The Working Group on Occupational Infectious Agents and Prioritisation of Occupational Infectious Diseases

Background:   In the current triennium, the ICOH Working Group on Occupational Infectious Agents (WGOIA), established in 2006 to address workplace-related communicable diseases,     was tasked specifically with making recommendations on advancing protection from occupational infectious agents, examining the needs for and producing fact sheets – especially for pandemic influenza, and drafting specific ICOH guidelines for HIV/AIDS at the workplace. The approach of the WGOIA, which enjoys global representation from ICOH members, is to prioritise needs in collaboration with ICOH scientific committees, and research best available evidence to acquire or to develop a range of materials on protecting workers from OIA.   .  

Activities and Achievements of the WGOIA:   The WGOIA identified priority issues related to infectious agents as: "Fitness for work", "Risk assessment" and "Health surveillance" with the priority groups of workers being health care workers, occupational travellers, and all workers exposed to global epidemics. An ICOH guide for preparing an HIV workplace policy has been finalised with the Ethics task group and guidelines for health care workers and for travelling for work are being completed.    Prioritising Occupational Infectious Diseases:  As any infectious agent affecting humans can potentially cause an occupational disease and the range of affected occupations constantly increases, it is necessary to prioritise the infectious agents and occupational groups. The public health approach was used by the WGOIA and based on best available evidence of prevalence of exposure to infection, the morbidity and mortality of specific diseases, the effect on productivity and absenteeism in the workplace, stakeholder concern and the availability and cost-effectiveness of interventions. In addition to the priorities addressed by 2012, the WGOIA will target zoonoses and agricultural workers and evaluate training tools for occupational health professionals.