[Peculiarity of the occupational physician]. / Peculiarità del ruolo del medico competente del settore sanità.

Aim of this contribution is to consider, although in a concise way, the peculiarity of the Occupational Physician's activity operating in Health care sector, that employs about 5% of Italian workers. Particularly, we bring into focus the global roll that the Occupational Physician must fulfil in a reality where he is the protagonist towards the safeguard of the worker's safe, already submitted to several occupational risks, and about the safety of the third parties, which is more important than in other sectors. Shared elaboration in this article shows that Occupational Physician of the Health care sector has the same problems and expectations everywhere, in our Country.

[Professional activity of "competent physician": actual troubles and future perspectives]. / L'attività professionale del medico competente: criticiti attuali e prospettive future.

In recent years, Health has experienced a great transformation, due to the latest technological breakthroughs, the discovery of new drugs and changing social and economic conditions of our country. The professional activity of the "competent physician", even, from the definition of art. 33 of DPR 303/56, result in today's complex set of procedural formalities that make your role as a great professional and social responsibility. However, there are still areas of uncertainty in the law and different interpretations that make it difficult to work. The competent physicians faced with a series of problems that hinder the development of their work, instead, should be free from interference in order to always get the expected results in preserving the worker's health. After a brief discussion of the main weaknesses found, are made some concrete proposals to ensure that the physician in the foreseeable future is increasingly a qualified professional capable of responding adequately to the needs arising from modern scientific evidence and the expectations of workers and the whole society.

[Current legislation: reflection and prospectives]. / La normativa attuale: riflessioni e prospettive.

Activity of "competent physician" in the process of risks assessment is one of the most important functions within the "integrated system of prevention" that must be present in all workplaces of our country (Legislative Decree no. 81/08). This cooperation is enshrined in Article. 25, paragraph 1 ("Competent physician [: A)] cooperate with the Employer and the Service of Prevention and Security to risk assessment (...)." The failure is severely punished (by imprisonment up to 3 months or a fine up to 1,600 Euros). The law does not specify methods and procedures by which this obligation can be considered discharged. This report seeks to specify how to fulfill this requirement, in an attempt to harmonize the formal aspects with possible answers. So, it's possible identify a "guideline" that allows to fulfill this obligation in the best way and sharing conclusions with all the competent physicians and with inspectors of prevention services.

[The role of "competent physician" for prevention of accidents at work]. / Il ruolo del medico competente nella prevenzione degli infortuni.

Using at best the professional and legal tools at his/her disposal, the "competent physician" can have a relevant role in reducing accidents in the workplace. In assessing the worker's suitability to specific tasks, the competent physician checks the presence of pathologies or functional impairments of organs or apparatuses that can be an additional risk for the occurrence of accidents at work. The activity aimed to preventing accidents at work translates also in taking part in the planning and implementation of information activities and workers' training within the company. The various risk factors inherent in the workplace and so-called "human factors" can interact in a negative way to the point of becoming a cause of accidents. The human variables of accident risk at the industrial, occupational and even individual level, may be numerous. In this paper we shall review these important aspects and attempt to clarify the role that can be played by the competent physician in the prevention of accidents at work.

[Occupational health physician and risk assessment in workplaces]. / Il ruolo del medico competente nella valutazione del rischio.

The aim of this report is to analyse and discuss about professional duties of occupational health physicians dealing with risk assessment and health surveillance in workplaces. There are specific regulatory standards today regarding safety and health surveillance and protection of workers in occupational settings; on the other hand no clear recommendation exist, from the regulatory and practical point of view, in defining the specific tasks of a company doctor in risk assessment and management. Generally speaking safety professionals more often required by employers in risk assessment are industrial hygienists or safety and security technicians or engineers. The role of occupational physicians is almost confined to the practice of health surveillance. The paper highlights some specific circumstances in which occupational company doctors must be involved in risk assessment and management, it also describes their unique role in chemical and carcinogen hazard and risk assessment and management. Interactions between occupational health physician, workforce and employers are also underlined, because of their relevance from educational and social point of view, mainly in small and medium enterprises. In these particular workplaces the company doctor is often the unique safety professional directly implied in a good relationship with workforce and may have some opportunity in promoting safe behaviour related to job risks. Methods and occupational settings are described in order to promote and enhance the occupational health physician duties in workplaces, other than the health surveillance alone.