[Health surveillance audit of wood dust exposure].

BACKGROUND

Medical surveillance of wood-dust exposed workers has been compulsory in Italy since 1956. The Law 66 of 25/2/2000, as a consequence of the EU Directive regarding occupational carcinogenic and mutagenic agents, has recently enforced preventive measures for wood dust exposure.

OBJECTIVES

The Local Health Unit RM-F, Civitavecchia, has developed a Workplace Vigilance Plan, specifically aimed at the enhancement of preventive measures against carcinogens. The Plan includes the "audit" of the Occupational Health physicians responsible for workers' surveillance.

METHODS

Physicians are invited to revise the quality of their work and to consider the inclusion of specific occupational health measures in the health plan, such as rhinoscopic examination.

RESULTS

In many cases, this action leads to the revision of the Security Document, the improvement of programs and protocols, and the enhancement of training activities. In a few cases, medical surveillance allowed diagnosis of wood dust-related occupational diseases, such as nasal polyposis and adenocarcinoma of paranasal sinuses.

CONCLUSIONS

Audit in occupational medicine is a feasible and efficient tool to improve quality of health care.