Criteria for the health surveillance of workers exposed to repetitive movements

A health surveillance programme for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limbs must take into account the fact that symptoms reported by workers are very significant, as they usually appear early and could offer valuable diagnostic guidance. Specific health surveillance should take a two-level approach, the first addressing all exposed workers and the second involving only workers identified as positive at anamnestic investigation. Workers affected by disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and severe current mesenchymopathies must be removed from tasks involving repetitive or strenuous movements of the upper limbs.