SWORD-96 - SURVEILLANCE OF WORK-RELATED AND OCCUPATIONAL RESPIRATORY-DISEASE IN THE UK

Chest and occupational physicians who report to the SWORD surveillance scheme are estimated to have seen some 3,300 new cases of work-relate d respiratory disease in 1996. This total has regained the level recor ded prior to a low in 1995, probably because of improved chest physici an participation and the introduction of a sampling system for occupat ional physicians. Trends in disease incidence have remained fairly con stant with some changes only in pneumoconiosis and inhalation accident s. It is of concern that there has been no evidence of a decrease in f requency of occupational asthma or in any of the incriminated agents s ince the scheme began in 1989. Comparison with other sources oi data s hows that, for asthma, SWORD records a relatively high frequency in wo men, a substantial proportion of whom do not appear to receive compens ation. For mesothelioma, rates based on death certificates continue fo r understandable reasons to run at about twice the level reported to S WORD or as reflected by successful claims to the DSS for industrial in juries benefit. The SWORD programme is now one of six clinically-based reporting schemes which, by the end of 1997, are planned to cover all types of occupational disease in the UK.