Personal Characteristics of Compressed Air Workers with Repetitive Decompression Sickness in the United Kingdom 1986–2000 - a Case Control Study and Analysis using the HSE Decompression Database

The study was to determine if personal characteristics (individual or human factors) in compressed air workers can be associated with repetitive episodes of Decompression Sickness (DCS) and to determine the distribution of repetitive Decompression Sickness (DCS) in the compressed air workforce in the United Kingdom for the period 1986-2000.

This study did not find any differences in the personal characteristics of compressed air workers with multiple, single or zero episodes of DCS when matched by contract, occupation and pressure exposure. This negative finding contradicts long-standing associations with age and obesity often reported in the literature based on historical and often anecdotal reports. “Bend prone” compressed air workers do exist but this study suggests that the history and clinical examination (and tests) undertaken at the routine pre-employment compressed air medical examination will not reveal them.

If individual or human factors causing, or associated with, susceptibility to DCS could be identified then a significant reduction in episodes of DCS in the compressed air workforce could occur. This study suggests that different methodology or clinical examination will be required to achieve this however.

• 1. The Study

• 2) Methods of Procedure

• 3) Results and Analysis

• 4) Discussion

• 5) Conclusions

• 7) Recommendations

• References