Occupational Health & Safety
Each day, over 145 million workers in the U.S. -- and several billion individuals around the globe -- face the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses that can cause serious immediate or long-term health problems. Members of the OHS Section are individuals involved in preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, disabilities and deaths through research, training, treatment, advocacy and policy-making.
The OHS Section is one of the oldest within APHA, celebrating its 95th year in 2009. We have 700+ members, representing a multitude of disciplines from medicine, nursing, and industrial hygiene to epidemiology, environmental health, statistics, community organizing, teaching, history, law and journalism. The Section provides leadership and expertise on occupational health matters, recognizing the intrinsic link between the work environment, and the health and safety of families, communities and the environment at large.
At our most recent annual meeting (Nov 7-11, 2009), the OHS Section proposed and saw the adoption of three new policy resolutions:
*Calling for the global elimination of asbestos and prevention measures
*Calling for major reforms to State-based workers compensation insurance system
*Raising awareness about deaths among individuals crossing the U.S-Mexico border and calling for prevention measures
Along with advocating for these policy changes, the OHS Section had a robust program of scientific sessions and social activities:
In January 2009, the OHS Section released the "Protecting Workers on the Job" agenda, a collaborative project with the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. The agenda highlights seven priorities for federal action to improve our nation's worker health and safety programs. They are:
- Put worker health and safety first
- Ensure health and safety protection for all workers
- Count all occupational injuries and illnesses
- Increase worker participation
- Eliminate disparities
- Reform workers' compensation programs
- Reduce or eliminate widespread use of toxic chemicals
Throughout 2009, members of the OHS Section and the 90 organizations that endorsed the platform will be working together to advance worker health and safety as part of a larger effort to improve the health of communities and our environment.
See the top of this page for documents related to the 2009 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia (Nov 7-11)
To join APHA and become part of the OHS Section, go to the APHA membership page .
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