Occupational Health Practice

Occupational Health Practice is a comprehensive account of the practice of protecting and improving the health of people at work, with some emphasis on the special needs of workers in developing countries. Topics covered by this book include the functions of an occupational health service; special examinations in occupational medicine; uses and methods of epidemiology; and ergonomics. The mental health of people at work, prevention of occupational disease, and ethics in occupational health practice are also discussed. This book is comprised of 22 chapters and begins by outlining national developments in occupational medicine, along with the different forms of service provided by private enterprise and the state. The factors that influence a nation or an industrial organization to pay attention to the health of people at work are also considered. The discussion then turns to the importance of health to one's work, the functions of an occupational health service, and prevention of accidents and occupational disease. Methods used in the study of groups of workers are described in sections on epidemiology, field surveys, and the collection and handling of sickness absence data. The text also looks at ergonomics, occupational hygiene, and ethics and education in occupational health. This monograph will be useful to physicians, hygienists, nurses, and safety officers working in the field of occupational health; to those whose interests encompass occupational health, but cannot attend a course; and to medical and non-medical specialists in related fields.