From problems to opportunities a shift needed for public health

Public health has in the past been a problem orientated discipline which has devoted its energies mainly to defining, prioritizing and trying to solve problems. This means paying attention to the short-term. If we examine the rises and falls of public health as a discipline with its successes and failures in gaining health, and if we compare public health with successful organisations, the need for changing the emphasis from problems to opportunities becomes apparent. In this endeavour for the future, strategic thinking and policy analysis seem appropriate new tools for public health professionals. The economic crisis and the weakness of the welfare state are presented as major opportunities for public health to achieve health gain in Europe.

Understanding sickness presenteeism through the experience of immigrant workers in a context of economic crisis

Background: Previous economic recessions show that immigrant workers may experience longer periods of unemployment, a situation that may lead employees to presenteeism, the act of working in spite of a health problem. This study explored perceptions about the factors that lead to presenteeism in immigrant workers considering the context of economic crisis. Methods: Six focus group discussions were held (February 2012), with men and women from Colombia, Ecuador, and Morocco (n = 44) living in Spain and selected by theoretical sample. A qualitative content analysis was performed. Results: Four categories were identified as factors that influence the occurrence of presenteeism in a context of economic crisis: poor employment conditions, fear of unemployment, employer/employee relationship, and difficulties in finding temporary replacement workers. Furthermore, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and mental problems were related to presenteeism. Conclusions: It is important to develop strategies to protect workers from negative working conditions that are associated with deterioration of health.

Current Problems Involving the Dismantle of Asbestos- Cement Sheets in Buildings. The Case of Central Market in Alicante

The project and the works described in this article mainly deal with the removal of the current asbestos-cement covering of the roof of the Central Market in Alicante and its replacement with zinc diamond-shaped scales, similar to the originals which were implemented in 1921 when the building was put into service. These upgrades were necessary to avoid the causes (and consequences) of rainwater infiltration, as described in an earlier report in 2006, also drafted by the author of this article. The article illustrates the difficulties involving the practical application of Spanish Code RD 396/2006 (minimum safety and health requirements for work with risk of exposure to asbestos) in a complex case such as this, especially with regard to aspects such as economic (increasing costs), technical (increased difficulty of implementation), and the total duration of the work (total increase in duration due to interference with other trades).