upon extinguishing the welding torch.
Assuntos
Traumatismos Oculares/etiologia , Doenças Profissionais/etiologia , Soldagem , Adulto , Alberta , Traumatismos Oculares/epidemiologia , Traumatismos Oculares/prevenção & controle , Dispositivos de Proteção dos Olhos , Humanos , Masculino , Doenças Profissionais/epidemiologia , Doenças Profissionais/prevenção & controle , Distribuição Aleatória , Fatores de Risco , Indenização aos TrabalhadoresRESUMO
Much has been written about the merits, needs, adequacy, and effectiveness of hearing conservation programs but very little about the cost of noise-induced hearing loss. Using claims for hearing loss submitted to a Canadian compensation board for a 5-years period (1979 to 1983), we estimated the current cost per claim to be $14,106. We observed an annual increase of 20.4% for noise-induced hearing loss claims and project that if 80% of the 450 claims submitted in 1987 are accepted, it will commit the Workers' Compensation Board in Alberta to a cost of $5,373,360--a considerable commitment for a disease that makes up only 0.3% of all claims. As a measure of morbidity we determined the years of potential hearing loss. The 207 workers between the ages of 18 and 70 years who were pensioned had a potential hearing loss value of 2529 years. Some authors have expressed the view that hearing loss is currently inadequately compensated and our review of the literature suggests that a fertile climate is emerging for increasing litigation. This tendency is likely to lead to further escalation of costs if prevention is not taken more seriously.
Assuntos
Perda Auditiva Provocada por Ruído/economia , Doenças Profissionais/economia , Indenização aos Trabalhadores/tendências , Alberta , Custos e Análise de Custo/tendências , Avaliação da Deficiência , HumanosRESUMO
This retrospective study was undertaken to determine the incidence of acute and chronic morbidity due to hepatitis B infection among employees of an institution for the mentally retarded. Based on a review of medical records, surveillance data, and serologic testing, we found no evidence of excess morbidity among 2,000 employees in a 10-year period. Hepatitis B vaccination is neither warranted nor presently cost-effective for most client-care personnel.
