Cost effectiveness of pre-employment pulmonary function screening in new hire for electronic assembly line work.

Myint-RT; Myint-S

NIOSH 1990 Nov; :1364-1367

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/90-108/

00198692

A discussion was presented of the cost effectiveness of preemployment pulmonary function screening for electronic assembly line work. Results were provided of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) performed for 275 new applicants who were hired for electronic assembly work. Most of the applicants were between 19 and 39 years of age. Non cigarette smokers were in the majority. Among 170 nonsmokers, 18% had small airway impairment. There were 14 mild and moderate cases of chronic obstructive lung disease and eight of these applicants were disqualified for assembly work. Vision tests were also performed and many of the applicants were not aware of the defects in their vision. Many adverse effects from chemical exposure and cigarette smoking have been reported. The authors conclude that if baseline PFT values are available, further education of employees and proper job placement could prevent problems in the future.

Physical-examination; Assembly-line-workers; Repetitive-work; Lung-function; Respiratory-system-disorders; Vision-disorders; Screening-methods; Medical-screening; Preemployment examinations

19901101

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

1991

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-108

Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Disease and Injury; Respiratory-system-disorders

Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference

PA