Introduction to the proposed revisions of the ICOH Code of Ethics

Send this page Print Increase font Decrease font

The review of the International Code of Ethics for Occupational Health Professionals has been conducted since 2009, and the need has been confirmed for updating the Code with supplementary provisions reflecting recent developments.
The results of the initial review by the Code Review Group in the triennium 2009-2011 were presented and discussed at the ICOH Midterm Meeting in Milan in February 2011. The review results were distributed to the officers of ICOH Scientific Committees and the National Secretaries for their comments. The feedback from many members confirmed the need to strengthen the provisions relating to workplace actions taken for protecting and promoting the health of workers and conditions of the execution of the functions of occupational health professionals with minimal revisions while retaining the structure and the basic principles of the Code. The Code revision work was reported at the General Assemblies held at the 30 th International Congress on Occupational Health in Cancun in 2012. The Code Editing Group formed in 2012 by the ICOH Officers, Past President and the members of the Committee on Ethics and Transparency examined the revisions to be made in the current Code. After the meeting of the Code Editing Group held in Rome in June 2013, the Group proposed the necessary revisions in selected portions of the Code. The presented revisions were further examined by the Board subsequently.

Based on the revision work, the Officers and the Board members have agreed to proposed the following revisions in the Code with a view to reinforcing the professional conduct in occupational health. Comments from the ICOH members about the proposed revisions is sought so that the required revisions can be deliberated on by the Board meeting scheduled during the ICOH Midterm to be held in Helsinki in February 2014. The deadline for submitting the comment will be 20 December 2013.

Kazutaka Kogi, President
Sergio Iavicoli, Secretary General

Members of the Code Editing Group
Kazutaka Kogi (Chair), Sergio Iavicoli, Suvi Lehtinen, Bonnie Rogers, Jorma Rantanen, Giovanni Costa, Norito Kawakami, Claudina Nogueira, Eduardo Santino, Peter Westerholm


The main revisions proposed include the following points:
  1. Extending the scope of the activities and practice covered by occupational health professionals in accordance with the actual activities and practice by them (Introduction 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12);
  2. A minor change in the wording of Basic principles while keeping the basic principles in the current Code;
  3. Additional mention of the need for occupational health professionals to be proactive, to audit the effectiveness of their programmes, to address language and cross-cultural differences, and to take into account scientific evidence and good practice (Duties and obligations 1, 3, 6, 8);
  4. Reference to the principles in research work and to the need for avoiding the harm to workers? health and public health (new sentences in 15, 17);
  5. New insertions relating to organizational ethics and contracts of employment (new sentences and new phrases in 19);
  6. Mention of professional and scientific associations and other relevant organizations in seeking support and cooperation (insertions in 26).

Table of the proposed revisions of the International Code of Ethics for Occupational Health Professionals
(the table sent to the Board members on 1 November 2013)