Abstract
Introduction: The automotive industry represents the most important industrial sector in Slovakia. Overall, there are more than 200,000 people employed in this sector. The work in automotive industry is monotonous and repetitive with excessive number of movements of upper extremities.
Methods: In this retrospective study the development of specific occupational diseases in Slovak automotive industry was analyzed. The frequency and occurrence of major occupational diseases in the period from 1987 to 2017 was analyzed, including major causes and factors which influence the rise and development of these occupational diseases (the long-term excessive unilateral load of upper extremities, noise-related diseases). Data on occupational diseases cases were retrieved from the National Registry of occupational diseases.
Results: Diseases due to the long-term excessive unilateral load of upper extremities have been at the first place in the order of all admitted occupational diseases in the Slovak Republic since 1997. The total number of notified occupational diseases in respective years shows a declining trend whereas the number of diseases due to the long-term excessive unilateral load of upper extremities as well as evaluations of suspected occupational diseases has the rising trend. Between 1987 and 2017 a total of 20,370 new cases were recorded, of which 4,707 (23.10%) were diseases due to the long-term excessive unilateral load of upper extremities and 2,150 (10.55%) were noise-related occupational diseases.
Conclusions: The automotive industry offers a lot of job opportunities. On the other hand, it is characterized by a type of working activity that poses a considerable risk to employees.