Beata Kudłacik

Incidence of occupational diseases at the territory under the authority of District Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Bielsko-Biała

Introduction. The employees’ health condition depends to a large degree on occupational risks and occurrence of harmful physical, chemical and biological factors at work. These hazards are reflected in the incidence of occupational diseases. Purpose. Analysis of incidence of occupational diseases in 2004–2015 at the territory of the District Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Bielsko- Biala.

Material and methodology. The source of information about occupational diseases in the city end District of Bielsko-Biała was data from individual occupational disease record sheets analysed in the Station. The analysis covered data on occupational diseases according to disease classification, gender, age and duration of exposure to harmful factors in the work environment.

Results. The noted reduction in occupational disease incidence on the territory of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Bielsko-Biała during the period of 2004–2015 correlated with the general declining tendency in Poland. In the city end District of Bielsko-Biala dominated chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal and nervous system, pneumoconiosis, hearing loss and chronic disease of speech organ prevailed, which was related to a longstanding exposure to harmful factors in the work environment.

Conclusions. In the city and District of Bielsko-Biala the declining incidence tendency of occupational diseases is maintained. Analysing morbidity of particular occupational diseases in the city and District of Bielsko-Biala shows that dominating illnesses in this group are currently skin allergies, bronchial asthma, chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal and nervous system and hearing impairment