Occupational Health is considered to be multidisciplinary activity aiming at:

Protection and promotion of the health of workers by preventing and controlling occupational diseases and accidents and by eliminating occupational factors and conditions hazardous to health and safety at work.

Development and promotion of healthy and safe work, work environments and work organizations.

Enhancement of physical, mental and social well-being of workers and support for the development and maintenance of their working capacity, as well as professional and social development at work.

Enablement of workers to conduct socially and economically productive lives and to contribute positively to sustainable development.

Occupational Hygiene is "That science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace, which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or among the citizens of the community"

Workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses remain at unacceptably high levels and involve an enormous and unnecessary health burden, suffering, and economic loss amounting to 4-5% of GDP. According to WHO and ILO estimates for the year 2000 there are 2.0 million work-related deaths per year. WHO estimates that there are only 10-15% of workers who have access to a basic standard of occupational health services.

Safety pays. The ILO is convinced that the highest occupational health and safety standards worldwide are in the best interests of every worker, every employer and every nation.

Few good reasons why Occupational Health, Hygiene and Safety contributes to good business:

Health at work and healthy work environments are among the most valuable assets of individuals, communities and countries.

Occupational health is an important strategy not only to ensure the health of workers, but also to contribute positively to productivity, quality of products, work motivation, job satisfaction and thereby to the overall quality of life of individuals and society.

A healthy, productive and well-motivated workforce is the key agent for overall socio-economic development. Moreover, high-quality and productive work can ensure healthy production of materials, goods and services, and the consideration and practical implementation of the principles of sustainable development.

A high standard of occupational health and safety correlates positively with high GNP per capita. The countries investing most in occupational health and safety show the highest productivity and strongest economy, while the countries with the lowest investment have the lowest productivity and the weakest economies. Thus, active input in occupational health and safety is associated with positive development of the economy, while low investment in occupational health and safety is disadvantage in the economic competition.

Poor occupational health and reduced working capacity of workers may cause economic loss up to lO-20% of GNP. According to the World Bank estimate, two thirds of occupationally determined loss of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) could be prevented by occupational health and safety programmes.