Rheumatic Complaints in Dockyard Workers

Abstract

A sample of 1,422 dockyard employees was assessed and it was found that 37% of them had had rheumatic complaints during the previous year. Complaint rates, though varying with occupation, did not appear to be related to the heaviness of the work involved nor did indoor workers differ from outdoor workers in this respect. Sickness absence ascribed to rheumatism accounted for 35 weeks/100 workers during the previous year. This rate was higher in the heavier manual occupations than in the lighter ones. A change of occupation ascribed to rheumatic causes was made by 6% of those affected. Changes ascribed to other forms of ill health had occurred to the same extent in positives and negatives. The place of psychological factors in influencing the prevalence of rheumatic complaints in different industries, and also the social effects of these complaints, is discussed.