Tomomi Anan1, Koji Mori, Shigeyuki Kajiki, Seiichiro Tateishi. 1. Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan (Drs Anan, Mori, Kajiki); and Health Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Tateishi).
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We sought to share our experiences with occupational health efforts at a manufacturing site after a large earthquake event, and to evaluate the effectiveness of our "List of Occupational Health Needs Following Disasters" (Needs List). METHODS: We implemented occupational health efforts following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes in Japan, with reference to the Needs List and a related manual, and analyzed the needs that arose. RESULTS: The instruments used enabled occupational health personnel to predict what needs would arise and facilitate their countermeasures. Among such needs that arose, 87.7% were in the Needs List, but seven undocumented needs were also observed. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that the Needs List could predict as many occupational health needs as we had expected at the disaster, though it is necessary to improve them by reflecting on our experiences.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to share our experiences with occupational health efforts at a manufacturing site after a large earthquake event, and to evaluate the effectiveness of our "List of Occupational Health Needs Following Disasters" (Needs List). METHODS: We implemented occupational health efforts following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes in Japan, with reference to the Needs List and a related manual, and analyzed the needs that arose. RESULTS: The instruments used enabled occupational health personnel to predict what needs would arise and facilitate their countermeasures. Among such needs that arose, 87.7% were in the Needs List, but seven undocumented needs were also observed. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that the Needs List could predict as many occupational health needs as we had expected at the disaster, though it is necessary to improve them by reflecting on our experiences.