Okuzeka
Public Health & Epidemiology vocabulary · Environmental and Occupational Health

Occupational health

Meaning in public health & epidemiology, with examples

nounCommon term

In public health & epidemiology, occupational health means: The field that protects and promotes the health of workers by preventing work-related illness and injury and making workplaces safer and healthier.

In Turkish: iş sağlığı, iş sağlığı ve güvenliği

How it is used

Covers hazards such as dust, noise, chemicals, heavy lifting, shift work and stress. Usually paired with safety: occupational health and safety (OHS or OSH). Occupational health doctors and nurses carry out health surveillance of workers.

Example sentences

  1. The occupational health team found high levels of silica dust at the quarry.

  2. Night-shift nurses with sleep problems were referred to occupational health.

Common collocations

  • occupational health and safety
  • occupational disease
  • occupational exposure
  • workplace hazards
  • environmental healthThe branch of public health that deals with how the physical environment, including air, water, food, housing, noise and chemicals, affects people's health.
  • exposureContact with or experience of something that may affect health, such as a germ, a chemical, tobacco smoke, a type of diet or a particular job.
  • risk factorA characteristic, behaviour or exposure that increases the chance of developing a disease or health problem, such as smoking, high blood pressure or poor housing.
  • health promotionThe process of enabling people and communities to increase control over their health and improve it, through education, supportive environments, healthy policies and community action.

More terms: Environmental and Occupational Health

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.