Dr Toru Itani and Dr Sameera Al-Tuwaijri joined the ILO Social Protection Sector on 1 February 2007: Dr Itani as the new Director of the Labour Protection Department (PROTRAV) and Dr Al-Tuwaijri as the new Director of the Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork).

Dr Toru Itani is a medical doctor who also holds a PhD in Occupational Health from Okayama University in Japan. Before joining the ILO, he was professor of Health Sciences of Life, Work and Environment at the Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Dr Itani's teaching and research areas include work-related musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomics of shift work and the methodology for work improvement in small enterprises. He contributed to a study evaluating the effectiveness of an ILO Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE) [ read more about WISE ] project in the Philippines. He is also Chairman of the ISO Subcommittee on Anthropometry and Biomechanics (TC 159/SC 3) and of the ICOH Scientific Committee on Occupational Health in Small Enterprises and the Informal Sector. Dr Itani has acquired a wealth of experience in the field of occupational health and has gained respect from his international peers that will serve the ILO Labour Protection Department well.

Dr Sameera Al-Tuwaijri is a medical doctor from Saudi Arabia with a formal academic training in public health. She is a leading international expert on reproductive health. Prior to her appointment with the ILO, Dr Al-Tuwaijri served as Regional Advisor on Reproductive Health Policy with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Support Team for Arab States in Amman, Jordan, where she strengthened national capacities to improve the effectiveness of health policy in countries of the region. Before that posting, she had also worked for other international organizations. She is experienced as a clinical obstetrician-gynaecologist in Saudi Arabia. Under Dr Al-Tuwaijri's leadership, SafeWork will continue to play its full part in placing the safety and health of all workers on the international agenda and in stimulating practical action at all levels.

  Access the ILO Labour Protection Department Web pages.

  Access the ILO SafeWork Web pages.