The Main Article on Occupational Safety and Health
Health is a subjective state of overall physical, mental and emotional well being where infirmity and illness are absent. There are many definitions used over the years for different purposes. It is generally agreed that health implies a capacity to function normally in social interactions with others, at work or in school, and one’s own health (which may be seen in psychological aspects such as self-esteem). It is used to reflect on the body’s ability to sustain normal functioning in health and sickness.
A key element of the concept of health is its relation to occupational health. Occupational health refers to the quality of health care in the workplace and related research. The objective of occupational health research is to determine the risks of diseases, risks of conditions, risks of practices, working environments and the consequences of workers’ health behaviors. For example, studies have looked at the link between pesticides, chemicals and occupation and breast cancer. However, this work draws on different methods and does not provide evidence to link these factors specifically.
There are several other aspects of occupational health, which are important but less studied than overall health and its effects on worker’s health. One area of concentration is chronic disease management and prevention. Controlling or preventing diseases through changes in work practices, organizing ergonomics and promoting healthy diet and active lifestyle is one of the approaches developed to improve public health.
Mental health and wellness are also becoming more important in the face of increasing population size and aging of the baby-boomer generation. It is becoming more important as people live longer and the needs of the mentally ill are not addressed as they were in the past. This has become one of the largest and growing challenges in health care. Mental illnesses are expensive to treat and can create negative impacts on the family unit and individual. A mental health professional assists in treating disorders, develops treatments and counsels families. Counseling and therapy can help the mentally ill to gain a sense of well being and can often lead to a successful treatment of the illness.
Preventing occupational diseases and illnesses becomes an important focus in health care planning and practice. There are some preventable occupational diseases which include: ear infections, throat infections, sinusitis, arthritis, lung infection, diabetes, heart disease, dental disease, etc. These diseases are all preventable through good work practices and safe environments. The introduction of immunizations has helped to reduce these diseases and illnesses dramatically. However, there is still a need to increase the awareness and education of employees about these diseases and illnesses in order to effectively prevent them. By doing so, employers can protect their workers from these occupational illnesses that can be deadly.
As the baby boomer generation ages it is expected that the number of people with disability-related diseases will double in the next few decades. In the current economic times, even a small health impairment can put you out of work for many years. The main article on Occupational Safety and Health focuses on the prevention of disabilities resulting from work-related injuries and illnesses. This information is important for everyone who works in the building environment and in the home.