[Second Report on Italian Sea Workers: Activities and risk factors]. / Secondo rapporto sui lavoratori marittimi: attività e fattori di rischio.

This is a summary of the results of a research work, born from a collaboration between multiple Italian bodies and published by the Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (Inail) in March 2024: Second report on maritime workers. Activities and risk factors of sea workers.To disseminate the contents, the work offers a global overview of safety and health in the sector: with an analysis of accidents in the sector (which also involves some remarks on the event reporting form), workers' risk perception is examined and occupational diseases monitored through the MalProf system, managed by the Inail Research Sector and the local health authorities. Finally, an in-depth study is dedicated to exposure to asbestos on ships.

Enabling Effective Implementation of Occupational Safety and Health Interventions.

Background: The design, implementation, and evaluation are three important stages of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions. Historically, there has been a tendency to prioritize implementation, often neglecting detailed design and rigorous outcome evaluation. Currently, much has changed, and contemporary approaches recognize the interdependence of these stages, considering them integral to the success of any intervention. This work presents a comprehensive procedure for implementing interventions, not only to ensure short-term effectiveness but also their long-term sustainability through continuous monitoring. The focus is on a national OSH project introducing a near-miss management system (NMS) in Italy. Methods: Initial meetings were convened among project partners, complemented by interviews with diverse stakeholders, to plan implementation steps and test the NMS. Tailored questionnaires were designed for diverse stakeholder groups - initial promoters, company managers and employers, and employees - facilitating targeted implementation, and three case studies were started in Italian regions to assess the structured implementation, involving intervention promoters and collaborating companies. Results: The primary outcome is the development of practical tools, specifically three questionnaires, which are considered valuable for establishing an effective human-centered implementation strategy, meticulously designed to facilitate ongoing monitoring of processes and continual enhancement of instruments intended for NMS integration within companies. Conclusions: This work lays the foundation for successful NMS implementation in Italy and, although the outlined procedure had specific objectives, it also provides valuable insights applicable in enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions across diverse contexts. It underscores the importance of comprehensive planning, stakeholder engagement, and continuous evaluation in achieving lasting OSH interventions.

The Italian National Surveillance System for Occupational Injuries: Conceptual Framework and Fatal Outcomes, 2002-2016.

Background: A national database of work-related injuries has been established in Italy since 2002, collecting information on the injured person, his/her work tasks, the workplace and the risk factors contributing to incident dynamics, according to a model called Infor.Mo. Methods: A descriptive study of occupational fatal injuries, excluding work-related fatal traffic injuries, that occurred in Italy from 2002 to 2016 (15 years) was performed. Results: Among 4874 victims involved, all were males, mainly >51 years of age (43.2%), predominantly self-employed (27.8%) or workers with non-standard contracts (25%). About 18.4% and 17.3% of fatal events occurred in micro-enterprises belonging to, respectively, construction and agriculture. A wide range of nationalities (59 countries in addition to Italy) was identified. Overall, 18.9% of work-related fatal injuries were due to some form of hazardous energy-mechanical, thermal, electrical or chemical-that was normally present in the workplace. Workers' falls from height (33.5%), heavy loads falling on workers from height (16.7%) and vehicles exiting their route and overturning (15.9%) were the events causing the greatest proportion of occupational fatal injuries in the present study (from 2002 to 2016) and in the initial pilot phase, focused on years 2002-2004, with a similar distribution of fatal events between the two time periods. The activity of the injured person made up 43.3% of 9386 risk factors identified in 4874 fatalities. Less common risk factors were related to work equipment (20.2%), work environment (14.9%), third-party activity (9.8%), personal protective equipment/clothing (8.0%) and materials (3.7%). The activity of the injured person remained the most relevant contributing factor even when the incident was caused by two or more risk factors. Discussion: Occupational fatal injuries occurred mainly in small size firms (up to nine employees) in hazardous workplaces. Small companies, which account for 68% (2888/4249) of all firms in the present study, generally have fewer resources to remain current with the continuously evolving health and safety at work regulations; moreover, these firms tend to be less compliant with health and safety at work regulations since they are less likely to be inspected by occupational vigilance services. Perspectives: An approach being introduced in Italy relies on the use of economic incentives to promote safe and healthy workplaces. The comparison of pre-intervention and post-intervention rates of work-related injuries by means of interrupted time series analyses could detect whether the intervention will have an effect significantly greater than the underlying secular trend.

[Assessment and management of risks in the maritime sector: commercial fishing]. / La valutazione e la gestione dei rischi nel settore marittimo: la pesca professionale.

The activity of sea fishing involves a series of unfavorable conditions that can affect the health and safety of workers. The contribution presented here deepens the analysis of some occupational hazards such as: "ergonomics of workstations, manual handling of loads, awkward postures, repetitive movements of the upper limb". The work is based on local experience gained in the Marche region, namely in the ports of Ancona and San Benedetto del Tronto (75% of all marine fishing Marche). The assessment of these risks turn based on methodologies and NIOSH OCRA has led to the design and implementation of solutions to improve both organizational and technical. These solutions were transferred on to boats in the fleet Marche.