An informative event for the European project AGROSH+ was organized by the Institute of Preventive Medicine Environmental and Occupational Health, Prolepsis on Tuesday July 3, 2018 at 11:00 on the premises of the Institute.

 

The AGROSH+ project " OSH+ for the European Agriculture sector- Stimulating growth in rural areas through capacity building for providers (and beneficiaries) of occupational medicine and OSH services" focuses on training OSH experts and occupational physicians who provide their services to the agriculture sector. Similar informative events are currently taking place in the partner countries participating in the AGROSH+ project (Romania, Ireland, Bulgaria).

 

The objectives of AGROSH+ were presented in the event, as well as training activities and matters related to farmers’ health problems, the professional risks they face, the employment of vulnerable populations in the agriculture sector, the occupational medicine services for farmers, etc. In the following discussion, the importance of targeted training of health professionals and safety specialists on health and safety in the agriculture sector was recognized and it was pointed out that there is a gap in informing farmers about these issues. It was highlighted that there is a need to disseminate relevant information to farmers, who often ignore the occupational hazards that they face. The event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health, professors from the National School of Public Health, executives of the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Hellenic Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, the Labor Inspectorate, occupational physicians and health promotion specialists.

 

According to the data of EUROSTAT/ESAW, the agriculture sector fills the fourth place out of 22 sectors, in terms of both non-fatal and fatal accidents. At the same time, the data on occupational diseases are similar, as the agriculture sector is the fourth sector in terms of sick leave in the EU Member States. Also, as stated in the Sixth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS, 2016) in all EU Member States, enterprises operating in the agriculture sector are those less covered by health and safety services at work. Promoting Health and Safety at work is in the center of interest of the Prolepsis Institute.  In particular, regarding health matters for farmers who represent the core of primary production, the Prolepsis Institute has in the past implemented research and applied programs aimed at protecting their health from pesticides. 

 

With AGROSH+, the Prolepsis Institute again focuses on farmers, who are exposed to many occupational hazards on a daily basis and face problems related to their physical health (mainly musculoskeletal problems, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, etc.) and mental health. Many of these dangers, as well as other conditions and diseases, can be prevented with appropriate and timely information. The aim of the Institute is to improve the knowledge and skills of physicians and other health and safety professionals, in order to provide specialized health prevention and promotion services to farmers and especially vulnerable groups of farmers.

 

According to the AGROSH+ survey in all four participating countries, occupational physicians and security experts are not adequately educated or trained on health and safety in the agriculture sector. In particular, the training offered only provides general information on health and safety.

The AGROSH+ program evaluates the training needs of health and safety professionals in the agriculture sector, aiming to improve their knowledge and skills. In particular, it seeks to cover the need for specialized knowledge, offering educational material designed for occupational physicians and security specialists who provide their services in the agriculture sector, as well as a good practice guide for end users (business managers in the agriculture sector).

 

AGROSH+ is a two-year educational program (1/9/2016 – 31/8/2018) and is funded by the European Union's ERASMUS + Program under the framework of the "Strategic Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training (VET)" action. The Prolepsis Institute, with Scientific Coordinator Mrs. Athena Linos, Professor of the Athens Medical School and President of the Institute, participates from Greece as a partner of the program. Other participants in AGROSH+ are the Romtens Foundation (Project Coordinator) and the Victor Babeş University of Medicine (Romania), the Research Center Ireland Ltd (Ireland) and the FCBZR Institute on ‘Safety and Health at Work’ (Bulgaria).

 

For more information on AGROSH+ you can visit: http://www.agrosh.ro/