Description
A huge chapter of the environment seems so invisible that it is not even mentioned when health and…. environment is discussed: it is the occupational environment! The objective of this presentation is to show that workers are still subjected not only to a vast number of chemical, physical, psychical or biological risks, but are also the first victims of the climate change: unbearable heat on construction sites and in the workplaces without air-conditioning (kitchen, workshops, etc.). Moreover, a lot of other professionals are exposed to risks related scorching heat, fires, flooding, such as firefighters, emergency assistance… the list is long. So, why this “invisibility”?
A short inexhaustive review of the scientific literature will illustrate this reality through epidemiologic data, from studies carried out by WHO, ILO and EU, showing that 2.3 million deaths occur each year where 0.3 million is caused by accidents and 2.0 million are due to occupational or work-related diseases. To estimate the number of non-fatal cases, these figures have to be multiplied by 100 (this clearly illustrate that there are much less accidents than diseases in the workplace contrary to the common thinking). Different other studies will underline the huge economic burden of these diseases (cancer, cardiovascular troubles…) on the Society, practically invisible in the official statistics. In the same way, stress at work, still increasing, is taking a heavy mental, social and economic toll on those impacted by this psychosocial factor. Scientific evidence is there and strategies to steer research in the right and efficient direction are proposed such as the one from the NIOSH “Burden, Need and Impact”, but the political will is missing.
Two main reasons will be raised to explain this “strange”, not to say “shocking” situation: 1. A lack of awareness, or knowledge, from the decision-makers and 2. A strong will to remain in the process of economic growth, with the effective support of lobbies in many areas where denial on reality and scientific data is the rule.
Finally, avenues to reach “time for solutions” will be presented such as the integration of the occupational environment in the general environment to allow a global approach of its impact on health through the exposome concept (every exposure to which an individual is subjected to during his or her life). It seems that some national Public Health policies include this concept, but it is hard to find the…. occupational exposure. Moreover, a pluridisciplinary and holistic approach is necessary in this context but remains very limited due to a common tendency of the different disciplines (scientific, social, human) to stay in their own silo.
In conclusion, “true solutions” will be outlined, asking for political decision-makers’ awakening and for decompartmentalization of the concerned disciplines, in order to globally approach the problem through adequate means for research in this really “gigantic” field.
| Contact Geneva Health Forum | I just want to receive information about the GHF 2024 conference / Je souhaite simplement recevoir des informations sur la conférence GHF 2024 |
|---|
