OHS and its Impact on the Society

The report “OHS and its Impact on The Society” discusses the historical development of Occupational Health and Safety profession and its impact on the world and society. It emphasizes the need for the development of the profession and discusses the impact of injuries, hazards, and diseases due to occupation. The report establishes a relation between the improvement of the society and organization as a whole and the involvement of Occupational Health and Safety professionals.

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1OHS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY
Executive Summary
The report “OHS and its Impact on The Society”, has focused on the historical development of
Occupational health and safety profession, and its impact on the world and society as a whole.
The report has emphasized the need for the development of the Occupational Health and Safety
profession. The impact of injuries, hazards, and disease due to occupation has been discussed in
detail. The fatalities caused due to prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals enlisted by the World
Health Organization and the International Labor Organization has been discussed thoroughly.
The report primarily establishes a relation between the improvement of the society and
organization as a whole and the involvement of Occupational Health and Safety professional’s
contribution to sustainable economic stability.

2OHS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Historical development of OHS.......................................................................................................3
i) Historical Development of Occupational Health Safety Profession.....................................3
ii) Importance of OHS profession.........................................................................................4
OHS Professional Practice...............................................................................................................6
i) Essential Elements of OHS practice.....................................................................................6
ii) OHS Professionals on Reducing Occupational Injuries Diseases, its Impact...................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

3OHS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY
Introduction
In the growing age of industrialization and globalization, the need for manual workforce
has increased in all the sectors of life. Since then, society has gradually transformed from the
agrarian socio-economic culture to industrial socio-economic culture. The increase of industrial
workers has given a boost to economic growth as well as increase the consumerism of the
products worldwide. But, along with the economic boost to a nation or a society, the effect of
industrialization has also increased the occupational health hazards amongst the industrial
workers in an organization or company, which has brought prolonged lifetime illness, injury and
in some cases caused terminating diseases. For instance, the development of hearing loss
amongst the workers. To understand this and combat the occupational health hazards, diseases
and illness, Occupational Health and Safety protocols have erupted and along with that the need
for health safety professionals have also escalated worldwide. Hence, the prime motive of this
report to understand and analyze the historical development of Occupational Health and Safety
profession and how the Occupational Health Safety workers aim to reduce the health hazard
related to the occupation bring the difference and in the society in general.
Discussion
Historical development of OHS
i) Historical Development of Occupational Health Safety Profession
Occupational Health Safety and the profession associated with it is comparatively a new
with respect to other professions. As the industrialization developed in the early 18th century and
the agricultural employment had gradually declined there was a shift or a transition phase in the
type of job or profession people took. The industries especially the machine industries opened

4OHS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY
gates to millions and millions of people who saw the opportunity to work as laborers in the
industries irrespective to the age, gender or caste. The people from the villages came to towns
and major cities for more and more work, but that soon led to another dimension of the working
industry, labor exploitation among the industries. The long working hours, emission of harmful
and toxic gases from the chimneys of the industries, inhalation of extreme toxic gases and
uncalled accidents grew amongst the workers. Therefore, there was a formation of trade or labor
unions all throughout the world, the Labor Movement was organized. This Labor Movement
soon raised concerns about the health, safety, environment and working conditions related to the
occupation. Gradually, this led to the emulation of Factory Act in 1803, by the United Kingdom
government (Mantoux 2013), which was initially applied to the cotton mills. The Factory Act
enabled the workers and laborers to have proper working conditions, better working hours and
better working environment. Over the 100 years and till now there were many Acts and policies
were applied to improve the working conditions of the laborers and workers worldwide. The
World Health Organization (WHO) (Who.int, 2019) and the International Labor Organization
(ILO) (Ilo.org, 2019) in a partnership formed representatives of employers and workers in 1919.
ii) Importance of OHS profession
The modern work health and occupational health safety precautions are not only for the
industrial workers but it’s important and necessary is relevant in all working areas of the society
whether it is about the physical health or the mental health. With the advent of technology, it is
clear that the working industries are understanding the importance of the health of the employees
and workers, with better and technologically advance working equipment (Hofmann, Burke and
Zohar 2017). The Occupation health and safety profession is not a single discipline approach to
ease the solution of health hazards among workers. It needs multidisciplinary action and

5OHS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY
combined effort to combat the problems of occupational diseases globally. The management
system of any established governmental or non-governmental organization earnestly needs the
Occupational Health and Safety professionals to maintain the staff or employee health, so that
there is retention of employees. According to data provided World Health Organization or WHO
there are around 2.9 billion people across the world who are at risk of occupational health
hazard. The working populations are exposed to the diseases like musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs) (Bernard and Putz-Anderson, 2019), infectious diseases, pleural disorders like lung
cancers and pleural mesothelioma, (Gilham et al. 2016). Apart from the diseases, the workplace
stress has also developed over the years and it comes under the occupational health and safety
professionals to assess the situation. In an estimated study, it is found that the workers or the
employees are exposed to 9% lung cancer, 37% back ache, 11% bronchial disorder, 16% hear
loss and 2% leukemia (Who.int, 2019). Moreover, the work related diseases caused 775000
deaths globally, in the year 2000. There is an estimation given by International Labor
Organization that there are around two million deaths worldwide each year, and in addition that
there is 4% loss faced by the GDP of the globe yearly (Ilo.org, 2019). This is not only an
economic loss to the world but also to the livelihood of the workers and millions of families
affected by this traumatic experiences they have to deal with. The occupational hazards and
accidents cause immeasurable human loss to the victim’s family as well to productivity. There is
a harmful effect on the quality of life with respect to the workers as well as co-workers. The
workers or the employees might have symptoms of depression, loss of motivation to work,
premature deaths and chronic illness (Ilo.org, 2019). The growing enterprises have
acknowledged the need for incorporating the need OSH management and OSH professionals in
to the system for better development of the workforce safety and mental health (Nielsen et al.

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2010) which brings economic sustainability as well as organizational development. Moreover,
there is an inevitable link of international global health safety and its effect on the dynamism of
the world economy (Lucchini and London 2014). Therefore, the role of OHS professionals has
increased in multiple ways in every organization that ensures the quality of mental as well as the
physical health of the workers.
OHS Professional Practice
i) Essential Elements of OHS practice
According World Health Organization (WHO), the important element of Occupational Health
and safety practice is focused primarily in prevention of health hazards, and improving the
working conditions of the workers. Hence, good environmental and hygienic conditions,
incorporating worker’s health into policies and promoting not only focused on health but other
factors like mental as well as social wellbeing of an individual workers. The many roles of the
occupational health safety professionals in society and these are growing importance day by day.
The roles of professionals include:
 OSH professionals work to mitigate the high risks of work environment that might have
prolonged impact or consequences on the health
 OSH professionals are now established as an important component in an organization or
a workplace to increase worker productivity
 They further try to meet the legal responsibilities and liabilities (Workplaceohs.com.au,
2019)
 OSH workers handle the maintenance and working machines so that there is no uncalled
accident which can lead to fatal injuries or diseases to the worker

7OHS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY
 They take care of the toxic chemicals and chemical contaminants which may cause bio
hazard to the workers.
ii) OHS Professionals on Reducing Occupational Injuries Diseases, its Impact
The Occupational Health and Safety Professionals are also known to be as Work Health
and Safety (WHS). In Australia, it is renamed as Work Health and Safety in 2008,
(Business.gov.au, 2019).
The Safe Work Australia (SFA) is a statutory government organization in Australia (Safe Work
Australia, 2019), uses extensive research and the professionals involved mitigating occupational
health hazards have already created a difference in bringing better work environment. SFA is a
government initiative which has been funded together by Commonwealth, state and territory
government via Intergovernmental Agreement. The worker fatality has declined by 50%. The
Occupational health workers have brought to the light the need for better and safer work
environment worldwide, which has not only enhanced the working environment but also helped
in the sustainable economic development worldwide. Work Health professionals are also
dedicated to remove inequity and provide skilled access to all parts of Australia which would
also balance the socio-economic challenges (Wakerman and Humphreys 2013).
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be understood that development of Occupational
Health and the importance of the safety of the health workers can be traced back in to the early
18th century at the advent of the industrial revolution which was, then occurred in Europe by
initiating the Labor Act. The Labor Act further paved the way to create another revolutionary
act, that is the Factory Act. Gradually, many acts and policies were taken into consideration

8OHS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY
when it was talked about the health and working conditions of the workers. It is evident from the
data shared by the WHO and International Labor Organization that developing as well as the
developed nations have many casualties each year due to lack of proper infrastructure and
working conditions. The toxic fumes and uncalled accidents, leave a tormenting impact on the
co-workers as well as the victim’s family. Which further, deteriorates the health conditions
which implies to the physical and mental health.
Recommendation
The incorporation of the Occupational Health and Safety workers in the management of the
organization is a deep necessity, to analyze the situation that causes potential health hazards in
the workplace and it also takes the initiative to maintain the different working environments
within the country. In-depth analysis in the above discussion points out the need for occupational
health professionals in the company and organization gives sustainable economic growth
globally. Therefore, it can be concluded that the path of Occupational Health and professionals
has evolved in multi-dimensionally and also it has emphasized on better work productivity day
by day. Though the role of Occupational Health and Safety professionals has evolved over the
years, still there should be emphasis on the presence of OHS professionals in every sector of the
working organization, which will eventually lead to an established economically sustainable
society worldwide.

9OHS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY
References
Bernard, B. and Putz-Anderson, V. (2019). Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors; a
critical review of epidemiologic evidence for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck,
upper extremity, and low back. [online] Stacks.cdc.gov. Available at:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/21745 [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].
Business.gov.au. (2019). Health & safety. [online] Available at:
https://www.business.gov.au/Risk-management/Health-and-safety [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].
Gilham, C., Rake, C., Burdett, G., Nicholson, A.G., Davison, L., Franchini, A., Carpenter, J.,
Hodgson, J., Darnton, A. and Peto, J., 2016. Pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer risks in
relation to occupational history and asbestos lung burden. Occup Environ Med, 73(5), pp.290-
299.
Hofmann, D.A., Burke, M.J. and Zohar, D., 2017. 100 years of occupational safety research:
From basic protections and work analysis to a multilevel view of workplace safety and
risk. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), p.375.
Ilo.org. (2019). International Labour Standards on Occupational Safety and Health. [online]
Available at: https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/subjects-covered-by-international-labour-
standards/occupational-safety-and-health/lang--en/index.htm [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].
Lucchini, R.G. and London, L., 2014. Global occupational health: current challenges and the
need for urgent action. Annals of global health, 80(4), pp.251-256.
Mantoux, P., 2013. The industrial revolution in the eighteenth century: An outline of the
beginnings of the modern factory system in England. Routledge

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Nielsen, K., Randall, R., Holten, A.L. and González, E.R., 2010. Conducting organizational-
level occupational health interventions: What works?. Work & Stress, 24(3), pp.234-259.
Safe Work Australia. (2019). About us. [online] Available at:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/about-us [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].’
Wakerman, J. and Humphreys, J.S., 2013. Sustainable workforce and sustainable health systems
for rural and remote Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia, 199(5), pp.14-17.
Who.int. (2019). WHO | Occupational health. [online] Available at:
https://www.who.int/topics/occupational_health/en/ [Accessed 7 Feb. 2019].
Workplaceohs.com.au. (2019). WHS Professionals | Roles | Responsibilities | WorkplaceOHS.
[online] Available at: http://workplaceohs.com.au/responsibilities/whs-professionals [Accessed 7
Feb. 2019].