Occupational Health: MedlinePlus

Occupational Health: MedlinePlus

Staying Safe at Work

Occupational health problems occur at work or because of the kind of work you do.  Learn some basic work place safety tips to reduce your risk of injuries.

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

• Back pain - returning to work
• Byssinosis
• Caplan syndrome
• Coal worker's pneumoconiosis
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• Industrial bronchitis
• Occupational asthma
• Occupational hearing loss
• Pregnancy and work
• Silicosis

Related Health Topics

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ergonomics
• Farm Health and Safety
• Occupational Health for Health Care Providers

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Summary

Occupational health problems occur at work or because of the kind of work you do. These problems can include

• Cuts, broken bones, sprains, and strains
• Loss of limbs
• Repetitive motion disorders
• Hearing problems caused by exposure to noise
• Vision problems
• Illness caused by breathing, touching, or swallowing unsafe substances
• Illness caused by exposure to radiation
• Exposure to germs in health care settings

Good job safety and prevention practices can reduce your risk of these problems. Try to stay fit, reduce stress, set up your work area properly, and use the right equipment and gear.

Start Here

• Stay Safe at Work  (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)Also in Spanish
• Workplace Safety and Health Topics: Diseases and Injuries(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
• Workplace Safety and Health Topics: Industries and Occupations(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
• Workplace Safety and Health Topics: Safety & Prevention(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Health Hazard Evaluations (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
• Protect Yourself: Respirators (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDF
• Selecting PPE for the Workplace (Personal Protective Equipment for the Eyes and Face)(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

Related Issues

• Adult Health: Discover if You're at Risk of Job Burnout(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
• Stress Management: Job Stress (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
• Tox Town  (National Library of Medicine)
• Workplace Violence (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDFAlso in Spanish

Specifics

• Biological Agents (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
• Coal Mining-Related Respiratory Diseases (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
• Computer Workstations: Desks (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
• Do You Have Work-Related Asthma? A Guide for You and Your Doctor(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDF
• Guide to Controlling Asthma at Work (American Lung Association)
• Healthy Air: Signs of Potential Problems in the Workplace (American Lung Association)
• Heat Stress (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
• Occupational Noise Exposure (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
• Occupational Respiratory Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
• On-the-Job Foot Health (American Podiatric Medical Association) - PDF
• Preventing Heat-Related Illness or Death of Outdoor Workers(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) - PDF
• Repetitive Motion Disorders  (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
• Skin Exposures & Effects in the Workplace (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
• Skin Problems: How to Protect Yourself from Job-Related Skin Problems(American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
• Suspension Trauma / Orthostatic Intolerance (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
• When Working in Cold, Be Prepared and Be Aware (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Occupational Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Accidents, Occupational  (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Occupational Diseases  (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Occupational Exposure  (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Occupational Stress  (National Institutes of Health)

Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Occupational skin disorders in a subset of Nigerian hairdressers. 
• Article: Effect of a Workplace Wellness Program on Employee Health and Economic... 
• Article: Physical-work ability and chronic musculoskeletal complaints are related to leisure-time physical... 
• Occupational Health -- see more articles 
• Occupational safety -- see more articles 

Reference Desk

• Haz-Map Glossary  (National Library of Medicine)
• Haz-Map: Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Also in Spanish
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration Also in Spanish

Older Adults

• Work Out at Work  (National Institute on Aging)

Patient Handouts

• Back pain - returning to work (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Occupational asthma (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Occupational hearing loss (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Pregnancy and work (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish