Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Disease and the Workplace: It Really is a
Matter of Prevention
Chris Martin, MD, MScProfessor and Director,
Institute of Occupational and Environmental HealthWest Virginia University School of Medicine
National Occupational Health Nurses’ Conference
Conference Theme
The Prevention of Known
Occupational Diseases
Conference Theme
The Prevention of Known
Occupational Diseases
What are the known diseases?What can we do to prevent them?
Prof Gordon Waddell CBE, DSc, MD, FRCS
What employment status?
Associated with 40% increase in self-reported new health condition (blood pressure, diabetes) in first 1.5 years
Strully K. Soc Sci Med. 2009 Sep;69(5):768-76.
What employment status?
More than doubles the risk of heart attack or stroke in people between 51 and 61 years over 6 and 10 years.
Gallo WT, Brand JE, Teng HM, Leo-Summers L, Byers AL.Res Aging. 2009 May 1;31(3):345-360.
What employment status?
Increases the risk of death overall by 63% based on a review of 42 studies with data on more than 20 million persons.
Roelfs DJ, Shor E, Davidson KW, Schwartz JE. Soc Sci Med. 2011 Mar;72(6):840-54.
Involves 1,604,900 Canadians (August 2012)
% C
anad
ian
Pop
ulat
ion
Source: Stats Can
In addition…
Increased mental illness Economic impact Social exclusion
Yet for most sick and disabled people, work: “is therapeutic; helps to promote recovery and rehabilitation; leads to better health outcomes; minimises the harmful physical, mental and
social effects of long-term sickness absence; reduces the risk of long-term incapacity; promotes full participation in society,
independence and human rights; reduces poverty; improves quality of life and well-being”.
IS WORK GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING? Gordon Waddell, A Kim Burton, 2006.
Re-employment
Adverse health effects largely reversible However, depends on job
So, what do we do?
Acknowledge and address the social context of our work
1.Change our attitude about work
Culture:The collective attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that characterise a particular social group over time
Changing the culture of work & health
Slide courtesy Gordon Waddell, accessed from: www.cf.ac.uk/cwerc/events/seminar1/Gordon%20Waddell.ppt
2. Employment
Secure, ‘healthy’ jobs Accommodations for the injured and ill Promote workplace wellness programs
for all health conditions.
What is the leading cause of on-duty death in this group of workers?
3. Individuals
Need to take greater responsibility for their health in general and rehabilitation following averse health events
…and live in an environment that makes healthy choices easy
Traditional Occupational Disease remains with us Mostly incurable! Mostly affect lung and skin Mostly allergic and neoplastic We need to be vigilant
PMF “Hot Spots”
PMF “Hot Spots”
1970-1974
1975-1979
1980-1984
1985-1989
1990-1994
1995-1999
2000-2004
2005-2006*
Per
cen
tag
e
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0-9 years10-14 years15-19 years 20-24 years25+ years
Tenure in Mining
Percent of miners with CWP by tenure in mining, 1970-1999
Percent of miners with CWP by tenure in mining, 1970-2006
1970-1974
1975-1979
1980-1984
1985-1989
1990-1994
1995-1999
2000-2004
2005-2006*
Per
cen
tag
e
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0-9 years10-14 years15-19 years 20-24 years25+ years
Tenure in Mining
Deaths with CWP, age 15-44, national data
Rising?
For occupational disease
Surveillance systems always essential(even when they report few cases)
1970-1974
1975-1979
1980-1984
1985-1989
1990-1994
1995-1999
2000-2004
2005-2006*
Per
cen
tag
e
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0-9 years10-14 years15-19 years 20-24 years25+ years
Tenure in Mining
Percent of miners with CWP by tenure in mining, 1970-1999
For occupational disease
Surveillance systems always essential(even when they report few cases)
Constant vigilance with primary prevention
When these measures are not in place, lives are lost needlessly
For occupational disease
Surveillance systems always essential(even when they report few cases)
Constant vigilance with primary prevention
When these are not in place, lives are lost needlessly
March 9, 2012
“Significant Milestone Reached to Reactivate St. Lawrence Fluorspar MineThe $100 million reactivation of St. Lawrence fluorspar mine is a step closer as the Provincial Government finalized the details of its $17 million repayable contribution to Canada Fluorspar Inc. (TSX-V: CFI). During the two-year construction phase, 370 full-time jobs are expected to be created while 175 full-time positions will be maintained at the facility once production begins”.
Source: http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2012/ibrd/0309n01.htm
