[Ergospirometry: a suitable method for evaluating work capacity in occupational medicine?].

In various industrial tasks elevated physical strain of workers can be expected. In order to identify possible health hazards as soon as possible and to effectively prevent occupational diseases and accidents, a series of occupational health medical examinations are mandatory according to German accident prevention regulations such as VBG 100 "Occupational Health Care", Regulations for Climatic Conditions Underground (KlimaBergV), Regulations for Mine Rescue Teams, etc. Besides a clinical medical inspection and a laboratory blood test as well as urine test the physical fitness and aptitude for several specific occupational hazards are tested by means of a mandatory ergometry test. In the present publication the possible predictive limits as well as the making sense or nonsense of the use of ergometry in occupational aptitude tests under the auspices of German accident prevention regulations will be discussed.