[Prevention of vibration syndrome in selected occupational groups in the metallurgy industry]

Medical examinations were carried out in a group of 297 men exposed to hand-arm vibration in the metallurgical industry. The group consisted of 93 rammers, 77 grinders and 127 chippers. The level of vibration at workposts was also measured. The average occupational exposures exposed in years and total hours were as follows: in the group of rammers - 14.5 yrs and 19,954 h; grinders - 15.2 yrs and 10,131 h; and chippers - 8.8 yrs and 5,444 h. The vibration-dose limit was exceeded by 5.0, 0.96 and 1.1 times, respectively. Raynaud's phenomenon was found significantly more frequent in chippers than in rammers or grinders. Medical examinations showed the highest health risk among chippers and the lowest among rammers. No correlation was found between intensity of mechanical vibration at the workplace and the biological response in groups examined. The results of the examinations provided evidence that different groups of workers require different preventive programmes.