Korea has achieved rapid industrialization and economic development through the export drive. policy since 1960. But these developments gave rise to serious occupational disease, pollution and other health problems.
Because occupational disease originate from occupation and work environment unlike common diseases, the society has felt a great interest in occupational disease. In 1988, the number of cases of occupational disease in Korea was 8, 919 among the 543,000 cases of workers physical examination, and detection rate was 1.64% . Workers physical examination system is enforced, under the requirements of Occupational Safety and Health Law.
For the judgement of disease due to occupational hazard, it is necessary to consider below items.
1) work character and working hours
2) working environment (threshold limit value of hazard substance) and health effect of hazard substance
3) specific clinical symptoms
4) incubation period
5) past history
6) differential diagnosis from other non?occupational cause
7) detection of other patient having similar symptoms
8) measurement of hazard substance and metabolite in blood and urine
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