Occupational Health Management

Running head: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT 1
Occupational Health Management
Student’s Name
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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT
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Introduction
Working environments such as the health care industry are progressively changing based
on the adoption of new technologies, work conditions, new employment forms, substances, and
work processes that correspond to the changes in the labor market. Notably, these changes attract
new opportunities and risks for employers and employees that in turn results in the demand for
regulatory, organizational, technical, and political initiatives to enhance safety and work in the
workplace. For this paper, physical inactivity and obesity is an emerging occupational health
issue that is evident in the Australian healthcare industry. This health issue is significant in the
Australian healthcare industry due to the increased use of automated systems and computers that
are primarily designed to optimize productivity. The automated systems and computer usage in
healthcare industry cause the healthcare professionals such as medical practitioners, physicians,
dentists, nurses, and pharmacists experience prolonged standing or sedentary work that leads to
physical inactivity that causes obesity as a health issue (Begley & Pollard, 2016). While physical
inactivity in relation to obesity is a significant emerging health issue, relevant literature will be
evaluated to show significant measures and legislation taken by the Australian government to
contain the health issue in healthcare.
How the health hazard/risk manifests itself at the selected industry/workplace and
how it may cause harm.
McPhail, Schippers & Marshall (2014) argues that physical inactivity and obesity lead to
the enormous burden of the disease prevalence in the Australian healthcare industry. Usually,
physical inactivity in relation to obesity is connected to diet and exercise, however, the
connection has shifted interests in the healthcare industry. This is because physical inactivity in

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT
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relation to obesity manifests through the imbalance between consumption and expenditure in the
Australian healthcare industry. Physical inactivity in relation to obesity has become a norm in the
Australian healthcare industry and it should be prioritized by all health practitioners. Serra-
Majem & Bautista-Castaño (2013) argues that the healthcare industry is endowed with long
durations of uninterrupted sitting that are common in all offices and driving tasks that result in
physical inactivity and obesity. Physical inactivity and obesity cause harm in the healthcare
industry as it leads to increased morbidly mortality, and disabilities worldwide (Warburton &
Bredin, 2016). Other illnesses connected to physical inactivity and obesity includes hypertension,
breast cancer, pathology stroke, osteoporosis, and depressive disorders (Durstine, Gordon, Wang,
& Luo, 2013). Currently, the prevalence of physical inactivity among healthcare professionals
stands at 40 % among females and 60% among males while that of obesity is 45% among
females and 65% among males (Medina, Janssen, Campos & Barquera, 2013). For this reason,
the Australian workforce in the healthcare industry should prioritize physical activity to increase
the metabolic rate that will help overcome the prevailing occupational health issue.
Legislative requirements relating to the health hazard/ risk (for Australia you need
to consider the Work Health and Safety legislation, 2011), relevant codes and guidelines
and referring to relevant Australian/ International Standards.
Work Health and Safety Act (2011) offers a framework that is designed to protect the
health, safety, and well-being of all employees in workplaces. According to the WHS Act, every
employee is eligible for protection and the current inactivity and obesity levels need to be
addressed (Work Health and Safety Act, 2011). Based on the Act, there is a need to modify