International trends in education and training in occupational hygiene

In many countries occupational hygiene has become an indispensable discipline in managing long-term risks to the health of workers. The international collaboration on education and training started with a workshop in Luxembourg in 1986 (sponsored by the EC and WHO). This meeting provided useful groundwork in defining the scope and function of training and education in occupational hygiene. Subsequent meetings in Geneva in 1989 and 1991 progressed many of the matters raised at the Luxembourg meeting. There is a fair agreement on the educational prerequisites for the professional occupational hygienist. Academic qualifications are regarded as essential since problem-solving, in contrast to rule-following, is best trained at academic level. For this reason a mandatory research project should be included in the curriculum. The general outline of an educational programme includes basic knowledge of physics, mathematics and chemistry, basic knowledge of supportive disciplines such as toxicology, epidemiology and biostatistics, risk analysis and engineering principles, and core and specialized topics in occupational hygiene such as measurement strategies, design techniques, health risk evaluation, principles of control inclusive ventilation, management and laws and legal requirements. Discussions pertains to the preferable educational routes, on the balance between methodology and professional practice, and the focus on prevention and engineering rather than exposure assessment. Currently, the International Occupational Hygiene Association has launched a programme for interchangeability and harmonization of the different certification schemes for professional occupational hygienists. International cooperation among educational resource centres should be strongly encouraged by exchange of students and faculty, as well as educational materials and information.     

Training courses for specialists in working conditions: Some survey results

Initial results are presented of a survey in 14 countries into the training of six professional groups in the area of working conditions. The groups are occupational physicians, occupational hygienists, safety advisors/engineers, ergonomists, occupational health nurses and health and safety/labour/ (social) insurance inspectors.The paper concentrates on the diversity of the professional groups involved in working conditions, the level, length and certification of their training, and, for a limited number of the countries surveyed, the overlap in training content between groups.Conclusions are drawn in respect of the potential for sharing of training content and materials.     

日本劳动安全卫生监管模式对我国的借鉴作用

学习和借鉴国外先进的安全生产管理模式,可以促进我国安全生产监管水平的不断改善。日本的劳动安全卫生监管采用了超前管理和过程管理方式,政府监管部门通过制定和完善有关法律法规,建立政府计划指导,劳动灾害防止团体和产业协会提供技术服务,企业承担劳动安全卫生主体责任,使劳动安全卫生政策、计划得到有效的执行和不断的修正。经多年的实践和积累,日本劳动安全卫生的重点已从灾害预防控制,向劳动工作紧张焦虑预防控制、创造舒适劳动环境转移,整个劳动安全卫生监管模式进入了一个良性循环。该文借鉴日本劳动安全卫生监督管理体制四十多年的经验,提出我国职业卫生监管应该通过培训教育,提高全民的劳动安全卫生意识。要充分研究和利用第三方技术服务组织,规范第三方技术服务,承担我国劳动安全卫生的事务性工作。     

Workers' active involvement in the improvement of occupational safety and health in a textile enterprise--a case study.

Part of the Polish-Swedish OSHMAN project was carried out in a textile company. It aimed at implementing and improving effective health and safety management with workers' active involvement at all levels of the enterprise. The two main problems to be solved during the project were decreasing occupational risk and improving workers' poor knowledge on occupational risk. Training courses, workshops and practical activities were undertaken. As expected, there were changes in work organisation and improvement in the way workstations were looked after, which led to a decrease in occupational risk. Workers were highly committed during the project. Nevertheless it seems that more training should be directed at middle management.     

83家井工煤矿在岗农民工尘肺病现状调查及预防对策研究

为调查井工煤矿在岗农民工尘肺病防治现状并提出对策措施,采用分层整群抽样调查方法对4省（市）的83家井工煤矿进行调研,调查内容包括:职业卫生管理现状、职业健康监护与尘肺病诊断资料、X线胸片、农民工基本情况、职业卫生知识知晓情况、社会保险待遇等。调查结果显示:83家井工煤矿的职业病危害防治工作领导小组设置率和管理制度制定率均为100%,但制度内容和职业卫生培训缺乏针对性;粉尘危害防治费用平均为吨煤0.18元/月;采煤和掘进工作面的总尘浓度约为1.02～49.5 mg/m3;在岗检查时,农民工肺部异常的检出率高于正式工,在岗农民工疑似尘肺病检出率为7.94%,农民工尘肺病平均发病工龄14.47 a±6.79 a,平均发病年龄42.56岁±5.80岁,与正式工相比,农民工发病工龄短、发病年龄小。因此,建议政府从法规标准建设、探索职业健康责任险、加大监管力度等方面,企业从强化主体责任意识、源头治理及农民工职业卫生培训等方面,加强农民工尘肺病的防治工作。     

Developing a standard for psychosocial risk management: PAS 1010

The nature of work has changed dramatically due to globalisation, migration, technological advances and the emergence of the knowledge-based economy. These changes have been accompanied by the increased prevalence of new and emerging types of risk to workers’ health and safety, such as psychosocial risks. This paper reviews the key regulatory and voluntary standards on occupational health and safety of relevance to the management of psychosocial risks in the workplace that are applicable to the European Union member states. The review indicates that regulatory standards set the minimum level of protection for workers and voluntary standards may further enable organisations to go beyond their legal obligations. However, the review also highlights that the terms ‘stress’ and ‘psychosocial risks’ are not mentioned explicitly in most pieces of legislation leading to lack of clarity on the terminology used. While voluntary standards seek to address this, very few provide specific guidance on the process of psychosocial risk management to enable organisations to manage psychosocial risks successfully. On the basis of the review, the case for the development of a voluntary standard for psychosocial risk management is presented. The paper further discusses the recent development of such a standard and its implications at the European level.     

关于国家职业安全卫生培训的战略思考

职业安全卫生培训是开展职业安全卫生工作的基础。如何充分发挥培训的作用是众所关心的问题。笔者在研究我国职业安全卫生培训工作发展的历史及现状的基础上 ,指出了职业安全卫生培训与目前社会需求的差距 ;提出了在当前培训工作中存在的主要问题 ;论述了如何建立起从资格培训规定、培训大纲、培训教材到考核标准的培训体系和职责明确、层次清楚的培训程序 ;特别强调 ,要建立起适应市场经济发展和现代工业安全生产的有效的职业安全卫生培训机制 ,是使职业安全卫生培训工作进一步走向正规化的核心问题。     

Evaluation of an integrative masters program in occupational health at the Tel Aviv University Medical School

Tel Aviv University conducts the Master's program in occupational health in Israel. The program is composed from three different disciplines: occupational physicians, industrial hygienists and psychosocial workers. The aim of the program was to train graduate academic professionals for the developing occupational health system in Israel. The program is a two year study, opens every second year and accommodates about thirty students per class. After the second class, comprehensive assessment was conducted by the Unit of Medical Education. The evaluation was done by means of personal interview of class leaders, teachers and students, using structured questionnaires. A similar evaluation was again conducted after graduation of the fourth class in 1993. Three aims of the assessment were defined: to learn about the students' and teachers' expectations of the course, the level of integration achieved between the occupational health professionals in the three disciplines; and to evaluate the employment status of the graduates upon completion of the course. Following the first evaluation, changes were implemented in the methods of student selection for the program. A new entering examination was constructed to ensure a common basic knowledge of the potential students in the three disciplines. Changes were also made in the curriculum regarding teaching hours and subjects. A major problem at that time was that most of the graduates could not find positions in the field, because of low awareness for occupational health in Israel. In the second evaluation done in 1993 a higher level of satisfaction of students and teachers from the program was noted. The average level of the accepted students was higher compared with those accepted earlier. Better and deeper integration between the three disciplines of studies was appreciated. More graduates of the program found jobs in the area of occupational health and there is a higher level of awareness of employers and high regards to the course.     

The Effectiveness of a “Break Experiment” from a Long-Term Perspective

The study reports the results of a follow-up evaluation, conducted in 1994, of the impact of a training program for female unskilled metal workers that was implemented at the end of the 1970s. The program was designed to promote occupational skills development, and was first evaluated in 1979. On both occasions of evaluation the investment in training was examined from two perspectives, those of the training participants and management. Data were collected through semistructured personal interviews with key members of personnel management and through a group conversation session with a majority of the original course attendees. Supplementary background information was obtained from documents and records maintained by the organization. At some points, there was a convergence of views on the significance of the training program for occupational skills development, at others a divergence. These convergences and divergences are finally discussed and the findings of the study are related to other research on this particular kind of intervention.     

OHS inspectors and psychosocial risk factors: Evidence from Australia

Legislation giving prominence to psychosocial risk factors at work has changed the role of government occupational health and safety (OHS) inspectors in many countries. Yet little is known about how inspectorates have responded to these changes. Between 2003 and 2007 an Australian study was undertaken on OHS standards, entailing detailed documentary analysis, interviews with 36 inspectorate managers and 89 inspectors, and observations made when researchers accompanied inspectors on 120 typical workplace visits. Our study found that general duty provisions in OHS legislation clearly incorporated psychosocial hazards and inspectorates had introduced guidance material, pursued campaigns and increased interventions in this area. However, the regulatory framework remained narrow (focused on bullying/harassment, occupational violence and work stress) and workplace visits revealed psychosocial hazards as a marginal area of inspectorate activity. These findings were reinforced in interviews. While aware of psychosocial hazards inspectors often saw the issue as problematic due to limited training, resourcing constraints, deficiencies in regulation and fears of victimisation amongst workers. In order to address these problems a number of changes are required that recognize the distinctiveness of psychosocial hazards including their ‘invisibility’. Notable here are revisions to regulation (both general duty provisions and specific codes), the development of comprehensive guidance and assessment tools to be used by inspectors, greater use of procedural enforcement, and enhanced inspectorate resourcing and training. There is also a need to recognize complex inter-linkages between psychosocial hazards and the industrial relations context.     

International survey on the education of occupational health nurses

In 1990 the Scientific Committee on Occupational Health Nursing (SCOHN) of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) carried out a survey on the education of occupational health nurses (OHN) in various countries. A questionnaire with 23 questions was mailed to 50 countries.Replies were received form altogether 37 countries (74%). The length of the general nursing education varies from two to five years, being three years in 21 countries. In two European countries it is less than three years.Some special training in occupational health is included in the general nursing education in 14 countries. However, the length of this training varies considerably. The special training is the longest in Denmark, Finland and Norway.According to the answers, special postgraduate courses are organized in 21 countries. Training in occupational health is also included in the public health nursing education of 12 countries.University level programs on occupational health nursing are available in eight countries. Joint education on occupational health at university level has been organized for various professionals in 13 countries. The length of this education varies greatly from some months to several years. In four countries the length of this joint education is one academic year.General nursing education is the basic requirement for occupational health nurses in most of the countries surveyed. However, training in occupational health is not included in this education in most of the countries. Special postgraduate courses in occupational health are organized in 21 countries to OHNs who are employed in Occupational Health Services. There is an urgent need to develop the education of OHNs in most countries surveyed.     

Development of a new masters program for occupational physicians in Flanders

Background: discussions with occupational physicians and a postal survey identified the shortcomings of previous programs, mainly found in the fields of occupational hygiene, ergonomics, environmental health and management.Objectives of the new program: basic knowledge (see content), the development of problem solving skills, scientific and social attitudes.Content: first year: occupational health practice, occupational hygiene, epidemiology, work physiology, toxicokinetics and dynamics and in service training (4 weeks). Second year: occupational pathology, environmental health, ergonomics, social legislation, safety, management and in service training (4 weeks). The total study load is estimated at about 1600 hours per year.Methods: interactivity is stimulated by the introduction of interdisciplinary seminars, project work in groups and Socratic dialogue. The objectives, contents and teaching and student-evaluation methods of the separate items were defined before selecting teachers.Finality of the program: a masters title sufficient to practice occupational medicine in Belgium. A subsequent postacademic training of 2 years, while at work, will be required for the title of specialist in occupational medicine, valid at European Union (EU) level. It will include preparing and publically defending a thesis.Statement: The collaboration of ex-students working in the field is essential in the development and quality assessment of adequate teaching programs.     

Measuring the effectiveness of an industrial lift truck safety training program

A behavior (work) sampling approach was used to both develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an occupational safety training program for industrial lift truck operators. Two studies, each using different experimental designs and performed at two separate warehouses, were conducted, resulting in a total of 96 operators trained. Observations through several months of training program assessment indicated that: (a) occupational safety training, emphasizing modification of operationally defined unsafe work practices derived from task/hazard analysis, can be demonstrated to be effective and to endure beyond cessation of performance feedback; (b) the basis for endurance appears to be continued practice in the modified safe work procedures, coupled with a redefinition of group norms sustained through informal influences such as peer modeling of desired behaviors and continued management support of the program; and (c) a behavior sampling procedure, specifying performancebased criteria, can be used effectively in both the development and evaluation of an occupational-safety training program.     

Pushing and pulling: an assessment tool for occupational health and safety practitioners

A tool has been developed for supporting practitioners when assessing manual pushing and pulling operations based on an initiative by two global companies in the manufacturing industry. The aim of the tool is to support occupational health and safety practitioners in risk assessment and risk management of pushing and pulling operations in the manufacturing and logistics industries. The tool is based on a nine-multiplier equation that includes a wide range of factors affecting an operator’s health risk and capacity in pushing and pulling. These multipliers are based on psychophysical, physiological and biomechanical studies in combination with judgments from an expert group consisting of senior researchers and ergonomists. In order to consider usability, more than 50 occupational health and safety practitioners (e.g., ergonomists, managers, safety representatives and production personnel) participated in the development of the tool. An evaluation by 22 ergonomists supports that the push/pull tool is user friendly in general.     

浅析职业安全健康领域人力资源管理创新

我国职业安全健康领域人力资源管理存在管理理念落后,激励因素不足,培训开发力度不足等问题,制约我国职业安全健康事业的发展。为盘活现有的人力资源,实现职业安全健康领域人力资源创新管理,笔者认为一是要进行观念创新;二是要进行机制创新;三是要营造有利于职业安全健康领域人力资源管理创新的环境。本文就职业安全健康领域人力资源管理创新提出三点建议：（1）提升职业安全健康领域人力资源管理战略高度;（2）提高职业安全健康领域人力资源管理专业水平;（3）加强职业安全健康领域人力资源管理权力约束机制建设。     

Increasing coping resources at work: A field experiment to increase social support,improve work team functioning,and enhance employee mental health

Correlational studies have identified worksite coping resources such as social support and perceived control, and have suggested a positive role for such resources in employee stress processes. However, little experimental evidence has demonstrated the causal role of worksite coping resources in improving mental health, nor how worksite coping resources can be enhanced. This paper reports the results of a field experiment intended to provide such evidence. Human service workers participated in a theory-driven training program designed to increase individual and group psychosocial coping resources and individuals' abilities to use those resources when coping with job demands. The inclusion of selection variables in models used to estimate the impact of the intervention controlled for selection biases and also allowed for the assessment of the impact of the training on those workers identified as most prone to turnover and on those most likely to participate in such an intervention. Results indicated that the program enhanced the work team climate and reduced depresssive symptoms and somatization in those most at risk for leaving their jobs. The program was also effective in increasing the amount of supervisor support received on the job and strengthening perceptions of coping abilities in those workers most likely to participate in the program.     

New tools and strategies for the inspection of the psychosocial working environment: The experience of the Danish Working Environment Authority

In 2007 the Danish Working Environment Authority launched a new strategy to strengthen and qualify primary prevention of work related stress. Part of the strategy consists of increased inspections of the psychosocial working environment as well as the development and implementation of a new inspection tool, namely the “guidance tool”.Twenty-four sector specific guidance tools have been developed to help WEA inspectors assess psychosocial working environment problems in all Danish enterprises. Based on recent research, the guidance tools consist, in each sector, of the three to five most important risk factors (for example quantitative demands, emotional demands, and work related violence), as well as the most important preventive factors, e.g. quality of management, influence/control and training.During the first years of the strategy, an increasing number of inspectors have issued improvement notices regarding work related stress and violence, and there has been an increasing number of notices issued on several risk factors. For some aspects, the tools have helped increase the clarity and comprehensibility of the improvement notices and reduce the WEA’s time consumption per enterprise.The guidance tools seem to be a suitable and efficient way of assessing several health and safety risks concerning work related stress and violence thereby allowing the WEA to detect more of the existing problems. Future challenges projected for the strategy include continuously training all WEA inspectors in the proper use of the tools and continuously refining the tools – or developing new tools – based on further research and experiences from practice.     

Psychological Approaches to OSH Research—An Evaluation of 20 Years of Psychological Research on Industrial Safety and Health in Germany

During the past 20 years of research in occupational safety and health (OSH), major contributions have been made by psychology in general, foremost German work and organizational psychology. This is the result of an empirical study with 216 scientific projects that were analyzed by content, and 32 interviews on OSH with experts on science, as well as in professional occupations and federations. Its sound methodological and theoretical approach has helped work and organizational psychology to embody itself as a driving force of OSH. The research focuses on the development of tools for job analysis, striving for the valid diagnosis of occupational hazards and mental load. Consequently, work and organizational psychology provides a solid foundation for deriving human and personality ameliorating organizational measures. Among the predominant means of intervention are training in coping with stress, behavioral training and modeling, health circles, and the arrangement of environments sensitive to occupational load. Major deficits in the field of research show up within evaluation and transfer as well as within quality control of the developed diagnostic and devices regarding intervention. Future scientific effort by means of application-orientated methods is vital to detect and overcome effectively a mounting mental load in the occupational world.     

Occupational hazards to health of port workers

Objectives. The aim of this article is to reduce the risk of occupational hazards and improve safety conditions by enhancing hazard knowledge and identification as well as improving safety behavior for freight port enterprises. Methods. In the article, occupational hazards to health and their prevention measures of freight port enterprises have been summarized through a lot of occupational health evaluation work, experience and understanding. Results. Workers of freight port enterprises confront an equally wide variety of chemical, physical and psychological hazards in production technology, production environment and the course of labor. Such health hazards have been identified, the risks evaluated, the dangers to health notified and effective prevention measures which should be put in place to ensure the health of the port workers summarized. Discussion. There is still a long way to go for the freight port enterprises to prevent and control the occupational hazards. Except for occupational hazards and their prevention measures, other factors that influence the health of port workers should also be paid attention to, such as age, work history, gender, contraindication and even the occurrence and development rules of occupational hazards in current production conditions.