title: Occupational health crossing borders part 2: Comparison of 18 occupational health systems across the globe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational health and safety (OHS) is considered one of the most important factors for a sustainable development; however, it is often considered a luxury by decision-makers. This article compares OHS systems of 18 countries at different stages of development.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an international summer school, structure of the national OHS system, definition of occupational accidents and diseases, procedures for compensation claims, outcome (expressed as incidence of occupational accidents) and training opportunities were presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  National OHS systems ranged from non-existent to systems implemented almost 200 years ago. Priorities, incidence of occupational accidents and training opportunities varied. Common problems included the lack of OHS service for small enterprises and in rural areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  International training programs like this summer school might enhance the exchange about OHS opportunities around the globe and contribute to improved workers health.
authors.affiliation: Unit for Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & Net Teaching, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Clinical Centre of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Ziemssenstrasse 1, Munich, Germany. katja.radon@med.lmu.de
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radon
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ehrenstein
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bigaignon-Cantineau
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Arun Dev
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Vellore
authors.forename: Veronica Enzina
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Lirong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Salamat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kandkers
authors.forename: Ana María Menchú
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: Leila Posenato
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Keti Stylianos
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Patsis
authors.forename: Ana Maria Sanchez
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shoma
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verbeek
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003906:Developing Countries; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D038622:Internationality; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000193:education; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*