Need for Occupational Health and Safety

¶ … Occupational Health and Safety

The objective of this study is to examine the issues surrounding the need for occupational health and safety.

Occupational health and safety specialists work conducting analysis of various types of "work environment and work procedures." (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012, p.1) In addition, occupational health and safety specialists "inspect workplaces checking for compliance to safety, health, and environmental regulations. Occupational health and safety specialists further design programs that serve to prevent injury or disease to workers and environmental damage." (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012, p.1)

Aims and Objectives of Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational health and safety has as its aim the following:

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. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012, p.1)

Occupational health and safety is stated to encompass "the social, mental, and physical well-being of workers, that is the 'whole person'." (International Labor Organization, nd, p.1) Issues relating to both health and safety must be addressed in the workplace.

Occupational health and care covers many aspects of the work environment and is especially important where there are toxic chemicals or animal testing or the like in the workplace. Occupational health is key in protecting individuals from workplace hazards and environmental damage risks. Occupational health and safety administration is overseen by various agencies that regulate health and safety in the workplace. Included among these are such as the Occupational Health and Safety Organization.

II. WHO Policy

The World Health Organization policy contains elements of occupational health and this policy is outlined in key documents of the WHO including its constitution, Alma Ata Declaration, Health for All Strategy, the General Programs of Work and several resolutions of the World Health Assembly, all of which "have emphasized the need to protect and promote health and safety at work by preventing and controlling of hazards in the work environment and by promoting health and the work capacity of working people." (World Health Organization, 1995, p.1) The World Health Organization document entitled "Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All: The Way to Health at Work" reports that necessary are goals for preparing, developing, and strengthening the "…necessary infrastructures, information systems and awareness of the needs and possibilities of occupational health activities, development of occupational health services for all working people, and building up the necessary sup-port services and human resources needed for implementing the new Strategy." (1995, p.1)

The International Labor Organization reports that work-related accidents and diseases are both very expensive with "many serious direct and indirect effects on the lives of workers and their families." (2011, p.1) Some of the direct costs for workers include:

(1) the pain and suffering of the injury or illness;

(2) the loss of income;