Evidence-based evaluation of the impact of medical directions in occupational medicine for professional workers driving buses, subways and other public transportation vehicles. 28th International Congress on Occupational Health

In this study we assessed the evidence of some specific, "ad hoc", medical indications for city bus, tram and subway professional drivers. As known, professional drivers have very little chances of modifying shift organization and many chronic degenerative diseases (low back pain, diabetes type 2, cardiovascular diseases, ecc.) are difficult to manage according to job planning. In our study we observed a positive association between introduction of specific shift, in particular when shift is divided in two-piece, on morning "turno spezzato 1°/1°" or one on morning and the second part on afternoon "turno binato 1°/2°". Evidence of the real impact on professional drivers health conditions has been found from analysis of sickness leave during two, or in same case, one year before and after such medical indications intoduction. In our occupational drivers cohort a positive association, evidence based on real rates of two years sick absence before and after medical indications, was found between improvement of health general conditions and reduction of sickness leave rates correlated.