VIBRATION WHITE FINGER DISEASE AMONG TREE FELLERS IN BRITISH-COLUMBIA

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 25  (5) , 403-408
Abstract
On the basis of symptomatology, 51% of 146 fellers from 7 coastal lumber camps in British Columbia were found to be suffering from vibration white finger disease (VWFD). Symptoms were present in 70% of the men who had been engaged in felling for 11-15 yr and in 75% of the men who had been employed for > 20 yr. Prevalence rates were not changed by the exclusion of 57 fellers with a history of vibration exposure other than the chain saw, or with a history of other possible secondary causes. The prevalence of symptoms in an age-corrected control group was 2%. There was objective evidence of disease (delayed finger rewarming after cooling) in 31 of 43 fellers with symptoms (72%) and in 13 of 74 controls (18%) without symptoms. The median latency period for fellers with symptomatic VWFD was 7.3 yr. There was no evidence that the condition was related to cigarette smoking.

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