SIMLII Guidelines for health surveillance programmes, for the protection of workers exposed to carcinogens and mutagens at work: an update

The SIMLII guidelines for health surveillance programmes, for the protection of workers exposed to carcinogens and mutagens at work were first published in 2003 and reviewed in 2007 in accordance with: the updated EU and Italian laws, specific surveillance programmes for ex-exposed workers, reference value updating, new techniques for the early diagnosis of cancer. Herein is a critical review of the criteria used to distinguish those effectively exposed to carcinogens and/or mutagens at work, from those only potentially, exposed. Thus the set-up of adequate and efficacious health surveillance programme. It proposes that the general practitioner become the “leading figure” in the debated question of the surveillance of ex-exposed workers, so as to carry out an efficacious secondary prevention project. Emphasis is also laid on training/information for the workers themselves, as to the risks involved for cancer. An informative leaflet has been published that offers simple, scientifically-based indications taken from the European Code Against Cancer, with particular attention to item 7 on occupational cancer prevention. This leaflet is intended to facilitate the occupational physician in daily preventional activities.