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Meet on occupational health under way

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Occupational health and its various manifestations in different workplaces are the focus of the 57th national conference of the Indian Association of Occupational Health (IAOH).

The four-day conference, which began on Thursday, will feature scientific paper presentations, guest lectures by international experts and an exhibition on work-safety products. Among the subjects discussed are lung diseases, ergonomic workstation design and hazards in the agricultural and chemical sectors.

The World Health Organisation estimates that the work place is the cause of 37 per cent of low back pain cases, 16 per cent of the total number of hearing loss cases, 11 per cent of asthma attacks, 13 per cent of lung diseases and eight per cent of all accidents and injuries, V. Swaminathan, president, IAOH, told presspersons on Thursday.

The organisation was formed in 1948 at Jamshedpur as the Society for the Study of Industrial Medicine and has grown since then to accommodate 2,700 members in 23 branches.

Its aim was to recognise, assess and control hazards to health at the work place.

The members promote optimal health and safety of work, workplaces and professionals, Dr. Swaminathan said. The organisation liased with the Asian Association of Occupational Health and the International Commission of Occupational Health. It had ties with national labour and occupational health-related bodies, coordinating with the government and statutory agencies in drafting legislation.

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