[The suspension trauma syndrome: preventive features.].

OBJECTIVES

The suspension trauma syndrome is a clinical condition that could lead to death, also in short time, by coupling the suspension with loss of consciousness and multiorgan failure. Health risks linked to temporary work in suspension are characterized both by infortunistic ones (for instance: trauma, falls, etc.) and by clinical ones, like the suspension trauma syndrome or compressive issues due to different fall protection systems.

METHODS

This study deal with the technical and medical meseasures devoted to the prevention of the suspension trauma syndrome. Italian 81/08 and 164/56 laws prescribes that, when no collective protection systems could be used, any single worker has to used personal safety equipment like energy absorbers, anchoring devices, lanyards, retractable devices, flexible life guides or lines, guides or rigid life lines, harnesses. Persons working in height have to undergo a medical surveillance, devoted in particular to identify such illnesses (frequently cardiologic or muscleskeletal disorders, both temporary or chronical) that prevent the exposures possibly leading to the suspension syndrome.

RESULTS

In some cases, the occupational physician could express a judgement of fitness to work in which only specific personal protection devices are allowed and/or the time to dedicate to work in suspension is limited, to efficiently protect the workers' health.

CONCLUSIONS

Qualora emergano quadri patologici (in particolare cardiologici ed osteomuscolari) con caratteristiche di cronicità e irreversibilità, è indicato esprimere un giudizio di inidoneità permanente alle attività che prevedono il lavoro in sospensione con imbracatura. In casi specifici, è possibile formulare giudizi di idoneità con limitazioni/prescrizioni rispetto al tempo di sospensione o rispetto alla tipologia di DPI impiegati, in maniera tale da garantire lo svolgimento dell'attività in sospensione minimizzando il rischio di insorgenza della sindrome.