Experts in occupational medicine have expressed doubts about including mental health disorders in the national list of occupational diseases in Tunisia, which is set to be revised over the next three years. The experts cited the complexity of determining the direct impact of the work environment on mental health. This discussion took place during a scientific workshop in Tunis on the health and safety at work and occupational medicine.
The President of the Tunisian Association of Occupational Medicine, Ziad Al-Adhari, highlighted the difficulty in establishing a direct causal link between the work environment and mental illness, making it challenging to classify mental health disorders as occupational diseases. He therefore ruled out their inclusion in the upcoming amendments to the official list of occupational diseases. This comes despite growing calls to recognize mental health disorders as occupational diseases.
Monia Trabelsi, the General Inspector of Labour at the General Directorate of Labour Inspection, noted a significant increase in stress and tension in the workplace. However, she emphasized that this has not yet translated into a substantial number of mental health disorders directly attributed to the work environment. Trabelsi stressed that any future consideration of mental health disorders as occupational diseases would require rigorous scientific research to establish a clear link between the work environment and these conditions.
The current national list of occupational diseases in Tunisia comprises 86 classified diseases, primarily including musculoskeletal disorders, infectious diseases, and hearing disorders caused by noise in the workplace. Musculoskeletal disorders are the most prevalent occupational disease in Tunisia, accounting for around 90% of all registered occupational diseases. These disorders are mainly caused by repetitive movements in industrial settings.
The Tunisian health authorities are working to reduce the incidence of occupational diseases, particularly musculoskeletal disorders. To achieve this, they are promoting protective measures such as mechanization of tasks and providing workers with regular breaks. The authorities aim to minimize the risks associated with these disorders and improve the overall health and safety of workers.
The National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) has reported a decrease in workplace accidents but an increase in occupational diseases. The fund's efforts focus on enforcing regulations on economic institutions to prioritize health and safety in the workplace. This includes implementing financial and fiscal incentives to encourage compliance.
A conference on occupational health and safety is underway in Tunis, bringing together experts to discuss strategies for improving health and safety in the workplace. The event covers various topics, including mental health, artificial intelligence, and the challenges of emerging professions. The conference aims to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration to enhance occupational health and safety in Africa.
Key points
- Experts in occupational medicine in Tunisia have ruled out including mental health disorders in the national list of occupational diseases due to the complexity of establishing a direct link between work environment and mental illness.
- The current national list of occupational diseases in Tunisia comprises 86 classified diseases, primarily including musculoskeletal disorders.
- Musculoskeletal disorders account for around 90% of all registered occupational diseases in Tunisia.
