title: A descriptive study of health problems on car mechanics' hands.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate occupational health problems relating to the hands of car mechanics. A descriptive study was performed among all car mechanics in 22 car repair shops using a self-administered questionnaire. In total, 172 car mechanics returned the questionnaire (92%). Fourteen per cent reported occurrence of white fingers, 24% reported occurrence of paresthesias in hands or arms, 41% reported that dry skin on their hands was often a problem, 46% reported occurrence of hand eczema, and 28% had experienced more than 20 cuts on the hands in the past year. A significant relationship was found between the occurrence of hand eczema and employment for less than 14 years as a car mechanic. This was also found for occurrence of white fingers and cuts on the hands. Further surveillance of the working environment among car mechanics seems to be required.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Moen
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hollund
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torp
mesh_terms: D001336:Automobiles; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006225:Hand; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000453:epidemiology