A Nation at a Crossroads: Health, Environment, and work in Crisis

Italy is currently navigating significant challenges across its health, environmental, and labor sectors. Concerns are mounting over the effectiveness of current policies and the recognition of essential health professions. Experts are calling for a shift in focus towards proactive prevention measures to safeguard public health and worker safety.

Key Concerns Highlighted

• underestimation of Prevention Technicians: There is growing worry about the lack of recognition for prevention technicians in environmental and workplace settings.
• Dilution of Expertise: Concerns are rising about entrusting risk assessment to individuals with partial qualifications,such as agronomists and food technologists,potentially diluting expertise in critical areas.
• Fragmented Responsibilities: Instead of reinforcing prevention efforts, the multiplication of entities and fragmentation of responsibilities are leading to a dilution of accountability in public health management.
• Flawed Hiring Practices: Recent competitions for “Technical work inspectors” have raised eyebrows due to the inclusion of candidates whose skills are not directly aligned with the demands of workplace risk assessment.

A Legacy of prevention: Honoring Italy’s Pioneers

Italy boasts a rich history of pioneering figures in occupational health. From Bernardino Ramazzini, revered as the father of work medicine, to Luigi Devoto, who established the first clinics dedicated to workplace health, and Cesare Meloni, the founder of the first degree course focused on diagnosing the healthiness of life and work environments, Italy has a strong foundation in this field.

These historical figures established a legacy of prioritizing worker well-being and safety,a legacy that some fear is being undermined by current policies.

The Stakes for the National Health Service

The current situation poses a threat not only to specific professions but also to the very survival of the National Health Service. According to experts,If you do not invest in prevention now and do not take the ground,and urgently,the intuitions contained in the national and regional prevention plans,it will be too late.

Simply increasing the number of medical professionals or expanding medical school enrollment will not suffice. A fundamental rethinking of the system is required, demanding well-defined strategies implemented without delay.

Demands for Change

There is a growing call for political leaders to change course, prioritizing investments in prevention services and incentivizing companies to adopt socially responsible corporate policies. The time has come to halt workplace fatalities and environmental degradation.

It is indeed essential to recognize the unique value of professionals dedicated to health protection, such as prevention technicians, who serve as real “sentinel” of safety in the workplace, in schools, in life environments and in the food supply chain.

Concerns Over Work Inspector Competitions

Upcoming competitions for work inspectors are facing scrutiny. Despite some improvements, significant concerns persist regarding the selection criteria. Questions are being raised about the relevance of certain candidates’ skills.

Such as, critics wonder, what skills a landscape player can bring to the risk assessment in a construction site, in a logistics warehouse or in a hospital. Or, in what way a computer engineer expert in viruses (digital ones, certainly not of biological agents) can effectively contribute to a hygienic-sanitary inspection or to the verification of dangerous work conditions.

The sentiment is clear: If you realy want to strengthen the control system, you need to start from who is formed to do it, not by those who hopefully “adapt”. Prevention is not improvisation. It is science, method and duty.

A Path Forward: Prioritizing Competence and Prevention

Italy stands at a critical juncture. The path forward requires a renewed commitment to prioritizing competence, investing in prevention, and recognizing the vital role of specialized professionals in safeguarding the nation’s health and safety.