[Diagnostic guidlines for occupational epicondylitis].

Making final decisions on the occupational etiology of musculoskeletal diseases is often difficult and problematic at every stage of the diagnostic procedure. Taking into account the need to facilitate decision-making about the causal relationship between the diagnosed disease entity and the working conditions guidelines for the recognition of work-related musculoskeletal diseases have been developed. This paper presents the guidelines for the diagnosis of occupational etiology of humeral epicondylitis, one of the most common occupational disease of the musculoskeletal system in Poland.

[New occupational diseases legislation rules - functioning evaluation].

Background: On 3 July 2009, new law pertaining to occupational diseases (ODs) became effective in Poland. The article presents opinions of the representatives of the 1st degree ODs certification entities and sanitary inspectorates on the changes in OD) law and the problems that may cause difficulties and/or certification errors.

Material And Methods: A questionnaire study was performed covering representatives of 20 voivodeship occupational medicine centers and 40 national district sanitary inspectorates.

[Good practice in occupational health services: recommendations for prophylactic examinations and medical certifications in persons with diabetes mellitus].

The prevalence of diabetes and a significant proportion of unawareness of its risk among the patients indicate the need to include into general prophylactic examinations the standards of medical certification, which would prevent discrimination and ensure public safety. In certifying medical predispositions to work in a person with diabetes mellitus the key issue is to distinguish 2 categories of medical requirements: the higher - related to qualifying workers for jobs demanding psychophysical abilities, which affect the safety of the workers and their environment and the lower - related to qualifying workers for jobs characterized by harmful factors and nuisances, which might have a negative effect on the course of diabetes. The very fact of having diabetes cannot be the reason for the patient being disqualified and the decision on certifying the capacity to perform a particular job should always be based on an individual health assessment of the patient, taking into account the risk of hypoglycemia, metabolic control, the progression and dynamics of chronic complications, as well as the level of health awareness in patients.

[Good practice in occupational health services: prophylactic care and occupational activation of people with disabilities due to respiratory diseases].

Respiratory diseases are a cause of long-term sickness absence, and even of partial or complete inability to work. This paper presents the first in Poland description of principles of good practice in occupational health service provided for people with respiratory diseases. The issues concerning the certification of the ability to work in this group of patients are discussed.

[Etiological factors for developing carpal tunnel syndrome in people who work with computers].

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most frequent mononeuropathy of upper extremities. From the early 1990's it has been suggested that intensive work with computers can result in CTS development, however, this relationship has not as yet been proved. The aim of the study was to evaluate occupational and non-occupational risk factors for developing CTS in the population of computer-users.

[Recommended general principles of good practice relating to psychological examinations in occupational medicine service].

This paper presents general principles of good practice in prophylactic psychological examinations. The principles are based on the binding law and standards of psychological examinations recommended by the Polish Psychological Association. They also take account of a specific nature of such examinations, resulting from their goals and the subject of their concern.

[Prophylactic care of workers with disabilities--the problem of contemporary occupational health service?].

According to the 2002 data there are in Poland 14.3% of people with disabilities. On the other hand, an employment level of people with disabilities in Poland is one of the lowest in Europe with its percentage rate of 13% in the year 2004.

[Evaluation of vibration exposure long-term effects in people with diagnosed vibration syndrome].

Background: Long-term exposure to hand-transmitted vibration can increase the occurrence of symptoms and signs of vascular neurological and musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities. The most common is the angioneurotic type of the vibration syndrome. Very little is known about possibility of withdrawal of symptoms after exposure cessation.

[Effect of visual work on the tear film and degree of the eye strain].

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the visual work on the tear film and the degree of eye strain.

Materials And Methods: The survey was conducted among 50 people working 4 h with different types of monitors (CRT, LCD) and without a monitor. Schirmer's test and evaluation of the degree of eye strain were performed in all subjects before and after work.

[Age management in enteprises as a part of occupational safety and health in elderly workers].

An aging society is one of the most important demographic, social and economic challenges facing the contemporary world. Human capacity to perform work changes with age, which is mostly caused by the decrease in physical capacity, physical fitness and in some elements of psychophysical fitness (e.g.

[Identification of the most common problems and mistakes in the medical certification of inability to work for disability pension provision based on the expertise carried out by the Out-Patient Clinic of Occupational Diseases, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, 2005-2007].

Background: The definition of "inability to work" and principles of medical certification of disabilities, determining the entitlement to an ill-health pension provision are regulated by law. However, the term ,,"inability to work" is not precisely defined and the standards of its assessment are not accurately formulated. This refers not only to the term "loosing ability to work to considerable degree", but also to the criteria of occupational qualifications.

[Assessment of the impact of the visual work with display monitors on the eye temperature and intraocular pressure].

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the visual work with display monitors on the eye surface temperature, intraocular pressure and on the eye moisturizing condition.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted among 50 people working with display monitors (CRT, LCD) and without monitor. The temperature of the eye surface via thermo camera and intraocular pressure were measured, as well as Schirmer's test was performed before and after 4 h of visual work.

[Preventive care of workers at risk of blood-born infections in view of binding regulations].

The principles of performing prophylactic medical examinations of workers are regulated by the Labor Code and relevant executive regulations. There are also other regulations that concern particular groups of workers--like health care workers. The range and frequency of medical examinations are determined by the doctor who performs the examination on the basis of "Guidelines on prophylactic medical examinations of workers".

[Physicians' duty to inform about the presence of health contraindications to driving motor vehicles].

Background: The issue concerning the duty of physicians to inform about health problems, which could be a contraindication to driving a motor vehicle, give in practice rise to many questions. Existing regulations do not apply to this issue directly, and the available literature lacks a definite stand on this matter. Information collected by the competent authorities about health problems, which may be a contraindication to driving a motor vehicle could contribute enormously to reducing or eliminating health risks among drivers and other potential road users.

[Guidelines on prophylactic medical examinations of drivers].

The performance of workers' prophylactic medical examinations is regulated by the Labor Code and relevant executive regulations. There are also other regulations that concern particular groups of workers, e.g.

[Opinions on medical certification procedures for driving and diabetes presented by occupational medicine and diabetology experts].

Background: In Poland, there is an urgent need to set criteria and recommendations for medical certification of persons working or taking up the job involving driving vehicles when diabetes or other intermediate hyperglycemia could have particularly important and dangerous impact. Along with scientific research, literature reviews and knowledge of laws, rules and regulations, the opinion of experts on the subject plays an important role in establishing standards and recommendations for occupational physicians according to the latest medical knowledge and legislation requirements.

Materials And Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted with the involvement of occupational medicine and diabetelogy consultants at the national and regional levels.

[The incidence of tuberculosis in Poland and other E.U. countries and the Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine: implications for prophylactic activities].

Over the last 50 years, the number of new cases of tuberculosis (TB) has dropped significantly in the native population of several industrialized countries, while at the same time the steady increase in TB incidence was noted in Polish residents born elsewhere. Since Poland is facing an increase in the number of foreigners applying for permanent or long-term residence permit, the evaluation of potential impact of this situation on TB incidence in our country seems necessary. Based on the recent WHO data, TB incidence in Poland, fifteen old and twelve new European Union members, which joined the Union in 2004 and 2007 as well as in three neighbor countries, was compared.

Reducing health risks arising from child and adolescent labor.

Objectives: The aim of the studywas to work out a program that would help develop the most effective methods for protecting the safety and health of young workers.

Materials And Methods: The program was designed by a multidisciplinary team of experts in occupational and public health, occupational hygiene, health promotion, sociology, and regulatory and control activities.

Results: The program points out the major aspects to be considered while implementing the existing legislation.

[Health protection of workers occupationally exposed to effects of electromagnetic fields in Poland and in the European Union member states].

Electromagnetic fields, one of potentially harmful physical agents present in the work environment in Poland, are under a constant surveillance regulated by the law. Among others, the surveillance involves periodical measurements of electromagnetic field (EMF) intensities in the work environment and medical prophylactic examination of workers at the employers' expense. The introduction of new MAC values imposes extra responsibilities on occupational health services, resulting from the need to verify the number of workers exposed to EMF at frequency bands corresponding with protection zones, and the need to set an appropriate range of prophylactic examinations, taking account of the current body of knowledge of biological effects of EMF and their hazards to workers' health.

[Health effects of occupational exposure to cytostatics in medicinal personnel in the light of compulsory prophylactics: a cross-sectional study].

The aim of the study was to evaluate health effects of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs. The study group comprised 104 cytostatic-exposed health care workers employed in departments of chemotherapy; the control group consisted of 103 non-exposed workers employed in wards where cytostatics were not used. A questionnaire survey and routine laboratory assays (morphology, liver and kidney tests) were performed in all subjects.

[Diagnosis and certification of the ability of epileptic patients to drive motor vehicles: cases consulted by the author].

Epilepsy is a frequent diagnostic problem. It is also difficult to certify whether an epileptic patient is able to drive a motor vehicle. With the advent of efficient anti-epileptic treatment, a general practice of refusing epileptic patients driving license should be seriously reconsidered.

[Risk factors of occupational hypersensitivity in apprentice bakers].

The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk factors for hypersensitivity to occupational allergens in apprentice bakers. The study group comprised 287 persons. A questionnaire survey, as well as skin prick tests (SPT) with common and occupational allergens were performed in all subjects prior to occupational exposure and one and two years after starting vocational training.