78851 - Occupational Medicine

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is expected to be able to:

1. Explain a definition of an occupational physician’s field of expertise;
2. Describe the general relation between work activity (risk factors for health and safety), lifestyle and other relevant determinants of health;
3. Define the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of the most common occupational diseases;
4. Describe the medico-legal requirements applicable to occupational injuries and diseases.

Course contents

Introduction and general fundamentals of Occupational Medicine

Introduction to occupational medicine

Classification of occupational risk factors

Occupational diseases due to Physical, Biological and Biomechanical risk factors

Some physical risk factors: radiations, heat, noise, hand-arm and whole-body vibration

Some biological risk factors: airborne diseases (Flu, TBC, Covid-19), bloodborne diseases (Hepatitis B&C, HIV), DLgs 81/08

Some biomechanical risk factors Manual work, manual material Handling and related musculoskeletal disorders and diseases (low-back pain, upper and lower limb diseases)

Occupational diseases mainly due to Chemical risk factors

Occupational toxicology and industrial hygiene: general concepts

Respiratory diseases (Pneumoconiosis, Interstitial lung diseases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Skin diseases (Acute and chronic dermatitis, Photosensitivity, Folliculitis, Pigment changes)

Cancers (Lung and Pleura, Upper respiratory tract, Liver, Bladder, Skin)

Toxicology of metals (Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, Nickel)

Toxicology of solvents (Aromatic hydrocarbons: Benzene, Toluene; Alcohols: Methanol, Propanol; Ethylacetate)

Toxicology of pesticides (Organophosphate and Carbamates; Organochlorine; Pyrethroids; Glyphosate; Dichloropropane)

Occupational diseases mainly due to psychosocial risk factors

Models for occupational stress assessment and related health effects

Special issues

Occupational medicine in the healthcare work setting

Reproductive health in the workplace and pertinent legislation

The practice of the occupational physician and medico-legal requirements applicable to occupational injuries and diseases

 

Readings/Bibliography

- Mutti A. and Corradi M. Lezioni di Medicina del Lavoro. Nuova Editrice Berti, 2021

- LaDou J and Harrison R. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. McGraw-Hill Education, 2021

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures and discussions, assisted by slides, apps to be used on the students personal pohones, videos and handouts

Assessment methods

Multiple choice tests, or short written responses to a few questions.

Teaching tools

Classroom lectures, videos, role plays, and practical excercises using occupational hygiene tools (sonometer, soundmeter apps, luxometer, air sampling tools)

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/francesco.violante

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Saverio Violante

See the website of Matteo Montalti