Introduction

What is occupational health and safety?

Occupational health and safety is a discipline with a broad scope involving many specialized fields. In its broadest sense, it should aim at:

• the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations;
• the prevention among workers of adverse effects on health caused by their working conditions;
• the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health;
• the placing and maintenance of workers in an occupational environment adapted to physical and mental needs;
• the adaptation of work to humans.