The U.S. workplace and workforce is rapidly changing. The distribution of jobs in our economy continues to shift from manufacturing to services, and the workforce is becoming older and more racially diverse. These changes and others present new challenges for protecting worker safety and health. State public health departments may play a particularly important role in protecting workers in a rapidly changing workforce. The public health department infrastructure provides numerous opportunities, many as yet untapped, for occupational health practice. Innovative efforts in Massachusetts will be discussed to identify state health department activities which serve as points-of-access to worker populations not reached through conventional approaches to occupational safety and health and points-of-convergence where efforts to address the health needs of the general public result in improved conditions for workers. Examples range from conducting indoor air investigations in schools and the development of vaccination policies for daycare workers to disseminating information about workplace health and safety for teens through school-based health clinics.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify state health department activities that address the health needs of the general public and result in improved conditions for workers; and 2. Identify state health department activities which provide access to worker populations
Keywords: Occupational Health, Challenges and Opportunities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.