[Occupational health surveillance in agriculture: the experience of the International Centre for Rural Health]
C Colosio1, F Vellere, E Ariano
1Centro internazionale per la Salute Rurale, Unità Operativa di Medicina del Lavoro--Azienda Ospedaliera San Paolo, Via San Vigilio 43, 2142 Milano. claudio.colosio@unimi.it
Abstract:
The results of the activities of occupational health surveillance in agriculture carried out by the International Centre for Rural Health since 2008 are described. The activities involve 800 workers employed in 260 farms in the Region of Lombardy (Italy). The types of farms reflect the vocation toward agricultural sector of the Po Valley and the most representative tasks are related to animal care and use of agricultural machinery. Based on the specific risks, workers are provided with preventive and periodic examinations, and complementary laboratory and instrumental evaluations (hearing and respiratory functions, electrocardiography), related to the different risk factors present in the enterprises. The occupational health priorities identified are, for the time being, noise-induced hearing loss and insufficient immunization against tetanus.
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