Post-retirement surveillance of workers exposed to asbestos or wood dust: first results of the French national SPIRALE Program.

Objectives: In France, 15 000-20 000 cancers attributable to occupational exposure occur each year. These cancers appear most often after the worker has retired. Since 1995, a system of post-retirement medical surveillance (PRMS) has been set up for former workers, but it remains largely underused.

[Pilot data from the Spirale project -- follow-up of occupational respiratory exposures].

Introduction: The medical follow-up of individuals who have had occupational exposures to potential respiratory hazards is little known and under-utilised. The Spirale program aims to deliver this intervention effectively to all potential beneficiaries.

Methods: Spirale was introduced in two stages; i) identification of occupational exposures to asbestos or wood dust through a postal questionnaire; ii) for those initially identified, confirmation of exposure through attendance at a health centre for examination and further medical follow-up as necessary.