The number of recognized occupational disease cases in the working-age population has long been decreasing, explained especially by decrease in the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss and asbestos-related diseases. However, in 2020 the number of cases started rising, mainly due to COVID-19 infections. There are region-specific differences in the incidence of occupational diseases, which are explained by factors such as regional differences in industry structure, and there may also be regional differences in the examination practices and diagnotics of occupational diseases.

In the 2016–2020 review period, the most recognized occupational diseases were found in men. One third of the cases recorded were women. When viewed by age group, cases were especially diagnosed in people over 50 years of age.

Viewed on the main category level of industries (Standard Industrial Classification 2008), cases of recognized occupational diseases in working-age population were registered especially in

  • manufacturing,
  • construction
  • and agriculture, forestry and fishing.

On the 2-digit-level, (Classification of Occupations 2010), the number of recognized cases of occupational diseases in the working-age population was the highest in

  • building and related trades workers, excluding electricians,
  • market-oriented skilled agricultural workers and
  • metal, machinery and related trades workers.

If incidence was examined in relation to every one thousand employed persons, market-oriented skilled agricultural workers, along with food processing, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workers rank at the top.

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Recognized occupational diseases

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2016-2020
Cases by occupational disease, exposure agent and occupation

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Occupational diseases top 10
Noise-induced hearing lossNoise-induced hearing loss: 956 cases 0.418 cases per 1000 workersAllergic contact dermatitisAllergic contact dermatitis: 612 cases 0.268 cases per 1000 workersIrritant contact dermatitisIrritant contact dermatitis: 442 cases 0.193 cases per 1000 workersPleural plaquesPleural plaques: 283 cases 0.124 cases per 1000 workersOccupational asthmaOccupational asthma: 248 cases 0.109 cases per 1000 workersLateral epicondylitisLateral epicondylitis: 135 cases 0.059 cases per 1000 workersOccupational rhinitisOccupational rhinitis: 132 cases 0.058 cases per 1000 workersHand-arm vibration syndromeHand-arm vibration syndrome: 118 cases 0.052 cases per 1000 workersScabiesScabies: 117 cases 0.051 cases per 1000 workersCryptosporidiosisCryptosporidiosis: 111 cases 0.049 cases per 1000 workersNumber of cases
Exposure agents
Chemical exposure agentsChemical exposure agents: 1122 cases 0.491 cases per 1000 workersNoiseNoise: 956 cases 0.418 cases per 1000 workersBiological exposure agentsBiological exposure agents: 436 cases 0.191 cases per 1000 workersPlant- or animal-based exposure agentsPlant- or animal-based exposure agents: 344 cases 0.151 cases per 1000 workersRepetitive work and unphysiological work positionsRepetitive work and unphysiological work positions: 310 cases 0.136 cases per 1000 workersAsbestos and other silicate materialsAsbestos and other silicate materials: 300 cases 0.131 cases per 1000 workersOther or unknown factorsOther or unknown factors: 127 cases 0.056 cases per 1000 workersVibrationVibration: 118 cases 0.052 cases per 1000 workersExposure to moisture damage and mouldExposure to moisture damage and mould: 94 cases 0.041 cases per 1000 workersOther dusts and vapoursOther dusts and vapours: 0 cases 0.000 cases per 1000 workersNumber of cases
Occupations top 10
Building and related trades workers, excluding electriciansBuilding and related trades workers, excluding electricians: 772 casesMarket-oriented skilled agricultural workersMarket-oriented skilled agricultural workers: 605 casesMetal, machinery and related trades workersMetal, machinery and related trades workers: 581 casesStationary plant and machine operatorsStationary plant and machine operators: 307 casesPersonal service workersPersonal service workers: 265 casesPersonal care workersPersonal care workers: 237 casesHealth associate professionalsHealth associate professionals: 189 casesFood processing, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workersFood processing, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workers: 182 casesElectrical and electronic trades workersElectrical and electronic trades workers: 93 casesScience and engineering associate professionalsScience and engineering associate professionals: 62 casesNumber of cases
Occupations top 10, relative
Market-oriented skilled agricultural workersMarket-oriented skilled agricultural workers: 12.604 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationFood processing, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workersFood processing, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workers: 9.579 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationBuilding and related trades workers, excluding electriciansBuilding and related trades workers, excluding electricians: 8.301 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationMetal, machinery and related trades workersMetal, machinery and related trades workers: 7.173 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationMarket-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersMarket-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers: 5.600 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationCommissioned armed forces officersCommissioned armed forces officers: 5.600 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationStationary plant and machine operatorsStationary plant and machine operators: 4.205 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationHandicraft and printing workersHandicraft and printing workers: 3.500 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationElectrical and electronic trades workersElectrical and electronic trades workers: 2.657 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationPersonal service workersPersonal service workers: 2.454 cases per 1000 workers in this occupationRelative number of cases

Noise-induced hearing loss was the most commonly recognized occupational disease in the working-age population

During the review period, noise-induced hearing loss continued to be clearly the most commonly recognized occupational disease. Noise-induced hearing loss is a cochlear hearing impairment caused by prolonged, repetitive or intense sudden exposure to noise. Viewed by occupation, the highest numbers of cases of noise-induced hearing loss were recognized among

  • metal, machinery and related trades workers,
  • building and related trades workers, excluding electricians and
  • stationary plant and machine operators.

Commissioned armed forces officers had the highest incidence in relation to the number of employed persons per occupation.

Allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis are common occupational diseases

With regard to occupational skin diseases, allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis are among the most common occupational diseases. Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by rubber chemicals, epoxy chemicals, preservatives (e.g. isothiazolinones), metals and acrylates, among other things.

Viewed by occupation, the highest numbers of cases of allergic contact dermatitis were recognized among

  • building and related trades workers, excluding electricians,
  • personal service workers (e.g. hairdressers, beauticians) and
  • metal, machinery and related trades workers.

Building and related trades workers, excluding electricians, also had the highest incidence in proportion to those employed per occupation.

Wet work is the most common cause of irritant contact dermatitis. Viewed by occupation, cases of irritant contact dermatitis were especially recognized among

  • personal service workers,
  • personal care workers and
  • metal, machinery and related trades workers.

The highest incidence per occupation in proportion to those employed was among food preparation assistants.

Pleural plaques are still recognized in people of working age

Pleural plaques caused by asbestos continue to be one of the most common occupational diseases among people of working age. Pleural plaques are caused by exposure to asbestos in past decades when asbestos was commonly used in construction materials, for example.

The number of cases of pleural plaques and incidence in proportion to those employed is the highest in

  • building and related trades workers (excluding electricians).

A significant proportion of asbestos-related diseases are recognized in people aged over 65.

Occupational asthmas and rhinitides were diagnosed especially in market-oriented skilled agricultural workers

Occupational asthmas and rhinitides were most commonly caused by sensitizing (that is, allergizing) factors. Typical sensitizing factors are animal- and plant-derived materials, such as cow, flour and animal feed.

Moisture damage and irritant-induced asthmas are also recognized as occupational diseases.

The highest number of occupational asthmas and rhinitides were found among

  • market-oriented skilled agricultural workers.

The incidence of occupational asthma in proportion to those employed per occupation was highest among market-oriented skilled agricultural workers, but for occupational rhinitis, food processing, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workers rank at the top.

Tennis elbow was the most common repetitive strain injury

The most common repetitive strain injury recognized as an occupational disease was lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), which is caused by repetitive work. Viewed by occupation, cases of lateral epicondylitis were recognized especially among

  • building and related trades workers (excluding electricians),
  • market-oriented skilled agricultural workers and
  • food processing, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workers.

Viewed by occupation, the incidence in proportion to those employed was the highest among food, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workers.

Scabies, cryptosporidiosis, COVID-19 infection and epidemic nephropathy were the most common infectious diseases

The scabies skin infection is caused by the scabies mite. Scabies occurs frequently in the form of epidemics in long-term care facilities.

Viewed by occupation, the number of cases and incidence in proportion to those employed was the highest in

  • personal care workers and
  • health associate professionals.

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by the protozoa Cryptosporidium, which can be transmitted to humans from production animals, for example.

Viewed by occupation, cases were diagnosed especially among

  • market-oriented skilled agricultural workers.

COVID-19 infection is an infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The first COVID-19 cases were recorded as occupational diseases in 2020 when the COVID-19 infection became one of the most common occupational diseases.

Viewed by occupation, the number of cases and incidence in proportion to those employed was the highest in

  • health associate professionals and
  • personal care workers.

Epidemic nephropathy is an infectious disease caused by the Puumala virus. Epidemic nephropathy can be transmitted by breathing in dust that has been polluted by bank vole excretions.

Viewed by occupation, epidemic nephropathy was found in

  • market-oriented skilled agricultural workers and
  • market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers.

Exposure to hand-arm vibration can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome

Hand-arm vibration syndrome is caused by long-term exposure to hand-arm vibration resulting from the use of an angle grinder, drilling machine, chainsaw or nail gun or other such tools. Hand-arm vibration syndrome is manifested by temporary white fingers and/or neurosensory symptoms (such as clumsiness and numbing of the hands).

Viewed by occupation, the highest numbers of hand-arm vibration syndrome were recognized among

  • building and related trades workers, excluding electricians and
  • metal, machinery and related trades workers.

The highest incidence per occupation in proportion to those employed was among market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers.

A substantial share of occupational diseases could be prevented

Exposure to the causative agents of occupational diseases continues in work life. Investing in the prevention of occupational diseases and the promotion of work environment safety continues to be of key importance.

A significant portion of occupational diseases could be prevented by way of up-to-date workplace risk assessments, the development of working conditions, co-operation between the workplace and occupational health services, correct working practices, communication and the use of protective equipment.