Occupational health in Australia. 1998

W O Phoon
Occupational Health, University of Sydney, Australia.

Australia is a developed country in the Asia-Pacific Region with a large land area but a small population. Its main economic activities are mining, agriculture and manufacturing, with its service and high-technology industries being the fastest growing sectors in recent years. The regulation and enforcement of Occupational Health and Safety policies are mainly administered by the Industrial Relations Departments of eight State and Territory jurisdictions in the country. A National Occupational Health and Safety Commission coordinates occupational health and safety at the Commonwealth level. In 1987 the six occupational health and safety priorities in Australia were listed as occupational back pain, management of chemicals used at work, occupational noise-induced hearing loss, occupational skin disorders, occupational cancer and mechanical equipment injury. Australia has probably the highest incidence of malignant mesothelioma in the world, although the use of asbestos has been largely phased out. There was an almost explosive "epidemic" of repetition strain injury in the 1980s. Approximately 500 work-related fatalities and 10,000 work-related injuries are notified for workers' compensation every year. In addition, it is estimated that there are several thousand cases of work-related diseases every year, many of which go unreported. Occupational physicians undergo 4 years of specialisation training. Occupational hygienists, nurses and ergonomists receive training supervised by their respective professional organisations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009786 Occupational Health Services Health services for employees, usually provided by the employer at the place of work. Employee Assistance Programs (Health Care),Employee Health Services,Employment-Based Services,Health Services, Employee,Health Services, Occupational,Services, Employee Health,Services, Employment-Based,Services, Occupational Health,Assistance Program, Employee (Health Care),Assistance Programs, Employee (Health Care),Employee Assistance Program (Health Care),Employee Health Service,Employment Based Services,Employment-Based Service,Health Service, Employee,Health Service, Occupational,Occupational Health Service,Program, Employee Assistance (Health Care),Programs, Employee Assistance (Health Care),Service, Employee Health,Service, Employment-Based,Service, Occupational Health,Services, Employment Based
D009787 Occupational Medicine Medical specialty concerned with the promotion and maintenance of the physical and mental health of employees in occupational settings. Industrial Medicine,Medicine, Industrial,Medicine, Occupational
D006076 Government The complex of political institutions, laws, and customs through which the function of governing is carried out in a specific political unit. Governments
D006292 Health Priorities Preferentially rated health-related activities or functions to be used in establishing health planning goals. This may refer specifically to PL93-641. Priorities, Health,Health Priority,Priority, Health
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001315 Australia The smallest continent and an independent country, comprising six states and two territories. Its capital is Canberra. Canton and Enderbury Islands,Christmas Island,Christmas Island (Australia)
D013219 State Government The level of governmental organization and function below that of the national or country-wide government. Government, State,Provincial Government,Government, Provincial,Governments, State,State Governments
D014942 Workers' Compensation Insurance coverage providing compensation and medical benefits to individuals because of work-connected injuries or disease. Workmen's Compensation,Worker's Compensation,Workman's Compensation,Compensation, Worker's,Compensation, Workers',Compensation, Workman's,Compensation, Workmen's,Compensations, Worker's,Compensations, Workers',Compensations, Workman's,Compensations, Workmen's,Worker Compensation,Worker's Compensations,Workers Compensation,Workers' Compensations,Workman Compensation,Workman's Compensations,Workmans Compensation,Workmen Compensation,Workmen's Compensations,Workmens Compensation
D016272 Occupational Health The promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health in the work environment. Employee Health,Industrial Health,Industrial Hygiene,Occupational Safety,Health, Industrial,Hygiene, Industrial,Safety, Occupational,Health, Employee,Health, Occupational

Related Publications

W O Phoon
May 1981, Occupational health nursing,
W O Phoon
May 1960, World medical journal,
W O Phoon
January 2012, Industrial health,
W O Phoon
January 1987, Labour history,
W O Phoon
January 1983, Community health studies,
W O Phoon
September 1984, The Medical journal of Australia,
W O Phoon
August 1978, The Australian nurses' journal. Royal Australian Nursing Federation,
W O Phoon
January 1989, International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation,
W O Phoon
June 1969, Occupational health nursing,
W O Phoon
October 1978, The Medical journal of Australia,
Copied contents to your clipboard!