[Man and work: a compatible system? Problems of health and disease associated with work]

Man and work: a compatible system? Problems of health and disease associated with work. Here, a short review of the main characteristics of the modern work organisation and of its influences on worker's health is reported. In spite of the great improvement that has occurred in the environment and in the relationships between employers and employees, many conflicts and tensions are still present, about ecological, insurance and economical problems, often on an international ground. In addition work organisation is mostly perceived as unable to satisfy personal needs, attitudes and values. That is true even in industrialised countries, where 60-70% of active population is engaged in office job. While the expansion of tertiary sector has greatly contributed to the decrease of occupational diseases, sick leave, due to non-specific symptoms and complaints related to prevalent chronic degenerative diseases, has increased. The frequently observed relationship between such disorders, mostly with a strong phycophysiological component, has produced the designation of "job related diseases". Tackling these together with the traditional occupational health problems implies a revision of methods and contents of occupational medicine and its connection with related preventive and clinical disciplines. The international debate on the issue may offer useful suggestions for the Italian situation.