Occupational Health – What is the BIG Picture of OH’s Occupational Health?
Government strategies and recommendations have driven the rapid growth of preventive and health services at work. This includes the European Union legislation and the European Commission’s programme in public and occupational health. Employers, employees, and their representatives have increased expectations and demands. They recognize the benefits to health, safety, and economic well-being of providing services in the workplace. This provides the evidence and knowledge necessary to improve workplace health management. Comprehensive workplace health management involves all parties, both inside and outside of a business. It empowers them to manage their own and their families’ health, taking into account environmental, lifestyle, occupational, and social health determinants as well as quality of care. It is based upon health promotion principles. This creates a significant challenge for health, safety, and security professionals who provide services, information, and education to their social partners at work. This involves taking care of the significant socioeconomic interests of all stakeholders. Numerous studies have shown that a business using a well-managed research-based occupational health service can enjoy a competitive advantage.
Protection of human health from hazards that can occur in the workplace.
Promoting healthy workplaces for all ages, and healthy aging through appropriate work culture, organization, and support to social cohesion.
Specific workplace policies and management tools can be used to promote mental health and healthy living habits and prevent major non-communicable illnesses.
Maintaining work capability and employability throughout your working life.
Reduced health care costs for employees and employers due to injuries, diseases and premature retirements resulting from or being influenced by occupational and environmental, life style, and social health determinants
Effectively using resources, creating an environment that is supportive of health and protecting the environment.
Improved social communication and literacy in health, environment, and ethics.
This article series is a collection of observations by the author about the various roles played by occupational health nurses. While occupational health nursing practice is complex and varies between blue-collar and industrial environments, this series highlights the best practices that have been established in the areas where occupational health nurses are at their most advanced. It is important to recognize that occupational health nurses can only play a specific role based on their education, skills, and exiting national legislation. It is important to realize that not one of the ex-workplace health professionals is capable of meeting all the health needs of the workforce. To effectively manage today’s growing safety and health requirements in the workplace, a multidisciplinary approach is required.
Specialist occupational doctors, safety engineers, occupational nurses, occupational hygienists and occupational therapists are all needed to provide workplace health services. Representatives of various safety and health professions play a different role in companies. This is dependent on the scope of the workplace concept, enforcement practice, education level, their position within the occupational health infrastructure, and actions taken by insurance institutions. The most important role in workplace health management is played by occupational health nurses, who are the largest group of health professionals involved with delivering workplace health services. They play a vital role in protecting and promoting the health of the nation’s working population.
The occupational health nurse’s role in workplace health management is an exciting new concept. It is intended to improve workplace management of health problems and other health issues. As part of this strategy, occupational health specialists can play an important role in protecting and improving health among the working population. By addressing the factors that affect the health of the workforce, occupational health nurses can make a significant contribution to sustainable development, increased competitiveness, job security, and increased profitability of communities and businesses. Occupational health nurses can help to improve the performance and profitability of organizations as well as reduce healthcare costs by helping to reduce ill-health. By preventing disability and exclusion and improving rehabilitation services at work, occupational health nurses can help reduce costs externalized onto taxpayers. Occupational health nurses can make a significant contribution to the UK’s caring social ethos by protecting and promoting the wellbeing of the working population and by encouraging social inclusion. This article offers guidance for employees and employers on how to establish workplace health management systems within their organizations. How to identify and define the roles and functions of an occupational health nurse specialist in each company and where to get additional advice and help related to occupational health nursing.
The changing nature of work life and new challenges
In the past 100 years, there has been a lot of change in the world of work. The burden of disease that was associated with dangerous, heavy and dirty industries has decreased in many European countries. The new working conditions and working environments that have replaced them have raised new concerns about the health and well-being of the workforce. The health of the public is now more clear linked to exposure to work-related risks, including biological, psychological, and physical. Society’s expectations regarding health at work have changed. There are now greater demands for improved standards of protection and a better quality of work life. Employers are now realizing that health-related issues such as litigation, sickness absence, and increased insurance premiums are costly. Ignoring them could have serious economic consequences. Employers who are successful emphasize that good health is good business and that there are many ways to improve your management skills.
Workplace Management
Around 400 million people work in the EU Member States. Most people spend at least half of their day working. Still, fatal workplace accidents are quite common. Standardized incident rates for 100,000 workers in Europe show that fatal accidents range from 1.6 to 13.9 in the UK and Spain respectively. Portugal, Greece, France. Italy, Spain and France all have higher than 5.0%. There are between 200 and 7500 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 workers in Europe each year. Around 10% of these are serious, resulting in more than 60 days off work, while up to 5% can lead to permanent disability. The total cost of work-related injuries and ill-health in the European Union amounts to between 185 billion to 270 billion ECU annually. This represents between 2.6% and 3.8% of the Gross National Product (GNP), in each member state. In the UK, workplace injuries and ill-health continue to be a significant, yet largely unknown burden. If the appropriate actions were taken at work, most of these accidents and diseases could be avoided. Responsible employers have proven that it is possible to avoid this kind of injury and its associated costs by paying close attention. This will benefit everyone. The increasing awareness of occupational stress is causing alarm. A recent survey found that 42% of workers complained about the work pace. Even those who are employed, stress can also come from job insecurity, fear of unemployment and a lack of regular income.
Tags: Occupational Health, Protection of human health