Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
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The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH, in Finnish Työterveyslaitos) is a research and specialist organization that promotes health, safety and well-being at work. It is a body governed by public law and operates under the administrative sector of the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Its operations are based on multidisciplinary research and development. Its research results are applied to workplace practices via specialist advisory services, training and by exerting influence through knowledge. FIOH’s objective is for work to promote, rather than endanger, health and functional capacity.
About 55% of FIOH’s budget is state-funded, and 45% is self-generated through, for example, EU research funding and the sales of specialist advisory services.
Operations
FIOH operates in five regions in Finland: Helsinki, Kuopio, Oulu, Tampere and Turku. Headquarters are located in Helsinki. Total employees amount to approximately 750. FIOH was founded in 1945. It operates as a specialist in the field of occupational health for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Office (ILO).
History
FIOH’s predecessor was the department of occupational diseases of the Helsinki General Hospital, which was based on the initiative of the National Board of Health and founded on 4.4.1945. This department specialized in the research and treatment of occupational diseases. The Occupational Health Foundation was founded to fund this field, the rules of which were ratified on 26.6.1945. This private foundation in turn established the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, which began operations on 1.1.1950, financially supported and aided by the state. FIOH was nationalized in a contract between the State and the Foundation and became an independent body governed by public law operating under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on 1.7.1978.
FIOH’s directors: Leo Noro, 1950–1970 and Martti J. Karvonen, 1970–1974, followed by director generals Jorma Rantanen, 1974–2003 and Harri Vainio since 2003. Antti Koivula to be the Director General in August 2015.