Occupational medicine

Occupational Medicine
MeSH D009787

Occupational medicine, especially until 1960[1] called industrial medicine,[2][3] 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.[2][4]

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.[5] 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.

Mission

Occupational medicine aims to prevent diseases and promote wellness among workers.[6] Occupational health physicians must:

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."[7]

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

Non-governmental organizations

International

Canadian

United Kingdom

United States of America

See also

References

  1. ↑ Google Ngram Viewer chart
  2. 1 2 Encyclopædia Britannica
  3. ↑ It can be confusing that British English also uses industrial medicine to refer to occupational health and safety and also uses occupational health to refer to occupational medicine. See the Collins Dictionary's entries for industrial medicine and occupational medicine and occupational health.
  4. ↑ McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms
  5. ↑ Thomas McClure, MD. "What Is Occupational Medicine and What Do Occupational Medicine Specialists Do?". San Francisco Medical Society. Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 http://www.acoem.org/OccMed.aspx.
  7. ↑ Interview with Dr. Stephen Levin/Obituary, Katie Halper, The Nation, February 14, 2012
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