“We want to have an impact on the health of working people”

With effect from 15 October 2024, the Executive Board has appointed Frits van Rooy Professor of Early Detection and Prevention of Occupational Diseases at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences of the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine of Utrecht University. The primary aim of the chair is to connect science and everyday practice. “We want to improve the health and sustainable deployability of people who work with hazardous substances.” 

In the Netherlands, thousands of people die each year due to occupational exposure to hazardous substances. That is just the tip of the iceberg because the number of people who become ill is far greater still. After smoking and unhealthy eating habits, poor working conditions and environmental pollution cause the highest number of illnesses in the Netherlands. Often, the connection with work is only made many years later, if at all. 

Prevention is better than cure, but that proves difficult in practice in the case of occupational diseases. There is too little knowledge about hazardous substances and the instruments available within occupational healthcare are insufficient for effective prevention. Van Rooy: “When an employee comes to consult them, every (occupational) physician should ask themselves: ‘Could exposures at work explain the clinical picture?’. If the relationship can be made, then this affords an opportunity to take preventative measures.” 

What does this appointment mean for you?

“It is a recognition of the urgency and societal importance. It also means the responsibility to have an impact on the health of working people. An important aspect is to assure that scientific knowledge has a greater impact on occupational healthcare, which involves systematically integrating scientific insights into everyday practice. Via the Lexces Academy, we share scientific knowledge with occupational hygienists, (occupational) physicians and other professionals. We also encourage collaboration between the different professionals in practice-oriented research projects.” 

What do you think is the most important goal of this chair?

“Closing the gap between theoretical knowledge and everyday practice. By making connections, we can do relevant scientific research, spread knowledge in both directions and implement preventive measures faster and more effectively. At present, occupational health professionals are not yet able to adequately realise effective prevention. We need a new, integral approach. Amongst other things, this needs to involve the exposome, gain insight into individual exposures, realise instruments for early diagnostics and detection, and collect data at the individual, population and company levels. 

Can you give an example of this?

“Take a look at veterinarians and farmers. They come into contact with infectious and chemical substances with a risk of work-related diseases. From a prevention perspective, it is important to pay attention to this when educating students but also to do research so that veterinarians and farmers can reach their retirement age in a good state of health.” 

What is the relevance of the research for society?

“The chair will contribute to a healthier and safer work environment, and reduce absence due to disease, incapacity for work, and premature deaths. We can use the knowledge acquired to draw up evidence-based policy measures to reduce health risks. That is important for employees, employers and society. Our ultimate goal is that people will no longer die or become ill due to exposure to hazardous substances at work.” 

Van Rooy will work as a professor for one day per week (0.2 FTE). The chair is funded by Arbo Unie.