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- PMID: 26503981
- UKPMCID: 26503981
- DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqv152
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Use of GIS in visualization of work-related health problems.
Delaunay, M; Van der Westhuizen, H; Godard, V; Agius, R; Le Barbier, M; Godderis, L; Bonneterre, V
Occupational medicine (Oxford, England). 2015;65(8):682-92.
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Full-text held externally
- PMID: 26503981
- UKPMCID: 26503981
- DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqv152
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Occupational health and safety (OHS) information is often complex, diverse and unstructured and suffers from a lack of integration which usually precludes any systemic insight of the situation. AIMS: To analyse to what extent the use of geographical information systems (GISs) can help to integrate, analyse and present OHS data in a comprehensive and communicable way relevant for surveillance purposes. METHODS: We first developed a 'macro-approach' (from national to local level), mapping data related to economic activity (denominator of active workers displayed by activity sectors), as well as work-related ill-health (numerators of workers suffering from work-related ill-health). The latter data are composed of compensated occupational diseases on the one hand and work-related diseases investigated by specialized clinics on the other hand. Then, a 'micro-approach' was worked out, integrating at a plant level, using computer-aided drawing, occupational risks data and OHS surveillance data (e.g. use of medication and sickness absence data). RESULTS: At the macro-level, microelectronics companies and workers were mapped at different scales. For the first time, we were able to compare, up to the enterprise level, complementary data showing different pictures of work-related ill-health, allowing a better understanding of OH issues in this sector. At the micro-level, new information arose from the integration of risk assessment data and medical data. CONCLUSIONS: This work illustrates to what extent GIS is a promising tool in the OHS field, and discusses related challenges (technical, ethical, biases and interpretation) and research perspectives.
Keyword(s)
Databases; epidemiology; exposures; geographic information systems; geostatistics; occupational diseases; occupational health; occupational hygiene.