Helsinki (02.01.2004 - Juhani Artto) A total of 4,807 cases of occupational illness were reported in Finland in 2002. This was two per cent lower than in the previous year. The annual incidence in 2002 was 20 cases per 10,000 employed workers (23 in 1999). Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of registered cases involved male sufferers.
The most common occupational illnesses were repetitive strain injuries (1,360 cases), with a nine per cent decrease from 2001. The highest incidence occurred in food processing work.
Occupational skin diseases totalled 965 cases, down six per cent from 2001. Also here the incidence was highest in food processing work.
There were 821 cases of noise-induced hearing loss, which was ten per cent more than in 2001. The risk was greatest in vehicle manufacturing and in the pulp, paper and paper product industry.
The number of new cases of asbestos-related diseases increased by two per cent to 588. Despite measures reducing asbestos exposure, serious asbestos-related diseases will continue to appear in the 2010s. However, the number of such cases seems to have remained below earlier estimates. Asbestos-related diseases have originated mostly from work at construction sites and dockyards.
There were 518 cases of allergic respiratory illness, which was the same number as in 2001.
As in the previous year, the highest incidence by industrial sector was in food, drink and tobacco processing. This reached a level exceeding 79 cases per 10,000 employed workers.
Source: Riihimäki, Kurppa, Karjalainen, Aalto, Jolanki, Keskinen, Mäkinen, Saalo: Ammattitaudit 2002 [Occupational illnesses 2002], Työterveyslaitos [Finnish Institute of Occupational Health].
The website of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health includes materials in Finnish, Swedish and English.
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