Risk communication and information dissemination.
Schulte-P; Schneider-S; Sinclair-R
Occupational and environmental health: recognizing and preventing disease and injury, 6th edition. Levy BS, Wegman DH, Baron SL, Sokas RK, eds. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011 Jan; :621-639
In occupational and environmental health and safety. risk is the product of a hazard and exposure to the hazard. Risk communication is a form of preventive action intended to reduce morbidity and mortality. Risk communication in occupational and environmental health and safety includes dissemination of risk information among workers, employers, labor and environmental specialists. legislators and regulators. members of the general public. researchers. and other decision makers.(I-3) However, the communication part of risk communication implies a process broader than dissemination. It signifies an exchange of perceptions among stakeholders about workplace risks to worker health and safety. Or it signifies an exchange of perceptions among stakeholders about environmental risks to community health. There are three objectives for risk communication: autonomy, equity, and efficiency.(4) Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. workers are guaranteed a safe workplace. However, without effective risk communication, workplace safety is not likely to be achieved. Before workers begin their jobs, they should have more information about the jobs than hours, wages, and benefits. They should also know the job-related risks to their health and safety and the necessary measures to control these risks. This type of information sharing is the only way to ensure that workers have complete information about the risks to which they are exposed. Unfortunately, economic pressures impinge on workers' autonomy to decide on what work they will do.
Occupational-health; Environmental-health; Health-hazards; Occupations; Employee-health; Public-health; Communication-systems; Health-programs; Safety-education; Safety-programs; Risk-factors; Education; Training; Occupational-health-programs; Occupational-safety-programs; Injury-prevention; Disease-prevention; Accident-prevention; Decision-making
Levy-BS; Wegman-DH; Baron-SL; Sokas-RK
Occupational and environmental health: recognizing and preventing disease and injury, 6th edition