Occupational health and safety is the area of public health that focuses on illness and injury trends in the workplace. Experts in the field use this knowledge to develop and implement strategies and regulations aimed at limiting hazards that could lead to physical or mental harm now or in the future.
The scope of occupational health and safety is broad, encompassing disciplines from hazardous materials and the spread of disease to ergonomics and violence prevention.1
University of Iowa. Occupational and environmental health. Today, most employers—both private and public—have a legal responsibility to establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for their workers.2
