LE PATOLOGIE DA SOVRACCARICO BIOMECCANICO DEGLI ARTI SUPERIORI: CONFRONTO FRA GRUPPI DI LAVORATORI AD ESPOSIZIONE VARIABILE.

Background: European and Italian statistics have reported in the past decade a significant increase of work-related musculoskeletal disorders including the construction sector. Objectives: To check this issue, the EPM Research Unit in collaboration with the Craftmanship Territorial Joint Committee in Bergamo, have started a research in the field of musculoskeletal disorders with special reference to lumbar spine and upper limbs. Methods: The health survey was carried out by ad hoc trained staff. Results: between November 2009 and November 2010, data on 2755 subjects with a variety of jobs were obtained, over 50% being masons. The whole sample and the group of masons were investigated and both exhibited prevalence of upper limb diseases definitely higher than the reference group of non-exposed subjects. At the same time, risk assessment on painters and carpenters was performed, showing very hogh levels of risk o upper limb biomechanical overload due to awkward postures and force application. Conclusions: Hence the need for active research to be included in the protocol of health surveillance (with appropriate clinical protocol), of upper limb and spine MSDs. They also highlight the need for other biomechanical overload exposure data aimed at reconstructing risk profiles (from biomechanical overload) but above all at identifying the technological and organizational solutions to erase this particular risk.