OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HAND VIBRATION IN NORTHERN ONTARIO GOLD MINERS

Nineteen underground gold mine drillers who operate vibration equipmen t and a control group of 16 gold mill workers without vibration exposu re were evaluated. Assessment included static two-point discrimination , moving two-point discrimination, vibration threshold, and cutaneous pressure threshold. Provocative tests, including Tinel, pressure, and Phalen signs, were performed at the carpal and cubital tunnels. Mean a ge of the miners was 35 years, and the mean age of the control group w as 31 years. The mean time of vibration exposure was 14 years. Numbnes s, pain, and weakness was reported in 12 miners and 1 control subject. Symptoms of vibration white finger were found in 16 miners and 3 cont rol subjects. The miners had a higher incidence of positive provocativ e tests at the carpal and cubital tunnels and higher cutaneous pressur e thresholds than the control group. Significantly higher vibration th resholds were found in the miners versus the control subjects. A corre lation between years of vibration exposure and vibration threshold was found.