Regional occupational health service - An assessment

Aims. To present, partially in quantitative terms, the basic characteristics of a regional occupational health service in southern Israel. Method. Records of the annual activities of the regional occupational health service were analyzed over a period of about 10 years. Results. Overall there were about 25,000 contacts per year, such that about 15,000-16,000 different individuals were examined each year (out of a population of about 150,000 workers). About 45% of the examinations performed were surveillance (statutory), 38% fitness-to-work, and 15% pre-employment examinations. These proportions were quite stable over the whole study period, even though services are provided to hundreds of work-sites of markedly different sizes, exposures, and technological development. As expected, the type and rate of abnormal findings differ significantly among the 3 categories: 7% for pre-employment examinations, 18% for surveillance, and 53% for fitness-to-work examinations. Conclusions. In order to provide adequate occupational health services to a large, non-uniform population of workers, a clear understanding of the "occupational map" of the region is needed. A good insight into the characteristics, aims, and scope of the 3 main categories of examinations used in occupational health could assist in forecasting, planning, and providing adequate regional occupational health service.