Increase in the Coverage and Effectiveness of Occupational

Health Services in Estonia

Kari-Pekka MartimoPre-Accession Advisor (PAA)

MilestonesEstonian project fiche July 2002launched

MS proposal submitted Sept 2002

Letter of acceptance Oct 2002from the EC

Preparation of the Sept 2002–Covenant March 2003

Approval of the Covenant April 2003in EC Steering Committee

Starting of the Project May 2003

Facts• Duration of the Project: 12 months (5.5.2003 – 4.5.2004)

• Financing: EU Phare (Budget EUR 327,600)

• Twinning Partners:– Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA)

– Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH)

• Project Leaders:– Mr Tiit Kaadu, Head of the Working Environment Department,

MoSA

– Prof Jorma Rantanen, Director General of the FIOH

• Pre-Accession Advisor (PAA):– Dr Kari-Pekka Martimo

Objectives• To reduce the number of incidences of work-related

diseases in Estonia in the long run• To increase the coverage of, the availability of and the

accessibility to occupational health services throughout Estonia

• To increase awareness of employers and employees on occupational health and safety issues

• To support the practical implementation of aquis communitaire

Acquis Communautaire underpinning the Twinning Project

Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work

Council resolution 88/C28/01 of 21 Dec 1987 on safety, hygiene and health at work

Commission Decision 88/383/EEC of 24 Feb 1988 providing for the improvement of information on safety, hygiene and health at work

Commission recommendation (OJ L 80, 31.8.1962, p. 2181) to the Member States on company medical services

• Commission recommendation of 22 May 1990 to Member States concerning the adoption of a European schedule of occupational diseases

• Commission recommendation 66/464/EEC of 7 July 1966 addressed to Member States and concerning medical control of workers exposed to particular risks

INCREASEDWELL-

BEING AND PRODUCTIVITY OF

ESTONIANEMPLOYEES

Effective prevention of work-related diseases

Better knowledge, recognition and management of WRDs by

Occupational physicians

Family physicians

Better coverage, quality, effectiveness and network of

OHS system

Better co-ordination of occupational health and safety issues at the

national level

Elements

Policies and Strategies

The MoSA and other relevant authoritieswill be supported

OHSThe development of

the OHS infrastructurefor better coverage and

quality in the provision ofservices.

Work-related diseasesThe development of

coverage, quality and effectiveness of

recognition of ODs and other WRDs

NetworkingDeveloping and further strengthening relevant

OHS Networks; Preparationof county, community and

sectoral OHS profiles

Information * Awareness raising * Dissemination of information * Management of information

GeneralInforming relevant

partners and stakeholders on the project

Guaranteed results1. Strengthened implementation of the Estonian

Occupational Health Development Plan and the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Strategy for Occupational Health and safety 2003-7 for development of occupational health services system

2. Administrative structure and institutional capacity for recognizing occupational diseases has been described, discussed and approved as a part of national policy and strategy

3. Occupational health personnel and necessary public health personnel are trained on diagnostics, treatment and prevention of work-related diseases

Guaranteed results4. Guidelines for ”Good Occupational Health Practice”

will be distributed and trained to relevant practitioners

5. National, local and subject-oriented OH&S networks are strengthened. Indicators, profiles, research studies, information on the occurrence of work-related diseases and preventive activities of occupational health services are made available in the National Network of Occupational Health for specialists, social partners, and the general public. Up-to-date information on occupational health services and work-related diseases is available and disseminated

Key expertsTiit KaaduUrmas KrassÜlle SarapAhe VilkisViive PilleEva TammaruJaan SõrraEster RünklaKatrin LepiskTanel Tomson

Jorma Rantanen

Matti Ylikoski

Helena Taskinen

Kari Kurppa

Suvi Lehtinen

Kaj Husman

Anneli Vartio

Taina Pääkkönen

Contact Info• Pre-Accession Advisor

Kari-Pekka Martimo Töötervishoiu Keskus, Hiiu 42, Tallinn

Tel. 056 231 344Email: kari-pekka.martimo@ttk.ee

• Assistant to PAA

Liilika Raudhein Töötervishoiu Keskus, Hiiu 42, TallinnTel. 670 0101Email: liilika.raudhein@ttk.ee

Occupational Health Services

Element objective I: Good Occupational Health Practice Guideline in Estonia

Actions:

- GOHP-guideline will be used in training and distributed to OH personnel

- Problem-specific guidelines will be selected, translated and modified together with Estonian OH experts (together with the information element)

Impact:

- OH services will be harmonized in the country

- Quality requirements are met better than earlier

Element objective I: Good Occupational Health Practice Guideline in Estonia

Element objective II: Developing the service provision infrastructure of OHS

with widened coverageActions:- Training of OH system to family physicians

and agricultural experts together with OH experts and clinicians (with training element)

=> 40 OH physicians, 90 family physicians and three agricultural advisers are informed and instructed on the OH system and its activities

Element objective II: Developing the service provision infrastructure of OHS

with widened coverage

Impact:- Family doctor network will be linked to the

infrastructure of OHS- All relevant stakeholders and interest

groups have a good understanding of the structure of the OHS system and its activities

  

Element objective III: Agricultural OHS, making an assessment of the OH&S

situation on farmsActions:- A subnetwork on OHS in agriculture will be

established (with network element)- Task force will write a sectoral profile on

OHS in Estonian agriculture- A community OHS profile model for rural

communities will be developed

Element objective III: Agricultural OHS, making an assessment of the OH&S

situation on farms

Impact:- Recommendations made available for

development of OHS services on agriculture

- Initiation of development of OHS services in agriculture

Element objective IV: Development of indicators for functioning and status of OHS

Actions:- OHC is instructed for collecting

information on OHS for the Ministry and for the self-evaluation of the units (with policy & strategy element)

=> Occupational health and safety indicators and models for reporting are made available

Impact:- Better management and follow-up of the

OHS system- Better quality of OHS services

Element objective IV: Development of indicators for functioning and status of OHS

Element objective V: Increasing awareness and disseminating information through

networksActions:- Social partners, industries, organizations

will be informed on the possibilities to organize OHS

=> Information will be distributed to work places and employers’ representatives (with information element)

Element objective V: Increasing awareness and disseminating information through

networks

Impact:- Awareness of practical organization of OHS

is increased- Coverage of OHS is increased