Occupational medicine and disease prevention

Abstract

Occupational medicine studies the impact of work and working conditions on the health of workers. It deals with the prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and medicolegal aspects of diseases caused or exacerbated by working conditions. This specialization comprehensively deals with relations between work and health. It prescribes procedures for building a safe and healthy working environment, handles the problem of adapting the work to the abilities of workers with regard to their physical and mental health, it is concerned about health promotion in workers, including evaluation and promotion of their working capacity, and studies the impact of work and working conditions on the occurrence of chronic non-infectious diseases, the progression of which may be significantly influenced by work and working conditions. The information obtained by studying the level of exposure to adverse factors in working settings, and their impact on the health and well-being of workers is used for setting regulatory measures aimed at ensuring health protection at work, optimization of working conditions and preservation of working capacity. Keywords: occupational medicine, risk assessment, health surveillance, disease prevention.

Keywords: disease prevention; health surveillance; occupational medicine; risk assessment.