Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevention of injuries at work: the role of the occupational physician

  • Review
  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives: To highlight the role of occupational physician (OP) in occupational injuries (OI) prevention and management. To suggest an approach beyond traditional focus on descriptive epidemiology, engineering interventions, administrative aspects of OI prevention. To promote a person- and enterprise-tailored approach, entailing greater attention to human factors and to practical problems of the specific workplace, with a call to a leading role played by OP. Methods and results: Analysis of the literature on the broader topic of OI prevention revealed thousands of publications; however, only a handful of them mention or describe the participation of OP in OI prevention. While recognizing that literature search is not the proper and only way to appreciate the current role of OP in this field, therefore, it seems necessary to call OP to a stronger effort in prevention and management of OI, through the context of a comprehensive intervention in cooperation with managers, supervisors, safety personnel and workers, focusing on specific needs of each enterprise. The following areas of OP intervention were examined: risk assessment, health surveillance, management, scientific research and health education. Within each of these topics, possible contributions, methodologies, instruments available for the OP were discussed, taking into account the relevant literature. Pathways for practical applications were illustrated, e.g., OI data generation and analyses, predictors of OI, fitness for work, case management, team work, educational issues, first aid, suggestion for OP contribution in specific research questions. Conclusions: OI continue to take a remarkable toll from individuals and society. New multidisciplinary interventions are needed to prevent OI. Focused activities at the single worksite with a central role from OP are definite options. OP is an effective interface between workforce and management and may offer, through a proactive approach, valuable practical and cultural contributions, while respecting technical and ethical guidelines of occupational health professionals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bailer AJ, Bena JF, Stayner LT, Halperin WE, Park RM (2003a) External cause-specific summaries of occupational fatal injuries. Part I: An analysis of rates. Am J Ind Med 43:237–250

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bailer AJ, Bena JF, Stayner LT, Halperin WE, Park RM (2003b) External cause-specific summaries of occupational fatal injuries. Part II: An analysis of years of potential life lost. Am J Ind Med 43:251–261

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barton J, Spelten E, Totterdell P, Smith L, Folkard S, Costa G (1995) The standard shiftwork index: a battery of questionnaires for assessing shiftwork-related problems. Work Stress 9:4–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baxter PJ, Adams PH, Aw TC, Cockroft A, Harrington MJ (2000) Hunter’s diseases of occupations, 9th edn. Arnold, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Beahler CC, Sundheim JJ, Trapp NI (2000) Information retrieval in systematic reviews. Challenges in the public health arena. Am J Prev Med 18:6–10

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belk HD (1990) Implementing continuous quality improvement in occupational health programs. J Occup Med 32:1184–1188

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benavides FG, Perez G, Martinez J, Martinez JM, Gispert R, Benach J (2004) Underreporting of fatal occupational injuries in Catalonia (Spain). Occup Med 54:110–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernacki EJ, Tsai SP (1996) Managed care for workers’ compensation: three years of experience in an “employee choice” state. J Occup Environ Med 38:1091–1097

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burdorf A, Sorock GS, Herrick RF, Courtney TK (1997) Advancing epidemiologic studies of occupational injury. Approaches and future directions. Am J Ind Med 32:180–183

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carrivick PJW, Lee AH, Yau KKW (2002) Effectiveness of a workplace risk assessment team in reducing the rate, cost, and duration of occupational injury. J Occup Environ Med 44:155–159

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chau N, Gauchard GC, Siegfried C, Benamghar L, Dangelzer JL, Francais M, Jacquin R, Sourdot A, Perrin PP, Mur JM (2004a) Relationships of job, age, and life conditions with the causes and severity of occupational injuries in construction workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 77:60–66

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chau N, Mur JM, Benamghar L, Siegfried C, Dangelzer JL, Francais M, Jacquin R, Sourdot A (2004b) Relationships between certain individual characteristics and occupational injuries for various jobs in the construction industry: a case-control study. Am J Ind Med 45:84–92

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chau N, Mur JM, Touron C, Benamghar L, Dehaene D (2004c) Correlates of occupational injuries for various jobs in railway workers: a case-control study. J Occup Health 46:272–280

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Costa G (1996) The impact of shift and night work on health. Appl Ergon 27:9–16

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtney TK, Burdorf A, Sorock GS, Herrick RF (1997) Methodological challenges to the study of occupational injury. An international epidemiology workshop. Am J Ind Med 32:103–105

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtney TK (2002) Occupational injury and safety research in the AIHA journal. AIHA J 63:550–553

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox RAF, Edwards FC, Palmer K (2000) Fitness for work. The medical aspects, 3d edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Dellestable F, Gaucher A (1998) Clay-shoveler’s fracture. Stress fracture of the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinous processes. Rev Rhum Engl Ed 65:575–582

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dembe AE (2001) The social consequences of occupational injuries and illnesses. Am J Ind Med 40:403–417

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dembe AE, Erickson JB, Delbos R (2004) Predictors of work-related injuries and illnesses: national survey findings. J Occup Environ Hyg 1:542–550

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Di Lorenzo L, Zocchetti C, Platania A, De Francesco G, De Metrio R, Pirris A, Gigante MR (1998) Minor and major industrial accidents in a southern italian (Apulia) food factory: a ten year study. Med Lav 89:499–513

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dinh-Zarr T, DiGuiseppi C, Heitman E, Roberts I (2003) Interventions for preventing injuries in problem drinkers (Cochrane review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, Update Software, Oxford

  • Dong X, Entzel P, Men Y, Chowdhury R, Schneider S (2004) Effects of safety and health training on work-related injury among construction laborers. J Occup Environ Med 46:1222–1228

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Donoghue AM (2001) The calculation of accident risks in fitness for work assessments: diseases that can cause sudden incapacity. Occup Med 51:266–271

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duscio D, Proietti L, Valentino M, Rapisarda V, Solina G, Giarrusso S, Internullo G (2003) Occupational hand injuries in an area of high prevalence of farming and craft work (in Italian, English abstract). G Ital Med Lav Ergon 25(Suppl 3):212–213

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • EEC-European Economic Community (1989) Council Directive 89/391/EEC, 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work. Official Journal No. L 183, 29/06/1989:1–8

  • European Statistics (2002) European Statistics on Accidents at Work (Eurostat) http://europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat/ and (ESAW) http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/2002/apr/esaw_en.html

  • European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2001a) http://agency.osha.eu.int/

  • European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2001b) How to reduce workplace accidents. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, ISBN – 92-95007-42-5

  • European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2001c) FACTS Sheets, n° 13, 53, ISSN 1681-4398. http://agency.osha.eu.int/publications/factsheets/

  • Eysenck HJ, Eysenck SBG (1975) Eysenck personality inventory. Hodder & Stoughton, Sevenoaks

    Google Scholar 

  • FOM-Faculty of Occupational Medicine (2001) Good medical practice for occupational physicians. Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians, London

  • Feyer AM, Williamson A (1998) Occupational injury-risk, prevention and intervention. Taylor & Francis, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkard S, Tucker P (2003) Shift work, safety and productivity. Occup Med 53:95–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franco G (1999) Occupational physicians’ education and training across European Union countries. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 72:338–342

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franco G (2003) Consensus on evidence or evidence of consensus? The evolving role and the new expertise of the occupational physician. Occup Med 53:79–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frank AL (2000) Injuries related to shiftwork. Am J Prev Med 18(4 Suppl):33–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gauchard GC, Chau N, Touron C, Benamghar L, Dehaene D, Perrin PhP, Mur JM (2003) Individual characteristics in occupational accidents due to imbalance: a case-control study of the employees of a railway company. Occup Environ Med 60:330–335

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmore TM, Alexander BH, Mueller BA, Rivara FP (1996) Occupational injuries and medication use. Am J Ind Med 30:234–239

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg DP (1978) Manual of the general health questionnaire. National Foundation for Educational Research Publishing Company, Windsor

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldenhar LM, Schutle PA (1994) Intervention research in occupational health and safety. J Occup Med 36:763–775

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldenhar LM, Schulte PA (1996) Methodological issues for intervention research in occupational health and safety. Am J Ind Med 29:289–294

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh AK, Bhattacherjee A, Chau N (2004) Relationships of working conditions and individual characteristics to occupational injuries: a case-control study in coal miners. J Occup Health 46:470–478

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Groeneweg J (1998) Part VIII. Accidents and safety management. Hazard analysis: the accident causation model. In: Stellman JM (ed) Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety, 4th edn. International Labour Office, Geneva, pp 57.6–57.12

    Google Scholar 

  • Guastello SJ (1993) Do we really know how well our occupational accident prevention programs work? Safety Sci 16:445–463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez-Fisac J, Regidor E, Ronda E (1992) Occupational accidents and alcohol consumption in Spain. Int J Epidemiol 21:1114–1120

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg M, Christiani D, Courtney TK, Halperin W, Leamon TB, Smith TJ (1997) Conceptual and definitional issues in occupational injury epidemiology. Am J Ind Med 32:106–115

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz IB, McCall BP (2004) Disabling and fatal occupational claim rates, risks, and costs in the Oregon construction industry 1990–1997. J Occup Environ Hyg 1:688–698

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howard J (2002) Occupational safety and health education, training and communication: needs and priorities for the future. ICOH 38

  • Iavicoli S, Signorini S, Petyx M, Ursini CL, Marinaccio A, Capozza G, Grandi G, Palmi S (2001) Delphi study for the identification of research priorities in occupational medicine in Italy (In Italian, English Abstract). Med Lav 92:91–107

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iavicoli S, Soleo L, Palmi S, Persechino B (2002) The occupational physician and strategies for prevention of alcohol-related accidents (in Italian, English abstract). G Ital Med Lav Ergon 24:288–292

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ILO-International Labour Office (1989) The organisation of first aid in the workplace. Occupational safety and health series No. 63. International Labour Office, Geneva

  • ILO-International Labour Office (1996) Recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases. International Labour Office, Geneva

  • ILO-International Labour Office (1998a) Part VIII. Accidents and safety management. In: Stellman JM (ed) Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety, 4th edn. International Labour Office, Geneva, pp 56.2–60.24

  • ILO-International Labour Office (1998b) Technical and ethical guidelines for workers’ health surveillance. Occupational safety and health series No. 72, International Labour Office, Geneva

  • ILO-International Labour Office (2004) Geneva: http://www.ilo.org and http://laborsta.ilo.org

  • Johnston JJ, Cattledge GTH, Collins JW (1994) The efficacy of training for occupational injury control. Occup Med 9:147–158

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karasek R, Brisson C, Kawakami N, Houtman I, Bongers P, Amick B (1998) The job content questionnaire (JCQ): an instrument for internationally comparative assessments of psychosocial job characteristics. J Occup Health Psychol 4:322–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller SD (2001) Quantifying social consequences of occupational injuries and illnesses: state of the art and research agenda. Am J Ind Med 40:438–451

    Article  PubMed  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelsh MA, Lu ET, Ramachandran K, Jesser C, Fordyce T, Yager JW (2004) Occupational injury surveillance among electric utility employees. J Occup Environ Med 46:974–984

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krause N, Dasinger LK, Neuhauser F (1998) Modified work and return to work: a review of the literature. J Occup Rehabil 8:113–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krause N, Frank JW, Dasinger LK, Sullivan TJ, Sinclair SJ (2001) Determinants of duration of disability and return to work after work-related injury and illness: challenges for future research. Am J Ind Med 40:464–484

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krute A, Kennedy J (1982) Disabled workers. Clin Med Occup Phys :117–156

  • LaDou J (1990) Occupational medicine. Appleton & Lange, East Norwalk

    Google Scholar 

  • Leigh PJ, Markowitz SB, Fahs M, Shin C, Landrigan PJ (1997) Occupational injury and illness in the United States: estimates of costs, morbidity and mortality. Arch Intern Med 157:1557–1568

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li CY, Chen KR, Wu CH, Sung FC (2001) Job stress and dissatisfaction in association with non-fatal injuries on the job in a cross-sectional sample of petrochemical workers. Occup Med 51:50–55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg E, Carter N, Gislason T, Janson C (2001) Role of snoring and daytime sleepiness in occupational accidents. Am J Resp Crit Care Med 164:2031–2035

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lings S, Jensen J, Christensen S, Moller JT (1984) Occupational accidents and alcohol. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 53:321–329

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linn HI, Amendola AA (1998) Part VIII. Accidents and safety management. Occupational safety research: an overview. In: Stellman JM (ed) Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety, 4th edn. International Labour Office, Geneva, pp 60.2–60.5

    Google Scholar 

  • Linz DH, Ford LF, Nightingale MJ, Shannon PL, Davin JS, Bradford CO, Shepherd CD (2001) Care management of work injuries: results of a 1-year pilot outcome assurance program. J Occup Environ Med 43:959–968

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lipscomb HJ (2000) Effectiveness of interventions to prevent work-related eye injuries. Am J Prev Med 18(4 Suppl):27–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loomis D, Richardson DB, Bena JF, Bailer AJ (2004) Deindustrialization and the long term decline in fatal occupational injuries. Occup Environ Med 61:616–621

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald EB, Ritchie KA, Murray KJ, Gilmour WH (2000) Requirements for occupational medicine training in Europe: a Delphi study. Occup Environ Med 57:98–105

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mangili A (2004) Alcohol and working (in Italian, English abstract). G Ital Med Lav Ergon 26:255–258

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mariotti O (2004) Drug addiction and working (in Italian, English abstract). G Ital Med Lav Ergon 26:247–250

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCunney RJ (1996) Emergency response to environmental toxic incidents: the role of the occupational physician. Occup Med 46:397–401

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald C (2000) Epidemiology of work related diseases. BMJ Books, London

    Google Scholar 

  • McLeod R, Stockwell T, Rooney R, Stevens M, Phillips M, Jelinek G (2003) The influence of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors on the probability of sustaining an injury. Accid Anal Prev 35:71–80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller T, Galbraith M (1995) The costs of occupational injury in the United States. Accid Anal Prev 27:741–747

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mittleman MA, Maldonado G, Gerberich SG, Smith GS, Sorock GS (1997) Alternative approaches to analytical designs in occupational injury epidemiology. Am J Ind Med 32:129–141

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Needleman C, Needleman ML (1996) Qualitative methods for intervention research. Am J Ind Med 29:329–337

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NIOSH-National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (1996) National Occupational Research Agenda. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96–115, Cincinnati

  • NIOSH-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2001) Guide to evaluating the effectiveness of strategies for preventing work injuries. How to show whether a safety intervention really works. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001–119, Cincinnati

  • NORA-National Occupational Research Agenda (1998) Traumatic occupational injury. Research needs and priorities. A report by the NORA Traumatic Injury Team. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98–134, Cincinnati

  • OSHA (2004) Forms for recording work-related injuries and illnesses. http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/new-osha300form1-1-04.pdf

  • Paoli P (1997) Precarious employment and working conditions in the European Union. European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions, Dublin, Ireland

  • Park H, Sprince NL, Lewis MQ, Burmeister LF, Whitten PS, Zwerling C (2001) Risk factors for work-related injury among male farmers in Iowa: a prospective cohort study. J Occup Environ Med 43:542–547

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Placidi D (1999) Italian legislation adopts European Union directives: values and drawbacks. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 72:555–558

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Placidi D, Carta A, Crotti MT, Porru S (2002) Injuries with biological risk in a major hospital (in Italian, English abstract). G Ital Med Lav Ergon 24:436–437

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Planek TW (1998) Part VIII. Accidents and Safety Management. Safety promotion. In: Stellman JM (ed) Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety, 4th edn. International Labour Office, Geneva, pp 60.18–60.24

    Google Scholar 

  • Politi BJ, Arena VC, Schwerha J, Sussman N (2004) Occupational medical history taking: how are today’s physician doing? A cross-sectional investigation of the frequency of occupational history taking by physicians in a major U.S. teaching center. J Occup Environ Med 46:550–555

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pollak ES, Franklin GM, Fulton-Kehoe D, Chowdhury R (1998) Risk of job-related injury among construction laborers with a diagnosis of substance abuse. J Occup Environ Med 40:573–577

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Porru S, Donato F, Apostoli P, Coniglio L, Duca P, Alessio L (1993) The utility of health education among lead workers: the experience of one program. Am J Ind Med 23:473–481

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Porru S, Zannol F, Scotto di Carlo A, Placidi D (2002) Il ruolo del medico del lavoro nella prevenzione degli infortuni sul lavoro: considerazioni alla luce di una esperienza in fonderia (In Italian). G Ital Med Lav Erg 24:314

    Google Scholar 

  • Porru S, Zannol F, Scotto di Carlo A, Placidi D (2003) The role of the occupational physician in work accident prevention: an experience among foundry workers. In: Proceedings of the 27th ICOH International Congress on Occupational Health, Iguassu Falls, Brasil, 23–28 February 2003, pp 1–3

  • Porru S, Placidi D, Carta A, Alessio L (2004) Occupational accidents in a iron foundry: analysis, intervention and issues for prevention. In: Proceedings of the 17th international symposium on epidemiology in occupational health, Melbourne, 13–16 October 2004, pp 3–29

  • Pransky G, Snyder T, Dembe A, Himmelstein J (1999) Under-reporting of work-related disorders in the workplace: a case study and review of the literature. Ergonomics 42:171–182

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pransky G, Benjamin K, Hill-Fatouhi C, Himmelstein JS, Fletcher K, Katz J, Johnson W (2000) Outcomes in work-related upper extremity and low back injuries: results of a retrospective study. Am J Ind Med 37:400–409

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramazzini B (1700) De Morbis artificum diatriba. Typis Antonimi Capponi, Mutinae

    Google Scholar 

  • Raouf A (1998) Part VIII. Accidents and safety management. Theory of accident causes. In: Stellman JM (ed) Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety, 4th edn. International Labour Office, Geneva, pp 56.6–56.7

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly BM (2003) Physical examination in the care of medical inpatients: an observational study. Lancet 362:1100–1105

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rivara FP, Thompson DC (2000) Systematic reviews of injury-prevention strategies for occupational injuries. An overview. Am J Prev Med 18(4 Suppl):1–3

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers B, Goodno L (2000) Evaluation of interventions to prevent needlestick injuries in health care occupations. Am J Prev Med 18:90–98

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenman KD, Gardiner JC, Wang J, Biddle J, Hogan A, Reilly MJ, Roberts K, Welch E (2000) Why most workers with occupational repetitive trauma do not file for workers’ compensation. J Occup Environ Med 42:25–34

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenstock L, Thacker SB (2000) Toward a safe workplace. The role of systematic reviews. Am J Prev Med 18:4–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph L, Dervin K, Cheadle A, Maizlish N, Wickizer T (2002) What do injured workers think about their medical care and outcomes after work injury? J Occup Environ Med 44:425–434

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saari J (1998) Part VIII. Accidents and safety management. Chapter 56, 57, 59, 69. In: Stellman JM (ed) Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety, 4th edn. International Labour Office, Geneva, p 56.2–60.24

  • Sallie B, McDonald C (1996) Inhalation accidents reported to the SWORD surveillance project 1990–1993. Ann Occup Hyg 40:211–221

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salminen S, Kivimaki M, Elovainio M, Vahtera J (2003) Stress factors predicting injuries of hospital personnel. Am J Ind Med 44:32–36

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salminen S (2004) Have young workers more injuries than older ones? An international literature review. J Safety Res 35:513–521

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saltzman BE (2001) Recent risk rates of occupational fatalities, injuries, and illnesses in U.S. industries and their use in planning environmental controls. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 16:742–744

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schilling RSF (1989) Health protection and promotion at work. Br J Ind Med 46:683–688

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlegel H, Weickhardt U (1978) Preventive medicine activities of Suva (in German, English abstract). Soz Praventivmed 23:214–217

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schoemaker MJ, Barreto SM, Swerdlow AJ, Higgins CD, Carpenter RG (2000) Non-fatal work related injuries in a cohort of Brazilian steelworkers. Occup Environ Med 57:555–562

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulte PA, Goldenhar LM, Connally LB (1996) Intervention research: science, skills, and strategies. Am J Ind Med 29:285–288

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shannon HS, Robson LS, Sale JEM (2001) Creating safer and healthier workplaces: role of organizational factors and job characteristics. Am J Ind Med 40:319–334

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shih TS, Chang HY, Yeh WY, Su TS, Huang YS, Chang CP, Ho JJ, Guo YL (2004) Occupational health research in Taiwan. Ind Health 42:124–134

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slote L (1987) Handbook of occupational safety and health. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith MJ, Beringer DB (1987) Human factors in occupational injury evaluation and control. In: Salvendy G (ed) Handbook of human factors. Wiley, New York, p 767–789

    Google Scholar 

  • Soleo L, Abbritti G, Ossicini A, Barbaro M, Bernardini P (2002) The occupational physician and accident prevention (in Italian, English abstract). G Ital Med Lav Ergon 24:303–308

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon C (2002) Accidental injuries in agriculture in the UK. Occup Med 52:461–466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sorock GS, Smith GS, Reeve GR, Dement J, Stout N, Layne L, Pastula ST (1997) Three perspectives on work-related injury surveillance systems. Am J Ind Med 32:116–128

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sorock GS, Lombardi DA, Hauser RB, Eisen EA, Herrik RF, Mittleman MA (2001) A case-crossover study of occupational traumatic hand injury: methods and initial findings. Am J Ind Med 39:171–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sorock GS, Lombardi DA, Hauser R, Eisen EA, Herrik RF, Mittleman MA (2004) A case-crossover study of transient risk factors for occupational acute hand injury. Occup Environ Med 61:305–311

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sparks PJ, Cooper M (1993) Risk characterization, risk communication, and risk management. The role of the occupational and environmental medicine physician. J Occup Med 35:13–19

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger CD (1983) State-trait anxiety inventory: a comprehensive bibliography. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto

    Google Scholar 

  • Staal JB, Hlobil H, van Tulder MW, Waddell G, Burton AK, Koes BW, van Mechelen W (2003) Occupational health guidelines for the management of low back pain: an international comparison. Occup Environ Med 60:618–626

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steenland K, Burnett C, Lalich N, Ward E, Hurrell J (2003) Dying for work: the magnitude of US mortality from selected causes of that associated with occupation. Am J Ind Med 43:461–482

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strunin L, Boden LI (2000) Paths of reentry: employment experiences of injured workers. Am J Ind Med 38:373–384

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swaen GMH, van Amelsvoort LGPM, Bultmann U, Kant IJ (2003) Fatigue as a risk factor for being injured in an occupational accident: results from the Maastricht cohort study. Occup Environ Med 60:88–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swaen GMH, van Amelsvoort LPGM, Bultmann U, Slangen JJM, Kant IJ (2004) Psychosocial work characteristics as risk factors for being injured in a occupational accident. J Occup Env Med 46:521–527

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takala J (1999) Global estimates of fatal occupational accidents. Epidemiology 10:640–646

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tuomi K, Ilmarinen J, Jahkola A, Katajarinne L, Tulkki A (1998) Work Ability Index, 2nd revised edition, Occupational Health Care 19. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki

  • Various Authors (1997) Proceedings of the Workshop “Methodological challenges to the study of occupational injury”, Hopkinton, Massachussetts. Am J Ind Med 32:103–183

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Various Authors (2000) Am J Prev Med 18(4 Suppl 1):1–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Various Authors (2003) Abstracts of the 65th SIMLII National Congress. Skin and occupation: role of the occupational physician in the prevention of occupational injuries from biological risks in the workplace. 11–14 September 2002, Messina, Italy (in Italian, English abstract). G Ital Med Lav Ergon 25:193–260

  • Veazie MA, Bender TR, Amandus HE (1994) Epidemiologic research on the etiology of injuries at work. Annu Rev Public Health 15:203–221

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wasiak R, Verma S, Pranski G, Webster B (2004) Risk factors for recurrent episodes of care and work disability: case of low back pain. J Occup Environ Med 46:68–76

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weil D (2001) Valuing the economic consequences of work injury and illness: a comparison of methods and findings. Am J Ind Med 40:418–437

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO-World Health Organization (2000) Occupational medicine in Europe: scope and competencies. In: MacDonald E, Baranski B, Wilford J (eds) WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Bilthoven

  • Zwerling C, Daltroy LH, Fine LJ, Johnstone JJ, Melius J, Silverstein BA (1997a) Design and conduct of occupational injury intervention studies: a review of evaluation strategies. Am J Ind Med 32:164–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zwerling C, Whitten PS, Davis CS, Sprince NL (1997b) Occupational injuries among workers with disabilities. The National Health Interview Survey, 1985–1994. J Am Med Assoc 278:2163–2166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, p.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25125, Brescia, Italy

    Stefano Porru, Donatella Placidi, Angela Carta & Lorenzo Alessio

Authors
  1. Stefano Porru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Donatella Placidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Angela Carta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lorenzo Alessio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefano Porru.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Porru, S., Placidi, D., Carta, A. et al. Prevention of injuries at work: the role of the occupational physician. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 79, 177–192 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0023-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0023-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation