S. Faye

Trends in incidence of occupational asthma, contact dermatitis, noise-induced hearing loss, carpal tunnel syndrome and upper limb musculoskeletal disorders in European countries from 2000 to 2012

Objectives The European Union (EU) strategy for health and safety at work underlines the need to reduce the incidence of occupational diseases (OD), but European statistics to evaluate this common goal are scarce. We aim to estimate and compare changes in incidence over time for occupational asthma, contact dermatitis, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and upper limb musculoskeletal disorders across 10 European countries. Methods OD surveillance systems that potentially reflected nationally representative trends in incidence within Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the UK provided data. Case counts were analysed using a negative binomial regression model with year as the main covariate. Many systems collected data from networks of ‘centres’, requiring the use of a multilevel negative binomial model. Some models made allowance for changes in compensation or reporting rules. Results Reports of contact dermatitis and asthma, conditions with shorter time between exposure to causal substances and OD, were consistently declining with only a few exceptions. For OD with physical causal exposures there was more variation between countries. Reported NIHL was increasing in Belgium, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands and decreasing elsewhere. Trends in CTS and upper limb musculoskeletal disorders varied widely within and between countries. Conclusions This is the first direct comparison of trends in OD within Europe and is consistent with a positive impact of European initiatives addressing exposures relevant to asthma and contact dermatitis. Taking a more flexible approach allowed comparisons of surveillance data between and within countries without harmonisation of data collection methods.

Occupational contact urticaria: lessons from the French National Network for Occupational Disease Vigilance and Prevention (RNV3P)

Occupational contact urticaria (OCU) is an occupational contact dermatitis that can cause serious health consequences and disability at work.

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis and major allergens in France: temporal trends for the period 2001–2010

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis (OACD) is one of the most common occupational skin diseases in developed countries, but data about its temporal trends in incidence remain sparse.

Effectiveness of the European Chromium VI Directive for cement implementation on occupational allergic contact dermatitis occurrence: Assessment in France and UK

Hexavalent chromium is the main sensitizer in wet cement and a common cause of occupational allergic contact dermatitis (OACD), especially among workers in the construction industry.1,2 The European Chromium VI directive3 transposed into national regulations in France and UK respectively on May and January 2005, prohibits selling or using of hydrated cement with more than 0.0002% of chromium. This was achieved through the addition of ferrous sulphate to the dry product, allowing to reduce chromium VI to chromium III which is less sensitizing. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Trends in work-related mental disorders by sector in France

Background Notifications of work-related mental disorders (WRMDs) are increasing while little data are available on trends by industrial sector. Aims To assess WRMD notifications and trends from 2001 to 2011 by industrial sector using data collected by the French National Network for Occupational Disease Vigilance and Prevention (RNV3P) network. Methods We calculated standardized notification ratios (SNRs) per sector. To analyse trends over time, we used odds ratios, analysed by logistic regression, including time as a discrete variable or as a continuous variable. Results We found higher than expected WRMD notifications in manufacturing; paper and book (SNR = 2.16; 95% CI [1.88-2.48]), chemical and pharmaceutical (SNR = 1.79; 95% CI [1.58-2.03]), textile and clothing (SNR = 1.27; 95% CI [1.04-1.54]). In the trade sectors, retail (SNR = 1.60; 95% CI [1.52-1.68]), motor vehicle and cycle trade and repair (SNR = 1.19; 95% CI [1.05-1.34]). In the services sector personal (SNR = 2.09; 95% CI [1.83-2.38]), information technology (SNR = 1.54; 95% CI [1.36-1.74]), financial and insurance (SNR = 1.42; 95% CI [1.31-1.53]), post and telecommunication (SNR = 1.44; 95% CI [1.30-1.60]), human health and social work (SNR = 1.29; 95% CI [1.24-1.34]). We found an increase in notifications in agriculture, post-telecommunication services and the human health/social work sectors and a decrease in chemical/pharmaceutical, metal, and paper and book manufacturing sectors (P < 0.05). Conclusions These results reveal trends in notifications for WRMDs by industrial sector. This highlights the importance of monitoring trends in WRMDs in specific worker subsets, using specialized networks such as the RNV3P.