Search

Background/Aim: The importance of occupational diseases is due to their influence on workers' quality of life and significant socioeconomic problems for the health sector, employers and the state. Occupational diseases are generally not curable but are preventable diseases, so it is extremely important to develop a good system of detection, registration and prevention. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the occupational incidence analysis. Aim of this study was to assess the incidence of occupational diseases in the Republic of Srpska. Methods: The research was conducted as a cross-sectional study based on the obtained data on occupational diseases in the Republic of Srpska for ten years (from 2011 to 2021). Results: In the observed period, 12 cases of occupational diseases were registered in the Republic of Srpska and the incidence was less than 1/100,000 per year. Occupational diseases were diagnosed in: - agriculture, forestry and fishing; - construction and - healthcare and social welfare. Conclusion: The study showed a low incidence of occupational disease and it was observed that certain industrial sectors were particularly undervalued. The current situation regarding occupational diseases in the Republic of Srpska requires an urgent response from the occupational medicine services and the state. It is necessary to initiate procedures as soon as possible to ensure uniformity in the criteria of diagnosis and records of occupational diseases and revision of the list of occupational diseases by the International Labour Organisation. In the future, it is necessary to conduct additional and more detailed research in the field of occupational diseases.

Introduction/Aim Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas produced by incomplete combustion of carbon compounds and is a leading cause of poising throughout the world. The objective of this paper is to analyze 5 cases of acute carbon monoxide poisoning in petroleum industry workers, occupying a shared accommodation and to present diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive measures. Case report the workers had to be treated by the emergency medical service during the night for health problems arising from carbon monoxide inhalation from a faulty installation. Venous blood samples were collected to measure the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and gas analyses were done upon admission and 120 minutes later. They were treated with parenteral therapy and oxygen by mask, and they made a complete recovery. Conclusion Faulty installation of a gas-powered heating system caused acute carbon monoxide poisoning in 5 people occupying the space. After 120 minutes in a closed environment, the carbon monoxide concentration was high enough to cause a significant increase of COHb in the venous blood. Prompt diagnosis and adequate therapy are crucial to ensure a favorable treatment outcome. Preventive measures, such as educating workers and introducing health and safety measures into the work environment are extremely important in preventing accidents such as these.

Background Professional drivers are part of the active working population, so there is a need for continuous improvement of operating efficiency and safety in driving. Reaction time is a very important driver's trait. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the effects of age and driving experience on reaction times of professional drivers. Methods This study assesses part of driving efficiency of professional drivers by measuring simple reaction time and complex reaction time which are important to driving safety. Reaction times of 278 male professional drivers were tested using a hardware-software system for determining the speed of response to psychomotor simple and complex audio-visual stimuli. Results Our results showed a positive correlation between ageing and slowing of reaction times. This suggests that the natural ageing process clearly slows down reaction times. Conclusions The response times of professional drivers are more dependent on age than on driving experience.

Introduction. Anthropozoonoses are diseases that affect humans and animals and they can be transmitted naturally from animals to humans. The aim of this study was to identify characteristics and types of occupational hazards that lead to occupational anthropozoonoses, determine their incidence in economic activities of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Material and Methods. Using a descriptive, epidemiological study we analysed the occupational anthropozoonoses occurring in the Vojvodina which were registered at the Institute of Occupational Health Novi Sad, Serbia, from 1992 to 2016. Results. In the observed period, a total of 481 occupational diseases were identified, out of which 62 (12.9%) cases were the occupational infectious diseases. A total of 19 cases of occupational anthropozoonoses were registered. The average annual incidence of occupational anthropozoonoses was 0.96 per 100,000 employees. The linear trend of annual incidence was neg?ative. The average age was 44.05?8.34 years. Male patients accounted for 73.7% of cases. The average length of service among patients was 19.63?8.2 years. Conclusion. In addition to the implementation of available specific immunization measures and personal protection measures that prevent contact with pathogens, it is important to continuously educate workers concerning the work?place risks and perform preventive medical examinations in order to enable early recognition and treatment of the disease. In addition, continuous education of medical practitioners of different specialities would help to better identify occupational anthropozoonoses.

Various pesticides are applied in agriculture for crop protection. They could have toxic effects on nervous system, liver, kidneys and the other organs. The aim of the study was to investigate effects of occupational exposure to pesticides and consumption of alcoholic beverages on liver functions in agricultural workers. The study included sample of 117 male agricultural workers involved as tractor drivers in pesticide application at the workplace and the control group of 60 tractor drivers who do not applied pesticides. We collected data concerning age, use of alcohol and duration of exposure to pesticides. Parameters of liver functions in serum were determined in both groups of workers. In agricultural workers exposed to pesticides, activities of enzymes gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases were higher comparing to the control group, but these differences were not statistically significant. Consumption of alcohol statistically significantly increased activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in both groups of workers. The most important measures concerning health protection of agricultural workers exposed to pesticides are continuous implementation of the safety measures at work, health promotion at workplace and regular health surveillance in occupational health services for the purpose of early detection of worker's health disorders.