Intelligent Management of Occupational Cancer: The Imperative of Establishing a National Ontology for Workforce Protection
Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention),
Vol. 13 No. 1 (1404),
2 December 2025
,
Page ۱۳ - ۶
https://doi.org/10.22037/iipm.v13i1.50510
Abstract
Occupational cancers are rising in Iran, driven by industrial expansion and exposure to carcinogens, yet national prevention efforts are hampered by fragmented data, inconsistent standards, and weak causal evidence. To address this, we propose the establishment of a national ontology—a structured, shared framework that integrates disparate occupational health data from hospitals, occupational health centers, and insurance systems. This ontology enables accurate data retrieval, interoperability across information systems, and paves the way for AI-driven early detection and reliable job–exposure matrices. We recommend four immediate policy actions: (1) legally mandate ontology-based data reporting; (2) support development of domain-specific ontologies for high-risk carcinogens; (3) launch a national ontology-driven data infrastructure; and (4) deploy ontology-powered decision-support tools for professionals and workers. Far beyond a technical tool, this ontology represents a strategic investment to protect Iran’s workforce, reduce the socioeconomic burden of occupational cancer, and position the country as a regional leader in occupational health.
Please cite this article as:
Khadiv E, Hosseini Beheshti MS, Sheikhshoaei F, Farhang Dehghan S, Danaiee Z, Khazei P, Mohammadi M, Vaziri MH, Zendehdel R, Davari MH, Hamidi F. Intelligent Management of Occupational Cancer: The Imperative of Establishing a National Ontology for Workforce Protection. Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat .2026;13(1):6-13. https://doi.org/10.22037/iipm.v11i3.50510
- Ontology, Occupational Cancers, Occupational Health Data Management, Job-Exposure Matrix (JEM), Artificial Intelligence in Occupational Health
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References
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