60 Years of FIOH – What's Next? EASOM Summer School 25.8.2005 Harri Vainio, MD, Professor Director General

60 Years of FIOH – What's Next?EASOM Summer School25.8.2005Harri Vainio, MD, ProfessorDirector General

FIOH / Harri Vainio / 25.8.2005 2

Finns are ageing

Statistics Finland

Men (thousands) Women (thousands)

2003

Men (thousands) Women (thousands)

2030

1950 1970


Finland in the 1940s

Major occupational health issues: carbon monoxide, lead, benzene

Largest branch of economy: agriculture and forestry


Structural changes in working life

Statistics Finland

Economically active population in various branches of economy


Diminishing risks: CS2 + H2Sin the workroom air in viscose-rayon industry

TLV until 1972 TLV 1972-1992 TLV since 1993

PPM CS2 + H2S

1950s 2000-30021960s 1970s 1980s 1990s


Diminishing risks: CS2Risk ratio as a function of follow-up time

Nurminen & Hernberg: British Journal of Industrial Medicine 1985


Diminishing risks: CS2 Impact of intervention on ischemic heart disease mortality

Nurminen & Hernberg: British Journal of Industrial Medicine 1985

Follow-up Year / Period Risk Ratio

1 - 7 1.7.1967 - 30.6.1974 3.28 - 15 1.7.1974 - 30.6.1982 1.0

The hypothetical number of deaths that would have occurred among the exposed cohort had the same mortality risk that prevailed before 1975 continued after 1974:59 instead of 19 (observed)

Preventive fraction = (59 – 19)/59 = 68%


0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Use of asbestos, tons/year Mesothelioma casesFINLAND

Diminishing risks, emerging consequencies: Asbestos and mesothelioma


Emerging risks: stressDownsizing increases the risk of cardiovascular mortality

Vahtera et al. BMJ 2004

<8 8-18 >180,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

1,21,1

1,5

2,0*

1,4*1,2

Ris

k of

dea

th

Downsizing (% of personnel)

All deaths Cardiovascular deaths Other deaths


The New York Times 5.9. 2004


Innovations in the globalized world

Statistics FinlandOECD

The share of high-tech exportsin some OECD countries

Finnish trade onhigh-tech products

R&D input in someOECD countries


Innovations in research

Reseach process Research resultsScientific publishing

Education, training

Communication, public relations

Services

Reseach process Research resultsScientific publishing

Education, training

Communication, public relations

Services

Mervi Hasu, FIOH

Research

Development

Partner

Group ofclients

Chain ofclients

Shared

problem space

Shared

problem space

Shared

problem space

Researchorganization

From linear processes …

… to co-operative networks


FIOH strategy 2006-2010:We promote health and safety at workas part of a good full life

• We create solutions for improving occupational health, safety and well-being together with our clients and partners

• By applying our solutions, our clients can learn new things, improve their operations, and succeed in the changing environment

• We learn from ourclients about theneeds in work life,and find newobjects for ourresearch anddevelopment activities

Researchpartners

Workplaces, citizens,publicauthorities

Mediatingbodies

shared

problem space

shared

problem space

shared

problem space

X1 X2

X3 X4

FIOH


Strategic goals

1. At workplaces, the management of health hazards is part of management practices and corporate risk management

2. Work communities are innovative, regenerative and healthy

3. Each citizen has the competence to ensure his or her own occupational safety and well-being

4. The authorities are provided with information for promoting occupational health and safety

5. Work processes are smoothly flowing, and working methods and tools are safe and easy to use

6. Solutions are created in order to increase participation in work life

7. New occupational hazards are kept under control, and new opportunities are exploited.


Mode of operation

Providetraining

• originalarticles

• overviews• criteria documents

• methods

• guides• handbooks• best practices

Investigate and developCollect, promote

andevaluate scientific

knowledge;develop methods

Understand theissue at hand

Evaluate andselect methods

CLIENTSNEED

PARTNERS

SOLUTION

Provide expert services

Solve problems and learn together

feedback

Disseminate information, engage in marketing

feedback


Renewed organizational structure

Centres of

expertise

FIOH

Units of excellence

Projects,activities

TeamsThematic

areas

• Work communities and organizations• Human factors• Development of the work environment• Health and work ability• Good practices and occupational skills• Internal services

• Immunotoxicology• Psychosocial factors

Documents

60 Years of FIOH – What's Next? EASOM Summer School 25.8.2005 Harri Vainio, MD, Professor Director General