Evaluating Antineoplastic Agents and Occupational Exposures Among Italian Workers Using SIREP Surveillance System.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate exposures to antineoplastic agents at workplaces in healthcare and manufacturing in Italy. METHODS: Data on antineoplastic agents were collected from occupational exposure registries. Statistical analysis was carried out for exposure-related variables. The number of workers potentially exposed was estimated for selected industrial sectors. Concurrent exposures were investigated using cluster analysis. RESULTS: Overall 15,763 exposure situations were analyzed during 1996 to 2016. Most exposures occurred in healthcare (66%). A total of 11,830 workers potentially exposed to antineoplastic agents was estimated. Concurrent exposures were frequently detected in the pharmaceutical industry and among healthcare workers. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents currently represents a matter of concern both in the chemical industry and in the healthcare sector. The growing number of agents in use supports the need to constantly control exposures.

Economic impact of malignant mesothelioma in Italy: an estimate of the public and social costs.

BACKGROUND: Despite their considerable interest for public health policies and for occupational disease management and assessment, the economic costs of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) for society have not been fully estimated or even frequently discussed. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the economic burden of mesothelioma in Italy by assessing the overall societal cost of the disease, applying an econometric model. METHODS: We analyzed two main cost groups, public and social. The first includes expenditure borne by the State and other public bodies (medical care costs, insurance, tax and benefits), while the latter uses the human capital approach to measure the loss of productivity suffered by the economy as a whole. RESULTS: We provide an estimate of euro 33,000 per patient for medical care costs and euro 25,000 for insurance and compensation; tax and benefits seem to roughly compensate. We estimated a loss of more than euro 200,000 per patient, in terms of loss of production. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers a practical approach for estimating the economic impact of mesothelioma, and provides empirical evidence of the huge economic burden linked to this disease, with its high etiologic fraction.

[Active research, registration, and prevention of tumors of professional origin]. / Ricerca attiva, registrazione e prevenzione dei tumori di origine professionale.

Occupational cancer is an important public health concern in Italy and in many industrialized countries. The difficulties in monitoring and the complexity in retrieving occupational cancer cases have required the enrolment of a national epidemiologic sureveillance system at national scale with active search methods. A structured system for the registration of occupational cancer cases is normed by the Decree No. 81/2008, that accounts for the previous legislative procedures and experiences. Research activities and prevention of occupational cancer should be integrated with insurance policies to the purpose of an efficient protection of workers health.

[The INSuLa Project: a knowledge survey of employers]. / Progetto INSuLa: I'indagine conoscitiva sui Datori di Lavoro.

In the framework of the INSuLa project, supported by Italian Ministry of Health, a national survey was conducted to evaluate the perceptions of employers about Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) activities. Main findings of this survey are presented in this paper. The survey was conducted on a sample of 1,010 employers weighted by economic activity sector, company size and geographic area. An ad hoc questionnaire was administered through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing methodology. Most of employers "mostly" or "completely" agree with the usefulness of OSH activities and the efficacy of specific prevention and protection measures. Around 37.7% of employers consider OSH management a shared responsibility with workers and 56.1% of them feel the OSH level to be increased following the implementation of Legislative Decree no. 81/08. The findings of this survey provide a picture of Italian employers' point of view about OSH and identify gaps and needs, thus contributing to choose proper actions for the improvement of OSH

The relevance of socio-demographic and occupational variables for the assessment of work-related stress risk.

BACKGROUND: Work-related stress is widely recognized as one of the major challenges to occupational health and safety. The correlation between work-related stress risk factors and physical health outcomes is widely acknowledged. This study investigated socio-demographic and occupational variables involved in perceived risk of work-related stress. METHODS: The Italian version of the Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool was used in a large survey to examine the relationship between work-related stress risks and workers' demographic and occupational characteristics. Out of 8,527 questionnaires distributed among workers (from 75 organizations) 6,378 were returned compiled (74.8%); a set of mixed effects models were adopted to test single and combined effects of the variables on work-related stress risk. RESULTS: Female workers reported lower scores on control and peer support and more negative perceptions of relationships and change at work than male workers, most of them with full-time contracts. Age, job seniority, and educational level appeared positively correlated with control at work, but negatively with job demands. Fixed-term workers had positive perceptions regarding job demands and relationships, but more difficulties about their role at work than permanent workers. A commuting time longer than one hour and shift work appeared to be associated with higher levels of risk factors for work-related stress (except for role), the latter having more negative effects, increasing with age. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the assessment and management of work-related stress risk should consider specific socio-demographic and occupational risk factors such as gender, age, educational level, job status, shift work, commuting time, job contracts.