Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs
Open Access

Abstract

International Laws governing occupational health and safety provide an important benchmark for measuring national laws. International laws provide more than a yardstick for measuring compliance, however; these laws underscore the fundamental character of occupational health protections as universally necessary when promoting health and sustaining civil society. These laws also reflect an international consensus that protecting health at work and preventing occupational death is fundamental to all commerce in civil society. Scientific precautionary principles are therefore found in many health laws, especially but not limited to protecting the working conditions in civil society. Why? Why is it difficult to persuade people to be pro-actively engaged in occupational health programs for compliance with law and is there some deeper reason than merely following the law that makes these programs matter? Why have so many nations and municipalities embraced these laws andwho needs occupational health? This paper concludes that there is no dearth of international laws to provide a legal basis for implementing sound industrial hygiene practices and occupational health protections worldwide, no need for a popular hue and cry that there “ought to be a law” to protect people while working. Rather, the universal need is: To urge policymakers to implement laws that already exist in order to promote progress and preserve civilization.

Biography

Email: hhealthwork@aol.com