Disease and the Workplace: It Really is a Matter of Prevention

Disease and the Workplace: It Really is a

Matter of Prevention

Chris Martin, MD, MScProfessor and Director,

Institute of Occupational and Environmental HealthWest Virginia University School of Medicine

National Occupational Health Nurses’ Conference

Conference Theme

The Prevention of Known

Occupational Diseases

Conference Theme

The Prevention of Known

Occupational Diseases

What are the known diseases?What can we do to prevent them?

Prof Gordon Waddell CBE, DSc, MD, FRCS

What employment status?

Associated with 40% increase in self-reported new health condition (blood pressure, diabetes) in first 1.5 years

Strully K. Soc Sci Med. 2009 Sep;69(5):768-76.


More than doubles the risk of heart attack or stroke in people between 51 and 61 years over 6 and 10 years.

Gallo WT, Brand JE, Teng HM, Leo-Summers L, Byers AL.Res Aging. 2009 May 1;31(3):345-360.


Increases the risk of death overall by 63% based on a review of 42 studies with data on more than 20 million persons.

Roelfs DJ, Shor E, Davidson KW, Schwartz JE. Soc Sci Med. 2011 Mar;72(6):840-54.

Involves 1,604,900 Canadians (August 2012)

% C

anad

ian

Pop

ulat

ion

Source: Stats Can

In addition…

Increased mental illness Economic impact Social exclusion

Yet for most sick and disabled people, work: “is therapeutic; helps to promote recovery and rehabilitation; leads to better health outcomes; minimises the harmful physical, mental and

social effects of long-term sickness absence; reduces the risk of long-term incapacity; promotes full participation in society,

independence and human rights; reduces poverty; improves quality of life and well-being”.

IS WORK GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING? Gordon Waddell, A Kim Burton, 2006.

Re-employment

Adverse health effects largely reversible However, depends on job

So, what do we do?

Acknowledge and address the social context of our work

1.Change our attitude about work

Culture:The collective attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that characterise a particular social group over time

Changing the culture of work & health

Slide courtesy Gordon Waddell, accessed from: www.cf.ac.uk/cwerc/events/seminar1/Gordon%20Waddell.ppt

2. Employment

Secure, ‘healthy’ jobs Accommodations for the injured and ill Promote workplace wellness programs

for all health conditions.

What is the leading cause of on-duty death in this group of workers?

3. Individuals

Need to take greater responsibility for their health in general and rehabilitation following averse health events

…and live in an environment that makes healthy choices easy

Traditional Occupational Disease remains with us Mostly incurable! Mostly affect lung and skin Mostly allergic and neoplastic We need to be vigilant

PMF “Hot Spots”

1970-1974

1975-1979

1980-1984

1985-1989

1990-1994

1995-1999

2000-2004

2005-2006*

Per

cen

tag

e

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0-9 years10-14 years15-19 years 20-24 years25+ years

Tenure in Mining

Percent of miners with CWP by tenure in mining, 1970-1999


1970-1974

1975-1979

1980-1984

1985-1989

1990-1994

1995-1999

2000-2004

2005-2006*

Per

cen

tag

e

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35


Tenure in Mining

Deaths with CWP, age 15-44, national data

Rising?

For occupational disease

Surveillance systems always essential(even when they report few cases)

1970-1974

1975-1979

1980-1984

1985-1989

1990-1994

1995-1999

2000-2004

2005-2006*

Per

cen

tag

e

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35


Tenure in Mining




Constant vigilance with primary prevention

When these measures are not in place, lives are lost needlessly



Constant vigilance with primary prevention

When these are not in place, lives are lost needlessly

March 9, 2012

“Significant Milestone Reached to Reactivate St. Lawrence Fluorspar MineThe $100 million reactivation of St. Lawrence fluorspar mine is a step closer as the Provincial Government finalized the details of its $17 million repayable contribution to Canada Fluorspar Inc. (TSX-V: CFI). During the two-year construction phase, 370 full-time jobs are expected to be created while 175 full-time positions will be maintained at the facility once production begins”.

Source: http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2012/ibrd/0309n01.htm

Disease and the Workplace: It Really is a Matter of Prevention

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