Occupational health

The main functions of WHO (occupational health) mandated in article 2 of its Constitution include promoting the improvement of working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene.

Recognizing that occupational health is closely linked to public health and health systems development, WHO is addressing all determinants of workers' health, including risks for disease and injury in the occupational environment, social and individual factors, and access to health services.

WHO is implementing a Global Plan of Action on Workers’ health 2008-2017 endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2007 with the following objectives:

• devising and implementing policy instruments on workers' health;
• protecting and promoting health at the workplace;
• improving the performance of and access to occupational health services;
• providing and communicating evidence for action and practice; and
• incorporating workers' health into other policies.