In its broadest context, however,
occupational health practice (which always includes safety) does not only consist
of the activities performed by occupational health services, it is also a
multidisciplinary and intersectoral activity, involving both occupational
health and safety professionals and other specialists both in the enterprise
and outside, as well as competent authorities, the employers’ and workers’ organizations
and their representatives. Such involvement requires a well-developed and
well-coordinated system at the workplace. The necessary infrastructure should
comprise all the administrative, organizational, and operative systems that are
needed for successful occupational health practice and to ensure its systematic
development and continuous improvement.
occupational health practice (which always includes safety) does not only consist
of the activities performed by occupational health services, it is also a
multidisciplinary and intersectoral activity, involving both occupational
health and safety professionals and other specialists both in the enterprise
and outside, as well as competent authorities, the employers’ and workers’ organizations
and their representatives. Such involvement requires a well-developed and
well-coordinated system at the workplace. The necessary infrastructure should
comprise all the administrative, organizational, and operative systems that are
needed for successful occupational health practice and to ensure its systematic
development and continuous improvement.
The provision of occupational health
services entails carrying out occupational health practice with the aim of
protecting and promoting workers’ safety, health, and well-being, as well as
improving work conditions and the work environment. Occupational health
practice may mean different things to different people. For occupational health
professionals, it means conducting activities to prevent occupational
accidents, injuries, and diseases and to improve the work environment. It is
customarily believed in society that occupational health practice is the
exclusive domain of action of occupational health professionals, functioning
individually or as a part of special service units of the enterprise or of external
services.
services entails carrying out occupational health practice with the aim of
protecting and promoting workers’ safety, health, and well-being, as well as
improving work conditions and the work environment. Occupational health
practice may mean different things to different people. For occupational health
professionals, it means conducting activities to prevent occupational
accidents, injuries, and diseases and to improve the work environment. It is
customarily believed in society that occupational health practice is the
exclusive domain of action of occupational health professionals, functioning
individually or as a part of special service units of the enterprise or of external
services.
The ILO Convention no 161 on
Occupational Health Services defines occupational health services as services
entrusted with essentially preventive functions and responsible for advising employers,
workers, and their representatives on the requirements for establishing and
maintaining a safe and healthy work environment that will facilitate optimal physical
and mental health in relation to work and the adaptation of work to the
capabilities of workers in light of their state of physical and mental health. The
national system occupational health services are traditionally based on the
protection of the health of workers in relation to the work environment.
Occupational Health Services defines occupational health services as services
entrusted with essentially preventive functions and responsible for advising employers,
workers, and their representatives on the requirements for establishing and
maintaining a safe and healthy work environment that will facilitate optimal physical
and mental health in relation to work and the adaptation of work to the
capabilities of workers in light of their state of physical and mental health. The
national system occupational health services are traditionally based on the
protection of the health of workers in relation to the work environment.