In the growing age of industrialization and globalization, the need for manual workforce has increased in all the sectors of life. Since then, society has gradually transformed from the agrarian socio-economic culture to industrial socio-economic culture. The increase of industrial workers has given a boost to economic growth as well as increase the consumerism of the products worldwide. But, along with the economic boost to a nation or a society, the effect of industrialization has also increased the occupational health hazards amongst the industrial workers in an organization or company, which has brought prolonged lifetime illness, injury and in some cases caused terminating diseases. For instance, the development of hearing loss amongst the workers. To understand this and combat the occupational health hazards, diseases and illness, Occupational Health and Safety protocols have erupted and along with that the need for health safety professionals have also escalated worldwide. Hence, the prime motive of this report to understand and analyze the historical development of Occupational Health and Safety profession and how the Occupational Health Safety workers aim to reduce the health hazard related to the occupation bring the difference and in the society in general.
Occupational Health Safety and the profession associated with it is comparatively a new with respect to other professions. As the industrialization developed in the early 18th century and the agricultural employment had gradually declined there was a shift or a transition phase in the type of job or profession people took. The industries especially the machine industries opened gates to millions and millions of people who saw the opportunity to work as laborers in the industries irrespective to the age, gender or caste. The people from the villages came to towns and major cities for more and more work, but that soon led to another dimension of the working industry, labor exploitation among the industries. The long working hours, emission of harmful and toxic gases from the chimneys of the industries, inhalation of extreme toxic gases and uncalled accidents grew amongst the workers. Therefore, there was a formation of trade or labor unions all throughout the world, the Labor Movement was organized. This Labor Movement soon raised concerns about the health, safety, environment and working conditions related to the occupation. Gradually, this led to the emulation of Factory Act in 1803, by the United Kingdom government (Mantoux 2013), which was initially applied to the cotton mills. The Factory Act enabled the workers and laborers to have proper working conditions, better working hours and better working environment. Over the 100 years and till now there were many Acts and policies were applied to improve the working conditions of the laborers and workers worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) (Who.int, 2019) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) (Ilo.org, 2019) in a partnership formed representatives of employers and workers in 1919.
The modern work health and occupational health safety precautions are not only for the industrial workers but it’s important and necessary is relevant in all working areas of the society whether it is about the physical health or the mental health. With the advent of technology, it is clear that the working industries are understanding the importance of the health of the employees and workers, with better and technologically advance working equipment (Hofmann, Burke and Zohar 2017). The Occupation health and safety profession is not a single discipline approach to ease the solution of health hazards among workers. It needs multidisciplinary action and combined effort to combat the problems of occupational diseases globally. The management system of any established governmental or non-governmental organization earnestly needs the Occupational Health and Safety professionals to maintain the staff or employee health, so that there is retention of employees. According to data provided World Health Organization or WHO there are around 2.9 billion people across the world who are at risk of occupational health hazard. The working populations are exposed to the diseases like musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) (Bernard and Putz-Anderson, 2019), infectious diseases, pleural disorders like lung cancers and pleural mesothelioma, (Gilham et al. 2016). Apart from the diseases, the workplace stress has also developed over the years and it comes under the occupational health and safety professionals to assess the situation. In an estimated study, it is found that the workers or the employees are exposed to 9% lung cancer, 37% back ache, 11% bronchial disorder, 16% hear loss and 2% leukemia (Who.int, 2019). Moreover, the work related diseases caused 775000 deaths globally, in the year 2000. There is an estimation given by International Labor Organization that there are around two million deaths worldwide each year, and in addition that there is 4% loss faced by the GDP of the globe yearly (Ilo.org, 2019). This is not only an economic loss to the world but also to the livelihood of the workers and millions of families affected by this traumatic experiences they have to deal with. The occupational hazards and accidents cause immeasurable human loss to the victim’s family as well to productivity. There is a harmful effect on the quality of life with respect to the workers as well as co-workers. The workers or the employees might have symptoms of depression, loss of motivation to work, premature deaths and chronic illness (Ilo.org, 2019). The growing enterprises have acknowledged the need for incorporating the need OSH management and OSH professionals in to the system for better development of the workforce safety and mental health (Nielsen et al. 2010) which brings economic sustainability as well as organizational development. Moreover, there is an inevitable link of international global health safety and its effect on the dynamism of the world economy (Lucchini and London 2014). Therefore, the role of OHS professionals has increased in multiple ways in every organization that ensures the quality of mental as well as the physical health of the workers.
According World Health Organization (WHO), the important element of Occupational Health and safety practice is focused primarily in prevention of health hazards, and improving the working conditions of the workers. Hence, good environmental and hygienic conditions, incorporating worker’s health into policies and promoting not only focused on health but other factors like mental as well as social wellbeing of an individual workers. The many roles of the occupational health safety professionals in society and these are growing importance day by day. The roles of professionals include:
The Occupational Health and Safety Professionals are also known to be as Work Health and Safety (WHS). In Australia, it is renamed as Work Health and Safety in 2008, (Business.gov.au, 2019).
The Safe Work Australia (SFA) is a statutory government organization in Australia (Safe Work Australia, 2019), uses extensive research and the professionals involved mitigating occupational health hazards have already created a difference in bringing better work environment. SFA is a government initiative which has been funded together by Commonwealth, state and territory government via Intergovernmental Agreement. The worker fatality has declined by 50%. The Occupational health workers have brought to the light the need for better and safer work environment worldwide, which has not only enhanced the working environment but also helped in the sustainable economic development worldwide. Work Health professionals are also dedicated to remove inequity and provide skilled access to all parts of Australia which would also balance the socio-economic challenges (Wakerman and Humphreys 2013).
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be understood that development of Occupational Health and the importance of the safety of the health workers can be traced back in to the early 18th century at the advent of the industrial revolution which was, then occurred in Europe by initiating the Labor Act. The Labor Act further paved the way to create another revolutionary act, that is the Factory Act. Gradually, many acts and policies were taken into consideration when it was talked about the health and working conditions of the workers. It is evident from the data shared by the WHO and International Labor Organization that developing as well as the developed nations have many casualties each year due to lack of proper infrastructure and working conditions. The toxic fumes and uncalled accidents, leave a tormenting impact on the co-workers as well as the victim’s family. Which further, deteriorates the health conditions which implies to the physical and mental health.
The incorporation of the Occupational Health and Safety workers in the management of the organization is a deep necessity, to analyze the situation that causes potential health hazards in the workplace and it also takes the initiative to maintain the different working environments within the country. In-depth analysis in the above discussion points out the need for occupational health professionals in the company and organization gives sustainable economic growth globally. Therefore, it can be concluded that the path of Occupational Health and professionals has evolved in multi-dimensionally and also it has emphasized on better work productivity day by day. Though the role of Occupational Health and Safety professionals has evolved over the years, still there should be emphasis on the presence of OHS professionals in every sector of the working organization, which will eventually lead to an established economically sustainable society worldwide.
References
Bernard, B. and Putz-Anderson, V. (2019). Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors; a critical review of epidemiologic evidence for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, upper extremity, and low back. [online] Stacks.cdc.gov. Available at: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/21745 [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].
Business.gov.au. (2019). Health & safety. [online] Available at: https://www.business.gov.au/Risk-management/Health-and-safety [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].
Gilham, C., Rake, C., Burdett, G., Nicholson, A.G., Davison, L., Franchini, A., Carpenter, J., Hodgson, J., Darnton, A. and Peto, J., 2016. Pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer risks in relation to occupational history and asbestos lung burden. Occup Environ Med, 73(5), pp.290-299.
Hofmann, D.A., Burke, M.J. and Zohar, D., 2017. 100 years of occupational safety research: From basic protections and work analysis to a multilevel view of workplace safety and risk. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), p.375.
Ilo.org. (2019). International Labour Standards on Occupational Safety and Health. [online] Available at: https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/subjects-covered-by-international-labour-standards/occupational-safety-and-health/lang–en/index.htm [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].
Lucchini, R.G. and London, L., 2014. Global occupational health: current challenges and the need for urgent action. Annals of global health, 80(4), pp.251-256.
Mantoux, P., 2013. The industrial revolution in the eighteenth century: An outline of the beginnings of the modern factory system in England. Routledge
Nielsen, K., Randall, R., Holten, A.L. and González, E.R., 2010. Conducting organizational-level occupational health interventions: What works?. Work & Stress, 24(3), pp.234-259.
Safe Work Australia. (2019). About us. [online] Available at: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/about-us [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].’
Wakerman, J. and Humphreys, J.S., 2013. Sustainable workforce and sustainable health systems for rural and remote Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia, 199(5), pp.14-17.
Who.int. (2019). WHO | Occupational health. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/topics/occupational_health/en/ [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].
Workplaceohs.com.au. (2019). WHS Professionals | Roles | Responsibilities | WorkplaceOHS. [online] Available at: https://workplaceohs.com.au/responsibilities/whs-professionals [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].
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