Occupational medicine, especially until 1960 called industrial medicine, is the branch of medicine which deals with the maintenance of health in the workplace, including the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries, and also promotes productivity and social adjustment.
It is thus the branch of clinical medicine most active in the field of occupational health and safety. OM specialists work to ensure that the highest standards of occupational health and safety can be achieved and maintained. While OM may involve a wide number of disciplines, it centers on preventive medicine and the management of illness, injury, and disability related to the workplace. Occupational physicians must have a wide knowledge of clinical medicine and be competent in a number of important areas. They often advise international bodies, governmental and state agencies, organizations and trade unions. There are contextual links to physical medicine and rehabilitation and to insurance medicine.
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Mission
Occupational medicine aims to prevent diseases and promote wellness among workers. Occupational health physicians must:
- Have knowledge of potential hazards in the workplace including toxic properties of materials used.
- Be able to evaluate employee fitness for work.
- Be able to diagnose and treat occupational disease and injury.
- Know about rehabilitation methods, health education, and government laws and regulations concerning workplace health.
- Be able to manage health service delivery.
OM can be described as:
"work that combines clinical medicine, research, and advocacy for people who need the assistance of health professionals to obtain some measure of justice and health care for illnesses they suffer as a result of companies pursuing the biggest profits they can make, no matter what the effect on workers or the communities they operate in."
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History
The first textbook of occupational medicine, De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Diseases of Workers), was written by Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini in 1700.
Governmental Bodies
United States of America
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Non-governmental organizations
International
- International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH)
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM)
Canadian
- Occupational Medicine Specialists of Canada
United Kingdom
- Faculty of Occupational Medicine
United States of America
- American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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