A comparison of hand-arm vibration syndrome betweenMalaysian and Japanese workers

Su, A.T. and Fukumoto, J. and Darus, A. and Hoe, V.C.W. and Miyai, N. and Isahak, M. and Takemura, S. and Bulgiba, A. and Yoshimasu, K. and Maeda, S. and Miyashita, K. (2013) A comparison of hand-arm vibration syndrome betweenMalaysian and Japanese workers. Journal of Occupational Health, 55 (6). pp. 468-478. ISSN 1341-9145,

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Abstract

The evidence on hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) in tropical environments is limited. The legislation for the control of occupational vibration exposure has yet to be established in Malaysia. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of HAVS in a tropical environment in comparison with a temperate environment. Methods: We conducted a series medical examinations among the forestry, construction and automobile industry workers in Malaysia adopting the compulsory medical examination procedure used by Wakayama Medical University for Japanese vibratory tools workers. We matched the duration of vibration exposure and compared our results against the Japanese workers. We also compared the results of the Malaysian tree fellers against a group of symptomatic Japanese tree fellers diagnosed with HAVS. Results: Malaysian subjects reported a similar prevalence of finger tingling, numbness and dullness (Malaysian=25.0, Japanese=21.5, p=0.444) but had a lower finger skin temperature (FST) and higher vibrotactile perception threshold (VPT) values as compared with the Japanese workers. No white finger was reported in Malaysian subjects. The FST and VPT of the Malaysian tree fellers were at least as bad as the Japanese tree fellers despite a shorter duration (mean difference=20.12 years, 95Cl=14.50, 25.40) of vibration exposure. Conclusions: Although the vascular disorder does not manifest clinically in the tropical environment, the severity of HAVS can be as bad as in the temperate environment with predominantly neurological disorder. Hence, it is essential to formulate national legislation for the control of the occupational vibration exposure.

Item Type:	Article
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:	ISI Document Delivery No.: 292HH Times Cited: 0 Cited Reference Count: 18 Su, Anselm Ting Fukumoto, Jin Darus, Azlan Hoe, Victor C. W. Miyai, Nobuyuki Isahak, Marzuki Takemura, Shigeki Bulgiba, Awang Yoshimasu, Kouichi Maeda, Setsuo Miyashita, Kazuhisa University of Malaya RG276/10HTM; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) 23590750; JSPS's RONPAKU (Dissertation PhD) Program This study was funded by a University of Malaya Research Grant (Grant No: RG276/10HTM), Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research (C) (23590750) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and financial support from JSPS's RONPAKU (Dissertation PhD) Program. Japan soc occupational health Tokyo
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Comparison, Hand-arm vibration syndrome, Hand-transmitted vibration, Tropical
Subjects:	R Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User:	Ms Haslinda Lahuddin
Date Deposited:	15 Apr 2014 08:11
Last Modified:	15 Apr 2014 08:11
URI:	http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/9837

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