ENV421-Week 1: Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

OHS is a part of Public Health that ensures people are safe at work and protects human resources.

It is a multidisciplinary practice that focuses on preventing workplace hazards.

Definition of Occupational Health & Safety (OHS)

It promotes the highest level of physical, mental, and social well-being at work, focusing on prevention and control of risks.

Aim of Occupational Health & Safety (OHS)

The aim is to promote safety and health, preventing work-related injuries and adapting work environments to workers' needs.

Terminologies

  • Safety: A state free from risk, harder to define as it's a value judgment.

  • Health: Comprehensive well-being beyond the absence of disease, considering workplace-related factors.

  • Hazard: Potential source of harm.

  • Risk: Likelihood of harm occurring and its severity.

  • Risk assessment: Evaluating risks from workplace hazards.

  • Work accident: Occurrences leading to harm during work.

  • Prevention: Steps to reduce occupational risks.

Stakeholders in OHS

Workers, employers, and governments are key players.

Importance of OHS

  • Moral: Employees should not be subject to risk.

  • Economic: Poor OHS leads to high costs for government and employers and potential loss of business.

  • Legal: Inadequate OHS can result in lawsuits and reputational damage.

Learning in ENV421

Understanding OHS, recognizing hazards, implementing risk assessments, and applying standards of OHS.