Background
The road transport sector has undergone unprecedented growth and
internationalization over the past decades. Transport by road is a sector in
which many small companies and low educated male drivers are dominant. Road
transport companies operate in a highly competitive environment and there are
greater demands from customers for precision, speed and flexibility in the
delivery of goods results in "just in time" deliveries. This causes tight
deadlines, increased work intensity and reduced control of the organization and
pace of work.

While the advanced safety technologies such as crash-avoidance radar and
rollover warning systems have made driving a truck safer, the key to safety
behind the wheel still begins with the driver. Working conditions in
professional road transport are challenging: long and irregular working hours,
varying road conditions in changing weathers plus working alone constitute key
problem areas of the profession. Transport industry holds one of the highest
positions in the frequency of occupational accidents. In lifestyle and health
professional drivers have more scope of improvement. There is thus a clear need
for aid and support in generating healthier working conditions for drivers.

Objectives
The objective of the course is to provide skills for organizing interventions to
promote health and safety of professional drivers. This will be achieved with
the co-operation of all those working in the sector, the authorities involved in
health and safety, and policymakers in the road transport sector. The purpose is
also to promote the partnership of public health and OSH professionals. The
course also includes one joint day (Thursday) with the Helsinki Transport Summer
School, another international event organized by the Helsinki University of
Technology focusing more on the technical and logistics aspects of the road
sector.

Detailed information is availabe on the university's website: (www.tkk.fi) and at: www.civil.tkk.fi/en/research/transportation/helsinki_summer_school_in_transportation.

Target group
Occupational health care and health promotion professionals, safety managers of
transport companies, employees, employer associations, authorities involved in
health and safety in the transport sector, and policymakers.

Main topics
The current work conditions in the sector: The EU countries and global
experiences, Health risks, Risk assessment, Safety promotion, Health promotion.

Course structure
The course will consist of lectures, group work and discussions.

Location and accommodation
The course will take place in Majvik Congress Hotel, which is a first-class
conference centre for meetings, training sessions and conventions. Majvik is
located on the shore of Espoonlahti, only 25 km from downtown Helsinki, along
Ring Road III, and it is easy to reach both from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport and
from the city centre. Please, find more information: http://www.majvik.fi/.

The organizer has reserved rooms for the participants in the hotel from Thursday to Friday. The total price of full board in a single room is EUR 315,50 including welcome coffee with coffee bread, plentiful breakfast, buffet luncheons, morning and afternoon coffees, and a special banquet dinner on Thursday evening in the Castle of Majvik (history of the castle can be read on the above homepage).

Please, note that you have to pay for your accommodation and meals when leaving the hotel.

You can pay either in cash or by your credit card. The hotel accepts all major
credit cards. Detailed information about all practical matters will be given in
the confirmation letter, which will be sent to the participants after the
registration deadline.

Deadline for registration
13 May 2009. The maximum number of participants is 30.

Registration fee
EUR 250 (accommodation and meals are not included in this price).
When paying the registration fee, please indicate:

 
1. Your name, 2. registration fee (in EUR), 3. course code 4904. 

The payment should be made by 15 May to:
NIVA
Nordea Bank Finland Plc
Meilahti Branch, Tukholmankatu 2
FI-00250 Helsinki , Finland
Account no: 226238-2043
IBAN: FI79 2262 3800 0020 43
Swift code: NDEAFIHH

Please, note that if you cancel your participation later than four weeks before the start of the course, without an acceptable reason (e.g. illness) the organiser is obliged to charge a cancellation fee of EUR 273.

Language
The language of the course is English.

Course leader
Chief Physician Seppo Olkkonen, MD
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A
00250 Helsinki, FINLAND
Tel. +358 30 474 2012
E-mail: seppo.olkkonen@ttl.fi

Course coordinator
Siv Jansson
NIVA
Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A
00250 Helsinki, FINLAND
Tel. +348 30 474 2349
E-mail: siv.jansson@ttl.fi


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