[Disease due to work can be prevented more often; an alert report from The Netherlands Centre for Occupational...

Epidemiologic data on occupational diseases in the Netherlands are scarce, partly because of the lack of 'risques professionnels' in the Dutch social security system. The Netherlands Centre for Occupational Diseases (NCvB) provides an annual overview of the occurrence and distribution of occupational diseases by sector and occupation. Like in other western countries, the number of reports of occupational diseases has decreased the last few years. Recent data, however, suggest a small increase. The NCvB also provides warning signals, which this centre believes should be known to health and safety policymakers and professionals so that they may respond with appropriate action. The report gives 4 different alerts: on the importance of health and safety awareness during vocational training, on scientific evidence in support of zero tolerance for intimidation and violence, on health and safety consultation regarding conception and pregnancy, which should focus on both men and women, and on the poor working conditions at the bottom end of the labour market. These alerts may also be of special interest to general practitioners and medical specialists because it is they who are primarily confronted with workers and their health problems as mentioned in the alerts.