Health protection: Occupational safety and health.

摘要

Many of the Nation's approximately 100 million workers are exposed to some kind of occupational health hazard: carcinogenic agents, pulmonary or other physical disease incitant, physical agents or job-related pressures of noise, crowding, or stress. Exposure to toxic chemicals or physical hazards can produce chronic lung disease, cancer, degenerative disease in a number of vital organ systems, birth defects, and genetic changes. These exposures are estimated to result in 100,000 Americans dying each year from occupationally related illnesses, with an additional 400,000 cases of occupationally related disease. Yet many workers are inadequately protected from common hazards. Recent experience has demonstrated that occupational hazards can be controlled by modifying the work environment, patterns of job performance, or both. Among the health protection measures available are those which: alter the work environment to prevent exposures and injuries; provide workers with special protective equipment; specify design and maintenance of equipment; and provide employees with proper training. Some companies have ventured into the health promotion arena and offered their employees worksite programs for promoting health through health education, physical fitness activities, stress reduction activities, and preventive medicine including screening for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other factors related to heart disease.