[Occupational diseases in Poland, 2009]

The aim of the paper was to present basic statistical data on occupational diseases diagnosed in 2009.

The work was based on the data compiled from "Occupational Disease Reporting Forms" received by the Central Register of Occupational Diseases in 2009. The data comprised information on nosologic units, gender and age of patients, and duration of occupational exposure to harmful agents responsible for the development of specified pathologies. These data were further classified by sectors of the national economy and voivodeships. The incidence was specified in terms of the number of cases in relation to paid employees or to employed persons.

The number of occupational diseases diagnosed in 2009 accounted for 3146 cases. The incidence rate was 29.9 cases per 100 000 paid employees. The highest incidence rates were noted for infectious and parasitic diseases (8.4/100 000), pneumoconioses (6.0) and chronic voice disorders (5.9). As many as 78% of patients affected by occupational diseases had been exposed to harmful agents for longer than 20 years. In industrial sectors of the national economy, the highest incidence rate was noted in mining and quarrying (297.5/100 000). Taking into account the geographic distribution of occupational diseases, the highest incidence was recorded in the Silesian and the lowest in the Mazovian voivodeships (respectively 54 and 7.5 cases per 100 000 employed persons).

A decrease of 400 (11.3%) cases of occupational diseases and a decrease of 13.8% in their incidence rate over previous year were noted. The greatest drop in the number of cases was noted in infectious and parasitic diseases (of 168 cases, i.e. 23%).