[Campaign of labour inspections on the implementation of protection measures against carcinogenic agents in fuel station workers]. / Piano di vigilanza sul rispetto degli obblighi in materia di protezione dagli agenti cancerogeni dei lavoratori addetti alla distribuzione carburanti.

SUMMARY: Following the reduction in levels of exposure to benzene over the last few decades, the cancer risk of refuelers currently represents an occupational hygiene issue potentially underestimated by employers and workers themselves. Based on the literature data, the occurrence of adverse effects of neoplastic nature can not actually be excluded in this professional category, since it is not possible to define a threshold dose. In the period 2016 - 2019, an extensive focused campaign of labour inspections was conducted in the province of Bari by the OSH inspection services of the Health Local Authority in order to verify the compliance with the legislation on the workers' protection from carcinogenic agents at fuel stations. In particular, the obligations referring risk assessment, workplace hygiene, environmental monitoring, personal protective equipment (PPE), health surveillance, biological monitoring and recording of exposure to carcinogens were verified. Although these obligations were documentarily fulfilled by almost all the 162 plants inspected in the province of Bari, several critical issues were found in the approach to carcinogenic risk, including, more frequently, the lack of suitable changing rooms with relative lockers for clothing, the scarce use of gloves when dispensing fuel, the absence or incompleteness of the carcinogenic risk assessment documents, the failed or incorrect execution of biological monitoring. Data of the environmental monitoring carried out by the companies confirm that the current exposures to benzene of fuel distributors are considerably below the limit values set by the Italian legislation. The most frequently used biological exposure indicator was trans, trans-muconic urinary acid (TTMA-U). In order to reduce as much as possible the health risks for refuelers, it is needed that employers, workers and occupational physicians pay more attention to their respective duties, ensuring corrective or ameliorative interventions focused on assessment of the risk of carcinogens, supply and use of PPE, design of workplaces, health surveillance and biological monitoring of workers. The poor value of the end-of-shift TTMA-U as a biological indicator of exposure to low-dose benzene is also confirmed.

[Integrated management method in the prevention department of a COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in a large meat processing plant in Bari province]. / Modalità di gestione integrata nel dipartimento di prevenzione di un focolaio epidemico di COVID-19 in un grande stabilimento di lavorazione di carni della provincia di Bari.

Aim of this paper is to describe the management of an outbreak of COVID-19 in a slaughtering and meat processing plant in Bari Province (Southern Italy). At the end of the outbreak investigation, 18.4% of the employees were positive to the molecular test for SARS-CoV-2. Higher prevalence has been reported in the bovine slaughtering house and swine meat processing plant.In addition to lack of physical distancing and correct use of personal protective equipment, the spread of the virus has been eased by low level of literacy, indoor microclimate, intensive working time, and aerosol-generating procedures in specific areas of the processing plant where more positive cases have been detected. The analysis of this cluster may suggest specific actions to prevent similar outbreaks in the future.

National survey on workplace safety and prevention services: regional differences. / Indagine nazionale sui servizi di prevenzione e sicurezza negli ambienti di lavoro: differenze regionali.

BACKGROUND: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Services, with inspections and support activities to workers and to enterprises, have a relevant role in the field of safety and health in the workplace. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study, part of the INSuLa Project, is to realize a national survey about risk perception of OSH and awareness about OSH issues in the context of the Italian OSH legislative framework (Legislative Decree 81/08 and subsequent modifications and integrations) implementation, with involvement of the OSH Services operators. METHODS: The Survey involved a representative national sample of the OSH Services operators. After an analysis of background literature and a comparison with Operating Units involved in the Project, an ad hoc questionnaire was developed and administered to the sample to evaluate the topics of the Survey. RESULTS: The study has been conducted on a sample of 678 OSH Services operators. The Survey showed in Italy an important organizational and procedural inhomogeneity perceived by OSH Services operators. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the relevance perceived by OSH Services operators to develop a system of safety culture dissemination to reduce accidents at work and improve the management of occupational risks (traditional and emerging).

[MALPROF and the Plan for Prevention]. / MALPROF e il Piano per la Prevenzione.

The Inail data show that in the last years the complaints and acknowledgments of occupational diseases has been increasing, in contrast what happened previously. This growth is the expected and desired emergence of work- related diseases and it's also an alarm bell that the institutions can not ignore. In addition to the data provided by INAIL, the MalProf system gives an important contribution to tlhe understanding of occupational diseases. MalProf is a system for recording and analysis of reported occupational diseases using the source information provided by Service Prevention of ASL. The model used by the Surveillance System MALPROF, by combines the information in a consistent and standardized, assesses the relevance of a causal link between the disease and reports the activity carried out by the worker during his professional history. The two systems (INAIL database and MALPROF), although with some differences have largely confirmed the same data. The past decade has marked the final decline of the working traditional occupational diseases (respiratory toxic substance related diseases and by the accumulation of poisoning, skin, etc....); the hearing loss is still frequent but less important than it was in the past relevance. Tumors and, in particular, musculoskeletal disorders, have been emerging as one of the hidden problems before tumors but, above all, appeared on the scene and the group of musculoskeletal disorders. As indicated by the National Plan for the preventive actions should be directed in several directions: active surveillance, training of the subjects of prevention and other figures, the promotion of the quality of the risk assessment documents.

[The INSuLa Project: the survey of training needs in the SPSAL(Service for Prevention and Safety in the Work Environment)]. / Progetto INSuLa: I'indagine sul fabbisogno formative degli SPSAL.

According to Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008 and subsequent modifications the Regions and Autonomous Provinces have a innovative and complex role: 1) to regulate and coordinate the total prevention system and 2) to develop interventions/initiatives through regional/local occupational safety and health (OSH) department using not only inspections and controls but education, training and support. Recommendations also include consolidating the role of actors involved in preventing risks to occupational health throughout occupational safety and health education and training, keys for a successful process to improve prevention system. As result of changing world of work and OSH legislation the INSuLa project has creating a national survey involving of all Italian prevention system actors, in order to evaluate implementation and impact of the actual regulations. According to overall objective of the INSuLA project, for the first time in Italy, we studied about operators in regional/local OSH department. The purpose of this paper is to show and recognize the individual learning paths, the perception of adequacy education degree, the exploring criticalities andthe training needs.