[Coexistence of occupational exposure to lead and sleep apnea syndrome as a cause of hypertension and arrhythmias. A case report].

A case of a 54-year-old man occupationally exposed to lead with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension and implanted artificial pacemaker due to atrioventricular dissociation of the third degree and pauses in sinus rhythm is presented.

[Individual protection devices--opinion and practice of occupational medicine physician].

Technological developments have led to changes in work conditions and the character of work itself that modify the responsibilities and tasks of occupational medicine physicians. Their major task is to protect workers' health through primary prevention, which means the employment of all available measures to prevent adverse health effects resulting from working conditions unfavorable to human health. Statistical data on the incidence of occupational diseases and accidents at work in Poland show that despite many beneficial changes, better labor organization or new technologies in production and services, social and economic consequences of exposure-related diseases induced by so called hard harmful agents in the work environments are still the major problem, hence the significance of prevention.