Bridget M. Hutter
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199242504
- eISBN:
- 9780191697128
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199242504.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Public Management, Organization Studies
Regulating the risks associated with economic activities is a feature of modern societies and one in which the state increasingly seeks to co-opt the regulatory powers of corporations. This book ...
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Regulating the risks associated with economic activities is a feature of modern societies and one in which the state increasingly seeks to co-opt the regulatory powers of corporations. This book examines the impact of a system of enforced self-regulation on the corporate life of British railways. It uses this case study of occupational health and safety regulation to focus on broader theoretical and empirical discussions of regulation, risk, and corporate activities. A central organizing perspective of this book is that regulation is a form of risk management. It examines how workplace risks in modern societies are managed by businesses and the individuals within them, and considers what influence the law has in this. The tensions between the constitutive and controlling aspects of regulatory law are analysed with reference to in-depth empirical data about corporate and individual compliance and non-compliance. Related concerns about the social control of organizational and economic life are explored and their policy and theoretical implications examined. These issues are especially significant following the privatization of Britain's rail network and the introduction of regulatory systems which are highly reliant on industry self-regulation.Less
Regulating the risks associated with economic activities is a feature of modern societies and one in which the state increasingly seeks to co-opt the regulatory powers of corporations. This book examines the impact of a system of enforced self-regulation on the corporate life of British railways. It uses this case study of occupational health and safety regulation to focus on broader theoretical and empirical discussions of regulation, risk, and corporate activities. A central organizing perspective of this book is that regulation is a form of risk management. It examines how workplace risks in modern societies are managed by businesses and the individuals within them, and considers what influence the law has in this. The tensions between the constitutive and controlling aspects of regulatory law are analysed with reference to in-depth empirical data about corporate and individual compliance and non-compliance. Related concerns about the social control of organizational and economic life are explored and their policy and theoretical implications examined. These issues are especially significant following the privatization of Britain's rail network and the introduction of regulatory systems which are highly reliant on industry self-regulation.
Jorma Rantanen
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195380002
- eISBN:
- 9780199893881
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195380002.003.0001
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health
Occupational health brings together many sciences and many social disciplines in order to achieve social progress for workers and their families. The field recognizes a social right to work in a safe ...
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Occupational health brings together many sciences and many social disciplines in order to achieve social progress for workers and their families. The field recognizes a social right to work in a safe workplace where due care is given to prevent injury and illness and to protect the health of workers from death, injury and disability, thereby also protecting their families and those who depend on them against loss of income and social support. Occupational health problems are often overlooked as an obstacle to development but they can be a substantial drag on economic development, amounting to at least 4 – 5 % of the gross domestic product (GDP) of countries. Even so, developing countries often lack effective occupational health protection, even when safeguards exist in the law.Less
Occupational health brings together many sciences and many social disciplines in order to achieve social progress for workers and their families. The field recognizes a social right to work in a safe workplace where due care is given to prevent injury and illness and to protect the health of workers from death, injury and disability, thereby also protecting their families and those who depend on them against loss of income and social support. Occupational health problems are often overlooked as an obstacle to development but they can be a substantial drag on economic development, amounting to at least 4 – 5 % of the gross domestic product (GDP) of countries. Even so, developing countries often lack effective occupational health protection, even when safeguards exist in the law.
Tee L. Guidotti
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195380002
- eISBN:
- 9780199893881
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195380002.003.0027
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health
The provision of occupational health services requires an organizational structure, basic equipment, procedures and facilities for providing care and trained people. Such an organization is called an ...
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The provision of occupational health services requires an organizational structure, basic equipment, procedures and facilities for providing care and trained people. Such an organization is called an occupational health service. Much of the delivery of occupational health services takes place in primary health care, where suitably-trained generalist health care providers deal with basic health care needs. Health care providers are usually physicians or nurses or sometimes specially trained heath care technicians. For many years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has had a policy of emphasizing primary care and using the primary health care system to coordinate public health and disease prevention, including occupational health services, in its policy of “Basic Occupational Health Services”. Larger and more complex organizations require specialized occupational health services. These specialized services are staffed or may call in consultations as needed by occupational physicians (physicians who are specially trained in occupational medicine), occupational health nurses (nurses who are specially trained in occupational health), occupational hygienists (experts in identifying and correcting occupational hazards), safety professionals (experts in preventing injury), ergonomists (experts in managing ergonomic issues or one of many other professions in occupational health. At the local level, individual plants may have an employee health service for their own employees. Often, occupational health professionals in the community provide needed services under a contract or other arrangement. Corporate medical departments are located in the headquarters of large employers and coordinate occupational health and other health issues throughout the enterprise.Less
The provision of occupational health services requires an organizational structure, basic equipment, procedures and facilities for providing care and trained people. Such an organization is called an occupational health service. Much of the delivery of occupational health services takes place in primary health care, where suitably-trained generalist health care providers deal with basic health care needs. Health care providers are usually physicians or nurses or sometimes specially trained heath care technicians. For many years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has had a policy of emphasizing primary care and using the primary health care system to coordinate public health and disease prevention, including occupational health services, in its policy of “Basic Occupational Health Services”. Larger and more complex organizations require specialized occupational health services. These specialized services are staffed or may call in consultations as needed by occupational physicians (physicians who are specially trained in occupational medicine), occupational health nurses (nurses who are specially trained in occupational health), occupational hygienists (experts in identifying and correcting occupational hazards), safety professionals (experts in preventing injury), ergonomists (experts in managing ergonomic issues or one of many other professions in occupational health. At the local level, individual plants may have an employee health service for their own employees. Often, occupational health professionals in the community provide needed services under a contract or other arrangement. Corporate medical departments are located in the headquarters of large employers and coordinate occupational health and other health issues throughout the enterprise.
Gary Rischitelli and Michael A. Silverstein
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195301489
- eISBN:
- 9780199863822
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195301489.003.0022
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
This chapter focuses on the statutory and administrative legal systems that regulate occupational safety and health in the United States. It also reviews important judicial interpretations of the law ...
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This chapter focuses on the statutory and administrative legal systems that regulate occupational safety and health in the United States. It also reviews important judicial interpretations of the law governing occupational safety and health. Topics discussed include the development of occupational health and safety regulation in the U.S., legal authorities, legal issues and controversies, practice considerations, and emerging issues.Less
This chapter focuses on the statutory and administrative legal systems that regulate occupational safety and health in the United States. It also reviews important judicial interpretations of the law governing occupational safety and health. Topics discussed include the development of occupational health and safety regulation in the U.S., legal authorities, legal issues and controversies, practice considerations, and emerging issues.
Tee L. Guidotti (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195380002
- eISBN:
- 9780199893881
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195380002.001.0001
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health
This book provides an introduction to a vital—but often neglected—area in the field of health sciences. Work-related illnesses and injuries are critical concerns for every country and at every stage ...
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This book provides an introduction to a vital—but often neglected—area in the field of health sciences. Work-related illnesses and injuries are critical concerns for every country and at every stage of economic development and an important determinant of health and financial security for working adults and their families. This book addresses worker protection and the management of occupational health from rich industrialized countries to developing societies. The first section of the book concentrates on broad approaches and frameworks for the investigation and management of health in the workplace. The second section addresses important hazards. The third section addresses specific industry sectors, management challenges, and policies at the global level. Each chapter links occupational health to economic development concepts and future trends.Less
This book provides an introduction to a vital—but often neglected—area in the field of health sciences. Work-related illnesses and injuries are critical concerns for every country and at every stage of economic development and an important determinant of health and financial security for working adults and their families. This book addresses worker protection and the management of occupational health from rich industrialized countries to developing societies. The first section of the book concentrates on broad approaches and frameworks for the investigation and management of health in the workplace. The second section addresses important hazards. The third section addresses specific industry sectors, management challenges, and policies at the global level. Each chapter links occupational health to economic development concepts and future trends.
Bridget M. Hutter
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199242504
- eISBN:
- 9780191697128
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199242504.003.0004
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Public Management, Organization Studies
This chapter draws on research data collected from staff across British Railways to consider how much they knew about the general regulatory provisions for their occupational health and safety. It ...
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This chapter draws on research data collected from staff across British Railways to consider how much they knew about the general regulatory provisions for their occupational health and safety. It focuses on legal provisions, in particular whether those in the industry knew about the Health and Safety Work Act, 1974, and, if so, how much they knew about its objectives and provisions.Less
This chapter draws on research data collected from staff across British Railways to consider how much they knew about the general regulatory provisions for their occupational health and safety. It focuses on legal provisions, in particular whether those in the industry knew about the Health and Safety Work Act, 1974, and, if so, how much they knew about its objectives and provisions.
Tee L. Guidotti
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195380002
- eISBN:
- 9780199893881
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195380002.003.0028
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health
Occupational health services in industry provide health care and preventive services in order to maintain the health of all employees, not just to provide medical care for the injured or those who ...
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Occupational health services in industry provide health care and preventive services in order to maintain the health of all employees, not just to provide medical care for the injured or those who have been made ill by a hazard. Thus, occupational health services may be divided into curative, or treatment-oriented, and preventive services. Occupational health services may be located in the plant, or off site. A corporate medical department usually coordinates occupational health throughout the enterprise. There should be a written occupational health policy that spells out the responsibility of employers for the health of workers and the responsibility of workers to report problems. Enterprises with more than 1000 workers usually need a full-time, in-house corporate medical department. This department should have a close working relationship with safety and occupational hygiene departments and they are often combined. It is generally better that the occupational health service not be managed under the department of human resources or personnel, where hiring and termination decisions are made and insurance claims are managed. Occupational health and safety must ultimately be the responsibility of supervisors and managers in production and they must be held accountable for injuries and avoidable hazards in the work areas they manage, with support from the occupational health service. The occupational health service has to be seen by the workers as neutral and working for their interests, not as looking for ways to fire them or to deny their claims. Occupational health services should maintain detailed records on the personal health of workers and should keep them strictly confidential. Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that is compulsory for employers in many countries.Less
Occupational health services in industry provide health care and preventive services in order to maintain the health of all employees, not just to provide medical care for the injured or those who have been made ill by a hazard. Thus, occupational health services may be divided into curative, or treatment-oriented, and preventive services. Occupational health services may be located in the plant, or off site. A corporate medical department usually coordinates occupational health throughout the enterprise. There should be a written occupational health policy that spells out the responsibility of employers for the health of workers and the responsibility of workers to report problems. Enterprises with more than 1000 workers usually need a full-time, in-house corporate medical department. This department should have a close working relationship with safety and occupational hygiene departments and they are often combined. It is generally better that the occupational health service not be managed under the department of human resources or personnel, where hiring and termination decisions are made and insurance claims are managed. Occupational health and safety must ultimately be the responsibility of supervisors and managers in production and they must be held accountable for injuries and avoidable hazards in the work areas they manage, with support from the occupational health service. The occupational health service has to be seen by the workers as neutral and working for their interests, not as looking for ways to fire them or to deny their claims. Occupational health services should maintain detailed records on the personal health of workers and should keep them strictly confidential. Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that is compulsory for employers in many countries.
Annalee Yassi, Tord Kjellström, Theo de Kok, and Tee L. Guidotti
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195135589
- eISBN:
- 9780199864102
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195135589.003.0010
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
This chapter focuses on industrial pollution and chemical safety. Topics discussed include the extent of industrial pollution, public exposure from industrial sources, hazards by industry, major ...
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This chapter focuses on industrial pollution and chemical safety. Topics discussed include the extent of industrial pollution, public exposure from industrial sources, hazards by industry, major chemical contaminants of concern in the general environment and the workplace, the social context of occupational health and safety, dimensions and types of occupational health problems, industrial environmental accidents, and approaches to prevention.Less
This chapter focuses on industrial pollution and chemical safety. Topics discussed include the extent of industrial pollution, public exposure from industrial sources, hazards by industry, major chemical contaminants of concern in the general environment and the workplace, the social context of occupational health and safety, dimensions and types of occupational health problems, industrial environmental accidents, and approaches to prevention.
Igor Fedotov
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195380002
- eISBN:
- 9780199893881
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195380002.003.0026
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health
The right to a safe and healthy work environment is a fundamental human right. Two organizations within the United Nations system are directly concerned with occupational health: the International ...
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The right to a safe and healthy work environment is a fundamental human right. Two organizations within the United Nations system are directly concerned with occupational health: the International Labor Organization (ILO and the World Health Organization (WHO). In order to achieve this, the ILO formulates international standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations, dealing with occupational health and safety and other work-related issues and administers the legal framework for occupational health protection in international law. Each covenant and convention is designed to be universally applicable, flexible, viable (feasible) and adaptable as needed. The ILO also develops Codes of Practice in the form of detailed technical specifications that apply to various problems and industries that governments, employers and workers’ organizations can use to determine what should be done. Occupational health and safety standards may be written as guidance for policies, to protect workers from unnecessary risks, to protect workers in certain industries. The WHO investigates the scientific basis for controlling occupational health problems and supports educational programs. Its primary means of doing is the Global Strategy in Occupational Health for All, which is intended to strengthen national infrastructure and services in occupational health and the development of occupational health standards based on scientific risk assessment.Less
The right to a safe and healthy work environment is a fundamental human right. Two organizations within the United Nations system are directly concerned with occupational health: the International Labor Organization (ILO and the World Health Organization (WHO). In order to achieve this, the ILO formulates international standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations, dealing with occupational health and safety and other work-related issues and administers the legal framework for occupational health protection in international law. Each covenant and convention is designed to be universally applicable, flexible, viable (feasible) and adaptable as needed. The ILO also develops Codes of Practice in the form of detailed technical specifications that apply to various problems and industries that governments, employers and workers’ organizations can use to determine what should be done. Occupational health and safety standards may be written as guidance for policies, to protect workers from unnecessary risks, to protect workers in certain industries. The WHO investigates the scientific basis for controlling occupational health problems and supports educational programs. Its primary means of doing is the Global Strategy in Occupational Health for All, which is intended to strengthen national infrastructure and services in occupational health and the development of occupational health standards based on scientific risk assessment.
Jorma Rantanen
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195380002
- eISBN:
- 9780199893881
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195380002.003.0031
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health
The early pioneers of public health and occupational health believed that all they had to do was to implement preventive actions and they would no longer be needed. We now understand that new ...
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The early pioneers of public health and occupational health believed that all they had to do was to implement preventive actions and they would no longer be needed. We now understand that new problems are being created all the time and old problems reappear in new industries as the economy and technology change. These realities mean that occupational health practice must be flexible. Occupational health professionals will have to influence decision making and all must learn to communicate effectively and persuasively. What an occupational health professional does not know must be gained from a partnership with other professionals and by forming teams. Research is essential to understand complex problems and will have to deal with additional dimensions, such as psychological factors, that have sometimes been neglected in the past. Occupational health will need to keep pace with globalization and new information. The occupational health professional must be dedicated to continuing education and growth. Even so, some things will not change. These include ethics, to which occupational health professionals must always be committed, and the basic principles of worker protection, which will always apply.Less
The early pioneers of public health and occupational health believed that all they had to do was to implement preventive actions and they would no longer be needed. We now understand that new problems are being created all the time and old problems reappear in new industries as the economy and technology change. These realities mean that occupational health practice must be flexible. Occupational health professionals will have to influence decision making and all must learn to communicate effectively and persuasively. What an occupational health professional does not know must be gained from a partnership with other professionals and by forming teams. Research is essential to understand complex problems and will have to deal with additional dimensions, such as psychological factors, that have sometimes been neglected in the past. Occupational health will need to keep pace with globalization and new information. The occupational health professional must be dedicated to continuing education and growth. Even so, some things will not change. These include ethics, to which occupational health professionals must always be committed, and the basic principles of worker protection, which will always apply.
N. Scott Arnold
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195374964
- eISBN:
- 9780199871490
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195374964.003.0009
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Political Philosophy
This chapter articulates conversion arguments for and against the regulatory regimes overseen by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer ...
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This chapter articulates conversion arguments for and against the regulatory regimes overseen by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the regulatory regimes that administer occupational licensure in the various states, with special attention to the licensing of physicians.Less
This chapter articulates conversion arguments for and against the regulatory regimes overseen by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the regulatory regimes that administer occupational licensure in the various states, with special attention to the licensing of physicians.
Christer Hogstedt, David H. Wegman, and Tord Kjellstrom
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195172997
- eISBN:
- 9780199865659
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195172997.003.0008
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
This chapter highlights the health risks of globalization without preventive systems and makes reference to the international efforts to ensure effective worker protection programs are in place. The ...
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This chapter highlights the health risks of globalization without preventive systems and makes reference to the international efforts to ensure effective worker protection programs are in place. The improved global information and communications systems create new opportunities for occupational health advocacy that can help bring about such programs.Less
This chapter highlights the health risks of globalization without preventive systems and makes reference to the international efforts to ensure effective worker protection programs are in place. The improved global information and communications systems create new opportunities for occupational health advocacy that can help bring about such programs.
DAVID C. CHRISTIANI and XIAO-RONG WANG
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195150865
- eISBN:
- 9780199865222
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195150865.003.001
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
Exposure to chemical and physical hazards in the workplace, resulting in a variety of occupational illnesses, is a common negative impact of work on health. This chapter provides an overview of ...
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Exposure to chemical and physical hazards in the workplace, resulting in a variety of occupational illnesses, is a common negative impact of work on health. This chapter provides an overview of several major health problems related to chemical and physical agent exposures in workplaces. It highlights occupational problems faced by industrializing countries where the relevant data are available, and compares the exposures that occur in industrialized countries with those that occur in industrializing ones. Finally, it emphasizes the preventable nature of most occupational risks and the potential for successful preventive interventions by governmental agencies, scientific researchers, and businesses.Less
Exposure to chemical and physical hazards in the workplace, resulting in a variety of occupational illnesses, is a common negative impact of work on health. This chapter provides an overview of several major health problems related to chemical and physical agent exposures in workplaces. It highlights occupational problems faced by industrializing countries where the relevant data are available, and compares the exposures that occur in industrialized countries with those that occur in industrializing ones. Finally, it emphasizes the preventable nature of most occupational risks and the potential for successful preventive interventions by governmental agencies, scientific researchers, and businesses.
Mika Kivimäki, Jane E Ferrie, and Michael Marmot
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199563623
- eISBN:
- 9780191722554
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199563623.003.017
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
This chapter aims to provide policy makers, researchers, organizations, and individuals working in the public health sphere with an understanding of the evidence on how factors at work might ...
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This chapter aims to provide policy makers, researchers, organizations, and individuals working in the public health sphere with an understanding of the evidence on how factors at work might influence mental wellbeing. It uses the Whitehall II study, one of the leading cohort studies in the field, as an illustrative example. This chapter provides an overview of major theories, describes the assessment methods used to measure mental wellbeing in the Whitehall II study, and reviews the main research findings. Finally, it discusses next steps for research, including suggestions for evidence-based interventions to minimize adverse effects on mental health and promote wellbeing at work.Less
This chapter aims to provide policy makers, researchers, organizations, and individuals working in the public health sphere with an understanding of the evidence on how factors at work might influence mental wellbeing. It uses the Whitehall II study, one of the leading cohort studies in the field, as an illustrative example. This chapter provides an overview of major theories, describes the assessment methods used to measure mental wellbeing in the Whitehall II study, and reviews the main research findings. Finally, it discusses next steps for research, including suggestions for evidence-based interventions to minimize adverse effects on mental health and promote wellbeing at work.
Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780198528616
- eISBN:
- 9780191723933
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198528616.001.0001
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
The recent and rapid expansion of occupational and environmental epidemiology and health risk assessment looks set to continue in line with growing public, government, and media concern about ...
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The recent and rapid expansion of occupational and environmental epidemiology and health risk assessment looks set to continue in line with growing public, government, and media concern about occupational and environmental health issues, and a scientific need to better understand and explain the effects of occupational and environmental pollutants on human health. Risks associated with occupational and environmental exposure are generally small, but the exposed population, and hence the population attributable risk, may be large. To detect small risks, the exposure assessment needs to be very refined. Exposure assessment is the study of the distribution and determinants of potentially hazardous agents, and includes the estimation of intensity, duration, and frequency of exposure, the variation in these indices and their determinants. Epidemiological studies can utilize information on variation and determinants of exposure to optimize the exposure-response relations. Many methodological and practical problems arise when conducting an exposure assessment for epidemiological studies and these are addressed in the book, as is the issue of measurement error and exposure misclassification and its effect on exposure response relationships. The book outlines the basic principles of exposure assessment, in both occupational and environmental epidemiology, since there are many similarities but also some interesting differences. It examines the current status and research questions in the exposure assessment of occupational and environmental epidemiological studies of allergens, particulate matter, chlorination disinfection by-products, agricultural pesticides, and radiofrequencies.Less
The recent and rapid expansion of occupational and environmental epidemiology and health risk assessment looks set to continue in line with growing public, government, and media concern about occupational and environmental health issues, and a scientific need to better understand and explain the effects of occupational and environmental pollutants on human health. Risks associated with occupational and environmental exposure are generally small, but the exposed population, and hence the population attributable risk, may be large. To detect small risks, the exposure assessment needs to be very refined. Exposure assessment is the study of the distribution and determinants of potentially hazardous agents, and includes the estimation of intensity, duration, and frequency of exposure, the variation in these indices and their determinants. Epidemiological studies can utilize information on variation and determinants of exposure to optimize the exposure-response relations. Many methodological and practical problems arise when conducting an exposure assessment for epidemiological studies and these are addressed in the book, as is the issue of measurement error and exposure misclassification and its effect on exposure response relationships. The book outlines the basic principles of exposure assessment, in both occupational and environmental epidemiology, since there are many similarities but also some interesting differences. It examines the current status and research questions in the exposure assessment of occupational and environmental epidemiological studies of allergens, particulate matter, chlorination disinfection by-products, agricultural pesticides, and radiofrequencies.
Christopher Sellers
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195150698
- eISBN:
- 9780199865185
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195150698.003.11
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
Today, environmental health professionals assess hazards in the workplace or the outside air by comparing sampled levels against official Threshold Limit Values (TLV's). But before today's reliance ...
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Today, environmental health professionals assess hazards in the workplace or the outside air by comparing sampled levels against official Threshold Limit Values (TLV's). But before today's reliance on quantitative tools for correlating atmospheric chemical levels to disease, industrial health practices were neither primitive nor unscientific. Medical and scientific researchers wrote at once for physicians or hygienists and for those without scientific training. Their knowledge itself remained closely tied to preventive interventions as well to curative ones. A quantitative chemical approach to occupational disease took shape following World War I, with the advent of a new community of experts, centered in the public health schools, in company medical clinics and in state divisions of industrial hygiene.Less
Today, environmental health professionals assess hazards in the workplace or the outside air by comparing sampled levels against official Threshold Limit Values (TLV's). But before today's reliance on quantitative tools for correlating atmospheric chemical levels to disease, industrial health practices were neither primitive nor unscientific. Medical and scientific researchers wrote at once for physicians or hygienists and for those without scientific training. Their knowledge itself remained closely tied to preventive interventions as well to curative ones. A quantitative chemical approach to occupational disease took shape following World War I, with the advent of a new community of experts, centered in the public health schools, in company medical clinics and in state divisions of industrial hygiene.
Tee L. Guidotti
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195380002
- eISBN:
- 9780199893881
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195380002.003.0025
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health
All countries are developing countries because today every country is undergoing an economic transition. Less developed countries or “developing” countries (in the usual use of the term) may become ...
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All countries are developing countries because today every country is undergoing an economic transition. Less developed countries or “developing” countries (in the usual use of the term) may become “developed” countries, in the sense that industrialization contributes more economic value than agriculture. However, many industrialized countries are undergoing a transition to a “postmodern” economy, in which manufacturing contributes less value than information and services. A few countries are losing ground in income and creation of wealth and in that sense are “de-developing”. Occupational health tends to be left out of plans and strategies for development. This is a mistake because occupational health can contribute a great deal to economic progress by providing family income security, protecting the most economically productive segment of the population, reducing the cumulative burden of disability, making health gains at a time when costs are low, and promoting equity in the workplace. In many countries, occupational health, with extensions of care to dependents, in the form of a social security health system has been the foundation for health care and social security as the economy develops. The World Health Organization advocates integration of a package of “Basic Occupational Health Services” into the primary health care system as countries develop. Occupational health is typically viewed as a consumptive expense, one that consumes resources but does not provide a tangible return. A better way to think of occupational health is as an investment, which pays off in worker health and fitness, lower costs for medical care, greater productivity and social well being.Less
All countries are developing countries because today every country is undergoing an economic transition. Less developed countries or “developing” countries (in the usual use of the term) may become “developed” countries, in the sense that industrialization contributes more economic value than agriculture. However, many industrialized countries are undergoing a transition to a “postmodern” economy, in which manufacturing contributes less value than information and services. A few countries are losing ground in income and creation of wealth and in that sense are “de-developing”. Occupational health tends to be left out of plans and strategies for development. This is a mistake because occupational health can contribute a great deal to economic progress by providing family income security, protecting the most economically productive segment of the population, reducing the cumulative burden of disability, making health gains at a time when costs are low, and promoting equity in the workplace. In many countries, occupational health, with extensions of care to dependents, in the form of a social security health system has been the foundation for health care and social security as the economy develops. The World Health Organization advocates integration of a package of “Basic Occupational Health Services” into the primary health care system as countries develop. Occupational health is typically viewed as a consumptive expense, one that consumes resources but does not provide a tangible return. A better way to think of occupational health is as an investment, which pays off in worker health and fitness, lower costs for medical care, greater productivity and social well being.
Clare Bambra
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199588299
- eISBN:
- 9780191731372
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199588299.003.0003
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health
This chapter examines the health effects of three traditional dimensions of the physical work environment: chemical hazards including exposure to toxic substances used in industrial processes ...
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This chapter examines the health effects of three traditional dimensions of the physical work environment: chemical hazards including exposure to toxic substances used in industrial processes (asbestos, silica, coal dust, and lead); environmental factors such as noise, vibration, and workplace injuries; as well as ergonomic hazards such as repetitive movements, heavy lifting, and including shift work. It argues that despite changes in the nature of the economy in advanced market democracies, these physical hazards are still an important public health issue for many working age people. It suggests that differences in occupational exposures may well be of significance in terms of explaining socio-economic inequalities in health. It also examines how exposure to physical work environment hazards varies by country and how legislation can reduce the levels to which workers are exposed.Less
This chapter examines the health effects of three traditional dimensions of the physical work environment: chemical hazards including exposure to toxic substances used in industrial processes (asbestos, silica, coal dust, and lead); environmental factors such as noise, vibration, and workplace injuries; as well as ergonomic hazards such as repetitive movements, heavy lifting, and including shift work. It argues that despite changes in the nature of the economy in advanced market democracies, these physical hazards are still an important public health issue for many working age people. It suggests that differences in occupational exposures may well be of significance in terms of explaining socio-economic inequalities in health. It also examines how exposure to physical work environment hazards varies by country and how legislation can reduce the levels to which workers are exposed.
MAYRA BUVINIC, ANTONIO GIUFFRIDA, and AMANDA GLASSMAN
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195150865
- eISBN:
- 9780199865222
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195150865.003.008
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
In Latin America and the Caribbean, more women than men have entered the labor force since the 1980s; what are the implications for women's health status? This chapter reviews the empirical evidence ...
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In Latin America and the Caribbean, more women than men have entered the labor force since the 1980s; what are the implications for women's health status? This chapter reviews the empirical evidence on the effects of women's paid work on their health in Latin America. It begins with a brief description of the changing nature of labor markets and women's labor force participation. It then explores women's occupational health risks and mentions some initiatives that seek to respond to these risks. Next, it looks at the existing evidence for the positive effects of paid work on women's health and child health, and finally, it provides policy recommendations.Less
In Latin America and the Caribbean, more women than men have entered the labor force since the 1980s; what are the implications for women's health status? This chapter reviews the empirical evidence on the effects of women's paid work on their health in Latin America. It begins with a brief description of the changing nature of labor markets and women's labor force participation. It then explores women's occupational health risks and mentions some initiatives that seek to respond to these risks. Next, it looks at the existing evidence for the positive effects of paid work on women's health and child health, and finally, it provides policy recommendations.
John W. Ward and Christian Warren (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195150698
- eISBN:
- 9780199865185
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195150698.001.0001
- Subject:
- Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health, Epidemiology
Americans' health improved dramatically over the 20th century. Public health programs for disease and injury prevention were responsible for much of this advance. Over the century, America's public ...
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Americans' health improved dramatically over the 20th century. Public health programs for disease and injury prevention were responsible for much of this advance. Over the century, America's public health system grew dramatically in scientific expertise and political authority. As the disease burden of the old scourges of infection, infant mortality, and dietary deficiencies began to lift, public health's mandate expanded to take on new health threats, such as those resulting from a changing workplace, the rise of the automobile and chronic conditions caused by smoking, diet, and other lifestyle and environmental factors. Public health's successes become part of everyday life, a fact already apparent early in the last century, when C. E. A. Winslow noted that the lives saved and healthy years extended were the “silent victories” of public health. In its exploration of ten major public health issues addressed in the 20th century, this book traces the discoveries, practices, and programs in ten areas of pubic health—infection disease control, vaccination, food safety, maternal and infant health, nutrition, occupational health, family planning, oral health, vehicular safety, cardiovascular disease prevention, and tobacco control—coupled with chapters highlighting key issues or conflicts that shaped public health action. The book concludes with a look toward the future challenges for public health.Less
Americans' health improved dramatically over the 20th century. Public health programs for disease and injury prevention were responsible for much of this advance. Over the century, America's public health system grew dramatically in scientific expertise and political authority. As the disease burden of the old scourges of infection, infant mortality, and dietary deficiencies began to lift, public health's mandate expanded to take on new health threats, such as those resulting from a changing workplace, the rise of the automobile and chronic conditions caused by smoking, diet, and other lifestyle and environmental factors. Public health's successes become part of everyday life, a fact already apparent early in the last century, when C. E. A. Winslow noted that the lives saved and healthy years extended were the “silent victories” of public health. In its exploration of ten major public health issues addressed in the 20th century, this book traces the discoveries, practices, and programs in ten areas of pubic health—infection disease control, vaccination, food safety, maternal and infant health, nutrition, occupational health, family planning, oral health, vehicular safety, cardiovascular disease prevention, and tobacco control—coupled with chapters highlighting key issues or conflicts that shaped public health action. The book concludes with a look toward the future challenges for public health.
