Third Quarterly Report (5.11.2003-4.2.2004)

of the Estonian-Finnish Twinning Project on Occupational Health Services 2003-4

(EE02IBSO03)

Kari-Pekka MartimoPre-Accession Advisor (PAA)

• To reduce the number of work-related diseases in Estonia in the long run

• To increase the coverage, availability and accessibility of OHS throughout Estonia

• To increase employees’ and employers’ awareness on OH&S issues

• To support the practical implementation of EU regulations in the field of OH&S

Objectives of the Project

Elements

Policies and Strategies

The MoSA and other relevant authoritieswill be supported

OHSThe development of

the OHS infrastructurefor better coverage and

quality in the provision ofservices.

Work-related diseasesThe development of

coverage, quality and effectiveness of

recognition of ODs and other WRDs

NetworkingDeveloping and further strengthening relevant

OHS Networks; Preparationof county, community and

sectoral OHS profiles

InformationAwareness raising,

dissemination of information, management of information

GeneralInforming relevant

partners and stakeholders on the project

• Uncertainty around OHC; functions to be divided between SoMA, Nat’l Inst for Health Development, Labour Inspectorate, Health Care Board?

• Letters by MS Project Leader and the Head of EC Delegation contributed to the survival of OHC

• Organisational changes at MoSA• Involvement of social partners has been modest• Collaboration at OHC has been successful• Training events and seminars have attracted large

number of participants

General comments during the third quarter

1. General• EO I: Informing all involved parties on the

objectives of the project– Various activities during the third quarter– www.ttk.ee/twin/index.htm

• EO II: Evaluation of the project– (In the end of the project)

• EO III: Project management/steering committee– Meetings on 21 August and 20 November

2. Policy and Strategy• EO I: Development of policy implementation

– Description and analysis of OHS system in Estonia – Policy programmes have been implemented only

partially

• EO II: Development of infrastructure– Seminar to be arranged on 16 February

• EO III: Support to the planning and evaluation on insurance system for occupational accidents and diseases– Seminar on 19 November

• EO IV: Comparative analysis of registered work injury risks by sector of economy in Finland and Estonia– Completed; results presented on 19 November

• EO V: Consulting on the establishment of the National Topic Centre for good practices in OH&S– Seminar on 20 November; continuation depends on the

future of OHC

2. Policy and Strategy

• EO I: Good Occupational Health Practice– Training courses based on EBM and GOHP– Guidebooks on GOHP in Estonian have been

distributed

• EO II: Developing the service provision infrastructure of OHS with widened coverage – Knowledge of employers and employees on the

processes and benefits of OHS is low– Follow-up and evaluation by Health Care Board in

the future?

3. Occupational Health Services

• EO III: Agricultural OHS – Assessment of OH&S in agriculture accomplished– Visit of agricultural experts to Finland 5-7 November

• EO IV: Development of indicators for functioning and status of OHS– Focus on registers of occupational (Annex I) and work-

related diseases (Annex II)– Symposium on 5-6 February, seminar on 6-7 April

• EO V: Increasing awareness and disseminating information through networks– In addition to networks, a seminar to the employers on

12 December

3. Occupational Health Services

• EO I: Training curriculum on work-related and occupational diseases – Meetings on 1 October, 8 December, one more

scheduled

• EO II: Training of the OH and family physicians– 13/15 courses and 22/26 days of training accomplished

with c. 90 participants each day

• EO III: Training of trainers– Courses arranged on 3 September and 14 November

4. Work-Related Diseases and Training

• EO IV: Subnetwork on OH&S training institutions– Meetings on 2 December and 19 January

• EO V: Defining a policy for criteria, recognition and registration of occupational diseases and policies for prevention– Seminar of insurance systems on 19 November– Consultation on 25 November– Possible amendments in the definitions of the law

4. Work-Related Diseases and Training

• EO I: National Occupational Health and Safety Network– Follow-up workshop to be arranged on 4 March

• EO II: County and community OH&S Profile– Under preparation; to be presented on 30-31 March

• EO III: Tartu County OH&S Network– Seminar scheduled on 30-31 March

5. Networking

• EO IV: Subnetwork on OH&S in Agriculture – Follow-up workshop on 11 February– Good example of a well motivated network

• EO V: Sectoral profile on OH&S in agriculture– A draft outline has been prepared and discussed

5. Networking

• EO I: Increasing awareness of stakeholders– Seminar on 12 December– Articles in newspapers and one radio interview

• EO II: Defining information needs– Guidelines and fact sheets under preparation

• EO III: Updating the Internet network strategy, producing information material for the Internet, and surveying the information – Follow-up seminar of the Agricultural OH&S

Subnetwork on 11 February

6. Information

• EO IV: Provision of information material for OH&S– Estonian Newsletter on OH&S is the main channel

(also in the future?)– Other information material under preparation

• EO V: Promotion of the use of information– Training scheduled on 23 March

6. Information

• Strengthened implementation of the Estonian Occupational Health Development Plan (until 2007) and the MoSA’s Strategy for OH&S 2003-2007 for development of OHS system

Status: ++Comments:Future status of the development plan and the strategy? Success in supporting the activities and defending the continuation of OHC

Guaranteed result No. 1

• Administrative structure and institutional capacity for recognising occupational diseases has been described, discussed and approved as part of national policy and strategy

Status: ++(+)

Comments:

Future acceptability of Act on Insurance of ODs/OAs?

Compensation to OH physician for examining suspected cases?

Guaranteed result No. 2

• Occupational health personnel and necessary public health personnel are trained on diagnostics, treatment and prevention of work-related diseases

Status: ++(+)Comments:Possibilities to implement the acquired knowledge?Incentives for collaboration in primary and secondary health care?

Guaranteed result No. 3

• Guidelines for “Good Occupational Health Practice” will be distributed and trained to relevant practitioners

Status: ++(+)

Comments:

In connection with training and the produced information material

Not recognised by national legislation?

Guaranteed result No. 4

• National, local and subject-oriented OH&S networks are strengthened.

• Indicators, profiles, research studies, information on the occurrence of work-related diseases and preventive activities of OHS are available...

Guaranteed result No. 5

... in the National Network of Occupational Health for specialists, social partners, and the general public

• Up-to-date information on OHS and work-related diseases are available and disseminated

Status: ++(+)Comments:The role of OHC in practical implementa-tion?Key roles of social partners?Sectoral approach recommended

Guaranteed result No. 5