Prevalence and pattern of occupational exposure to hand transmitted vibration in Great Britain: findings from a national survey

OBJECTIVESTo estimate the number of workers in Great Britain with significant occupational exposure to whole body vibration (WBV) and to identify the common sources of exposure and the occupations and...

BackgroundSmoking poses health risks to women across the lifespan. This study aimed to examine age-related differences in smoking, quit attempts, and cessation outcomes among women in Great Britain, overall and by socioeconomic position.MethodsWe analysed cross-sectional data from 30,519 women (≥ 16 years) in Great Britain participating in a nationally representative survey between 2023 and 2025. We used logistic regression with restricted cubic splines to obtain age-specific estimates of smoking prevalence, the quit attempt rate, the success rate of quit attempts, and the overall quit rate, among all women and by socioeconomic position (indexed by occupational social grade; ABC1 = more advantaged, C2DE = less advantaged). We calculated prevalence ratios (PR; C2DE/ABC1) to illustrate the extent of socioeconomic disparities.ResultsOverall, smoking prevalence was highest among women in their 20s and 30s and declined with age. However, there were notable differences by socioeconomic position. While it declined steadily with age among more advantaged women, smoking prevalence peaked in the early 40s among less advantaged women and was more than twice that of more advantaged women in mid-life (PR range = 2.02–2.47 between ages 35 and 60). Quit attempts decreased linearly with age, with similar prevalence and trends across socioeconomic groups. The success rate of quit attempts was highest among women in their 20s and 30s, but dropped in mid-life and further in older age. Women from less advantaged backgrounds had lower success rates, particularly between ages 45 and 60 (PR range = 0.70–0.73). The overall quit rate among past-year smokers was highest at age 31 for more advantaged women (23.3%) and at age 25 for less advantaged women (22.9%). Quit rates were substantially lower between ages 40 and 60 among less advantaged women (PR range = 0.65–0.69).ConclusionsSmoking behaviours and cessation outcomes among women in Great Britain vary by both age and socioeconomic position, with particularly high smoking prevalence and low quit rates among less advantaged women in mid-life, corresponding with perimenopause and the menopausal transition. These disparities highlight the need for tailored smoking cessation strategies to improve quit success and reduce smoking prevalence across the lifespan.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12916-025-04574-1.

Workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) often experience aches and pains in the upper limbs, but there have been few studies of the pattern and severity of symptoms, or their relationship to the estimated dose of vibration. As part of a wider survey of vibration, we mailed a questionnaire about exposures to HTV and pain in the neck and upper limbs to a sample of men selected at random from the registration lists of 34 British general practices and the pay records of the armed services. Analysis was confined to the 1856 male respondents who had been employed in manual occupations for a year or more and who reported the last week as being representative of their job. Inquiry was made about pain in the neck, shoulder, elbow and wrist/hand over the past week and past year (including pains that limited normal activity). Subjects were classed according to their lifetime exposure to HTV and their estimated average daily vibration dose [A(8) r.m.s.] in the previous week. A total of 283 men had a minimum estimated A(8) greater than a proposed action level of 2.8 m/s(2), and in this group symptoms were about twice as prevalent as in manual workers who had never used vibratory tools. The excess risk was somewhat higher for distal sites than for proximal ones (e.g. the prevalence ratio for hand/wrist pain in the past week was 2.7 versus 1.8 for neck pain). This accords with the pattern of transmission of HTV to the upper limb, although a confounding effect from other ergonomic risk factors cannot be discounted.

AimsThe relation between Dupuytren's contracture and occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) has frequently been debated. We explored associations in a representative national sample of workers with well-characterised exposure to...

To identify the current state of knowledge, current uncertainties and future needs related to the diagnosis of disorders associated with the use of vibratory hand-held tools. An international workshop was convened with invited experts, medical doctors, scientists and engineers familiar with hand-transmitted vibration and the diagnosis of vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. This paper records the general conclusions from four panel discussions. For the most common vascular disorder (vibration-induced white finger), the principal symptom and sign involves attacks of well-demarcated finger blanching (Raynaud's phenomenon); low finger systolic blood pressure following cooling is indicative of vibration-induced white finger and zero finger systolic blood pressure can confirm an attack of Raynaud's phenomenon. For neurological disorders, some symptoms can exist without detectable signs and some signs can exist without symptoms; numbness and tingling are commonly reported but neurological changes may be present without these symptoms. The pathogenesis of musculoskeletal disorders in users of vibratory tools is not clear; symptoms may include pain that may not be associated with abnormal results in objective tests. For both neurological and musculoskeletal disorders, a thorough neuromuscular and skeletal examination is required; diagnosis must consider the work history and medical history, the results of physical examination and any objective tests in addition to other factors (e.g. age, smoking, alcohol, systemic disorders, medication and neurotoxic agents) that might have contributed to symptoms, signs and test results. While vibration-induced white finger is caused by vibration, some neurological and musculoskeletal disorders are the result of work with vibratory tools where the separate roles of vibration, repetitive movements, grip and push forces, non-neutral postures and any other ergonomic stressors are often unclear. Such disorders may be more easily identified as being caused by the work rather than by exposure to hand-transmitted vibration per se. A person found to have developed disorders induced by either vibration or the work situation should not be returned to the same vibration exposure or work without any changes expected to lessen the risks.

ObjectivesTo assess the relation between Dupuytren’s contracture and occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV).MethodWe mailed a questionnaire to 21 201 subjects of working age, chosen randomly from the age-sex registers...

The contribution is focused on the assessment of influence of material properties on operator’s exposure to noise and hand-transmitted vibration. Screening measurements of work exposure to noise and hand-transmitted vibration were made in accordance with relevant standards for drilling in four types of concrete with different physical characteristics and used for different applications in the construction industry. The measurements were carried out twice in four different types of drilling using a hammer drill, Makita HR 2440. Results obtained by the screening measurements testify to the importance of material physical properties to the amount of operator’s exposure to noise and hand-transmitted vibration.

Exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) can cause sensorineural symptoms in the upper limb, but its impact has not previously been assessed in the general population. To investigate, we mailed a questionnaire about exposures to HTV, finger blanching and sensory symptoms (numbness or tingling) in the upper limbs to a population sample comprising 21,201 working-aged men and women selected at random from the age-sex registers of 34 British general practices, and a further 993 randomly selected from the pay records of the armed services. Associations were explored using multiple logistic regression models to adjust for confounding, with the resultant odds ratios converted into prevalence rate ratios (PRs). Of 12,907 respondents, 2,607 (20.2%) reported sensory symptoms in the upper limb during the past week. Sensory symptoms were more prevalent in those with blanching, and were commonly associated with exposure to HTV, especially in men. In comparison with men who had never been exposed to HTV, the PR in men exposed both at work and in leisure was 2.2 (95% CI 1.9-2.4). Associations were found even in those who had never blanched. Sensorineural symptoms in the upper limbs are common. HTV is an important risk factor for such complaints in the general population.

Occupations: The Vocational Guidance JournalVolume 21, Issue 4 p. 283-287 Conscription of Women in Great Britain MARGARET G. BONDFIELD, MARGARET G. BONDFIELD Minister of Labour, Great Britain, 1929–1931Search for more papers by this author MARGARET G. BONDFIELD, MARGARET G. BONDFIELD Minister of Labour, Great Britain, 1929–1931Search for more papers by this author First published: December 1942 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2164-5892.1942.tb01259.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume21, Issue4December 1942Pages 283-287 RelatedInformation

We investigate the desire of nonunion workers in Great Britain to become represented by unions. Comparing our results to those from the United States, we find that workers in Great Britain are less likely to desire unionization and express lower dissatisfaction with their influence at work. The determinants of the desire for unionization are estimated controlling for a wide variety of individual and workplace variables. The roles of human resource management and employee involvement are isolated. We identify direct work-place and worker-level effects of these practices in reducing the desire for unionization and an indirect effect operating through the influence of employee relations, a major determinant of the desire for unionization. Also, we identify characteristics of co-workers that are associated with desire for unionization and examine the role information revelation may play in managerial strategies to forestall unions.

Workers in the asbestos industry tend to have high smoking rates compared to the general population. Both asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking are recognized risk factors for lung cancer mortality, but the exact nature of the interaction between the two remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of smoking and smoking cessation among asbestos workers in Great Britain (GB) and investigate the interaction between asbestos exposure and smoking. The study population consisted of 98 912 asbestos workers recruited into the GB Asbestos Survey from 1971, followed-up to December 2005. Poisson regression was used to estimate relative risks of lung cancer mortality associated with smoking habits of the asbestos workers and to assess whether these effects differed within various categories of asbestos exposure. The interaction between asbestos exposure and smoking was examined using the Synergy (S) and Multiplicativity (V) indices, which test the hypotheses of additive and multiplicative interaction, respectively. The proportion of lung cancers among smokers attributable to the interaction of asbestos and smoking was also estimated. During 1 780 233 person-years of follow-up, there were 1878 deaths from lung cancer (12% of all deaths). Risk of lung cancer mortality increased with packs smoked per day, smoking duration, and total smoke exposure (pack-years). Asbestos workers who stopped smoking remained at increased risk of lung cancer mortality up to 40 years after smoking cessation compared to asbestos workers who never smoked. The effects of smoking and stopping smoking did not differ by duration of asbestos exposure, main occupation, age at first asbestos exposure, year of first exposure, or latency period. The interaction between asbestos exposure and smoking for asbestos workers was greater than additive [S 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-1.6], and the multiplicative hypothesis could not be rejected (V 0.9, 95% CI 0.3-2.4). For those asbestos workers who smoked, an estimated 26% (95% CI 14-38%) of lung cancer deaths were attributable to the interaction of asbestos and smoking. This study emphasizes the importance of smoking prevention and cessation among those who work in the asbestos industry.

AN Association of Austrian Engineers, Chemists and Scientific Workers in Great Britain has recently been formed. The main activities of the Association will be to assist members in their professional work and interests, to represent them with the authorities, to promote contact and relations with British colleagues and to form a link with British scientific and technical institutions. Lectures, courses and discussions will be held and will give opportunities for the exchange of views and to discuss matters of mutual interest. It is hoped that the Association may assure that better use is made of the knowledge and abilities of Austrian engineers, chemists and scientific workers who are anxious to assist in the war effort. The acting chairman of the Association is Dr. F. Ehrenfest-Egger ; inquiries should be sent to the honorary secretary, Mrs. K. Hilfreich, 133 Hatherley Court, London, W.2. Lectures are being given on the first Monday of each month. Every Monday, commencing June 1, at 7 p.m., a club-room will be open for members of the Association at the Austrian Centre, 69 Eton Avenue, N.W.3, where there will be opportunities to read technical periodicals and to meet other colleagues.

ObjectivesWe examined the mortality of a historic cohort of workers in Great Britain with measured blood lead levels (BLLs).MethodsSMRs were calculated with the population of Great Britain as the external...

Background: Pregnant women in Great Britain were recommended to receive influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccines during the 2009/10 influenza pandemic, however uptake of the vaccines by pregnant women was reported to have been very low.Aim: We sought to estimate uptake of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccines and to investigate predictors of vaccine uptake in pregnant women in Great Britain during the 2009/10 pandemic.Methods: Uptake rates were calculated using data from the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD). Predictors of vaccination were identified using a Cox proportional hazards model.Results: Uptake of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccines by pregnant women was 21.6%. Pregnant women with an underlying health condition increasing the risk of influenza-related complications had a higher vaccination rate than pregnant women without such conditions. The hazard ratio comparing these two groups decreased logarithmically throughout pregnancy from 9.3 in the first week to 1.3 by the end of pregnancy. Increasing maternal age (HR 1.01, CI95 1.01–1.01), having a previous delivery recorded (HR 1.21, CI95 1.16–1.27) and living in Scotland (HR 2.58, CI95 2.34–2.85) or Wales (HR 1.37, CI95 1.20–1.57) as opposed to England were all also associated with an increase in vaccination uptake rates throughout pregnancy.Discussion: Uptake of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccines by pregnant women was low. None of the potential predictors evaluated in this study were strong enough to account for this, however information on health beliefs and GP recommendation were not available. If the low rates reported here are to be improved new strategies to increase uptake of influenza vaccine in pregnant women need to be identified, evaluated and implemented.

The epidemiological characteristics of normal women and women with early breast cancer in Great Britain were prospectively compared with similar subjects from Japan. The study consisted of 204 women with early breast cancer and 792 normal controls from Great Britain and 200 breast cancers and 335 Japanese controls. The risk factors examined were age, height and weight, menopausal status, age at menarche and menopause, parity, age at first birth, use of oral contraceptives, and family history of breast cancer. The cancers and cases were divided into pre- and postmenopausal groups. There was a striking trend for a protective effect of multiparity in both countries and a weak but inconstant protective effect of age at first birth. In premenopausal British women increase in body mass was significantly associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer but this association was not found for postmenopausal women or in the Japanese women. The results showed that the classical risk factors did not fully account for the differences in breast cancer risk between Great Britain and Japan. The possibility that aetiological factors might be changing warrants investigation.