Aspects related to the situation of occupational diseases nationwide in the construction sector. Prevention of occupational diseases Institute of Public Health Bucharest Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest Occupational Health and Safety Occupational medicine is the discipline studying: Relationship between human organism and work Recommends measures that ensure physiological and hygienic working conditions The effect of work upon employees’ health The effect of employees’ health upon work aptitude Has as a main objective the prevention but continues to be involved also in identifying, analyzing and treating occupational diseases

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest Occupational morbidity YearNo. new casesIncidence ( exposed) , , , , ,95

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest Occupational morbidity No. exposed employees Incidence for exposed Counties with incidence over country means Country level figures: no new data data data data

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest „Building in safety” This year’s European Week for Safety and Health at Work, the main event dedicated to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) focuses on construction.

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest Why construction ? Construction is one of Europe’s largest industries, with more than 12 million employees in the EU-15 alone. Unfortunately, it also has one of the worst OSH records in the region It’s a difficult sector because of the complexity of the risks from OHS point of view, among other sectors: mining construction agriculture health services

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest For the purposes of the European Week in 2004, construction comprises in: –Construction –Engineering –Maintenance (including painting) –Demolition, in both public and private sectors „Building in safety”

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest Occupational risks in construction Asbestos Noise Work at height Musculoskeletal disorders Lime, cement, wood, silica dust Dangerous substances: oils, resins, cement (containing chromium VI), organic solvents (glycol ethers and esters) Arm-hand vibration syndrome

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest Occupational morbidity in construction

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest New occupational diseases reported in 2003 in construction CountyDiagnosticCause No. cases AlbaSilicosis st. IIFree silica dust1 BacăuEpicondilitisHeady musculoskeletal load1 ConstanţaAsbestosisAsbestos fibres9 Gorj Hearing lossNoise3 Chronic bronchitisLime and cement dust2 MehedinţiHearing lossNoise3 Bucureşti Bronchial AsthmaWelding fumes2 Chronic bronchitisWelding fumes1 MureşPulmonary fibrosisWelding fumes1 OltBronchial Asthma Fluoride and compounds1 Welding fumes1

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest New occupational diseases reported in construction in Year Overall cases Construction No.%

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest There is a high number of cases of: Occupational hearing loss, Occupational bronchial asthma Asbestosis Chronic bronchitis Occupational morbidity in construction

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest Exposed Occupations Electrician Shovel man Blacksmith Plummer Locksmith Crane operator Mechanic Welder Carpenter Tinsmith Bricklayer

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest 1.Also in Romania construction is one of the sectors with high risk for the employees’ health 2.Employees’ health in this sector is one of employees’ “rights” 3.Medical check-ups upon employment and periodical are essential, as a mean to discover occupational diseases, to avoid severe forms of disease, in most cases irreversibleCONCLUSIONS

Adriana Todea, Aurelia Ferencz, Institute of Public Health Bucharest Thank you ! Adriana Todea Institute of Public Health Bucharest, 1-3 Dr. Leonte Street