Download - Occupational Health Services
Occupational Health Services
Kari-Pekka MartimoPre-Accession Advisor (PAA)
I. Good Occupational Health Practice (GOHP) guideline in Estonia
II. Developing the service provision infrastructure of OHS with widened coverage
III. Agricultural OHS, making an assessment of the OH&S situation in farms
IV. Development of indicators for functioning and status of OHS
V. Increasing awareness and disseminating information through networks
Five element objectives (EO)
• Aim was to introduce GOHP guidelines into practice in Estonia
• Activities:– Principles adopted in all activities since the
beginning of the project– GOHP guideline published in January 2004– Other published guidelines and fact sheets
supported the adoption of GOHP– Several seminars and meetings to support the
implementation of GOHP
EO I: GOHP guideline in Estonia
• Conclusions:– Guidebook was considered important even if it
needs more adaptation to Estonian system– Present legislation supports GOHP – Project supported quality improvement
required by Ministry of Social Affairs– Ethics and effectiveness of health
examinations need more consideration
EO I: GOHP guideline in Estonia
• Impact:– The wide distribution of guidebooks and
popularity of the training events together with perceived needs to develop OHS most likely lead to improvements in the OHS processes
EO I: GOHP guideline in Estonia
• Aim was to link family doctor network to the infrastructure of OHS
• Activities included– 26 days of training on work-related diseases to
1556 participants– Involvement of stakeholders through various
meetings and seminars– Study visit of OH physicians and clinical
specialists to FIOH on 16-19 March 2004
EO II: Developing OH service provision infrastructure with
widened coverage
• Conclusions:– Other specialists interested in work-
relatedness of diseases and in collaboration with OHS
– Some employers more interested in OH&S issues than required by law
– More flexibility in provision of OHS needed (e.g. SMEs, farmers, self-employed)
– Statutory obligations and possibilities of OH physicians collide
EO II: Developing OH infrastructure
• Impact:– 63 (+14) OH physicians, 197 family
physicians and other specialists and 9 agricultural experts have been informed on OHS system, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities for development and threats
EO II: Developing OH infrastructure
• Aim was to develop a model for OHS arrangements in agriculture
• Activities:– Four farms were visited on 4-5 September 2003, and
a suggestion for the OH&S model has been made– Study visit of five agricultural experts to Finland on 5-
7 November 2003– Visit to the Minister of Agriculture on 12 January
2004
EO III: Agricultural OH&S, making the assessment of the
situation in farms
• Conclusions:– Farmers’ associations have been active in
promoting OH&S– More research needed on incidence of
work accidents and work-related diseases among farmers, as well as more training and information on OH&S issues
– Collaboration between public health and OH authorities needed to expand OHS expertise to rural areas
EO III: Agricultural OHS
• Impact:– Project activities have contributed to the
initiation of development of occupational health and safety services in agriculture
– Practical aids have been produced
EO III: Agricultural OHS
• Aim was to develop models and indicators (quantitative and qualitative) for evaluation of OHS unit’s functions.
• Planned activity was to instruct OHC on indicators to collect information for the Ministry, and for self-evaluation of the units
• Several meetings and seminar focused on indicators
EO IV: Development of indicators for functioning and
status of OHS
• Conclusions:– At present, the service providers are well
documented, but too little information exist on the processes and customers of OHS in Estonia
– Registry of W-RDs makes an alternative for that of ODs
– Self-assessment of effectiveness and quality was supported with practical aids
EO IV: Development of indicators
• Impact:– Preparedness for use of indicators has
increased– Future role of Health Care Board in follow-
up of OHS?
EO IV: Development of indicators
• Aim was to increase awareness and information among interest groups in collaboration with network element
• Activities:– All meetings, seminars and training events
have distributed information on OHS– On 12 December 2003 a special seminar was
organised to the employers
EO V: Increasing awareness and disseminating information
through networks
• Conclusions:– General interest of employer and employee
organisations on OH&S issues has been modest
– Public interest increased after latest amendment of Act on OH&S and during discussions on insurance of ODs and work accidents
– OH&S issues have not been in the agenda of decision makers during the project
EO V: Increasing awareness...
• Impact:– The project has analysed the present
situation and produced material for improvement of the OH&S in Estonia
EO V: Increasing awareness...
• Amendments needed in the Act on OH&S:– Employer’s duty to provide continuous
access to OH specialist– OH services should be obligations instead
of possibilities– Inconsistencies concerning ODs/W-RDs– Good Occupational Health Practice
• Promotion as well as protection and prevention• Follow-up and evaluation at national level
Recommendation for future actions
• Incentives for the employers to improve OH&S– More responsibility for work-related ill-
health– Premiums through insurance system– Information on productivity and health and
safety at work– Adequate resources for Labour
Inspectorate
Recommendation for future actions
• Alternative models for OHS– Profit making enterprises and self-
employed do not cover peripheral regions– Large enterprises may prefer in-house OH
specialists for closer collaboration– Family physicians should get more
involved in OHS but only if adequately trained and supervised by OH specialists
– Professional independence is a challenge in every model
Recommendation for future actions
• Strong competent authority needed– Prerequisite for development of OHS– Needed for
• Training• Expert advice• Research• Information• Collaboration• For public image of OHS
Recommendation for future actions