Occupational health

Abstract

Occupational health includes numerous specialty fields. Occupational health nurses and physicians perform medical surveillance activities along with the diagnosis and treatment of work-related injury and disease. Occupational epidemiologists and toxicologists often provide a supporting role for occupational medicine professionals and industrial hygienists. Occupational epidemiologists provide support for assessing the incidence and prevalence of work-related diseases. Occupational toxicologists evaluate the effects of chemical agents on workplace health based on toxicology findings. These health professionals become involved in developing hazard communication information, setting safe exposure levels, such as occupational exposure limits, and aiding in the assessment of the potential for work-related health effects from chemical exposure situations. The roles of these various professionals can overlap and a multidisciplinary team can become involved to address complex occupational health issues. Professionals who work in these diverse aspects of the occupational health field share the need for accessing information related to the toxicology and adverse health effects of chemicals. Many of the resources used in occupational health practice are general resources shared by other specialties in toxicology. This chapter focuses on those resources of particular interest to occupational health.