Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health

Summary of scientific activities on the RSU Research Portal

The aim of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Healthis to enhance a safe and healthy occupational and surrounding environment by developing knowledge, conducting research and providing evidence-based expertise in the field of occupational safety and environmental health.  

Functions

• to conduct research  
• to develop databases  
• to provide services and scientific expertise in the field of occupational safety and environmental health
• to contribute to the training and continuing professional development of the field specialists and to informing various groups in society.  

Main objectives

•  research and implementation of research projects  
•  data collection and analysis  
•  scientific expertise  
• provision of knowledge and information
• collaboration on national and international projects  

Dissertations

History

The establishment of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health is the result of a long-standing collaboration between several institutions working in the field of occupational health and safety. These institutions are the Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the Medical Academy of Latvia and the State Centre of Occupational and Radiological Medicine at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital.  

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In 1949, the Department of Hygiene (later renamed the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine) was established at what was then Rīga Medical Institute (later renamed the Medical Academy of Latvia). In 1966, the Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases was founded at Rīga Medical Institute. Over the years, these two structural units have undergone major changes, but have retained their original aims and objectives: to provide training for students and to carry out scientific research. In 1992, the two units were merged to form the Institute of Occupational Medicine.

In 1964, the Occupational Diseases Ward was established at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, followed by the foundation of the State Register of Occupational Diseases in 1974. In 1975, the Occupational Diseases Ward of the outpatient clinic and the Laboratory for the Determination of Heavy Metals in Biological Environments were established. Together, these structural units provided diagnosis and treatment for people with occupational diseases in Latvia. In 1976, all these structures were merged to form the State Centre for Occupational and Radiological Medicine.  

As the demands of the times changed with regard to methods for diagnosis and treatment of occupational diseases, as well as the provision of scientific research and training, the idea emerged of establishing a modern institute that would integrate all these aspects. A decision was made to merge all the relevant structures with the aim of creating a strong and contemporary institution capable of implementing the new requirements. The reorganisation took place from 1995 to 1997, resulting in the establishment of the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health.

In 2007 (19 June 2007), following the recommendations by experts from the EU Transition Project No 2004/006-245-03-01 Occupational Health and Safety System (Further Development) regarding the improvement of the institutional labour protection system in Latvia, the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health was transformed into the RSU agency, the Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (see the Regulations of the Institute).  

More about the history of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health can be found in the book by Prof. M. Eglīte Darba medicīna (Occupational Medicine), published in Riga in 2000 (pp. 9 -13).