OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN POLAND IN 2013 AND THEIR CAUSATIVE AGENTS

Abstract

Background: The paper presents the incidence of occupational diseases inPoland (2013). Material and Methods: Occupational disease reportingforms, supplied to the Central Register of Occupational Diseases, wereused as the study material. The incidence was specified in terms ofrates per 100 000 employed people. Results: The number of new cases was2214 with the incidence rate of 15.6. The downward trend recorded overseveral years continues; compared to 2012, the number of new casesdecreased by 7.8{%}. Exposure to dusts (35{%} cases), mostly inorganic(carbon, asbestos, and industrial dusts containing free crystallinesilica) was the most common cause of occupational diseases. Among theorganic dusts allergenic effects of flour and vegetable dustspredominated. Every 3rd case of occupational disease was attributable tophysical agents, mainly the way the work is done, excessive vocal effortand noise. The sections of national economy with the highest incidencecomprised mining and quarrying (271.1), manufacturing (24.3), education(22.4), agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing (21.0), human healthand social assistance (20.5). Conclusions: The decreased incidence of`traditional' diseases observed over the recent 15 years and theanalysis of the 2013 incidence indicate a need to revise the Polish listof occupational diseases by exposures found in the modern workenvironment. Particular attention should be paid to conditionsprevailing in workplaces with high exposures to industrial dustscontaining free crystalline silica. A considerable variation in theincidence of voice disorders in teachers between individual voivodeships(provinces) points to the need for harmonization of the standards ofpreventive, diagnostic and certification procedures.