Table 3.
Risk of carpal tunnel syndrome by minor-level occupation groups, stratified by sex (2002–2020)
| Females | Males | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation Group | Cases | HR (95% CI)a | Cases | HR (95% CI)a |
| Managers and administration | ||||
| Officials and administrators unique to government, n.e.c | 8 | 0.55 (0.28–1.11) | < 6 | – |
| Other managers and administrators | 9 | 0.82 (0.43–1.58) | 9 | 0.91 (0.47–1.76) |
| Accountants, auditors and other financial officers | 7 | 0.91 (0.43–1.90) | < 6 | – |
| Inspectors and regulatory officers, non-government | 9 | 1.36 (0.70–2.61) | 11 | 1.65 (0.91–2.98) |
| Occupations related to management and administration, n.e.c | 24 | 0.77 (0.52–1.16) | < 6 | – |
| Natural sciences, engineering, mathematics | ||||
| Architectural and engineering technologists and technicians | 12 | 1.16 (0.66–2.05) | 20 | 0.95 (0.61–1.48) |
| Social sciences and related | ||||
| Social workers | 22 | 1.11 (0.73–1.69) | < 6 | – |
| Welfare and community services | 51 | 0.74 (0.56–0.97) | < 6 | – |
| Social sciences and related fields, n.e.c | 12 | 0.72 (0.41–1.27) | < 6 | – |
| Teaching and related | ||||
| University teaching and related, n.e.c | 8 | 0.73 (0.36–1.45) | < 6 | – |
| Elementary and kindergarten teachers | 55 | 0.52 (0.40–0.68) | 8 | 0.80 (0.40–1.60) |
| Secondary school teachers | 14 | 0.49 (0.29–0.83) | < 6 | – |
| Elementary and secondary school teaching and related, n.e.c | 73 | 0.79 (0.62–1.00) | < 6 | – |
| Medicine and health | ||||
| Nurses, registered, graduate and nurses-in-training | 125 | 0.83 (0.69–0.99) | 6 | 1.14 (0.51–2.54) |
| Nursing assistants | 60 | 0.95 (0.73–1.22) | < 6 | – |
| Nursing aides and orderlies | 222 | 1.01 (0.88–1.16) | 22 | 1.72 (1.13–2.62) |
| Nursing, therapy and related assisting | 51 | 1.02 (0.77–1.35) | 16 | 1.04 (0.64–1.71) |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 7 | 1.82 (0.87–3.83) | 0 | – |
| Medical laboratory technologists and technicians | 43 | 0.82 (0.61–1.11) | 7 | 1.79 (0.85–3.76) |
| Other medicine and health, n.e.c | 17 | 1.41 (0.87–2.27) | < 6 | – |
| Artistic, literacy, and recreational | ||||
| Attendants, sport and recreation | 12 | 1.10 (0.63–1.95) | 8 | 1.01 (0.50–2.02) |
| Clerical and related | ||||
| Secretaries and stenographers | 26 | 1.14 (0.77–1.67) | 0 | – |
| Typists and clerk-typists | 7 | 1.93 (0.92–4.04) | 0 | – |
| Bookkeepers and accounting clerks | 7 | 0.90 (0.43–1.88) | 0 | – |
| Tellers and cashiers | 80 | 1.11 (0.89–1.38) | 7 | 1.59 (0.76–3.34) |
| Bookkeeping, account-recording, n.e.c | 13 | 0.96 (0.56–1.66) | 0 | – |
| Production clerks | 7 | 1.28 (0.61–2.69) | 6 | 1.23 (0.55–2.73) |
| Shipping and receiving clerks | 17 | 0.78 (0.48–1.25) | 63 | 0.98 (0.76–1.25) |
| Stock clerks and related | 17 | 1.11 (0.69–1.79) | 31 | 1.44 (1.01–2.05) |
| Receptionists and information clerks | 14 | 1.02 (0.60–1.73) | 0 | – |
| Mail carriers | 24 | 0.96 (0.64–1.43) | 12 | 0.53 (0.30–0.94) |
| Mail and postal clerks | 24 | 1.07 (0.72–1.60) | 7 | 0.57 (0.27–1.19) |
| Messengers | 9 | 1.48 (0.77–2.84) | 12 | 0.86 (0.49–1.51) |
| General office clerks | 42 | 0.98 (0.73–1.34) | < 6 | – |
| Other clerical and related, n.e.c | 60 | 0.90 (0.70–1.16) | 16 | 0.90 (0.55–1.47) |
| Sales | ||||
| Supervisors: sales, commodities | 61 | 0.96 (0.74–1.24) | 19 | 0.79 (0.50–1.24) |
| Salesmen and salespersons, commodities, n.e.c | 224 | 0.97 (0.85–1.11) | 52 | 0.52 (0.39–0.68) |
| Sales clerks, commodities | 17 | 0.96 (0.60–1.55) | 19 | 1.81 (1.15–2.84) |
| Driver-salesmen | 0 | – | 8 | 3.28 (1.64–6.57) |
| Other sales, n.e.c | 10 | 1.17 (0.63–2.18) | < 6 | – |
| Services | ||||
| Fire-fighting | < 6 | – | 22 | 1.00 (0.66–1.53) |
| Policemen and detectives, government | 12 | 0.80 (0.45–1.40) | 21 | 0.64 (0.42–0.99) |
| Guards and watchmen | 16 | 0.59 (0.36–0.96) | 17 | 0.50 (0.31–0.80) |
| Supervisors: food and beverage preparation and related | 31 | 1.16 (0.81–1.65) | 6 | 0.92 (0.41–2.05) |
| Chefs and cooks | 70 | 1.25 (0.99–1.58) | 46 | 1.27 (0.94–1.70) |
| Waiters, hostesses and stewards | 51 | 0.82 (0.62–1.09) | < 6 | – |
| Food and beverage preparation and related service, n.e.c | 128 | 1.14 (0.95–1.36) | 14 | 0.56 (0.33–0.95) |
| Personal service, n.e.c | 154 | 0.98 (0.83–1.15) | < 6 | – |
| Laundering and dry cleaning | 22 | 1.27 (0.83–1.93) | < 6 | – |
| Supervisors: other service | 8 | 0.86 (0.43–1.71) | 19 | 1.84 (1.17–2.88) |
| Janitors, charworkers and cleaners | 256 | 1.50 (1.32–1.71) | 140 | 1.10 (0.93–1.31) |
| Labouring and other elemental work, services | 24 | 1.55 (1.04–2.32) | 18 | 0.94 (0.59–1.49) |
| Other service, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 7 | 0.90 (0.43–1.88) |
| Farming, horticulture, and animal husbandry | ||||
| Foremen | < 6 | – | 8 | 1.66 (0.83–3.33) |
| Farm workers | 19 | 1.52 (0.97–2.39) | 24 | 1.00 (0.67–1.50) |
| Nursery and related workers | 10 | 0.74 (0.40–1.38) | 31 | 0.91 (0.64–1.30) |
| Other farming, horticultural and animal husbandry, n.e.c | 6 | 0.98 (0.44–2.18) | < 6 | – |
| Mining and quarrying | ||||
| Cutting, handling and loading | 0 | – | 6 | 1.88 (0.85–4.19) |
| Mining and quarrying, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 13 | 1.76 (1.02–3.03) |
| Processing (mineral, metal, chemical) | ||||
| Foremen, metal processing and related | < 6 | – | 6 | 2.77 (1.24–6.15) |
| Moulding, coremaking and metal casting | < 6 | – | 15 | 1.52 (0.92–2.53) |
| Metal processing and related, n.e.c | 12 | 3.08 (1.75–5.43) | 25 | 1.06 (0.71–1.57) |
| Forming: clay, glass and stone | 0 | – | 6 | 1.16 (0.52–2.59) |
| Labouring and other elemental work, chemicals, petroleum, rubber, plastic and related materials processing | 15 | 1.25 (0.75–2.08) | 15 | 1.21 (0.73–2.02) |
| Chemicals petroleum rubber plastic and related, n.e.c | 55 | 1.67 (1.28–2.19) | 37 | 1.03 (0.75–1.43) |
| Processing (food, wood, textile) | ||||
| Baking, confectionery making and related | 33 | 2.05 (1.46–2.89) | < 6 | – |
| Slaughtering and meat cutting, canning, curing and packing | 17 | 2.28 (1.42–3.68) | 27 | 1.95 (1.33–2.85) |
| Fish canning, curing, packing | 6 | 3.93 (1.77–8.76) | < 6 | – |
| Labouring and other elemental work, food, beverage and related | 88 | 1.88 (1.52–2.32) | 45 | 1.42 (1.05–1.90) |
| Food, beverage and related processing, n.e.c | 13 | 0.97 (0.56–1.67) | 11 | 0.78 (0.43–1.41) |
| Sawmill sawyers and related | 0 | – | 6 | 1.90 (0.85–4.24) |
| Textile weaving | 6 | 2.39 (1.07–5.33) | < 6 | – |
| Labouring and other elemental work, textile processing | 10 | 2.00 (1.08–3.72) | < 6 | – |
| Labouring and other elemental work, other processing | 10 | 1.57 (0.84–2.92) | 26 | 1.57 (1.07–2.31) |
| Machining and related | ||||
| Tool and die making | < 6 | – | 10 | 0.69 (0.37–1.29) |
| Machinist and machine tool setting-up | 6 | 1.75 (0.79–3.91) | 30 | 0.97 (0.68–1.40) |
| Machine tool operating | < 6 | – | 15 | 0.89 (0.54–1.48) |
| Forging | 0 | – | 6 | 1.28 (0.57–2.85) |
| Sheet metal workers | < 6 | – | 15 | 1.12 (0.67–1.86) |
| Metalworking-machine operators, n.e.c | 51 | 1.86 (1.41–2.45) | 80 | 1.10 (0.88–1.37) |
| Welding and flame cutting | 11 | 1.83 (1.01–3.32) | 104 | 1.65 (1.35–2.01) |
| Boilermakers, platers and structural metal workers | < 6 | – | 7 | 0.72 (0.34–1.50) |
| Metal shaping and forming, n.e.c | 7 | 0.93 (0.44–1.96) | 40 | 1.48 (1.08–2.02) |
| Planing, turning, shaping and related | 9 | 3.30 (1.71–6.34) | 11 | 1.01 (0.56–1.83) |
| Filing, grinding, buffing, cleaning and polishing, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 7 | 1.01 (0.48–2.13) |
| Product fabricating, assembling, and repairing | ||||
| Motor vehicle fabricating and assembling, n.e.c | 95 | 2.14 (1.74–2.62) | 136 | 2.43 (2.04–2.89) |
| Industrial, farm, construction and other mechanized equipment and machinery | 8 | 1.57 (0.78–3.14) | 15 | 1.36 (0.82–2.26) |
| Labouring and other elemental work –metal products | < 6 | – | 7 | 2.27 (1.08–4.76) |
| Other fabricating and assembling, metal products, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 10 | 0.92 (0.50–1.72) |
| Foremen: electrical, electronic equipment fabricating, assembling, installing and repairing | < 6 | – | 8 | 1.58 (0.79–3.16) |
| Electrical equipment fabricating and assembling | 19 | 1.54 (0.98–2.42) | 18 | 1.25 (0.79–1.99) |
| Electrical equipment installing and repairing, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 27 | 1.39 (0.95–2.03) |
| Electronic equipment installing and repairing, n.e.c | 17 | 1.69 (1.05–2.73) | 11 | 0.76 (0.42–1.37) |
| Cabinet and wood furniture makers | < 6 | – | 15 | 0.92 (0.56–1.54) |
| Labouring and other elemental work: wood products | < 6 | – | 9 | 1.94 (1.01–3.73) |
| Fabricating, assembling and repairing, wood products, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 16 | 1.43 (0.87–2.34) |
| Sewing machine operators, textile and similar materials | 22 | 1.28 (0.84–1.96) | < 6 | – |
| Motor vehicle mechanics and repairmen | < 6 | – | 132 | 1.43 (1.20–1.70) |
| Aircraft mechanics and repairmen | 0 | – | 7 | 1.19 (0.57–2.50) |
| Industrial, farm and construction machinery | < 6 | – | 78 | 1.13 (0.90–1.42) |
| Mechanics and repairmen, except electrical, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 28 | 1.73 (1.19–2.51) |
| Foremen: product fabricating, assembling and repairing, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 6 | 1.65 (0.74–3.67) |
| Paper product fabricating and assembling | 8 | 2.34 (1.17–4.68) | 6 | 0.81 (0.36–1.81) |
| Painting and decorating, except construction | 6 | 1.41 (0.63–3.14) | 17 | 1.05 (0.65–1.69) |
| Other product fabricating, assembling and repairing, n.e.c | 54 | 1.49 (1.13–1.95) | 54 | 1.17 (0.89–1.54) |
| Construction trades | ||||
| Foremen: excavating, grading, paving | 0 | – | 10 | 2.31 (1.24–4.30) |
| Excavating, grading | < 6 | – | 28 | 1.22 (0.84–1.77) |
| Construction electricians and repairmen | < 6 | – | 32 | 1.08 (0.76–1.54) |
| Wire communications equipment installing and repairing | < 6 | – | 16 | 1.00 (0.61–1.63) |
| Electrical power, lighting and wire communications equipment erecting, installing and repairing, n.e.c | 0 | – | 6 | 0.98 (0.44–2.19) |
| Foremen: other construction trades | 0 | – | 20 | 1.51 (0.97–2.35) |
| Carpenters | < 6 | – | 66 | 1.53 (1.19–1.95) |
| Brick and stone masons and tile setters | 0 | – | 11 | 1.02 (0.56–1.84) |
| Concrete finishing | 0 | – | 7 | 1.59 (0.76–3.33) |
| Plasterers | 0 | – | 12 | 1.16 (0.66–2.04) |
| Painters, paperhangers | < 6 | – | 12 | 1.08 (0.61–1.90) |
| Roofing, waterproofing | 0 | – | 15 | 1.46 (0.88–2.43) |
| Pipefitting, plumbing | < 6 | – | 39 | 1.44 (1.05–1.98) |
| Structural metal erectors | 0 | – | 9 | 1.82 (0.94–3.49) |
| Glaziers | 0 | – | 6 | 1.25 (0.56–2.78) |
| Labouring and other elemental work, other construction trades | 0 | – | 30 | 1.29 (0.90–1.85) |
| Other construction trades, n.e.c | 6 | 1.22 (0.55–2.73) | 167 | 1.44 (1.23–1.68) |
| Transport and equipment operating | ||||
| Air transport operating, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 6 | 0.43 (0.19–0.96) |
| Taxi drivers and chauffeurs | < 6 | – | 6 | 1.26 (0.56–2.80) |
| Truck drivers | 19 | 1.04 (0.66–1.64) | 245 | 1.15 (1.00–1.31) |
| Motor transport operating, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 46 | 1.02 (0.76–1.37) |
| Other transport and related equipment operating, n.e.c | 47 | 1.40 (1.05–1.87) | 47 | 0.95 (0.71–1.27) |
| Materials handling and related | ||||
| Hoisting occupations, n.e.c | 0 | – | 11 | 1.49 (0.83–2.70) |
| Longshoremen, stevedores and freight handlers | < 6 | – | 34 | 1.15 (0.82–1.61) |
| Materials handling equipment operators, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 12 | 1.01 (0.57–1.79) |
| Packaging occupations, n.e.c | 29 | 2.06 (1.43–2.97) | 16 | 1.82 (1.12–2.98) |
| Labouring and other elemental work, materials handling | 69 | 1.08 (0.85–1.37) | 133 | 0.93 (0.78–1.11) |
| Materials handling and related, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 11 | 1.13 (0.62–2.05) |
| Other crafts and equipment operating | ||||
| Printing press | < 6 | – | 12 | 1.24 (0.71–2.19) |
| Bookbinders and related | 7 | 1.83 (0.87–3.84) | 0 | – |
| Stationary engine and utilities equipment operating, n.e.c | < 6 | – | 8 | 0.73 (0.37–1.47) |
Division level occupations are bolded, minor level occupations are indented
Statistically significant (α = 0.05) increased risks are bolded, and statistically significant decreased risks are italicized
Abbreviations: HR hazard ratio, CI confidence interval, n.e.c. not elsewhere classified
aA 3-year washout and a 3-year follow-up period were applied, with adjustments for birth year and age at start of follow-up