【Exploring ISO 14835-1-2016: A Guide to Diagnosing Occupational Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome】
- Published on 2024-05-27
In the midst of hectic work schedules, have you ever noticed your arms becoming numb, painful, or losing strength without realizing it? This could be Hand-Arm Vibration Disease (HAVD) quietly impacting your health. Today, Worker's Melody delves deep into this occupational ailment to promote workplace wellness together!
Occupational Hand-Arm Vibration Disease (HAVD) results from prolonged exposure to vibrating tools, causing primarily circulatory issues in the hand's extremities and neurological dysfunction in the arm, often accompanied by bone, joint, and muscular injuries. To standardize the diagnosis of HAVD and protect patients' rights, China has established the ISO 14835-1-2016 Diagnostic Criteria for Occupational Hand-Arm Vibration Disease. Here’s a detailed interpretation:
The ISO 14835-1-2016 standard clearly stipulates that diagnosing occupational HAVD necessitates a comprehensive assessment, including medical history, clinical observations, laboratory tests, and necessary auxiliary examinations. Patients must have a clear history of prolonged exposure to vibrating work before being diagnosed. Symptoms and signs in the arms and hands are observed, with possible nerve-electromyography (EMG) tests, to gather comprehensive diagnostic information.
The standard categorizes occupational HAVD into mild, moderate, and severe grades according to the severity of the condition. Each grade has explicit diagnostic criteria encompassing symptoms, signs, and EMG results. This grading system aids medical professionals in accurately assessing the condition and tailoring treatment plans accordingly.
The primary symptoms are centered around circulatory disturbances in the hand's extremities and neurological dysfunction in the arm. Patients may experience numbness, swelling, pain, excessive sweating in the palms, and weakness in the arms. These symptoms not only affect quality of life but also work efficiency. Vibration-induced white finger (also known as occupational Raynaud's phenomenon), a transient and episodic symptom, is a hallmark of HAVD and holds significant diagnostic value.
In addition to routine blood tests, urinalysis, serum ALT, and ECGs, further tests may include cold water rewarming, nerve-EMG, fingertip vibration sense, and temperature sensation tests. These can assist doctors in precisely diagnosing circulatory and neurological impairments in the hands and arms.
Our company, Worker's Melody, introduces the ANW 319 Temperature Monitoring System, designed to measure finger temperatures. By analyzing temperature data, it calculates the rewarming rate post-cold exposure, assessing finger skin temperature recovery and indicating potential vascular dysfunction related to diseases like HAVD.
The ISO 14835-1-2016 standard comprehensively evaluates a patient's occupational history, clinical manifestations, test results, and workplace conditions to ensure accurate and impartial diagnoses, thereby safeguarding patients' rights. Understanding these criteria empowers workers to better understand their health status, promptly seek medical assistance, and uphold their rights. Meanwhile, employers should reinforce occupational health management, improve working environments, and minimize vibration exposure to prevent HAVD occurrences.
Health is the foundation of life. Let us join hands in focusing on the prevention and control of occupational hand-arm vibration syndrome, striving to create a safer and healthier work environment for workers! Meanwhile, we also hope that relevant authorities can strengthen supervision and awareness campaigns, enhancing workers' understanding and preventive awareness of this occupational ailment, and together safeguard the health rights and interests of workers.
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