What is occupational safety and health?

Occupational safety and health is identified as the discipline (or group of disciplines) dealing with the prevention of work-related injuries and diseases as well as the protection and promotion of the health of workers. It aims at the improvement of working conditions and environment and involves many specialized fields (occupational medicine, industrial hygiene, toxicology, education, industrial safety, ergonomics, psychology, etc.). In its broadest sense, it should aim at:

· The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental, and social well-being

·  Being of workers in all occupations;

· The prevention among workers of adverse effects on health caused by their working conditions;

· The protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health;

· The placement and maintenance of workers in an occupational environment adapted to physical and mental needs;

· The adaptation of work to humans.

Why occupational safety and health?

Millions of workers are affected every year by occupational injuries or diseases caused by workplace hazards. ILO Estimates 3 million deaths due to work-related accidents and diseases every year.

References:

• Global Estimates of Occupational Accidents and Work-related Illnesses, Workplace Safety and Health Institute, 2017.

• “A discussion of the acceptable risk problem”, Jørn Vatn, Department of Production and Quality, Engineering Norwegian University of Science and Technology. N–7491 Trondheim, Norway.

• “Accident Prevention. Manual for business and industry: Administration and Programmes, 10th Edition. National Safety Council, 1992.