Audit of medical surveillance in wood dust exposure [Audit della sorveglianza sanitaria negli esposti a polvere di legno]

«Audit of medical surveillance in wood dust exposure». Background: Medical surveillance of wood-dust exposed workers has been compulsory in Italy since 1956. The Law 66 of 25/2/2000, as a consequence of the EU Directive regarding occupational carcinogenic and mutagenic agents, has recently enforced preventive measures for wood dust exposure. Objectives: The Local Health Unit RM-F, Civitavecchia, has developed a Workplace Vigilance Plan, specifically aimed at the enhancement of preventive measures against carcinogens. The Plan includes the “audit” of the Occupational Health physicians responsible for workers’ surveillance.Methods: Physicians are invited to revise the quality of their work and to consider the inclusion of specific occupational health measures in the health plan, such as rhinoscopic examination. Results: In many cases, this action leads to the revision of the Security Document, the improvement of programs and protocols, and the enhancement of training activities. In a few cases, medical surveillance allowed diagnosis of wood dust-related occupational diseases, such as nasal polyposis and adenocarcinoma of paranasal sinuses. Conclusions: Audit in occupational medicine is a feasible and efficient tool to improve quality of health care.