Occupational health and safety is a discipline with a broad scope involving many specialized fields. In its broadest sense, it should aim at:

• the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-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 placing and maintenance of workers in an occupational environment adapted to physical and mental needs;

• the adaptation of work to humans.

In other words, occupational health and safety encompasses the social, mental and physical well-being of workers, that is the “whole person”.

Successful occupational health and safety practice requires the collaboration and participation of both employers and workers in health and safety programmes, and involves the consideration of issues relating to occupational medicine, industrial hygiene, toxicology, education, engineering safety, ergonomics, psychology, etc.

Occupational health issues are often given less attention than occupational safety issues because the former are generally more difficult to confront. However, when health is addressed, so is safety, because a healthy workplace is by definition also a safe workplace. The converse, though, may not be true - a so-called safe workplace is not necessarily
also a healthy workplace. The important point is that issues of both health and safety must be addressed in every workplace. By and large, the definition of occupational health and safety given above encompasses both health and safety in their broadest contexts.

Source: International Labour Organization

Points to remember:

1.  Occupational health and safety encompasses the social, mental and physical well-being of workers in all occupations.

2.  Poor working conditions have the potential to affect a worker's health and safety.

3.  Unhealthy or unsafe working conditions can be found anywhere, whether the workplace is indoors or outdoors.

4.  Poor working conditions can affect the environment workers live in. This means that workers, their families, other people in the community, and the physical environment around the workplace, can all be at risk from exposure to workplace hazards.

5.  Employers have a moral and often legal responsibility to protect workers.

6.  Work-related accidents and diseases are common in all parts of the world and often have many direct and indirect negative consequences for workers and their families. A single accident or illness can mean enormous financial loss to both workers and employers.

7.  Effective workplace health and safety programmes can help to save the lives of workers by reducing hazards and their consequences. Effective programmes can also have positive effects on both worker morale and productivity, and can save employers a great deal of money.

Source: International Labour Organization

 

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