| DEFINITION:
Occupational Health is the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations by preventing departures from health, controlling risks and the adaptation of work to people, and people to their jobs. (ILO / WHO 1950) |
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICESDefinitions and functions:-The ILO Convention on Occupational Health Services (No. 161) and the ILO Recommendations on Occupational Health Services (No. 171) were adopted in 1985. In the Convention the following definition was given:- "The term 'occupational health services' means services entrusted with essentially preventive functions and responsible for advising the employer, the workers and their representatives in the undertaking, on..
the adaptation of work to the capabilities of workers in the light of their state of physical and mental health". |
The above definition alone is not enough to describe the range of
activities carried out by Occupational Health Services. There are a number
of functions listed in the Convention, and these are summarised hereunder:-
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Note: The above is quoted, paraphrased, or simplified from the
ILO.
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