Abstract
Occupational Health Practice in Greece: Theodore BAZAS. Committee for Occupational Medicine, Central Council of Health, Greek Ministry of Health and Welfare—In Greece (a Member State of the European Union [EU]), where 57.7% of the four million economically active population are employed in the tertiary sector (mostly in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises [SMEs]), circa 20, 000 work accidents, but very few cases of occupational diseases are recorded annually. Nearly 10% of the 400 enterprise physicians are Specialists in Occupational Medicine. In several large companies Occupational Health (Medicine and Hygiene) and Safety [OHS] practice is of a high standard. However, the provision of work-specific or general preventive medical examinations for workers, and of occupational hygiene services needs to be extended to SMEs. OHS legislation has advanced markedly, having been harmonized to that of the EU, whereas its enforcement (a legal responsibility of the employer) has frequently been inadequate, partly due to the long-standing shortage of State Technical Work Inspectors; in December 2000 their number rose from 120 to approximately 300. By and large, education and training in OHS for University level students, physicians, engineers, managers, foremen and workers varies from sufficient to basic, stagnant or even lacking, but has recently been making some progress; several Greek books and information material on Occupational Health have lately been published. Virtually no pertinent scientific field research is carried out. Public awareness of the importance of OHS needs to be tackled more effectively. (J Occup Health 2001; 43: 165-167)
