Occupational health: aiming to take better account of multiple exposure

The question of multiple exposure is a major challenge for all those active in the field of occupational health, safety and prevention. As part of the 2016-2020 National Occupational Health Plan, a review of the measures taken by the main players to address the question of multiple exposure in France and abroad is being published today. This work has helped determine the state of knowledge and the issues surrounding this problem.

Throughout their professional careers, workers are exposed simultaneously to chemical, biological or physical hazards through various routes such as inhalation, ingestion or skin contact. This exposure, combined with psychosocial risk factors related to issues of work organisation and management, can lead to the occurrence of short- or long-term diseases and make working conditions more difficult.

Occupational factors likely to increase health risks are frequently studied separately from each other and current approaches rarely integrate this issue of multiple exposure, despite it reflecting the reality of work situations. As part of the third National Occupational Health Plan (PST3) adopted by the Ministry of Labour in late 2015, a specific action aims to improve how multiple exposure is taken into account and identify certain occupational sectors that are particularly exposed to cumulative risks. To this end, an initial review has listed the main measures taken in this area at institutional level in France and in other countries in Europe and North America. 

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