1. Contribution of ICOH to Address the Different OSH Needs among Countries: Results of a Survey
- Author
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Erika Cannone, Sergio Iavicoli, Fabio Boccuni, Pierluca Dionisi, Valeria Boccuni, Antonio Valenti, Diana Gagliardi, and Bruna Maria Rondinone
- Subjects
Index (economics) ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,ICOH ,Computer-assisted web interviewing ,010501 environmental sciences ,Global Health ,01 natural sciences ,Occupational safety and health ,Gross domestic product ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,OSH needs ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Per capita ,Humans ,multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) ,survey ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Human Development Index ,Enforcement ,Socioeconomics ,Workplace ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Aged ,Response rate (survey) ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,occupational health ,Medicine ,Business ,Environmental Health - Abstract
The aim of this study is to map the coverage of occupational safety and health (OSH) rules and provisions and their enforcement at a country level worldwide. Members’ participation in the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) activities was also investigated. We used a questionnaire-based survey to collect data. An online questionnaire was administered from February 14 to March 18, 2018 to all ICOH members for the triennium 2015 to 2017 (n = 1929). We received 384 completed questionnaires from 79 countries, with a 20% response rate. To synthesize information about the coverage of OSH rules and provisions and their level of enforcement, a synthetic coverage index was calculated and combined with country, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and the human development index (HDI). We used multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to analyze the members’ participation in ICOH activities. More than 90.0% of the sample declared that in their own country there is a set of rules and provisions regulating OSH in the workplace, and training procedures and tools to improve workers’ awareness. However, these rules and training procedures are mainly “partially” enforced and utilized (39.0% and 45.4%). There was no statistically significant association between country and GDP per capita and the synthetic coverage index, whilst controlling for HDI. The level of engagement in ICOH activities is higher in senior members (aged 65 years or older), coming from high-income countries, having held a position within ICOH, with a higher level of education and a researcher position. An integrated and multidisciplinary approach, which includes research, education and training, is needed to address OSH issues and their impact both at global and country level.
- Published
- 2021