Occupational Medicine 1984;34:71-79
© 1984 Society of Occupational Medicine
research-article |
More Effective Prevention in Occupational Health Practice?*
University of London
Official figures for occupational disease in the United Kingdom underestimate the true incidence of work-related disease. Successful prevention depends first on identifying risks, either by preliminary testing before anyone is exposed or by observing adverse effects on work people. Methods of identification need to be systematic and more sensitive to detect long term effects and their causes. They can be improved by studying geographical patterns of disease and classifying work by exposures rather than job titles. Incidence and severity of disease are the product of interacting causes, environmental exposures, host factors and individual behaviour—all of which need to be borne in mind if prevention is to be more effective. Occupational health has special opportunities to undertake a wider range of preventive activities which include modification of personal habits. Smoking, diet, physical exercise and control of infection by immunization and screening for non-occupational disease come into this category.
Correspondence should be addressed to: R. S. F. Schilling, 11 Prior Bolton Street, Canonbury, London N1 2NX