188.694.81 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND VULNERABLE WORKER POPULATIONS

Discusses occupational health program considerations, (including all levels of prevention), for vulnerable populations, using examples such as the health needs of women workers, shift workers, aging workers, families of workers, and workers with chronic diseases and impairments. Focuses on strategies for identifying and removing barriers that affect health and work performance; program development and management responsibilities; and cost issues related to implementing selected preventive and rehabilitative programs. Presents relevant research findings on the ability of vulnerable populations to benefit from safe and healthy working lives.

On completion of this course the student will be able to: 1. Identify, for selected vulnerable subgroups, factors that influence the need for specific occupational health services. 2. Discuss examples of interaction between occupational and environmental risk factors and host factors that affect health and work performance. 3. Describe the application of research findings to the practice of health professionals, including safety specialists, nurses, physicians, health educators, and others. 4. Examine the contribution of workplace exposures to home environment contamination and implications for workers and their families. 5. Analyze the occupational health needs of a specific vulnerable worker population.