Suberosis at Public Health Unit (PHU) of Santa Maria da Feira/Arouca (F/A) (Portugal)

ConclusionsSMF has a prevalence of Suberosis well above the national average. In order to respond to this issue, the cork industry must reinforce the investment in terms of PPE, with the use of uniform, cuffs, safety shoes and visor, variable with the specific production process. In terms of collective protection, the signaling of the main hazards and the information available in the workstations regarding mandatory/recommended PPE, isolation of the areas with the most dangerous tasks as well as the maximum possible turnover between tasks are essential in terms of Occupational Health.Key messagesSuberosis is an occupational disease of workers in the cork industry, associated with repeated exposure to moldy cork dust, usually presenting itself as a disease of the pulmonary interstitium.The development of healthy workplaces, the correct use of PPE and the investment in effective ventilation systems and control of humidity, are essential to health protection of cork workers.
Source: The European Journal of Public Health - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research