Main description:

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 6,000 workers were killed on the job in 2006. Presenting a comprehensive survey of occupational safety and health in the United States, Introduction to Occupational Health in Public Health Practice focuses on recognizing, preventing, and treating work-related and environmentally induced injuries and diseases. Drawing from their thirty-five years of experience in the management of public health programs and occupational safety and health management, the authors provide graduate and undergraduate students with important linkages between preventive public health approaches and occupational safety and health needs.

Contents:

Figures, Tables, and Exhibits. Introduction. Acknowledgments. The Authors. The Contributors. PART ONE PUBLIC HEALTH PREVENTION FOCUS. 1. HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH. A Brief History of U.S. Public Health. Healthy People 2010. Responsibilities of Public Health. Public Health Accomplishments. Emphasis on Prevention Not Control. Public Health and Occupational Health. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 2. EPIDEMIOLOGY OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH. Introduction to Epidemiology. Surveillance Systems. Epidemiology Studies. Health Hazard Evaluations. Public Health Systems in the Workplace. Chronic Disease Epidemiology in the Workplace. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. PART TWO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH. 3. HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH. Health, Disease, and Prevention. The Role for Public Health. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 4. OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES. Epidemiology of Injuries. The Case for an Epidemiological Approach. Epidemiology of Accidents. Epidemiology of Violence. Surveillance Systems for Occupational Injuries. Surveillance Results. Injury Prevention Programs. Future Challenges. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 5. COMPLIANCE VERSUS PREVENTION. OSHA Standards Development. The Inspection Process. Compliance or Prevention. Prevention of Cumulative Problems. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. PART THREE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH. 6. TOXICOLOGY. Application to Occupational Epidemiology. Subdisciplines in Toxicology. Classification of Toxic Agents. Environmental Tobacco Smoke. Risk Assessment. Toxicology Case Studies. Toxin Regulation and Research. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 7. STRESS. Stress Basics. Workplace Characteristics and Stress. Organizational Response to Stress. When to Get Help. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 8. THE IMPAIRED EMPLOYEE. Drug Use Frequency and Demographics. Epidemiology of Addiction. Substances Often Abused. Drug-Free Workplaces and EAPs. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 9. WELLNESS PROGRAMS. Chronic Diseases in the Workplace. The Value of Wellness Programs. Addressing Obesity and Nutrition. Addressing Physical Inactivity. Addressing Tobacco Use. Developing Comprehensive Health Programs. The Role for Public Health. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 10. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING. Emergency Management Planning Steps. Terrorism and Bioterrorism. Workplace Preparedness for Terrorism. CDC's Strategic Workplace Plan. Applying Epidemiology to Preparedness. Applying an Information Model to Preparedness. Involving OSHA and NIOSH in Planning. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 11. ERGONOMICS. Two Approaches: Broad and Narrow. Ergonomists' Roles and Experience. Few Absolute Limits. Cumulative Trauma Disorders. The Industrial Athlete. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 12. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. Epidemiology of Communicable Diseases. Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases. Tuberculosis. Hepatitis. HIV and AIDS. Influenza. Emerging Infections. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 13. VISION AND HEARING ISSUES. Protecting Vision in the Workplace. Protecting Hearing in the Workplace. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 14. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DISPARITIES. Disparate Populations. How Do Health Disparities Persist? Future Trends in Health Disparities. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. PART FOUR EVALUATION AND LEADERSHIP ISSUES IN PREVENTION. 15 ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PREVENTION. Premature Mortality. Employer Health Insurance Costs. The Purposes of Economic Evaluation. The Burden of Injury and Illness. Types of Economic Analysis. Target Areas for Evaluation. Workplace Wellness Programs. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. 16 IMPACTS OF LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE. Using Vision and Management Skills. Using Power Effectively. Exercising Transformational Leadership. Changing the Process of Work. Motivating Employees. Building a Culture. Empowering Workers. Improving Team Effectiveness. Summary. Key Terms. Questions for Discussion. References. Index.