From Scientific Discovery to Occupational Health Impact

The goal of occupational health is protecting workers’ health from various hazards arising from the work and promoting workers’ health for better working life. Scientific discoveries have changed work environment to be better. However, solid scientific evidences are also required to make employers move toward intervention for working environment or proactive investment for improving workers’ health.   There are many examples that occupational health practices have changed after scientific discovery. The use of many chemicals have been banned, restricted or limited for workers’ health based on scientific discovery. Asbestos is banned in many countries after numerous scientific papers, which stated that asbestos-related diseases can occur several decades after the first exposure. The use of lead is restricted in many countries because it can cause population based cognitive dysfunction. The use of mercury is also limited because of the scientific findings of neurotoxicity, especially in developmental neurotoxicity. Water-based paint is popularly used in Nordic countries after the findings that organic solvents can cause chronic toxic encephalopathy. The air level of benzene has continuously decreased from 100 ppm to 0.5 ppm, after the scientific discovery stating its hematopoietic toxicity.  Work patterns have changed in many countries since scientific papers revealed the relationship between cardiovascular diseases and work organization such as shift work, work stress and work culture. Many researches about illnesses and their relations to aging, sedentary work, life-style and gender differences also motivated the occupational health society to engage in health promotion at workplace.  Researches are actively ongoing about emerging and possible occupational hazards such as nano-particles, whose hazards to workers are not clear at this moment. However, discovering scientific evidences only cannot give the impact to occupational health. In addition to the discoveries, economic development and social pressure in each country are also required to change occupational health practices.