The prevention of occupational respiratory diseases has a high priority in the ILO. Despite all international and national efforts to prevent them, they continue to be the leading occupational illnesses in many countries that may amount to as many as 30% of all registered work-related diseases. Pneumoconiosis cause significant numbers of cases of disabilities and premature deaths because they are highly disabling and incurable.

They also represent a huge burden on national economies and compensation systems in terms of sickness, absenteeism, lost working days, disabilities, compensatory payments and loss of qualified labour.

The ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconiosis provides a means for describing and recording systematically the radiographic abnormalities in the chest provoked by the inhalation of dusts. The purpose of the ILO Classification is to describe and codify radiographic abnormalities of the pneumoconiosis in a simple systematic, and reproducible manner.

The ILO Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconiosis is an important international standard which is widely used around the world in early detection of pneumoconiosis, medical screening and health surveillance of workers exposed to noxious dusts, as well as epidemiological evaluations. The use of the Classification is mandatory in many countries. Use of the ILO Classification may lead to better international comparability of data concerning the pneumoconiosis. Some countries have established legal requirements for use of the ILO Classification in the assessment of compensationclaims, although the Classification was not originally designed for this purpose.

This Workshop will offer you an excellent opportunity to upgrade your knowledge in prevention of occupational respiratory diseases and improve your skills in using the ILO Classification with high competency. You will have an opportunity of testing your skills through individual readings of subject films from the ILO training materials. To evaluate the results of your readings, the ILO experts will review the classification of these subject films together with you.