Within the framework of its "economic maneuver" to restore public accounts, the Italian government is planning the removal of the Higher Institute for Prevention and Occupational Safety (HIPOS), the only research center in this area in the country. The National Institution for Insurance against Accidents at Work (NIIAW) will perform this function in the future.
Observers say a conflict of interest is created because NIIAW becomes responsible for research on occupational diseases for which it then grants compensation.
In June the HIPOS staff learned in the press their institution was listed among the “useless structures” the government is cutting via the new decree containing budget restrictions. (WCxKit)
For 30 years, HIPOS has been “guaranteeing a contribution of irreplaceable knowledge, experience and preparation for the Italian productive system in the area of the protection of workers health and safety” it reminded, a work both recognized by the national and international scientific community and by union and employers’ organizations.
Working with the International Health Organization, a “focal point” of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, HIPOS is also the technical referent for several national and local organizations, in addition to helping the Labor and Health Departments as well as regions and provinces develop their health plans.
The decision is reportedly even harder to understand since, in spite of reduced State contributions since 2000, “all its activities allowed it to self-fund 35 million Euro ($46,385,508) up to more than 60% the State’s funding,” and the savings brought by the removal would amount to 426,248 Euro ($564,906).
Thus, this removal is seen as a “30-year jump backwards” which “once again isolates Italy from Europe since, in no other European country, has the crisis led to the removal of research institutions on health and safety at work.”
Author Rebecca Shafer, President, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Contact: [email protected] or 860-553-6604.
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