Occupational Health and Safety Standards

Definition of Health and Workplace Well-being

Health is defined as the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not only the absence of disease or infirmities.

Health at Work

Work influences physical, mental, and social health. This influence can occur in two ways:

• Positively: It meets needs and promotes personal development.
• Negatively: It generates occupational hazards, causes damage to health, and requires prevention.

Prevention: These are measures taken at all stages of business activity in order to avoid risks from work.

Workplace Risks and Damages

Risks: This is the possibility of a worker suffering an injury derived from their work.

Damages: These are pathologies or diseases suffered by reason of, or as a result of, work.

Workplace Accidents

A work accident is that suffered by the worker going to or from work. It also includes:

• Accidents occurring during the realization of different tasks in their working status.
• Consequences of the accident changed by new diseases contracted in the environment where the worker lies for recovery.

Specific and Non-Specific Pathologies

Specific Pathologies: Occupational Diseases

An occupational disease is the damage or impairment of health caused by physical, chemical, or biological conditions present at work. These include:

• Diseases produced by chemical agents.
• Skin conditions.
• Inhalation of infectious or parasitic agents.
• Systemic conditions.

Non-Specific Pathologies

• Physical Fatigue: The diminution of physical and mental capacity.
• Dissatisfaction: A malaise that a worker suffers as a result of their work.
• Stress:
  • Causes: Physical risks, psychosocial risks, and emotional factors.
  • Consequences: Absenteeism, decreased performance, complaints, and conflict.

Prevention Techniques and Safety Measures

• Safety: A preventive technique intended to combat workplace accidents.
• Occupational Psychology: Prevents psychological damage that the worker may suffer as a consequence of work.

Protection of Minors

The protection of individuals under 18 years involves taking particular risks into account arising from their lack of experience, immaturity of development, or incomplete growth.

Occupational Risk Factors

Environmental Conditions

• Physical Agents: Noise, vibration, radiation, temperature, and lighting.
• Chemical Agents: Chemical contaminants, substances, and chemical preparations.
• Biological Agents: Viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and worms.

Security Conditions

• Workplace: Spaces, facilities, hallways, and stairs.
• Work Equipment: Machinery, tools, and transport equipment.

Workload and Labor Organization

Workload Factors

• Physical Load: Postures, load handling, and physical effort.
• Mental Load: Individual factors, task content, and individual characteristics.

Labor Organization and Psychosocial Factors

These include factors linked to the workplace, work organization, and individual features.

Environmental Pollutants

• Chemical (Inert): Dust, fumes, vapors, and fibers.
• Biological (Living): Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and worms.
• Physical (Energy): Noise, vibration, radiation, lighting, and temperature.