Suggest a term - SafetyPedia

Suggest a term here

Title: Occupational Health

Description

Occupational Health is the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental, and social well-being of workers in all occupations.

It is a multidisciplinary field focused on preventing work-related ill-health, protecting workers from risks arising out of their employment, placing and maintaining workers in an occupational environment adapted to their physiological and psychological needs, and ultimately, contributing to the establishment and maintenance of a healthy working environment.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading has--font-size">Explanation of "Occupational Health"</h2>

Occupational Health is a proactive and preventative approach to workplace health. Unlike traditional safety, which often focuses on preventing accidents and injuries, occupational health has a broader scope, encompassing acute illness, long-term health effects and chronic illnesses that can arise from workplace exposures and conditions. It acknowledges that work itself can be a significant determinant of health.

Occupational Health addresses a wide array of hazards, including:

<ul class="wp-block-list has--font-size">
<li>Physical Hazards: Noise, vibration, radiation, temperature extremes, poor lighting, ergonomic stressors.</li>

<li>Chemical Hazards: Exposure to toxic substances, dusts, fumes, gases, solvents, pesticides.</li>

<li>Biological Hazards: Exposure to bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites in healthcare, agriculture, laboratories, etc.</li>

<li>Psychosocial Hazards: Stress, workload demands, lack of control, bullying, harassment, job insecurity, poor work-life balance.</li>
</ul>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading has--font-size">Example of "Occupational Health" - Noise Exposure in a Manufacturing Plant</h2>

Let's consider a manufacturing plant where machinery creates high levels of noise. This is a common occupational health hazard, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Prolonged exposure to loud noise at work can permanently damage hearing over time. NIHL is often gradual and painless, meaning workers may not realize they are losing their hearing until significant damage has occurred.

Comments

Name

0...

Dashboard

You need to be logged in