Documents WHO. Regional Office for Europe 27 results

"This publication provides an update on the implementation of a commitment made at the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, held in Parma, Italy in 2010, to develop national programmes for elimination of asbestos-related diseases in the WHO European Region by 2015. This report assesses current policies in countries, based on a survey conducted in 2014. It is a supplement to a review that analyses progress achieved in the Region since the Conference as part of the preparations for the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, planned for 2016."

"ow far have Member States in the WHO European Region progressed in implementing the European Commitment to Act on climate change and health? This was the question addressed to members of the Working Group on Health in Climate Change (HIC) of the European Environment and Health Task Force in summer 2012. The HIC members were asked to respond to a comprehensive questionnaire to assess the current status of health-relevant climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. A total of 22 Member States answered the questions focusing on eight thematic areas or topics: governance, vulnerability, impact and adaptation assessments, national and subnational adaptation strategies, climate-change mitigation, strengthening of health systems, awareness raising and capacity building, green health services and sharing best practices. This publication describes and analyses their responses."

"Policy and action for health need to be geared towards addressing the social determinants of health in order to attack the causes of ill health before they can lead to problems. This is a challenging task for both decision-makers and public health actors and advocates. The scientific evidence on social determinants is strong but is discussed mainly by researchers. The booklet 'Social determinants of health: the solid facts' is part of a WHO Regional Office for Europe campaign to present the evidence on social determinants in a clear and understandable form. The campaign has been initiated by WHO Centre for Urban Health with the intention of promoting awareness, debate and action on the social determinants of health. The campaign aims to reach the widest possible audience of public health advocates and professionals, community activists and decision-makers. The booklet was launched at the International Conference of Healthy Cities held in Athens in June 1998. The booklet identifies the broad implications for policy in ten selected areas."

"This publication provides guidance for good practice in performance of Occupational Health Services and for quality performance in contribution of occupational health professionals to occupational health objectives in client enterprises and organizations. It is written with the aim to address primarily the perspective of safety and health professionals and experts carrying responsibilities and tasks in enterprises and in organizations providing services to enterprises in European countries. This broad category includes occupational health physicians, and occupational nurses, physiotherapists and ergonomists, occupational hygienists, safety engineers, occupational psychologists and managers of occupational health service units or organizations. The guidance document is, however, also written with an eye on all those who purchase and use the services provided by occupational health services, i.e. their customers and clients, who have a legitimate interest in seeking services of adequate quality and cost-effectiveness and service providers delivering services needed. ..."

"Good practice in health, environment and safety (HES) management in enterprises was one of the leading topics considered at the Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health held in London from 16 to 18 June 1999. Occupational health services play an important role in achieving good practice in HES management in enterprises. Quality management in these services is, therefore, of great importance.
The changing nature of working life and reorientation of occupational health services (OHS) towards multidisciplinary, competitive, effect-oriented teams, which in many countries operate on a commercial basis in competition with other similar service providers, requires the development and implementation of effective tools for high quality service management. The main purpose of international guidelines is to encourage and facilitate implementation of quality management in OHS or in enterprises that have not yet adopted this approach.
A second objective is to support further harmonization of occupational health practice internationally so as to minimize inequity in health of workers and to avoid social exclusion. Implementation of quality management will facilitate occupational health impact assessment and will increase efficiency and utility value of OHS. Quality management in OHS and in enterprises will introduce processes and encourage participation of all partners essential in the development of good occupational and environmental health practice at enterprise, local and national level. The involvement of the social partners and technical experts in quality management should underpin quality initiatives. The adoption of similar procedures and terminology across Europe will help to facilitate international cooperation and the development of European occupational health information systems."

"Transport eases access to jobs, education, markets, leisure and other services, and has a key role in the economy. Nevertheless, road users generate excessive costs to themselves, other individuals and society – through noise, pollution and accidents – in the form of illness, injuries, deaths and damage to mental health and social relationships. The continuing expansion of motorized transport in Europe today raises crucial questions about the efficiency and the environmental, health and social implications of land-use and transport policies. Too often, such policies disregard these implications."

"This document describes the role of the occupational health nurse in Europe, and whilst recognizing the wide variation that exists in occupational health nursing practice between different countries this document reflects the standards that have already been achieved in those countries where occupational health nursing is at its most advanced. Within the WHO European Member States the discipline of occupational health is undergoing rapid development. This is largely due to the new demands and expectations from employers, employees and their representative bodies as they recognize the economic, social and health benefits achieved by providing these services at the workplace. The rapid development of occupational health services has also, in part, been driven by the expanding program of EU legislation in the areas of health, safety and environmental protection and the need by employers to respond to this legislation. In addition occupational health services, provided at the workplace to address the health care needs of working populations have been identified as an important component of the public health strategy. These services can also make a significant contribution to other government initiatives, such as; reducing health inequalities, reducing social exclusion and sickness absence, and by protecting and promoting the health of the working population occupational health services can help to reduce the overall burden of ill health in Europe. Occupational health nurses, as the largest single group of health care professionals involved in delivering health care at the workplace, have responded to these new challenges. They have raised the standards of their professional education and training, modernized and expanded their role at the workplace, and in many situations have emerged as the central key figure involved in delivering high quality occupational health services to the working populations of Europe. Occupational health nurses, working independently or as part of a larger multiprofessional team, are at the frontline in helping to protect and promote the health of working populations."