title: [Musculoskeletal conditions of the upper and lower limbs as an occupational disease: what kind and under what conditions. Consensus document of a national working-group. ISPESL].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In via of the progressive emergence in Italy of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, the EPM Research Unit decided to set up a national working group with the aim of producing a Consensus Document including methods and criteria as an initial attempt towards managing such diseases as true "listed" work-related diseases as is already done in the other European Union countries. The working group includes experts from INAIL, ISPESL, welfare assistance institutions, local prevention and health protection services: The group's research activity was included in ISPESL's funded research plan.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Consensus Document includes a review of epidemiologic issues reported in the international literature, comments on the application of current legislation, observations on the guilt profiles of employers and occupational physicians, as well as medical-legal issues. The document proposes an analytical list of musculoskeletal disorders of upper (and lower) limbs and the operational criteria for identification of working activities involving a risk from upper limb biomechanical overload. In this case, more than on other occasions, it was realized how difficult it is to adopt consolidated task/risk/damage matrices since the same task may or may not be at risk depending both on the way the task is done and on the technical aspects (lines, work parts, procedures, tools) and organization (rate, rotas, breaks).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the specific aims of the present document, it is possible to identify, though not exhaustively and with some limitations, a series of jobs and working conditions where the risk may be reasonably presumed and for which it is possible to adopt a list system (at least as regards "significant exposure"). The document also includes a chapter on health surveillance recommendations for the occupational physician.
authors.affiliation: Università Milano Bicocca-Via Donizetti 106, Monza.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colombini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Occhipinti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cairoli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Battevi
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Menoni
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sferra
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balletta
authors.forename: Evi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berlingò
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Draicchio
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papale
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Loreto
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Marinella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Edy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Venturi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Vito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grieco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002568:Certification; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D012308:Risk Management; D034941:Upper Extremity