In Italy, almost 18% o/the immigrants work in the construction industry, the principal sector of occupation for such workers. In the province of Bergamo, during 2009- 2010, 29.5% of workers in construction industry were immigrants. According to the protocol proposed by SIMLII, during 2009 910 workers underwent health surveillance, 708 were Italians, 202 immigrants. The prevalence of occupational diseases was related to years of service in construction industry and not to the origin of the workers. Nationality was not related with limitations in fitness for work. As regards lifestyles, particularly for smoking, alcohol drinking, drug consumption (declared and tested), immigrant workers showed a more virtuous behaviour than the Italians. According to the data issued by the locai health authority, immigrant workers were most frequently involved in fatai accident at work than Italians. Therefore, there is a compelling cali for action aimed at safety and prevention in workplaces, together with specific education for immigrants. © PI-ME, Pavia 2011.

Construction industry immigrants Fitness for work

Physician's Role Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior building industry Sampling Studies occupational disease human epidemiology middle aged statistics health status construction industry Occupational Diseases Health Surveys Humans occupational accident smoking male Emigrants and Immigrants risk factor Risk Factors Occupational Medicine prevalence Article physician attitude adult migration Italy Accidents, Occupational health survey