NEWSLETTER7-2

September 2009 01

International Commission on Occupational Health - ICOH

Commission Internationale de la Santé au Travail - CIST

Volume 7, Number 2 September 2009

In this number

Message from the President 1

From the Editor 3

H1N1 Flu and Occupational Health 4

What’s New on the ICOH Website? 6

Report from the ScientificCommittee Meetings 7

Overview of the Scientific Committees 9

News from the National Secretaries 10

Sustaining Members 12

ICOH Service Award 13

Forthcoming Meetings 14

New Members 16

New Chairs and Secretaries of the Scientific Committees 17

Résumé en français 18

NEWSLETTERDear ICOH Colleagues,

The uniqueness of our ICOH Network is best represented by the activities of ICOH Scientific Committees and Working/Task Groups. There are now 35 Scientific Committees (SCs) and each SC is acting as an international focal point of occupational health research and practice in its specific area. A distinct feature of the network of SC focal points is the constant bridging of front-line research and practice. Regular conferences and symposia held by our SCs are acting as the most current forum for exchanging front-line activities and new break- throughs.

By liaising with the SCs, we are sure we are active on the front lines and can learn innovations for enhancing the health and well-being of workers worldwide. The continuous exchanges of new experiences and new guidelines are assured by constant liaison through SCs and other various communication links. It is therefore important for us ICOH members to keep this liaison making full use of our own Network.

During and after the Cape Town ICOH 2009 Congress, I had chances of learning from the ways and means of making better use of our ICOH Network. Among others, let me point out two lessons I learned.

Exchange of experience as co-workers The first lesson I learned is about the stance for organizing SC meetings. I saw a

good example of the stance while I was spending a week on the San Servolo Island in Venice last August. I was attending the International Symposium on Shiftwork and Working Time. It was organized by the SC on Shiftwork and Working Time and the Working Time Society. I was amazed at the Rules strictly kept by this series of SC symposia. The first and the most important Rule was to hold each symposium in a “remote” spot such as the San Servolo Island. This was one of the seven Rules initiated by the late SC Chair Joseph Rutenfranz. Other Rules are a good mixture of disciplines, a good proportion of young researchers, fairly brief presentations, substantial food and drinks taken jointly, some group outings and sharing contributions with non-attendees.

These “Rutenfranz Rules” started in the 1970s and are kept up to now. Although many of SC meetings are not necessarily held in a remote spot, the idea of having concentrated and intimate exchanges of views and experiences is apparently kept by almost all the SCs. A mixture of disciplines as well as a mixture of generations can lead undoubtedly to good results. Eating together and joint outings can facilitate the front-line atmosphere of each meeting.

I am much encouraged by the constructive stance sustained for organizing SC meetings. The resulting intimate debate can help us keep our close link with the real

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Message from the President

02 ICOH Newsletter Vol. 7 No. 2

International Commission on Occupational Health - ICOH

Commission Internationale de la Santé au Travail - CIST

working situations we are addressing.

Learning from up-to-date practice

The second lesson is about learning from real practice at the workplace. I have learned this lesson through serial ICOH-related projects for serving underserved sectors. Although my experience is limited to projects about occupational health services for small enterprises and agriculture and low-cost ergonomic improvements for industrially developing countries, I learned much from the action-oriented nature of the projects for improving the health of workers in these difficult situations. These projects were more successful when they focused on on-going good practices that are achieved despite many constraints.

In ICOH Congresses and in many SC meetings I attended, I could clearly note the common features of locally achieved good practices. These good practices usually address urgent local needs and try to build initiative of local people for making feasible improvements. Practical interventions based on such good practices can lead to concrete results. Examples include training methods for workplace improvements in different sectors, group health services for small enterpr ises and agr iculture and “checkpoints” for identifying locally feasible actions. I am pleased to note that recent developments in Basic Occu- pational Health Services relate to this practical nature of intervention tools.

There are now new types of databases compiling locally achieved good practices in occupational health and safety. I am hoping that new intervention tools and databases we are developing in our Network will serve as a firm base for linking our research with real practice.

Cooperation with national and regional associations

Another important feature of the ICOH Network is the close cooperation with national and regional associations active in our field. It is a usual custom for our SCs to organize meetings in close conjunction with these national and regional associations. This is obviously a major advantage of our Network. We gain a great deal from the participation of a large number of colleagues from these associations in linking our work and achievements with

diversifying working situations and with the most current issues.

Rapid changes are taking place in our approaches to assessing and controlling workplace risks. These changes require reformulation of intervention programs and health services. As more and more concerted strategies are developed, the cooperation with the national and regional associations, NGOs and various networking arrangements in our field is surely needed. We have seen this need in developing effective interventions and services with respect to workplace chemical risks, asbestos and other globally prominent risks, musculoskeletal disorders, work stress as well as with respect to underserved sectors.

I have been involved in a number of these joint meetings and always impressed by the reports from action-oriented activities addressing priority risks. I strongly feel that we need to liaise our own activities with various partners particularly by means of identifying effective preventive actions workable in different situations. For example, when I attended the Asian Asbestos Conference in Hong Kong last April, I could confirm our role to reinforce activities in different countries toward a global ban of asbestos and effective protection of exposed workers. The Hong Kong Declaration towards a Complete Ban on All Forms of Asbestos called for joint action of governments, the WHO, the ILO, ICOH and other international organizations. Needless to say, closer collaboration with national and regional associations and NGOs, in addition to our international allies, is very important in this and other fields.

Strengthening our NetworkIn the work plans of our Scientific

Committees, working groups and task groups, the need to strengthen our own Network is highlighted in various ways. It is vital to exchange these plans and means of action toward the set goals through the SC reports, the ICOH Newsletter and the newly designed ICOH website.

Your suggestions about strengthening our ICOH Network in achieving our common goals are highly welcome.

Kazutaka Kogi President of ICOH

Volume 7, Number 2September 2009

NEWSLETTERICOH Newsletter Published by the International Commission on Occupational Health

Editor in Chief Seong-Kyu Kang [email protected]

Editorial Board Sergio [email protected]

Norito Kawakami [email protected]

Suvi Lehtinen [email protected]

Jorge Morales [email protected]

Louis [email protected]

Mary Ross [email protected]

Claudio Taboadela [email protected]

Manuscript EditorWon-Seok [email protected]

English Editor Jung-Eun [email protected]

French EditorLouis [email protected]

Reviewed and Edited by KOSHA(Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency)

The electronic version of the ICOH Newsletter on the internet can be accessed at the following address: www.icohweb.org/newsletter

The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not consti- tute an endorsement by the International Commission on Occupational Health of the opinions expressed in them.

The ICOH Newsletter contents may freely be translated into other languages and disseminated among ICOH members.

©International Commission Occupational Health, 2009 ISSN 1459-6792 (Printed publication) ISSN 1795-0260 (On-line publication)

September 2009 03

Seong-Kyu KANGEditor in Chief

Director General Occupational Safety and Health

Research Institute (OSHRI)

Greetings from the New EditorIt is my pleasure to take full responsibility of publishing the ICOH Newsletter. Ever since the

establishment in 2003, the ICOH Newsletter has always been a source of information for ICOH activities and exchanging news among ICOH members. The contents of the Newsletter include scientific knowledge, information of meetings, members’ activities and recent news. Suvi Lehtinen has done a superb job over a period of 6 years. The ICOH Newsletter would not have made this far without Suvi’s hard work. On behalf of the ICOH members, I deeply appreciate her devotion and affection contributed to the Newsletters.

KOSHA is going to publish the ICOH Newsletters from this issue (Vol. 7, No. 2), where it will be published 3 times a year as usual. Won-Seok KIM, a safety professional, and Jung-Eun KIM are going to work with me for the Newsletter.

Contents The Newsletter will be composed of messages from the president and the editor, hot issues on

occupational health, reports from the Scientific Committee (SC) meetings, overview of the Scientific Committees (2 SCs), news from the National Secretaries (2 countries), forthcoming SC meetings, and ICOH memberships including information on Sustaining Members.

I cordially invite all SCs to contribute to the Newsletter. Please send a report within 400 words with a photo when ICOH meeting is held. I also welcome a 200 word contribution from SCs and National Secretaries.

PDF VersionOnce the ICOH Newsletter is published, it will be sent to all ICOH members in PDF version by

e-mail. The hard copy will also be mailed to all good standing ICOH members. However, to reduce ICOH financial burden and save the environment, all ICOH members will be asked to notify us if hard copy of the ICOH Newsletter is not preferred.

Changes of Addresses To ensure that you receive the Newsletters in time, please check that you have paid the membership

fee via the website (http://www.icohweb.org/site_new/ico_homepage.asp) or the ICOH Secretariat ([email protected] or [email protected]).

Members’ ContributionThe ICOH Newsletter can flourish with active participation from the members. Please let me know if

you have any information to notify or share with the ICOH members. Remember, your contribution will always be welcome (e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]).

From the Editor


The 2009 swine flu (Influenza A H1N1) epidemic, which originated in the Americas, defied predictions that the next influenza outbreak was likely to arise from H5N1-endemic countries in Southeast Asia. Although the avian influenza predictions did not come true, the warnings and preparations in the last few years were not completely ineffectual. Pandemic planning and exercises that have taken place have greatly helped decision makers and healthcare professionals around the world to deal with the H1N1 outbreak.

Since the declaration of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic on 11 June by the WHO, the virus has now established itself as the dominant influenza strain in most parts of the world. According to the WHO [1], most southern hemisphere countries (e.g. Chile, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia) appear to have gone beyond their peaks of influenza activity. However, some countries such as South Africa and Bolivia continue to experience high levels of influenza activity. Many countries in tropical regions (e.g. in Central America and Asia), continue to see increasing or sustained high levels of influenza activity.

In the northern hemisphere (e.g. North America, Europe, and Central Asia),

influenza and respiratory disease activity remains general ly low, with some countries experiencing localized outbreaks. However, in Japan, the level of influenza activity has passed the seasonal epidemic threshold, and this may represent the early start of their annual influenza season. For those countries that appear to have passed the first peak of infection, another wave of infection may be imminent.

Thus far, the worldwide clinical picture of the H1N1 pandemic influenza has been consistent. The overwhelming majority of patients experience mild illness. The rare cases of severe and fatal illness tend to affect specific groups, such as those aged 50 years or over, and preg- nant women. Those with comorbidities such as respiratory disease (notably asthma), cardiovascular disease, diabetes and immunosuppression, are also at greater risk for severe or fatal illness. Continuing surveillance of the virus fortunately shows no evidence of mutation to a more virulent or lethal form.

While what we presently know of H1N1 infection offers a hope for cautious optimism, we should be aware of the fact

that large numbers of people in all countries remain susceptible to infection. Even if the current pattern of usually mild illness continues, the impact of the pandemic during the second and subsequent waves could worsen as larger numbers of people become infected.

What will the impact be on occupational health? Estimates range from 30% to 50% of the general population being infected in a full blown influenza pandemic. In such an event, workplaces may be functioning with as little as half their workforce. If schools close, or family members get infected, many workers will have to stay at home. Additionally, in the event of widespread disease - transport, other essential services and public gather- ings will be impacted. Employers will need to have contingency plans to deal with such scenarios, including planning for remote work, implementing policies for staggered shifts, and catering for staff absence due to quarantine or family problems [2].

When we consider specific occupations, health care workers are an obvious risk group. So far, indications are that health care workers do not appear to be at higher risk of H1N1 infection

David Koh and Judy Sng

Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health ResearchDepartment of Epidemiology and Public HealthNational University of Singaporee-mail for correspondence: [email protected]

H1N1 Flu and Occupational Health

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September 2009 05

compared to the general population [3]. This situation is unlike the previous outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003, where health care workers accounted for approximately 20% of all cases of the disease. The current state of affairs probably reflects better preparedness and improved infection control measures among health care workers.

However, during a pandemic, large numbers of severely ill patients requiring intensive care are likely to strain existing health services. For example, during the winter season in the southern hemisphere, several countries reported the need for intensive care as a great burden on health services, with up to 15% of hospitalized cases requiring intensive care. Such strain on the health care system would translate to more stressful working conditions and increased workload for health care workers.

Fortunately, H1N1 vaccines are in the advanced stages of development and are currently undergoing clinical trials. If available in a timely manner, this would prevent widespread disease eventually. Until then, we will still have to face and address other issues, such as vaccine availability and access, and choices on how to prioritize distribution of the early (and limited) shipments of vaccines to populations and occupations at risk.

■References

1. Preparing for the second wave: lessons from current outbreaks. WHO. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 9. 28 Aug 2009.

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/h1n1_second_wave_20090828/en/index.html

2. Pandemic flu. Guidance for employers. Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Royal College of Physicians,. United Kingdom.

http://www.facoccmed.ac.uk/library/docs/panflu09.pdf

3. J Sng, D Koh, G Koh. Influenza A (H1N1) infections among healthcare workers: a cause for cautious optimism. Occup Environ Med 2009; 66:569-570.


The ICOH website has undergone a complete renovation after the Cape Town Congress. Among the many innovations, we underline the rotating banners in the homepage dedicated to the Forthcoming Meetings and Sustaining Members and Affiliates.

Each Scientific Committee has been encouraged to set up its own website as a promotion implementation for the Scientific Committees activities. All scientific contents and internal communications were recommended to be included in the website. The website has been established in the following Scientific Committees: Fibres, Health Service Research and Evaluation in OH, History of Prevention of Occupational and Environ- mental Disease, OH and Development, OH for Health Care Workers, OH in the Chemical Industry, Radiation and Work, Reproductive Hazards in the Workplace, Shiftwork and Working Time, Work and Vision, and Work Organization and Psychosocial Factors.

A new section titled “ICOH Keynotes” has been set up. At the moment all keynotes presented during ICOH 2009 are listed and available on the website. To access the entire presentation contents, it is necessary to login and be an ICOH member. All

Scientific Committees are encouraged to send the keynotes presented during their meetings to the ICOH Secretariat. Detailed information on Scientific Committees such as Committee website, Reports Triennium 2006-2009, and details of the Officers - chair and secretary - for the triennium 2009-2012 can be obtained from the Scientific Committee webpage.The Scientific Committee webpage and website can be accessed without logging in to the ICOH website.

Other information on ICOH website public area such as background and activities, core documents, guidelines and centennial declaration, news, publications, reports, upcoming events, links, and ICOH Newsletter are also available.

Finally, in the section “New Members” of public area lists all new members who have made the payment but not yet included in the Newsletter. This page will help us to welcome new members and encourage them to play an active role within ICOH.

In line with the ICOH goal of fos- tering scientific knowledge and exchange among researchers and professionals, the private area has been designed taking into consideration the web architecture of social networks.

The procedure for registering into the ICOH website is extremely easy. During the first login, the member has to insert e-mail address and member code.The system will automatically send a temporary password, which of course can be changed on the website. The first page displayed is the private page, where a photo and curriculum can be uploaded. In the private area, ICOH Members Directory, a Photo Gallery, and SCs and

NSs Virtual Offices are also available. On Scientific Committee Virtual

Office webpage, final reports triennium 2006-2009, triennium timetable of Scientific Committee deliverables, Scienti- f ic Committee obl igat ion forms, sponsorship funding form, and membership tools, and application forms in 4 different languages are available for download. Chairs and Secretaries of each Scientific Committee will be able to view and download the list of members of their Committee.

On National Secretaries Virtual Office webpage, report on activities of National Secretaries during the triennium 2006-2009, National Secretaries obligation, membership tools, application forms in 5 different languages, and guidelines for National Secretaries are available for download. National Secretary will be also able to check and download the list of the members of their country.

ICOH Members can update contact information, check payment status, pay ICOH membership fee electronically, and check affiliation to Scientific Committees. All ICOH Members are kindly invited to use these new functions and increase internal communication.

What’s New on the ICOH Website?

September 2009 07

The 19th International Symposium on Shiftwork and Working Time, Venice, Italy

XIX International Symposium on Shiftwork and Working Time: “Health and Well-being in the 24-h Society”, was held in San Servolo Island, located in the Venice lagoon (Italy), on August 2-6, 2009.

This biennial event, that has a tradition of 40 years (it started in 1969), was organised by the ICOH Scientific Committee on Shiftwork and Working Time in collaboration with the University of Milano (Italy) and the Working Time Society (WTS).

The aim of the Symposium was providing up-to-date information on shift and night work, as well as new trends in working time organisation, proposing practical and feasible solutions for a better organisation of working hours, more respectful of human health and social well-being. In fact, modern society is changing quite rapidly both in terms of economic and productive strategies, and in terms of social organisation and individual behaviours. The “24-hour Society” requires a social organisation where time constraints are no longer limits to human activities. Consequently, the arrangement of working time has become a crucial factor in work organisation, and acquires different values according to the economic and social consequences likely to arise at different periods in the company and worker’s life.

Shift and night work are conditions challenging human adaptability to time changes from biological and social perspectives. In the short term, they interfere with circadian homeostasis, performance efficiency, family and social relationships; in the long term, they are a recognised risk factor for psychosomatic (gastrointestinal, psychoneurotic and cardiovascular) disorders, and probably for cancer: hence, high economic and social costs for the individual, the enterprise and the society. 170 participants, from 29 countries all over the world, gave their contribution to the success of the Conference via 100 oral and 50 poster presentations and fruitful discussions. The increasing number of participants, among whom many young scientists and newcomers from developing countries, the presence of scholars with different backgrounds (biology, medicine, psychology, sociology, management), confirmed the growing interest and importance of this issue and its multifaceted aspects that deserve more and more attention in a globalised world.

The ICOH President Prof. Kazutaka Kogi delivered a keynote lecture on “Joint change strategy for improving work schedules and job content”. Five special sessions were organised, debating some “hot” topics in this matter, such as: “Cancer and shiftwork”, “Sleepiness and working hours”, “Fatigue and transportation”, “Does tolerant shiftwork exist?”, and “Interventions towards shift workers: what is really effective?”. In the other 11 oral and 2

Report from the SC Meetings

The 19th International Symposium on Shiftwork and Working Time, Venice, Italy, Aug 2-6, 2009


poster sessions, the following topics were addressed: “Chronobiology”, “Ageing”, “Sleep, sleepiness and safety”, “Accidents”, “Mental and physical health”, “Work ability”, “Interventions”, “Working time organisation”, and “Social problems”. The abstracts of all presentations will be soon published in the Shiftwork International Newsletter (S.I.N.); website: www.workingtime.org; e-mail: [email protected]. About 60 peer review selected papers will be published in the first half of 2010 in six scientific journals: Applied Ergonomics, Chronobiology International, Ergonomia (Poland), Industrial Health (Japan), La Medicina del Lavoro (Italy), and Revista de Saude Publica/Journal of Public Health (Brazil).

All information about the symposium programme and presentation slides can be found at the website: www.shiftwork2009.it.

Giovanni Costa, ItalyChair of SC on Shiftwork and Working Time

XI Latin American Congress on Occupational Health, Leon-Guanajuato, Mexico

XI Latin American Congress on Occupational Health and XIV Mexican Congress on Occupational Health were conjointly held in Leon-Guanajuato, Mexico on September 9-12, 2009. The Meeting was organized by the Mexican Federation on Occupational Health (FeNaSTAC). Dr. Elia Enriquez Viveros, president of the Federation and ICOH NS for Mexico, was the chair of the organizing committee.

The subject of the Congress was “Equity, Education and Health”. Important members of ICOH attended the Congress including Board Members: Dr. Jorge Morales (Mexico) and Dr. Claudio Taboadela (Argentina), ex-Vice President Dr. Ruddy Facci (Brazil) and Dr. Fabrizio Gobba, Secretary to the ICOH Scientific Committee on Radiation and Work. A post-Congress Course on the OCRA Method was directed by Dr. Daniela Colombini (Italy). Claudio Taboadela, ArgentinaBoard Member

XI Latin American Congress on Occupational Health and XIV Mexican Congress on Occupational Health, Leon-Guanajuato, Mexico, Sep 9-12, 2009

September 2009 09

The ICOH Scientific Committee of Work Organization and Psychosocial Factors

The ICOH Scientific Committee of Work Organization and Psychosocial Factors (ICOH-WOPS) was established as one of the Scientific Committees (SCs) in 1996. The aim of the ICOH-WOPS is to exchange, accumulate, and disseminate information relevant to psychosocial factors at work and health among workers, and also to facilitate research and practice in the field, from the global perspective, under the principle of the ICOH. The Chair is Norito Kawakami, University of Tokyo, Japan, and the Secretary is Stavroula Leka, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, for the triennial term of 2009-2011. Other board members include Judith K Sluiter, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, the Netherlands, Maureen F Dollard, University of South Australia, Australia, and Irene Houtman, TNO, the Netherlands. The 3rd ICOH-WOPS Conference was organized in September 1-4, 2008, Quebec City, Canada, by Drs. Renée Bourbonnais and Michel Vézina (http://www.icoh-wops2008.com/). The SC plans to publish a position paper in this triennium. We would like to welcome more members to participate in the SC. Please visit our website: http://mental.m.u-tokyo.ac.jp/wops.

The 4th ICOH-WOPS Conference will be held in Ams- terdam, the Netherlands, June 14-17, 2010 (http://www.icohwops2010.nl/Home/).

Norito Kawakami, JapanChair of SC-WOPS

The ICOH Scientific Committee of Neurotoxicity and Psychophysiology

Focus of the ICOH Scientific Committee of Neurotoxicity and Psychophysiology(ICOH-SCNP) is research in the fields of neurotoxicology, neurobehavioral, neurosensory and neuro-developmental toxicology. Behavior is an important target of the exposure to various chemical, physical and biological neurotoxic agents. Early behavioral changes can be detected at low exposure levels and can be suitable for the establishment of protective standards in risk assessment. The exposure scenario covered by the SCNP is now extended from occupationally to en- vironmentally exposed populations including both early life and old age, according to the concept of lifetime exposure that may lead to long term effects on the brain. Aim of the SC is to provide scientific updates on adverse effects of metals, solvents, pesticides, and the available testing methods for their detection. Cumulative exposure from multiple neurotoxic agents is also considered, including concurrent interaction of neurotoxic agents with other factors like stress and nutrition. The SCNP is actively collaborating with other ICOH SCs like the SC on the Toxicology of Metals, EPICOH, SCOT, Rural Health and non-ICOH organizations like the International Neurotoxicology Association. A traditional mission of the SCNP is to reach colleagues in the developing world, by organizing International Symposia in these countries to stimulate participation and mutual exchanges. The 11th International Conference will be held in Xian, China, June 5-10, 2011.

Roberto Lucchini, ItalyChair of SCNP

Overview of the Scientific Committees

The 3rd ICOH-WOPS Conference, Quebec City, Canada, Sep 1-4, 2009 The 9th International Symposium, Gyeong-ju, Korea, Sep 27-30, 2005


ICOH National SecretariesThe role of ICOH National Secretaries is crucial in keeping contact with ICOH members in their own countries,

but also in sharing information and experiences with National Secretaries in other countries. The process for electing and appointing ICOH National Secretaries is now mid-way. The documentation for approximately 30 National Secretaries has been cleared, but we still have some 25 to be organized. As soon as all National Secretaries have been appointed by the ICOH President, we will make a joint work plan for the next 2.5 years. Those who have already been appointed have received a draft work plan, and their comments and feedback are expected in September.

In order for the ICOH National Secretaries to carry out their National Secretary tasks easily and effectively, we must first identify the most urgent needs. New fresh ideas are welcome on how to develop activities and increase ICOH membership.

Suvi Lehtinen, FinlandVice President

KoreaThe 20th Korea-Japan-China Joint Conference on Occupational Health (KJC JCOH) was successfully held at the

Capital Hotel in Seoul, Korea, from August 27-29, 2009. JCOH is a regional meeting led by ICOH members. It has gradually gained a good reputation as an international scientific conference on occupational health since its establishment in Seoul in 1984. China has become a member country since 2000. The date of the 20th KJC JCOH was originally scheduled in early June but was postponed due to pandemic H1N1.

The 20th KJC JCOH was composed of 3 keynotes, a workshop on health promotion in workplaces, a symposium on occupational stress, and free communications. It brought 158 participants and 100 presentations including 69 posters. The posters were briefly presented orally (3 minutes with 3 slides) before the poster session began in order to effectively promote participants’ interest.

A special lecture on Kimchi, which is a Korean traditional fermented vegetable dish, was delivered for cultural understanding of Korea.

KJC JCOH is hosted alternatively by three member countries. The 21st KJC JCOH will be held in Utsunomiya, Japan, from June 10-12, 2010, and 22nd KJC JCOH will be held in Kumin, China. The Steering Committee of the KJC JCOH has agreed to host the 26th KJC JCOH with the 31st ICOH Congress to be held in Seoul, 2015.

At the banquet of the 20th KJC JCOH, all participants congratulated the newly elected ICOH officer, Kazutaka Kogi, the president of ICOH, and board members: Norito Kawakami (Japan), Sheng Wang (China), and Seong-Kyu Kang (Korea) and also celebrated Prof. Kyu-Sang Cho for his appointment as an honorary member of ICOH.

Se-Hoon Lee, KoreaNational Secretary

News from the National Secretaries

The 20th KJC JCOH, Seoul, Korea, Aug 27-29, 2009

September 2009 11

ArgentinaWhile ICOH members always existed in the country, most of them were associated during the International Congress on

Occupational Health held in Buenos Aires in 1972. Argentine members had no relevant scientific activity until 1984, when the authorities of the Province of Buenos Aires Occupational Health Society decided to contact Dr. Luigi Parmeggiani, ICOH General Secretary. From this moment a lot of Argentine physicians became ICOH members, and the Society became an Affiliate Member too. During the 24th Congress in Nice, Association of Argentine Members of ICOH was founded in order to support the activities of ICOH in Argentina. Dr. Antonio Werner was the first NS and developed a long and fruitful career from 1984 to 2006. He was Board Member for two periods and was designated Honorary Member in 2006.

In 2006, Dr. Claudio Taboadela acceded the ICOH National Secretariat for Argentina. He developed an important campaign for the recruitment of new members and worked for the re-affiliation of the Province of Buenos Aires Occupational Health Society as an Affiliate Member after the economic crisis in the country. He presented the Spanish version of the ICOH Centennial Declaration in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2006 and organized the 1st Meeting of Latin American ICOH NS in Buenos Aires in November 2007. During the Congress in Cape Town he was elected Board Member for the tenure 2009-2012 and received the ICOH NS Service Award from the Past-President Dr. Jorma Rantanen.

In 2009, Dr. Maria Cristina Pantano was elected ICOH National Secretary for Argentina. She is organizing two Meetings for Argentine ICOH members with Dr. Taboadela. The first meeting will be held during the 13th Conference on Occupational Health (November 11-13, 2009, Buenos Aires) and the second during the XVI Argentine Congress on Occupational Health (May 19-23, 2010, Neuquen, Argentine Patagonia) and the Occupational Infectious Agents (OIA) Working Group Meeting “Emerging Occupational Infectious Diseases in Latin America” (December 5-6, 2009, Buenos Aires).

Christina Pantano, ArgentinaNational Secretary The reunion of Latin American ICOH, 1993

■Obituary Guillermo D'ragona, Argentine pioneer of the Occupational Health in Latin America, passed away in Buenos Aires, September 13, 2009.He was one of the founders of the Province of Buenos Aires Occupational Health Society, the Argentine Federation of Occupational Health and the Latin American Occupational Health Association.He was also ICOH Emeritus Member. His life was dedicated to the Occupational Health and he worked for an only goal: joining the Spanish speaking OH professionals.


Sustaining MembersKorea Occupational Safety and Health Agency

The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA, President Min-Ki NOH) is a professional public organization financed through government subsidies in accordance with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency Act. It was established in 1987 under the slogan ‘Respecting Life’, with the mission to protect workers’ health and maintain safety in workplaces nationwide. Approximately 1300 employees work with KOSHA in broad fields of occupational safety and health, including technical support to workplaces without enforcement, OSH research, education, information dissemination, and international collaboration.

KOSHA is comprised of the headquarters, the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI), and the Occupational Safety and Health Training Institute (OSHTI) located in the central district (Incheon), and 6 regional offices, 18 area offices and centers located nationwide. OSHRI (DG. Seong-Kyu KANG) has 7 departments with 149 employees and the key activities include conducting research on OSH and testing and certifying machines and equipment.

KOSHA not only seeks to prevent and reduce occupational accidents and diseases, but is also passionate about providing a ground for the OSH professionals from around the world to exchange information and expertise and to create new networks. In order to reduce OSH disparities among different countries, particularly between developing and developed countries, KOSHA aims to act as a bridge, connecting all countries to become globally harmonized in terms of OSH. In order to achieve this goal, KOSHA hosted various national and international OSH congresses such as the 18th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in 2008, and will be the host for the 31st ICOH Congress in 2015.

If you would like more information regarding KOSHA’s activities, programs and events, please contact the International Collaboration Department ([email protected]) or visit the website (www.kosha.or.kr/english/index.jsp). For OSHRI’s activities, please contact Mr. W.S. Kim ([email protected]) or visit the website (http://oshri.kosha.or.kr/index.jsp).

Seong-Kyu Kang, KoreaBoard Member

Finnish Institute of Occupational HealthThe Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH,

Professor Harri Vainio, Director General) is a multidisciplinary research and specialist institute on occupational health and safety. FIOH is a national governmental institute covering relevant research aspects of work life and conditions of work, including surveillance of working conditions, well-being at work, physical, chemical, biological and physiological exposures, occupational medicine, psychology and stress, epidemiology, safety and organization of work, as well as occupational health services.

The mission of FIOH is to promote occupational health and safety and the well-being of workers as part of good living. It seeks solutions for the needs of the clients and the needs of work life by means of research, training, specialist advisory services and communications. Scientific research is the core of FIOH’s activities. Research and development work generates new knowledge that can be applied to improve working conditions, to promote workers’ health and work ability, to ensure the smooth functioning of working communities, and to enhance well-being.

FIOH was founded in 1945 with the goal to keep workers safe and in good health from the beginning to the end of their careers, where working conditions and work itself should promote health and work ability, not endanger workers in any way. It has the headquarters located in Helsinki and 6 regional offices with permanent personnel of approximately 600 and about 200 persons on different projects.

For more information on FIOH please contact the Office of International Affairs ([email protected]) or visit our website (www.ttl.fi/). Available information products: http://www.ttl.fi/Internet/English/Information/Electronic+journals/

Harri Vainio, FinlandBoard Member

The headquarters of KOSHA, Incheon, Korea The headquarters of FIOH, Helsinki, Finland

September 2009 13

Honorary Member Award • Pier-Alberto Bertazzi, Italy• Kyu-Sang Cho, Korea• Ruddy Facci, Brazil• Willem Goedhard, The Netherlands• Sir Michael Marmot, United Kingdom• Benito Reverente Jr., Philippines• Anne Kamoto Puta, Zambia • Deogratias Sekimpi, Uganda• Linda Rosenstock, USA• David Wegman, USA

ICOH Board Member Service Award• Ian EDDINGTON• Kaj ELGSTRAND• Hua FU• Petter KRISTENSEN• Suvi LEHTINEN• René MENDES• Jennifer R. SERFONTEIN• Ken TAKAHASHI• Martha WATERS

ICOH Scientific Committee Service Award• Peter SCHNALL• Bonnie ROGERS• Pier Alberto BERTAZZI• Kristiina ALANKO• Claude VIAU• Sverre LANGÅRD• Giovanni COSTA• Ken C PARSONS• Monica NORDBERG• Thomas KIESELBACH• Patrick LOISEL• Kanehisa MORIMOTO

ICOH National Secretary Service Award• Claudio TABOADELA• Norito KAWAKAMI• Eduardo SANTINO

ICOH Service Awards were awarded at the 2nd General Assembly of the 29th ICOH Congress in Cape Town, SA, on March 27, 2009. ICOH Service Awards are granted after two full terms of service.

ICOH Service Award


17th International Congress of Agricultural Medicine and Rural HealthWhen: October 13-16, 2009Venue: Cartagona de Indias, ColombiaSC: Rural HealthConference President: Julietta Rodríguez GuzmánVisit the website at http://www.ruralhealth-colombia.com/eng/index.htmlContact conference secretariat at [email protected]

OIA Meeting 2009When: December 5-6, 2009Venue: Buenos Aires, ArgentinaTheme: Emerging Occupational Infectious Disease in Latin AmericaWorking Group: Occupational Infectious DiseaseConference President: Claudio TaboadelaContact: Claudio Taboadela, ICOH Board Member ([email protected]/[email protected])

4th International Conference on Work Organization and Psychosocial FactorsWhen: June 14-17, 2010Venue: Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam (VU University), the NetherlandsSC: Work Organization and Psychosocial FactorsTheme: Occupational Health under Globalization and New TechnologyImportant dates: • Abstract deadline: December 1, 2009

• Notification of acceptance: February 15, 2010 • Early bird registration: March 1, 2010

Visit the website at http://www.icohwops2010.nlContact the conference secretariat at [email protected]

Forthcoming Meetings

www.icohcongress2012.org | [email protected]

30th ICOH Congress 2012, Monterrey, Mexico30th CIST, Congres International de la Sante au travall

Cintermex International Convention CenterMarch / mars 18 - 24, 2012

President of the Congress: Dr. Jorge Morales Camino

September 2009 15

21st International Conference on Epidemiology in Occupational Health and 38th Occupational and Environmental Health in the Production and Use of Chemicals International Congress (EPICOH-MEDICHEM 2010)When: April 21-25, 2010Venue: Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanSC: Epidemiology, MEDICHEMTheme: Occupational Health under Globalization and New TechnologyImportant dates:

Conference President: EPICOH2010: Jung-Der Wang MEDICHEM2010: How-Ran GuoVisit the website at http://www.epicohmedichem2010.tw Contact conference secretariat at [email protected]

4th International Conference on the History of Occupational and Environmental HealthWhen: June 19-22, 2010Venue: Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel, San Francisco, USASC: History of Occupational and Environmental HealthOrganizer: Paul BlancVisit the website at http://www.ucsfcme.com/blast2010/MMJ10014.htmContact at [email protected]

Date EventSep. 30, 2009 Deadline for symposium proposals

Oct. 31, 2009 Deadline for submission of abstracts

Dec. 31, 2009 Abstract acceptance notification

Jan. 31, 2010 Deadline for early bird registration

31st ICOH Congress 2015, Seoul, Korea

Date: May, 2015 Venue: COEX, Seoul


New Members

Miriam Rita COBOSLeon COHEN BELLOCecilia CORNELIOBarry Steele GILBERTRyan KIFTFrans VAN DYCKReginald B MATCHABA-HOVENwamba Bwalya NSEBULATarciso F. CAIYETA DE SOUSAEduardo Mello CAPITANIJoao Anastacio DIASRoberto Neiva FIGUEIREDOLarissa FIORENTINIRicardo Luiz LORENZILuciana R MORAISAna Beatriz NEVESJosé Edoardo PISSINATIKatia Maciel COSTA-BLACKAvram WHITEMANIlse Sonia URZUA-FINKEMonica-Lucia SOTO-VELASQUEZCarl Lysbeck HANSENKim Lyngby MIKKELSENGunnar TOFTHomero Carlos HARARIMohamed Abdelmaksoud OMAIRAKenneth Mikael JOHANSSONSwen M JOHNJaana Johanna VASTAMÄKIKwaku AFRIYIEVimeshkumar JANITimothy MURPHYVincenzo NICOSIAYukitaro IKEDANgatu NLANDUTakuo NOMURAYasumasa OTSUKAYasuaki SAIJOTarou TAMURA

Name

ArgentinaArgentinaArgentinaAustraliaAustraliaBelgiumBotswanaBotswanaBrazilBrazilBrazilBrazilBrazilBrazilBrazilBrazilBrazilCanadaCanadaChileColombiaDenmarkDenmarkDenmarkEcuadorEgyptFinlandGermanyGermanyGhanaIndiaIrelandItalyJapanJapanJapanJapanJapanJapan

Country

MexicoMexicoNepalNepalNepalNepalNepalNepalNepalNigeriaP. R. ChinaPeruRepublic of KoreaRepublic of KoreaRwandaRwandaRwandaSenegalSouth AfricaSouth AfricaSouth AfricaSouth AfricaSouth AfricaSouth AfricaSouth AfricaSouth AfricaTaiwan, ChinaThailandThe NetherlandsThe NetherlandsUgandaUgandaUnited KingdomUSAUSAUSAUSAZambia

Country

Bettina Patricia LOPEZ TORRESRoberto Santiago PERALES ALONSOYoub Raj BHATTAPranab DAHALSubhadra Vaidya JOSHIShivaran PRADHANSubhash Chandra SHARMAPitamber Lal SHRESTHAUdeep Lal SHRESTHAMusa Yusufu RIBADUZhijun ZHOUJuan MORALES QUISPESung-Soo LEEYun-Jeong YIAfricain BIRABONEYEGustave NGIRIYANDEMYEVincent RUSANGANWAMor NDIAYEAdéle BURGERNambuyselo In DLAMINIBoitumelo MASHITISHOMuhammad MINTYMargot PRETORIUSBonakele QABAICAElana VENTERHaidee Mayne WILLIAMSHow-Ran GUOSara ARPHORNVincent GOUTTEBARGEIrene Lydia HOUTMANBarbra Clara KHAYONGOJoseph Flavian YIGAFrank DE VOCHTCandis Denise MAYWCATHERAjay PATWARDHANPaul A SCHULTEDavid TURNERConnard MWANSA

Name

New Book ReleasesTitle: Occupational Health for Health Care Professionals ‘Caring for the Carers’Publisher: Malaysian Medical Association (ISBN 978-983-99128-3-8)Editors: Dr. G. Jayakumar, Prof. Dr. Retneswari MasilamaniHard Bound Cover 300 pages USD60.00Contact: Ms. Hema +60(3) 40411375([email protected])

September 2009 17

National Secretaries 2009-2012Name Country Country Country

Cristina PantanoWai-On PhoonRobert WinkerSimon BultreysJosè CarneiroLouis PatryJulietta Rodriguez Guzman Ari KaukiainenJanine CantineauElisaveta StikovaTheodore Bazas

ArgentinaAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBrazilCanadaColombiaFinlandFranceFYROMGreece

HungaryIndiaIrelandItaly JapanMexicoNigeriaPeruPhilippinesRep. of KoreaSenegal

South AfricaSwedenTaiwanThailandThe NetherlandsTunisiaTurkeyUKUSA

Eva RuzsasS. SivaramakrishnanPatrick LeeLeonardo SoleoSeichi HorieElia EnriquezPeter S. NmaduRaul GomeroOscar D. TinioSe-Hoon LeeBabacar Fall

Charles P. RoosHakan WestbergJung-Der WangYothin BenjawungMonique Frings-DresenRafik GharbiYucel DemiralRobin P. DonnellyRobert R. Orford

Name Name

New Chairs and Secretaries of SCs1. Accident and PreventionChair: ir:

Secretary:

2. Aging and WorkChair: Masaharu Kumashiro [email protected]: Clas-Håkan Nygård [email protected]

3. Allergy and ImmunotoxicologyChair: Mario Di Gioacchino [email protected]: Takemi Otsuki [email protected]

4. Cardiology in OH (*)Chair: Peter Schnall [email protected]: Reiner Rugulies [email protected]

5. Education and Training in Occupational HealthChair: Yvonne Toft [email protected] Secretary: Linda Grainger [email protected]

6. Epidemiology in OHChair: Dana Loomis [email protected] Secretary: Hans Kromhout [email protected]

7. FibresChair:

Secretary:

8. Health Services Research and Evaluation in OHChair: Carel Hulshof [email protected] Secretary: Timo Leino [email protected]

9. History of Prevention of Occupational and Environmental Diseases

Chair: Michele A. Riva [email protected]: Daniela Fano [email protected]

10. Indoor Air QualityChair: Giacomo Muzi [email protected] Secretary: Paolo Carrer [email protected]

11. Industrial HygieneChair: Peter S.J. Lees [email protected] Secretary: Nils Plato [email protected]

12. Musculoskeletal Disorders (*)Chair: Laura Punnet [email protected] Secretary: Paul F.M. Kuijer [email protected]

13. Neurotoxicology and PsychophysiologyChair: Roberto Lucchini [email protected]: Eun-A Kim [email protected]

14. Occupational and Environmental DermatosesChair: Pietro Sartorelli [email protected] Secretary: Sanja Kezic [email protected] 15. OH and DevelopmentChair: Shyam Pingle [email protected] Secretary: Diana Gagliardi [email protected] 16. OH for Health Care Workers Chair: Annalee Yassi [email protected]: Marie Claude Lavoie [email protected] 17. OH NursingChair: Louwna J. Pretorius [email protected]: Susan Randolph [email protected]

18. OH in Small-Scale Enterprises and the Informal Sector

Chair: Toru Itani [email protected] Secretary: Paula Naumanen [email protected]

19. OH in the Chemical Industry (MEDICHEM)Chair: Thirumalai Rajgopal [email protected]: Diane J. Mundt [email protected]

20. OH in the Construction IndustryChair: Knut Ringen [email protected] Secretary: Jean Francois Boulat [email protected] 21. Occupational ToxicologyChair: Maurizio Manno [email protected] Secretary: Glenn Talaska [email protected]

22. Occupational MedicineChair:

Secretary:

23. Radiation and WorkChair: Maila Hietanen [email protected] Secretary: Fabriziomaria Gobba [email protected] 24. Reproductive Hazards in the WorkplaceChair: Jens Peter Bonde [email protected] Secretary: Gunnar Toft [email protected]

25. Respiratory DisordersChair: Yukinori Kusaka [email protected] Secretary: David Sherson [email protected] 26. Rural Health: Agriculture, Pesticides and

Organic DustsChair: Claudio Colosio [email protected] Secretry: Petar Bulat [email protected] 27. Shiftwork and Working TimeChair: Giovanni Costa [email protected]: Sonia Hornberger [email protected]

28. Thermal Factors (*)Chair: Ken C. Parsons [email protected]: Ingvar Holmer [email protected] 29. Toxicology of MetalsChair: Lars Barregard [email protected]: Monica Nordberg [email protected]

30. Unemployment and HealthChair: Jukka Vuori [email protected] Secretary: Roland Blonk [email protected] 31. Vibration and NoiseChair:

Secretary: Pietro Nataletti [email protected] 32. Women Health and WorkChair: Kaisa Kauppinen [email protected] Secretary: Julietta Rodrìguez-Guzmàn [email protected]

33. Work and VisionChair: Dino L. Pisaniello [email protected]: Bruno Piccoli [email protected] 34. Work Disability Prevention and IntegrationChair: Glenn Pranski [email protected]: Johannes Anema [email protected] 35. Work Organization and Psychosocial FactorsChair: Norito Kawakami [email protected]: Stravoula Leka [email protected]

* Subject to change due to upcoming elections


Message du Président

Chers (es) collègues de la CIST,

Le caractère unique du réseau de la CIST est mieux représenté grâce aux activités des comités scientifiques et des groupes de travail. Aujourd'hui, il existe 35 comités scientifiques (SC) et au niveau international, chaque SC se retrouve au centre de la recherche et de la pratique de la santé au travail. Les comités scientifiques se distinguent du réseau de la CIST par les liens qu’ils développent entre la recherche et la pratique de pointe en santé au travail. Grâce à la concertation entre les SC et les autres liens de communication, des é ch a n ge s con t i nu s de n o uve l l e s expériences et de nouvelles directives peuvent être assurés. Par conséquent, il est important pour tous les membres de la CIST de maintenir ce lien, utilisant pleinement nos propres réseaux.

J'ai appris deux leçons concernant une meilleure utilisation du réseau de la CIST lors du congrès ICOH 2009 de Cape Town.

L'échange des expériences entre collègues

La première leçon que j'ai apprise concerne les orientations privilégiées dans l'organisation des réunions des SC. J'ai vu un très bel exemple de cette orientation alors que j'ai assisté à l’organisation d’un symposium international, préparé par le SC sur le travail posté et le temps de travail. J'étais étonné par les Règles scrupuleusement suivies: importance d’avoir des symposiums en dehors des grands centres, un bon mélange des disciplines, une bonne proportion de jeunes chercheurs, des présentations assez courtes, des activités sociales, des sorties de groupes et la diffusion des présentations auprès de ceux qui n’ont pu y participer.

Tous ces aspects, sont des gages de succès lors de symposiums. L'idée de partager des points de vue et des expériences de façon soutenue lors de rencontres est considérée comme essentiel par la plupart des SC.

Les orientations constructives prise dans l’organisation des réunions des SC m’encouragent car les discussions qui en découlent nous a ident à mieux comprendre les situations réelles de travail.

Apprendre de la pratique moderne

La deuxième leçon que j'ai tirée est d’apprendre à partir des pratiques réelles en milieux de travail. J'ai appris cette leçon par le biais d’une série de projets développés à la CIST' pour rejoindre les secteurs non desservis. Malgré mon expérience limitée, j'ai beaucoup appris de la nature des projets mis en place dans le but d'améliorer la santé des travailleurs. Ces projets ont rencontrés plus de succès lorsqu'ils étaient centrés sur les suivies des bonnes pratiques. Au cours des congrès de la CIST et des réunions des SC, j'ai clairement remarquer que les caractéristiques communes des projets qui ont donnés de bons résultats abordent généralement les besoins locaux urgents et tentent de construire des init iat ives avec la p opula t ion a f in de réa l i s er des améliorations faisables. Des interventions pratiques basées sur les bonnes pratiques peuvent conduire à des résultats concrets. Je suis ravi d'observer que de récents développements en matière de services de santé du travail concordent avec la nature pratique de ces outils d'intervention.

Il existe désormais de nouvelles bases de données regroupant les bonnes pratiques en matière et de santé et de sécurité au travail. J'ai l'espoir que de nouveaux outils d'intervention et les nouvelles bases de données que nous

développons dans notre réseau serviront de base solide pour unir notre recherche à une pratique réelle.

Coopération avec les associations nationales et régionales

Une autre caractéristique primordiale du réseau de la CIST est l 'étroite collaboration avec les associations nationales et régionales. Les comités SC organisent des réunions conjointement avec ces associations nationales et régionales. Il s'agit évidemment d'un avantage majeur de notre réseau car nous gagnons beaucoup de la participation d'un grand nombre de collègues de ces associations en rapprochant notre travail et nos réalisations avec la diversification des conditions de travail et avec la plupart des problèmes actuels.

De rapides changements ont lieu dans nos approches d'évaluation et de contrôle des risques sur les lieux de travail. Ces changements impliquent une r e f o r m u l a t i o n d e s p r o g r a m m e s d'intervention et des services de santé. Comme de plus en plus de stratégies concertées sont développées, la coopération avec les associations nationales et régionales, les ONG et les arrangements avec les divers réseaux sont sans aucun doute nécessaires.

J'ai été impliqué dans plusieurs de ces réunions conjointes et j’ai toujours été impressionné par les rapports des activités orientées vers l'action abordant les risques selon une priorité d’intervention. J'ai le profond sentiment que nous devons unir nos propres act iv ités avec divers partenaires notamment en identifiant des actions préventives efficaces réalisables dans diverses situations. Une étroite collaboration avec des associations nationales et régionales et de ONG, en sus des alliés internationaux, est essentielle.

Résumé en français

September 2009 19

Renforcer notre réseau

Dans les plans de travail de nos comités scientifiques et des groupes de travail, le besoin de renforcer notre propre réseau est mentionné à plusieurs niveaux. Il est primordial d'échanger ces plans et modes d'action par le biais des rapports de SC, du Newsletter et du site Internet de la CIST récemment mis à jour.

Vos suggestions quant au renforcement du réseau de la CIST sont les bienvenues, elles nous aiderons dans l’atteinte de nos objectifs.

Kazutaka KogiPrésident de la CIST

Mots de l’Éditeur

Les voeux du nouveau rédacteur en chef

C'est avec plaisir que je prends les pleines responsabilités de la publication du Newsletter de la CIST Depuis sa création en 2003, le Newsletter de la CIST' a toujours été une source d'informations relatives aux activités de la CIST et d'échanges entre les membres. Suvi Lehtinen a réalisé un superbe travail au cours de ces 6 dernières années. Le Newsletter ne serait pas ce qu'il est sans tous les efforts de Suvi.

KOSHA va poursuivre la publication des Newsletters de la CIST à compter de ce numéro (Vol. 7, No. 2). Le Newsletter sera publié 3 fois par an, comme d'habitude. Si vous avez des informations que vous souhaitez communiquer aux membres de la CIST veuillez m'en faire part.

Sommaire

Le Newsletter sera composé des messages du Président et du rédacteur en

chef, de la présentation de problèmes concernant la santé au travail, du rapport des réunions du comité scientifique 'SC), de la présentation du comité scientifique (2 SC), des actualités du secrétaire national (2 pays), des réunions SC à venir, et des nouveaux membres de la CIST dont les informations sur les membres déjà présents.

Veuillez envoyer un rapport d'environ 400 mots avec une photo lorsqu'une réunion de la CIST a lieu. J'inclurai également une contribution de 200 mots des SC et des secrétaires généraux.

Version PDF

Une fois le Newsletter publié, il sera envoyé à tous les membres de la CIST en format PDF. Une version papier sera également disponible pour les personnes qui nous en font la demande.

Changements d'adresses

Afin de vous assurer de recevoir le Newsletters à temps, veuillez vérifier que vous avez bien payé votre cotisation via le site Internet (http://www.icohweb.org/site_new/ico_homepage.asp) ou via le secrétariat de l'COH ([email protected] ou [email protected]).

La grippe H1N1 et la santé du travail

L'épidémie de grippe A(H1N1) de 2009 qui a pris son origine sur le continent américain, malgré les prévisions d'un recul de la prochaine grippe, risque probablement d’atteindre le niveau l'endémie de la grippe H5N1 qui a eu lieu dans les pays de l'Asie du Sud-est.

Les plans et exercices de pandémie mis en place en prévision de la grippe aviaire ont été d'une très grande aide pour

les preneurs de décis ions e t les professionnels de la santé du monde entier, quant à l'irruption de la grippe A (H1N1).

C'est le 11 juin que l'OMS a déclaré la pandémie de la grippe A H1N1 et qu’elle devient une préoccupation de première importance dans la majorité des pays. Selon l'OMS, la plupart des pays de l'hémisphère sud semble être allés au delà de leur pic d'activités de grippe. Dans les pays des régions tropicales, la grippe continue à progresser ou reste à un niveau élevé dans les activités de la grippe. Les pays de l'hémisphère nord maintiennent un niveau d'activité de grippe et de maladies respiratoires faibles, avec quelques poussées localisées.

Jusqu'à présent, la perception clinique mondiale de la pandémie de la grippe A H1N1 est cohérente. La majorité des patients souffre de la forme bénigne de la maladie, mais les personnes présentant des facteurs de comorbidité :, les personnes âgées de 50 ans ou plus ainsi que les femmes enceintes ont tendance à développer la forme sévère de la grippe. Une surveillance continue du virus indique qu'il n'existe aucune preuve de mutation du virus en une forme virulente ou mortelle.

Même si les faits concernant l'infection A H1N1 nous donnent espoir et nous permettent d'être optimistes, nous devons être conscients qu'une large proportion de la population dans de nombreux pays est toujours exposée à l'infection et que l'impact de la pandémie peut s'aggraver dans l'avenir.

Il est estimé qu'au pic de la pandémie de la grippe, 30% à 50% de la population générale sera touché, les entreprises seront donc contraintes de travailler avec la moitié de leurs effectifs. Par conséquent, les employeurs devront avoir des plans d'urgence pour faire face à un tel scénario. Étant donné leurs métiers, le personnel


médical est bien évidemment un groupe à risque. Contrairement à la poussée du SRAS en 2003, le personnel médical ne semble pas avoir plus de risque de contracter la grippe A H1N1 que le reste de la population, notamment grâce à une meilleure préparation et une amélioration des mesures de contrôle d'affection.

Cependant, en cas de pandémie, un grand nombre de patients gravement malades et nécessitant des soins intensifs risque probablement de mettre à rude épreuve les services de santé existants, ce qui peut se traduire par des conditions de travail plus stressantes et une charge de travail accrue pour le personnel médical.

Heureusement, les vaccins de la grippe A H1N1 sont un stade avancé de leur déve loppement e t subissent actuellement des tests cliniques, ce qui dev ra i t l imiter une t rop g rande propagation de la maladie. Jusqu'à alors, nous devons évoquer et faire face aux problèmes concernant la disponibilité et l'accessibilité du vaccin ainsi que la priorité dans la distribution du vaccin.

Rapport des réunions comités scientifiques

Le XIXe Symposium International sur le travail posté et le temps de travail: “Santé et bien-être dans la société des 24 heures” a eu lieu sur l'île de San Servolo, située dans le lagon de Venise (Italie), du 2 au 6 Août 2009. Cet événement biannuel, dont la première édition remonte à 1969, a été organisé par le comité scientifique de la CIST sur le sujet de “travail posté et temps de travail” en collaboration avec l'Université de Milan et la Société du Temps de Travail (STT-WTS, Working Time Society).

Le but du Symposium était de fournir des informations actualisées sur le travail de nuit, ainsi que sur l'organisation du

temps de travail, proposant des solutions pratiques et réalisables pour une meilleure organisation des heures de travail, plus respectueuse de la santé humaine et du bien-être social. 170 participants de 29 pays ont contribué au succès de la conférence grâce à 100 présentations orales et 50 vidéos ainsi que des discussions productives.

Le prof Kazutaka Kogi. Président de la CIST. a délivré un discours clé intitulé “Rejoindre la stratégie de changement pour l'amélioration des horaires de travail et du contenu du travail.” Cinq sessions extraordinaires ont été organisées, ayant pour débat quelques sujets “brûlants”, et 11 sessions orales et 2 vidéos concernant divers sujets ont été tenus.

Les résumés de toutes ces présentations seront prochainement publiées dans le Newsletter de Shiftwork (S.I.N.); sur site Internet: www.workingtime.org; E-mail: [email protected];

Environ 60 papiers sélectionnés lors seront publiés, dans la première moitié de 2010, dans six journaux scientifiques.

Toutes les informations sur le programme du symposium ainsi que des diapositives sur présentations sont disponibles sur le site www.shiftwork2009.it.

Présentation des comités scientifiques

Le comité scientifique de la CIST sur l'organisation du travail et les facteurs psychosociaux (ICOH-WOPS)

Le comité scientifique de la CIST sur l'organisation du travail et des facteurs psychosociaux (ICOH-WOPS) a été fondé en 1996. L'objectif du comité ICOH-WOPS est d'échanger, de rassembler et de diffuser des informations relatives aux facteurs psychosociaux au travail et de la

santé chez les ouvriers, ainsi que de faciliter la recherche et la pratique sur le terrain, à partie de la perspective globale, sous le principe de la CIST'. Le Président est Norito Kawakami, Université de Tokyo, Japon, et le secrétaire est Stavroula Leka, Université de Nottingham, Royaume-Uni, pour le prochain mandat de trois ans de 2009 à 2011. Parmi d'autres activités, nous envisageons de publier un papier sur les orientations qui seront définies dans ce mandat de trois ans.

Nous avons organisé la 4e conférence du comité ICOH-WOPS du 14 au17 juin, 20210, à Amsterdam, Pays-Bas, qui a rencontré un vif succès (http://www.icohwops2010.nl/Home/).

Le comité scientifique de la CIST sur la Neurotoxicité et la Psychophysiologie (ICOH-SCNP)

La mission traditionnelle du comité SCNP est d'atteindre des collègues dans les pays en voie de développement en organisant des symposiums internationaux afin de stimuler la participation et les échanges mutuels.

Le comité SCNP se concentre sur la recherche sur le terrain en matière de neurotoxicologie, de neurocomportement, de neurosensibilité et de toxicologie neurodéveloppementale.

Le scénario d'exposition couvert par le comité SCNP s'étend désormais aux populations exposées au travail et celles exposées dans leur environnement. Cette, ouverture vers l’environnent s’appuie sur le concept de l'exposition durant toute une vie qui peut entraîner des effets à long terme sur le cerveau.

L'objectif du comité SCNP est de fournir des mises à jour scientifiques sur les effets secondaires des métaux, solvants et pesticides ainsi que sur les modes de tests disponibles pour leur détection. Une exposition répétée à divers agents

Résumé en français

September 2009 21

neurotoxiques est également prise en c o m p t e , d o n t u n e i n t e r a c t i o n concomitante d'agents neutoxiques et d'autres factures comme le stress et l'alimentation.

Actualités du secrétariat national

Corée

La 20e Conférence conjointe Corée-Japon-Chine sur la santé du travail (JCOH) s'est déroulée avec succès au Capital Hotel de Séoul, Corée, du 27 au 29 août 2009. La JCOH est une réunion régionale organisée par les membres de la CIST.

La 20e conférence JCOH se divisait en trois: un atelier sur la promotion de la santé en mlieu de travail, un symposium sur le stress au travail et une période consacrée aux communications libres. Il y a eu 158 participants, 100 présentations

dont 69 vidéos. Un discours consacré au Kimchi, al iment végétal fermenté traditionnel coréen, a été délivré pour une compréhension culturelle de la Corée.

Lors du buffet, les participants ont félicité Kazutaka Kogi, nouvellement élu au comité directeur ainsi que trois autres membres du comité. Le Prof. Kyu Sang Cho a également été félicité pour son élection au poste de membre honoraire de la CIST

L a c o n f é r e n c e J C O H e s t alternativement organisée par les trois pays membres. Le comité de pilotage de la KJC JCOH a décidé d’organiser la 26e conférence JCOH et le 31e congrès d'ICOH à Séoul en 2015.

Argentine

Le 24e congrès d'ICOH à Nice, a suscité une large réponse de la part de l'Argentine, durant lequel l'AMAICOH (Association des membres argentins de l'ICOH) a été formé, et dont la fonction

principale était de soutenir les activités de la CIST dans ce pays.

En 2006, le Dr. Claudio Taboadela est devenu le secrétaire national d'ICOH pour l'Argentine et a développé une importante campagne pour le recrutement des nouveaux membres d'ICOH. Il a présenté la version espagnole de la Déclaration Centenaire d'ICOH à Sao Paulo, Brésil en 2006 et a organisé la 1e Réunion de ICOH NS de l'Amérique Latine à Buenos Aires en novembre 2007.

En 2009, le Dr. Mara Cristina Pantano a été élue secrétaire nationale d'ICOH pour l’Argentine. La Réunion des membres d ' ICOH Argent ine sera organisée lors du 13e séminaire de la santé au travail en novembre à Buenos Aires, et lors du prochain Congrès argentin sur la santé au travail en mai 2010. Nous sommes aussi en train d'organiser la Réunion OIA 2009 qui aura lieu les 5 et 6 décembre à Buenos Aires sur “l'Emergence des maladies infectieuses au travail en Amérique Latine.”

Special offer to ICOH members25% discount on SJWEH (Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health)

“An international, peer-reviewed journal, the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health aims to promote research in the fields of occupational and environmental health and safety, and increase knowledge through the publication of scientific articles, reviews and other information of high interest in workplace health and safety. Topics include interactions between work and health, that is, subjects such as occupational epidemiology, occupational health, occupational medicine, occupational hygiene and toxicology, occupational health services, work safety and ergonomics, and work organization. Currently, areas of high relevance include musculoskeletal disorders, work hours, mental health, job stress, return to work, and intervention research, in addition to studies related to economic evaluation and translational research (from the laboratory to practice). The journal is published by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the Danish National Research Centre for the Working Environment, and the Norwegian National Institute of Occupational Health and had an impact factor of 2.802 in 2008.”ICOH members receive a special 25% discount on personal subscriptions. For further details, please contact: [email protected].


President Dr. Kazutaka Kogi Institute for Science of Labour 2-8-14, Sugao, Miyamae-ku Kawasaki 216-8501Japan Tel: +81 44 977 2121 Fax: +81 44 977 7504 Email: [email protected]

Secretary General Prof. Sergio IavicoliISPESL National Institute for Occupational Safety and Prevention Via Fontana Candida 1 00040 Monteporzio Catone (Rorne)Italy Tel: +39 06 94181407 Fax: +39 06 94181556 Email: [email protected]

Vice President Ms. Suvi Lehtinen Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Topeliuksenkatu 41a A FI-00250 HelsinkiFinland Tel: +358 30 474 2344 Fax: +358 30 474 2548 Email: [email protected]

Vice President Prof. Bonnie Rogers School of Public HealthUniversity of North Carolina1700 MLK BLVD, CB# 7502 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7502 USA Tel: +1 919 966 1765 Fax: +1 919 966 1765 Email: [email protected]

Past President Prof. Jorma Rantanen Email: [email protected]

Prof. Giovanni Costa Department of Occupational and Environmental Health “Clinica del Lavoro L. Devoto”, University of Milan Via S. Barnaba 8, 20122 MilanItaly Tel: + 39 02 50320151 Fax: + 39 02 50320150 Email: [email protected]

Dr. Marilyn Fingerhut OH Consultant 2121 Jamieson Ave Unit 2109 Alexandria VA 22314USA Tel: +1 703 5670987 Fax: +1 703 5670987 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Michel Guillemin Institute of Occupational Health Sciences University of Lausanne Rue Du Bugnon. 19 Lausanne Switzerland Tel: +41(0)213147420 Fax: +41(0) 213147420 Email: Michel. [email protected]

Dr. John Harrison Health at Work Hammersmith Hospital Du Cane Road London W12 OHS United Kingdom Tel: +44 208383 1514 Email: John [email protected]

Dr. Seong-Kyu Kang Occup. Safety & Health Research Institute, KOSHA 34-4, Gusan-dong, Bupyeong-gu Incheon 403-711Republic of Korea Tel: +82 32 5100750 Fax: +82 32 5180863 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Norito Kawakami Department of Mental Health School of Public Health University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033Japan Tel: +81 3 58413521 Fax: +81 3 58413392 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Thomas Kieselbach Institute for Psychology of Work, Unemployment and HealthUniversity of Bremen Grazer Straße 2 D-28359 BremenGermany Tel: +49 421 2182825 Fax: +49 421 2184309 Email: [email protected]

Dr. Timo Leino Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Topeliuksenkatu 41a A FI-00250 Helsinki Finland Tel: +358 30 4742396 Email: [email protected]

Dr. Jorge Morales Corporativo Procter & Gamble Electrón # 28. Naucalpan 53370 Estado de México México Tel: +52 (55) 5726 4230 Fax: +52 (55) 5726 4236 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Antonio Mutti University of Parma Viale Gramsci, 14 43100 Parma Italy Tel: +39 0521 033075 Fax: +39 0521 033076 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Mary Ross School of Public Health University of Witwatersrand 5 Gale Road-Parktown West 2193 Johannesburg South Africa Tel: +27 11 7267833 Email: [email protected]

Dr. Claudio Taboadela Argentine Federation on Occupational Health General Enrique Martinez 934 Buenos Aires 1426 Argentina Tel: +54 11 45516652 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Harri Vainio Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Topeliuksenkatu 41a A FI-00250 Helsinki Finland Tel: +358 30 4742340 Fax: +358 30 4742548 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Frank Van Dijk Academic Medical Center Coronel Institute of Occupational Health PO Box 22700 1100 DE Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: +31 20 56665325 Fax: +31 20 6977161 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Sheng Wang Dept. of Occupational & Environmental HealthPeking University Health Science Center Center Beijing, 100083 P.R. of China Tel: +86 10 8280 1533 Fax: +86 10 8280 1533 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Peter Westerholm Dept. of Medical Seiences Occupational and Environmental Medicine Uppsala University Ullerakersvagen 38-40 SE-75185 UppsalaSweden Tel: +46 8 619 6972 Email: [email protected]

ICOH Officers

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