The symposium will be organized in cooperation with ICOH Scientific Committee
on Cardiology in Occupational Health and ICOH Scientific Committee on Occupational Medicine.

Background
In spite of encouraging examples of success in the prevention of cardiovascular disorders they still contribute to half of all causes of death and a quarter of work disability in virtually all industrialised countries. A growing body of scientific evidence, both epidemiological and biomedical suggests for closer association between work, working conditions and cardiovascular morbidity than understood before.

Recent research findings have produced much new knowledge on new types of risk factors and conditions which are able to increase cardiovascular morbidity. Particularly the adverse psychological and psycho-social conditions of so called "new work life" have been associated with substantially elevated risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. For prevention and management of this major burden of morbidity both the proximal and distant caused and causes of causes need to be recognized. On the other hand our general knowledge on prevention of CVDs has grown substantially and new possibilities through several different strategies (at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention) are available. This provides a good basis for interventions and also for early detection of risk conditions, risk groups and risk individuals at workplace level.

Occupational health services have virtually daily access to risk groups and risk environments and risky jobs, and they also have possibilities for both group-level and individual-level interventions. So far these possibilities have, for several reasons, remained underutilized and need to be given more attention. The new knowledge from recent research findings provides new needs and new tools for prevention and control and for promotion of cardiovascular health of working populations.

Objectives
The aim of the Symposium is to update our knowledge on the magnitude of the problem of work-related cardiovascular morbidity, on new identified determinants of cardiovascular diseases and newly recognized risk factors and adverse conditions in the globalizing world of work. Sharing information on preventive and promotion strategies and interventions for work-related cardiovascular disorders and discussing the role of occupational health practices in such prevention will also be key topics for discussions.

Who should attend?
Researchers and scientists from different disciplines of cardiovascular health and occupational health and occupational medicine. Scholars and educators of occupational health and occupational medicine. Occupational health practitioners, physicians and nurses. Epidemiologists in occupational health. Administrators and Government and other public Authorities responsible for occupational health. Experts and advisors of Employers' and Workers' organizations. Experts active in work place health promotion and experts active in maintenance and promotion of work ability. Researchers active in social security and advisors for pension policies. Public health experts interested in
work-related cardiovascular disorders.

The symposium programme consists of the following main themes:

1. Work-related cardiovascular disorders, scale of the problem and macro-level causes.
2. Risk factors, exposures and hazardous conditions at work with association to cardiovascular morbidity.
3. Possibilities for early recognition, prevention and promotion through research interventions and occupational health practices.
4. Future research needs.

Venue and accommodation
The Symposium will be held at Hanasaari Cultural Centre in Espoo, Finland. Hotel Hanasaari is located in a beautiful seaside setting on the border between Helsinki and Espoo. Hansaari is sitauted about 15 km from the Helsinki - Vantaa airport and those arriving at Helsinki-Vantaa airport can either take a taxi directly to Hanasaari, or travel by bus changing at Helsinki city centre. The course venue can be reached in approximately ten minutes by bus from the Bus Station in Helsinki. For more information on Hanasaari Cultural Centre please visit www.hanaholmen.fi.

Rooms have been reserved for the participants from Sunday 21 March until Wednesday 24 March. The full board price from Monday to Wednesday including accommodation, breakfast, lunch, conference coffees and dinner amounts to EUR 480. For arrival on Sunday an additional cost of EUR 80 will be charged. The price of a so called
day-package, including lunch and coffees is EUR 52/ person/ day.

Registration deadline
2 March 2010. Please register at www.niva.org/registration
A confirmation letter will be sent to the participants after the registration deadline.

Registration fee
EUR 400 (accommodation and meals are not included in this price).

When paying the registration fee, please indicate:
 
1. Your name, 2. registration fee, 3. symposium code 6003. 

The payment should be made by 28 February 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

Cancellation and refund policy
Cancellations received by 19 February 2010: full refund
Cancellations received between 20 February and 7 March:
50 % refund of the registration fee
Cancellations received after 8 March: no refund

Language
The language of the symposium is English.

Symposium moderator
Professor Jorma Rantanen, MD, PhD
University of Jyväskylä, Finland & ICOH
Tel. +358 30 474 2010

Coordinator
Annika Bärlund, NIVA
Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A
00250 Helsinki
Finland
E-mail: annika.barlund@ttl.fi

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