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Introduction to Occupational Health

The key aims of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (WA) are to promote and improve the safety and health of people engaged in mining operations.

A risk management approach is recommended to manage occupational health, providing an environment where employees are not exposed to health hazards. This involves identification, assessment and control of all potentially hazardous agents that employees are exposed to at work (e.g. chemicals, solvents, gases, airborne particulates, fibres listed as atmospheric contaminants).

Other occupational health hazards arise from performing manual tasks or exposure to radiation, mechanical plant, electrical fields, noise, vibration or extremes of temperature.

Several public health issues (e.g. smoking, stress, obesity) are also contributing risk factors affecting the health of workers.  Both occupational and non-occupational exposures to hazardous agents affect employee health. Proactive occupational health practice promotes a healthy lifestyle by minimising exposures to workplace hazards.

Work-related injuries and disease (e.g. industrial deafness, dermatitis, musculoskeletal disorders from performing hazardous manual tasks, asbestosis, occupational cancers) are negative indicators used to measure occupational health performance.