Raynaud’s Phenomenon in a Foundry – Wisconsin

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Taylor, W.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  A high prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon (also called vibration-induced white finger, or VWF) among metal foundry workers exposed to hand vibration when using air hammers and grinding tools was recently found in a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigation. In June 1 980, the International Molders and Allied Workers Union requested that NIOSH evaluate 74 men employed as chippers and grinders in 2 metal casting cleaning rooms (51 in Room A and 23 in Room B) at a foundry in Wisconsin. In August and September 1 980, NIOSH investigators conducted medical evaluations and assessed vibration exposure. Sixty-four employees (47 in Room A and 17 in Room B) were interviewed and examined. Fifty-five percent (26/47) of Room A employees and 18% (3/17) of Room B employees reported experiencing symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon since beginning work as chippers. Men who were symptomatic also tended to have decreased sensory abilities in their hands. Of 14 men with 3 or more years of work as chippers in Room A, 2 had not suffered episodes of Raynaud's phenomenon. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Metal Workers Musculoskeletal System Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Vibration
• Keywords:
  Employee Exposure Exposure Assessment Foundries Foundry Workers Grinding Equipment Hand Injuries Hand Tools Medical Examinations Metal Workers Metalworking Pneumatic Tools Raynauds Phenomenon Sensory Depression Tools Vibration Effects Vibration Exposure

  More +
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 5 ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DBBS - Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  4 pdf pages
• Volume:
  30
• Issue:
  41
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055757
• Citation:
  MMWR 1981 Oct; 30(41):515-516,521
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1982
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:af8ee9d68eb18608b3f39e52b1c1750bfe1771963cb2b21d0c391252adf75ceec52b100dd7d191d7f3c54b52d3a63206ed2a2f167f40292c472d7709123b4f1e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183276/cdc_183276_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 357.03 KB ]