Abstract

There are currently four occupational musculoskeletal disorders of the upper-extremity in the Annex of the German Ordinance of Occupational Diseases. These are: diseases of tendons or tendon sheaths or tendon and muscle insertions (occupational disease no. 2101, 722 suspected cases in 2015), diseases caused by working with vibrating or pneumatic machines (occupational disease no. 2103, 423 suspected cases in 2015), pressure damages of nerves (occupational disease no. 2106, 98 suspected cases in 2015), and pressure damage of nervus medianus in the carpal tunnel caused by manual work with flexion and extension of the wrist, with increased hand force or with hand-arm-vibration (occupational disease no. 2113, 1.391 suspected cases in 2015).¹ The oldest of these occupational diseases was introduced in 1963, the youngest in 2009. In Germany, there is a strong interest in the differentiation between ‘occupational diseases’ and ‘diseases of the general population’. While the former are managed by the Statutory Accident Insurances, the latter are managed mostly by the Statutory Health Insurances. Therefore, for most of the occupational diseases there are defined occupational exposures or defined occupational groups. This presentation gives an overview about the current situation in a socio-legal context.