B. Palsson et al., ABSENCE ATTRIBUTED TO INCAPACITY AND OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE ACCIDENTS AMONG FEMALE AND MALE WORKERS IN THE FISH-PROCESSING INDUSTRY/, Occupational medicine, 48(5), 1998, pp. 289-295
Sick-leave between 1984 and 1989 was higher among both female (n = 515
) and male (n = 304) fish-processing workers [observed/expected (O/E)
2.24 and 1.69, respectively] than among non-exposed groups (0.62 and 0
.89). Diagnoses in the musculoskeletal system dominated (i.e., neck/up
per limbs; females, exposed vs. non-exposed workers: 30 vs. 12%; males
: 11 vs. 5.8%). In subjects who left employment, the O/E-ratio decreas
ed (females: 3.02 vs. 1.55; males: 2.40 vs. 1.55). Among those women h
ired before the start of the observation period, exposed subjects had
higher frequencies of sick-leave than non-exposed, for both total illn
ess and musculoskeletal diagnoses. In the men, there were correspondin
g differences, though not fully statistically significant. Reported oc
cupational diseases [O/E: females: 4.5; (95% confidence interval) CI =
3.2-6.1; males: 2.3; CI = 1.3-3.9] and accidents (females: 4.3; CI =
3.0-5.9; males, 1.8; CI = 1.2-2.7) were also higher in female than in
male fish-processing workers, and much higher than in non-exposed work
ers. In conclusion, work in the fish-processing industry was associate
d with increased frequencies of sick-leave, especially because of diag
noses of the musculoskeletal system, and occupational disorders and ac
cidents, in particular among female workers.