Somos FCC - Nº5

Protecting workers’ health Facts and figures • In many countries, more than half of workers are employed in the informal sector, where they lack social protection for health care and enforcement mecha- nisms for occupational health and safety standards. • The occupational health servi- ces responsible for advising em- ployers on improving working conditions and monitoring wor- kers’ health cover mainly large enterprises in the formal sector, while more than 85 per cent of workers in small, informal, agri- cultural and migrant enterprises worldwide have no occupational health coverage whatsoever. • Some occupational hazards such as trauma, noise, carcino- genic agents, airborne particles and ergonomic risks account for a significant part of the burden of disease from chronic disea- ses. These include: 37% of all cases of back pain; 16% of hea- ring loss; 13% of chronic obs- tructive pulmonary disease; 11% of asthma; 8% of trauma; 9% of lung cancer; 2% of leukaemia; and 8% of depression. • Annually, 12.2 million people, mostly in developing countries, die in their working age from non-communicable diseases. • In most countries, work-related health problems cause losses ranging from 4 to 6 per cent of GDP. Basic health services to prevent occupational and work-related diseases cost on average between US$18 and US$60 (purchasing power pari- ty) per worker. • Approximately 70% of workers lack any type of insurance that could compensate them in the event of occupational diseases and injuries. • Research has shown that wor- kplace initiatives can help redu- ce absenteeism due to illness by 27% and health care costs for businesses by 26%.- • Days to promote physical exer- cise before the start of the wor- king day. • Five a day” or “Take care of your food from the bottom up” cam- paigns in rest areas. • Prevention and treatment of obe- sity (Medical Services) and pro- motion of healthy eating habits with activities such as “healthy ta- pas contest”, in Malaga, or “Heal- thy Christmas”. • Fight against harmful substances such as tobacco (for which more than 40 cases have been trea- ted), alcohol abuse or drug use (with prevention and treatment programmes in different branches of the Environment area). • Awareness and information cam- paigns on back care, visual heal- th, fatigue and health care and disease prevention (cancer, dia- betes, cardiovascular problems, blood pressure, etc.). At FCC, safety and health are un- derstood and put into practice in or- der to achieve a state of well-being. Days to promote physical exercise before the start of the working day.