78851 - Occupational Medicine

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will know the general concepts of the Occupational Medicine and hygiene. Particular attention will be devoted to chemical hazards.

Course contents

Part A: introductory lectures that will focus on the general concepts and on the methods applied in the field of Occupational Medicine

Lecture 1 Introduction to occupational medicine (history, statistics, scientific framework, aims)

Lecture 2 Reference legislative frame. The role of the occupational physician. Mandatory reports and certifications

Lecture 3 Risk Assessment: contents and methodology.

Lecture 4 Classification of occupational risk factors (physical, chemical, biological agents, biomechanical and relational factors).

Part B: Occupational hygiene

Lecture 5 General concepts. Exposure limits to noxious agents, environmental and biological monitoring

Lecture 6 Sources of uncertainty and interpretation of monitoring results. Examples of environmental/biological monitoring

Part C: Chemical agents in the work-place and their effect on workers’ health

Lecture 7 Metals

Lecture 8 Solvents

Lecture 9 Pesticides

Part D: Physical agents in the work-place and their effect on workers’ health

Lecture 10 Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation

Lecture 11 Noise and vibration

Part E: lectures on specific occupational diseases. The focus will be on those conditions with the higher population burden.

Lecture 12 Work-related cancers

Lecture 13 Musculoskeletal disorders II and peripheral entrapment neuropathies

Lecture 14 Work-related skin disorders, occupational hearing loss and barotrauma

Lecture 15 Work-related respiratory diseases (asthma, allergic alveolitis, pneumoconiosis, BPCO)

Lecture 16 Reproductive hazards in the workplace. Legislation for the protection of working mothers

Part F: special topics

Lecture 17 Occupational medicine in the healthcare work setting

Lecture 18 Psychosocial risk factors in the workplace. Models for job-stress. Bullying, mobbing, and burnout

Readings/Bibliography

Pira, Romano, Carrer. Manuale di Medicina del Lavoro. Edizioni Minerva Medica, 2017.

Alessio and Apostoli. Manuale di Medicina del Lavoro e Igiene Industriale per Tecnici della Prevenzione. Piccin-Nuova Libraria, 2014.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Saverio Violante