04 June 2025

Occupational Health and Safety Week: A Global Responsibility for a Safe and Healthy Working Environment

Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Lecturer.Ayşe Mücella SOYDAN drew attention to the occupational risks that health workers are exposed to within the scope of Occupational Health and Safety Week, the measures to be taken to prevent these risks and the importance of occupational health culture in the health sector.

According to the definition made by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), occupational health is a systematic approach that aims to protect, develop and improve the physical, mental and social well-being of individuals working in all occupations.

In this context, "Occupational Health and Safety Week" activities, which are held between 4-10 May every year, are among the important awareness activities organised to protect employee health and promote safe working environments.

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is nowadays recognised as a priority public health and working life issue not only at national but also at global level. According to International Labour Organization (ILO) data, between 1.9 and 2.3 million people die each year from work-related causes, while approximately 160 million people suffer from non-fatal occupational diseases or work-related health problems.

The importance of OHS is increasing for the following main reasons:

Workers constitute a large part of the society and their health has a wider societal impact together with their family members,
Occupational accidents and occupational diseases are largely preventable; nevertheless, high levels of health care needs, economic losses, deaths, disabilities and loss of working days are experienced,
The observed increase in the types and frequency of occupational diseases and work-related illnesses,
The negative effects of workplaces on environmental health.

Occupational accidents and diseases have not only individual but also social and economic costs. Neglecting OHS measures can have serious impacts on the national economy, leading to an economic loss of between 1 per cent and 4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Therefore, establishing and maintaining healthy and safe working conditions is a strategic imperative not only for individual health but also for sustainable development and economic productivity.

A strong occupational health and safety culture at the workplace level refers to an organisational structure in which employees and employers see a healthy and safe working environment as a fundamental right and actively contribute to its protection. Such a culture is based on the continuous improvement of occupational health and safety practices and the participation of all parties in the process. In the presence of a positive OHS culture, employees feel safe to openly raise concerns about potential risks and hazards in the workplace, thus enabling proactive risk management and a preventive approach.

In conclusion, ensuring occupational health and safety is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental ethical and social responsibility in the construction of a working life worthy of human dignity. The Occupational Health and Safety Week activities carried out in this direction are of great importance both in terms of raising individual awareness and promoting protective policies at the corporate level.