Objective To describe the patterns and characteristics of occupational diseases incidence between 2008 and 2012 in Huzhou, Zhejiang, and to provide scientific evidence to develop preventive strategies and measures against occupational diseases.
Methods Diagnosed occupational disease case reports in Huzhou City Zhejiang, between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012 were retrieved from the national occupational disease online reporting system and paper-based reporting cards and then transferred into Excel 2003 for statistical analysis.
Results A total of ten kinds of occupational diseases out of five categories were reported, including 301 cases. Among them, pneumoconiosis was the most serious occupational disease, accounting for 282 cases. Silicosis, coal workers pneumoconiosis, and welder pneumoconiosis accounted for 84.0%, 10.3%, and 3.5%, respectively of the total pneumoconiosis cases. These cases were distributed among ten industries, in which construction materials and coals ranked top one and two, accounting for 72.0% and 12.8% of total cases, respectively, and the other industries accounted for less than 5%. Lead and its compounds and benzene were the leading toxic substances for occupational poisonings. The counts of occupational dermatitis, noise deafness, and occupational heatstroke cases were ten, three, and one, respectively.
Conclusion These findings indicate an increasing number of occupational diseases reported in Huzhou from 2008 to 2012, especially of pneumoconiosis. To control the incidences of occupational diseases, relevant departments should strengthen surveillance programs, especially in small private enterprises.
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