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Variations exist within and among countries in collection of occupational health data in the healthcare sector. The absence of unified diagnostic criteria, coding systems and classifications reduces the compatibility and comparability of national statistics on occupational diseases both within and between countries. While there is growing consensus that having a set of common indicators for occupational health surveillance is a desirable goal, a path for achieving this has not been established.
Methods
A workshop was organized within the 8th International Conference on Occupational Health for Health Care Workers in Casablanca, Morocco in October 2010 to develop consensus on what occupational health indicators should be tracked and how those data should be measured. Nineteen participants from 8 countries, with a common interest in this area, took part in the session. Plenary presentations were followed by the formation of small working groups. Preliminary summaries of proceedings and recommendations were circulated among participants for discussion and fine-tuning of indicators, categorization and measurement.
Results
Nine leading and thirteen trailing indicators were proposed with detailed definitions of each indicator developed. Indicators focused on the following key areas: OHS policies, OHS training, health and safety committees, training in safe practices, workplace assessments, return-to-work safely programs, immunizations, worker assessment, availability of personal protective equipment, overall injuries, overall time-loss from injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, needlestick injuries, violent incidents, occupational disease, work restrictions/job modification/transfer, new cases of TB, TB screening, HIV counseling and testing among staff, deaths of healthcare workers, permanent disability/loss to workforce of healthcare workers and worker retention.
Discussion
Quality surveillance data are necessary to protect the health of the healthcare workforce. The 22 indicators developed and defined by this international working group are the first step towards standardized protocols, methods and instruments for data sharing to allow international comparisons. This session will welcome input from others.