Occupational health refers to the identification and control of the risks arising from physical, chemical, and other workplace hazards in order to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. These hazards may include chemical agents and solvents, heavy metals such as lead and mercury, physical agents such as loud noise or vibration, and physical hazards such as electricity or dangerous machinery. |
Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviours. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. This definition excludes behaviour not related to environment, as well as behaviour related to the social and cultural environment, and genetics. |
3. What is the difference in Occupational Health and Occupational therapy? |
Occupational health is an area concerned with protecting and maintaining the health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment. It relates to preventing, recognizing or dealing with the impact of excessive exposure to chemicals, noise, heat, radiation, etc., as well as preventing disease transmission in the workplace. On the other hand, Occupational therapy is the use of treatments to develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and work skills of people with a physical, mental or developmental condition. It aims to promote people's health and well being through everyday activities. Occupational therapy practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that may hinder an individual's functioning in different ways. They will work with clients to find ways for them to function with day-to-day activities and doing the things that are important to them. |
Presently there is no full time post graduate degree course in occupational health in India. However several institutions offer Diploma in Industrial Health which is a 1-2 year course and Associate Fellow in Industrial Health which is three months course. A list of these institutions is: |
Occupational lung diseases: Skin diseases: Other diseases of concern: |
6. Which are the organizations working on occupational health in India? |
The major institutes, which are engaged in occupational health activities in the country, are: |
7. Under which law workplace conditions and occupational diseases are being governed in India? |
(1) The Factories Act, 1948 |
Not all occupational diseases are compensable. In the third schedule of Factories Act there is a list of 29 diseases which are compensable under the Indian Factories Act. |
Overall responsibility for implementation of safe working environment at the workplace in India rests with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. At the States and Union Territories level these activities are coordinated and implemented through State Labour Departments through Factories Inspectors, Certifying Surgeons and Medical Inspectors. |
10. What is the role of Pollution Control Boards in protecting environment? |
The Central Pollution Control Board has been playing a key role in controlling pollution by generating relevant data, providing scientific information, rendering technical inputs for formation of national policies and programmes, training and development of manpower, through activities for promoting awareness at different levels of the Government and Public at large.
The specific of The State Pollution Control Boards functions include; |