[Effectiveness of preventive measures for workplace health and safety in Lombardia region during the period 2007-2008]. / Applicazioni orientate all'efficacia negli interventi di prevenzione in materia di salute e sicurezza nei luoghi di lavoro realizzate in regione Lombardia nel biennio 2007-2008.

BACKGROUND: The Lombardy Region has managed workplace safety prevention projects via evaluation of efficacy indicators since 1998 but is only now measuring the effectiveness of heir application. For the 3-year period 2008-2010 Regional Law 8/2007 made it mandatory for all injury prevention departments to assess effectiveness. A study carried out by the International Labour Organization concluded that investigations carried out to identify the causes and the responsibilities of work accidents or occupational diseases are extremely effective in improving the sureveillance and prevention system. METHODS: The ratio between the number of cases in which it was possible to identify an individual who could be charged with penal responsibilities and the number of investigated cases were taken as an efficacy indicator ofHealth Service investigation procedures. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Analysis revealed that in only 29% of the 5008 industrial injuries, investigated and in 16% of the 2370 occupational diseases assessed was it possible to identify penal responsibilities. These percentages appear too low and a revision of the investigation protocol is therefore necessary mainly as regards priority criteria for the selection of cases to be investigated.