Compendium of Activities of the WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health Network of Collaborating Centres Work Plan 2001-2005 15 Task Forces Protection of the Human Environment Occupational and Environmental Health Programme June 2003 World Health Organization www.who.int/oeh WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data World Health Organization. Compendium of activities of the WHO collaborating centres in occupational health : network of collaborating centres work plan : 2001-2005 : 15 task forces. 1.Occupational health 2.Occupational diseases - prevention and control 3.Academies and institutes 4.World Health Organization 5.Interinstitutional relations I.Title. ISBN 92 4 159074 2 (NLM classification: WA 400) © World Health Organization 2003 All rights reserved. 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Printed in Geneva, Switzerland 0 Compendium of Activities of the WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health Network of Collaborating Centres Work Plan 2001-2005 15 Task Forces Protection of the Human Environment Occupational and Environmental Health Programme June 2003 World Health Organization www.who.int/oeh 1 COMPENDIUM OF ACTIVITIES OF THE WHO COLLABORATING CENTRES IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH WORK PLAN 2001-2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface…………………………………………………………………. 3 Messages from the Chairmen……………………………………. 4 Background…………………………………………………………… 6 Introduction………………………………………………………….. 7 Network meetings………………………………………………….. 8 PROJECTS Task Force 1: Guidelines …………………………………………………………… 9 Task Force 2: Intensive partnership in Africa ……………………………….. 16 Task Force 3: Child labour/adolescent workers …………………………….. 20 Task Force 4: Elimination of silicosis …………………………………………….. 26 Task Force 5: Health care workers ……………………………………………….. 40 Task Force 6: Health promotion activity ………………………………………. 50 Task Force 7: Psychosocial factors at work ……………………………………. 57 Task Force 8: Promotion of OSH in small enterprises and in the 64 informal sector Task Force 9: Prevention of musculo-skeletal disorders …………………. 71 Task Force 10: Preventive technology …………………………………………… 75 Task Force 11: Training programmes and modules …………………………. 81 Task Force 12: Internet resources and networks ……………………………. 98 Task Force 13: National and local profiles and indicators ……………… 103 Task Force 14: Economic evaluation of interventions …………………… 112 Task Force 15: Global burden of disease …………………………………………. 115 Annexes Annex I: Directory of Occupational Health Collaborating Centres and WHO Offices………………………………………………………………………… 119 Annex II: Summary Report of the Sixth Network Meeting of the WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health……………………….. 130 Annex III: Report of the Meeting of the Planning Committee of the Network of WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health………. 162 2 PREFACE Dr David Nabarro Executive Director, Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments, WHO The workplace has been established as one of the priority settings for public health action into the 21st century, as it directly influences the physical, mental, economic and social well-being of workers and in turn the health of their families, communities and society. The workplace plays a crucial role in achieving poverty elimination, and it offers an ideal setting and infrastructure to support the promotion of health of a large audience. Thus the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa in August-September 2002, prioritized occupational health in the final document of the Summit. The Network of WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health carries out its activities in all regions of the globe. The workplan that is set out in this Compendium, with the myriad tasks grouped around 15 major thematic task forces, and the progress in the work, leads me to one conclusion: This Network is a model of excellence in international public health action. I look forward to seeing the impact of these projects on the well- being of workers and anticipate an expanded role of the Network in future. 3 A WORD FROM THE FORMER CHAIRMAN Dr Marco Maroni, Chairman, 1999-2003, Planning Committee of the WHO Network of Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health Our Global Work Plan was formulated in Chiangmai, Thailand, in 2001. This Compendium provides us with an opportunity to review our progress and experiences, and to reflect on the challenges facing occupational health programmes everywhere in the world. I would like to raise 4 issues, or lines of action that I believe are of fundamental importance: 1. Strengthening basic occupational health. This issue is of critical importance for developing and industrializing countries, many of which face a situation of occupational health risks comparable to what was the situation in western nations in the ‘50s and ‘60s. They need basic assistance to establish occupational health protection in many sectors and could greatly benefit from the western experience. This line of action can be developed from the evidence and planning framework provided by the country profiles on occupational health. 2. Rural health and health in agriculture. This focus is of great importance in all regions where most people still live on agriculture, with emerging issues on accidents, pesticide use, limited access to health services, basic water and food quality concerns, and social inequality. Enhanced efforts in this area could advance regional programmes integrating occupational and environmental health, food and water safety, and chemical safety. 3. Integrated workplace health management and response to ageing of the workforce. This line of action addresses broadly the health needs of workers and the wider community, and the management challenges these present, such as the adaptation of older workers to the changing workplace. Indeed, there are important issues to be tackled throughout the entire working life, from youth to old age. We used to think this issue was of primary interest for the industrialized countries, but it now seems clear, that action on this issue could greatly benefit a majority of countries. 4. New economy, stress, ergonomics. This part of the programme again is vital for rapidly industrializing countries, but necessarily involves all countries. The changes introduced by globalisation of the economy are enormous and new responses are urgently needed to new problems. The Network is actively engaged in some of these aspects, and it is anticipated that it would be possible to build a permanent set of activities on them. It is clear that the above points do not necessarily encompass all the current occupational health issues but merely illustrate some of the important challenges we all face. This Compendium contains the WHO Global Network Work Plan as agreed to in Chiangmai. The progress since then has been impressive, and I must congratulate all the Network members on the achievements that are spread over these pages. The challenges are immense, but it is my great pleasure to document in this Compendium the start that has been made. 4 A WORD FROM THE NEW CHAIRMAN Dr John Howard, Chairman, 2003, Planning Committee of the WHO Network of Collaborating Centers in Occupational Health The WHO Network of 70 Collaborating Centers in Occupational Health is strong and vibrant. Therefore, at the Sixth Network Meeting in Iguassu Falls, I was pleased to accept the WHO invitation that NIOSH assume leadership of the Network, that I serve as the Chairman of the Planning Committee, and that Marilyn Fingerhut continue as Coordinator of the Collaborating Centers. On behalf of all of us, I would like to thank Dr. Marco Maroni for his excellent leadership of the Network for the past 4 years. The strength of the Network was visible in the Iguassu Falls meeting, attended by 93 participants representing 45 Collaborating Centers, ILO (SafeWork and the International Program to Eliminate Child Labor), ICOH, ILO, IEA, WHO headquarters and regional offices. Enthusiastic meetings of the 15 Task Forces, as described in Annex II of this document, led to our impressive Compendium of Activities of the WHO Collaborating Centers in Occupational Health, which contains more than 300 projects,