Occupational Safety and Health is all about keeping people safe, healthy, and happy while they work.

Key idea: Employers have a legal and ethical duty to protect their workers' health and safety, often through specific programs and by adapting work to suit the individual.

In many countries, especially those with legal systems based on English law, employers have a basic legal duty to take reasonable care of their employees' safety. This is often called a duty of care. Beyond this, specific laws can add more duties, create government groups to oversee safety, and set rules for how workplaces should be safe. The exact rules change from one place to another.

To prevent accidents and diseases at work, companies put in place special programs for occupational safety and health. These programs help them manage risks and keep their employees safe.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have a shared definition of occupational health. It means promoting and keeping the highest level of physical, mental, and social well being for all workers. It also involves preventing health problems caused by work conditions and protecting workers from health risks. The goal is to make sure the work environment fits the worker's physical and mental abilities, essentially adapting the work to the person.

Later, in 1995, more goals were added. These included keeping workers healthy and able to work, making the work environment safe and healthy, and developing workplace cultures that support health and safety. A positive workplace culture also helps create a good social atmosphere and smooth operations, which can even make businesses more productive. The idea of 'working culture' here refers to the core values a company has, which are shown in its management, hiring practices, training, and quality control.

“Occupational health should aim at the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well being of workers in all occupations.”

Key idea: The history of OSH shows a gradual recognition of work related dangers, starting with early medical observations and growing into formal laws and regulations, especially after the Industrial Revolution.

Thinking about and making rules for occupational safety and health is a fairly new idea. It really started to gain attention when labor movements began during the Industrial Revolution. Workers started demanding better conditions, and their safety and health became a key issue.

However, some early writings about work related diseases appeared much earlier. For example, in 1473, a German doctor named Ulrich Ellenbog wrote about the harmful fumes metalworkers faced. Later, in 1587, Paracelsus wrote about diseases common among miners, mentioning 'lung sickness.' Georgius Agricola, in 1526, also described miner's diseases and suggested ways to prevent them, noting how dust could 'eat away the lungs.'

In 1713, Bernardino Ramazzini, often called the father of occupational medicine, wrote a detailed book about the health dangers in over fifty different jobs. He described risks from chemicals, dust, metals, repetitive movements, and awkward body positions. Later, in 1788, Percivall Pott identified the first known occupational cancer: cancer in chimney sweeps.

The Industrial Revolution in Britain brought terrible conditions for child workers in textile mills. This led to the Health and Morals of Apprentices Act in 1802, which was one of the first laws to try and improve working conditions. It required basic cleanliness and fresh air. Over time, more laws, known as Factory Acts, were passed, leading to the creation of factory inspectors and rules for machinery safety.

“The seeds of state intervention to correct social ills were sown during the reign of Elizabeth I by the Poor Laws.”

Key idea: Workplace hazards are diverse, ranging from physical dangers and harmful chemicals to biological agents and psychosocial stressors, all of which can seriously impact worker health.

Workplaces can have many different kinds of dangers that can harm workers. These are called workplace hazards. They include things like harmful chemicals, germs (biological agents), physical factors like noise or extreme temperatures, awkward ways of working (ergonomics), and even stress or bullying (psychosocial factors).

For example, long working hours are a major risk factor. A study found that long hours led to an estimated 745,000 deaths in 2016 from heart disease and strokes, making it the top occupational health risk globally. Another common problem is hearing loss from loud noise at work. Falls are also a frequent cause of injury and death, especially in jobs like construction.

Machines can be dangerous with their moving parts, sharp edges, or hot surfaces. Germs like viruses or bacteria are also hazards, affecting workers in healthcare or those who work outdoors. Dangerous chemicals can cause many health problems, from nerve damage to cancer. Authorities set limits on how much exposure workers can have to these chemicals.

It is important to know that chemicals can sometimes be more harmful when mixed together, even at low levels. Also, some substances can build up in the body over time, becoming dangerous without clear warning. Psychosocial hazards include things like job insecurity, long hours, and poor work life balance. Studies have shown that emotional abuse at work can even lead to symptoms similar to post traumatic stress disorder. Sexual harassment is another serious hazard. Even big changes in a company, like layoffs, can cause stress and mental health issues for employees.

Key idea: Workplace hazards vary greatly by industry, with sectors like agriculture, mining, construction, and certain service jobs presenting distinct and often severe risks to workers.

The specific safety and health risks workers face often depend on their industry. For example, construction workers are at high risk of falls, while fishermen face dangers like drowning.

In agriculture, workers might deal with injuries from machinery, lung diseases, hearing loss from noise, skin problems, and cancers from chemical use or sun exposure. Tractor rollovers are a leading cause of death on farms. Pesticides can also cause illness or birth defects. Because families, including children, often work together on farms, younger workers are also at risk.

Mining and oil and gas extraction are still among the most dangerous jobs. Miners face risks from unstable ground, explosions, harmful dust (like 'black lung'), heat, and electrical equipment. They often work long hours and in non standard shifts, with frequent exposure to chemicals and fumes.

Construction is another very dangerous job, with more deaths than any other sector in many countries. Falls are a major problem, but proper safety gear and procedures can help. Construction workers also often have non standard work arrangements, temporary jobs, and job insecurity, along with frequent exposure to outdoor elements, dust, and fumes.

The service sector includes many different jobs. While some physical hazards are lower than average, problems like stress, bullying, and overwork are common. For example, tipped wage workers often face low and unpredictable incomes, leading to higher rates of mental health issues like addiction or depression. Even jobs like healthcare and transportation have unique risks, from infections and physical strain for healthcare workers to violence and fatigue for bus drivers. Auto mechanics face risks from physical injuries, chemicals, and awkward postures.

Key idea: Safety and health management systems provide a structured approach for organizations to identify, assess, and control workplace risks, promoting continuous improvement in safety.

Many companies use a safety and health management system (SMS) to handle workplace risks in an organized way. This might be voluntary or required by law. An SMS helps companies identify dangers, assess risks, and put controls in place to prevent accidents. It needs to be flexible enough to adapt to changes in the business and new laws.

These systems are often based on the 'plan do check act' cycle. A good SMS should clearly define how the company manages risks, identify hazards, and put controls in place. It also needs good communication throughout the company, a way to fix problems when rules are not followed, and a process for continuous improvement.

Increasingly, companies are combining their safety management systems with other management areas, like environmental protection or quality control. This helps them meet various legal and industry requirements more efficiently.

“An SMS provides a systematic way to assess and improve prevention of workplace accidents and incidents based on structured management of workplace risks and hazards.”

Key idea: Understanding hazards (potential for harm), risks (likelihood and severity of harm), and outcomes (the actual harm) is fundamental to effectively identifying and assessing dangers in the workplace.

To effectively manage safety, it is crucial to understand three key terms: hazard, risk, and outcome. A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm if it is not controlled. For example, a wet floor is a hazard. The outcome is the actual harm that happens from an uncontrolled hazard, like someone slipping and falling. The risk is the chance that a particular outcome will happen, combined with how serious that harm would be. So, the risk of a wet floor is the chance of someone slipping and the severity of their injury.

In OSH, 'harm' usually means any temporary or permanent damage to a worker's physical, mental, or social well being. For instance, repeatedly lifting heavy objects is a hazard. The outcome could be a back injury. The risk considers how likely that injury is and how bad it would be.

Hazard identification is the first step. It means finding all the potential dangers in a workplace. This involves talking to workers, looking at past accidents, and reviewing official reports. Once hazards are found, they should be controlled or removed as close to their source as possible. This is an ongoing process, as technology and rules change.

After identifying hazards, a risk assessment is done. This involves figuring out who might be harmed and how, evaluating the level of risk, and deciding on ways to control it. Risk can be measured in different ways, like saying it is 'high,' 'medium,' or 'low,' or by using numbers. The assessment should be written down, reviewed regularly, and updated whenever work practices change. The goal is to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

Key idea: National laws, government agencies, and shared responsibilities are essential for enforcing occupational safety and health standards, though effectiveness can vary greatly between regions.

Laws and practices for occupational safety and health differ from country to country. Some countries, like some in the European Union, offer money or tax breaks to companies that invest in OSH. Others might give discounts on insurance premiums to companies with good safety records.

Many countries have specific government agencies and laws dedicated to OSH. For example, in Canada, workers are covered by either provincial or federal laws, and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) promotes safe workplaces. Canadian laws emphasize shared responsibility, meaning employers, supervisors, and workers all have roles in safety. Workers even have the right to refuse unsafe work.

In the UK, the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 led to a significant drop in fatal workplace injuries. However, while physical injuries have decreased, issues like work related stress and anxiety have increased. In the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) were established in 1970, leading to a huge reduction in workplace fatalities despite a growing workforce.

However, challenges remain. In some places, like Russia after the fall of the USSR, official safety numbers have been questioned, and real improvements have been slow due to a lack of investment and oversight. This shows that strong laws and enforcement are crucial for real progress in workplace safety and health.