Healthy Jobs: Reframing occupational safety and health for broader community participation

More than 130 workers die from work-related diseases each day, and an additional 17 die from injuries on the job. Yet the universe of those who care about worker protection appears to be small, and shrinking. Perhaps it is time to broaden our approach and seek new allies. This paper describes and analyzes a project aimed at re-framing ‘occupational health' to reach new and broader audiences. The project seeks to introduce and promote a new comprehensive approach to occupational health examining the overall structure of jobs. By developing a “Healthy Jobs Bill of Rights” with input from community, labor, and OHS groups, this project defines the components of a “healthy job”. These are not limited to traditional, technical measures of health and safety, but rather present a more holistic concept. In addition to a “healthy and safe workplace”, components include “decent wages and benefits”, “dignity and respect”, and “job security”. Materials are being developed that articulate the link between these job components and worker health. The project targets groups not traditionally associated with health and safety and engages in community campaigns to see if new alliances could incorporate OHS into their work through this approach. We will describe our collaboration with community organizations using these materials and pilot efforts to expand interest and action for worker protection.