Concept of Occupational Safety and Health:

• Safety, in general, seeks to protect humans, avoiding risks in any field, preventing losses in lives and properties where possible. Occupational safety and health specifically focus on preserving human safety and health from risks arising due to work, providing a safe work environment free from accident causes or occupational diseases.

General Objectives of Safety:

1. Protection from Injuries:
   • Safeguard individuals from injuries resulting from work environment risks to prevent accidents and injuries.
2. Preservation of Material Elements:
   • Preserve material elements, such as facilities, equipment, and devices, from damage and destruction.
3. Implementation of Safety and Health Requirements:
   • Provide and implement safety and health requirements, ensuring a safe environment for the human and material elements.
4. Instill Security in Workers' Hearts:
   • Establish a sense of security in the hearts of workers during their work.
5. Time and Productivity Conservation:
   • Conserve time and productivity lost due to work injuries and occupational diseases.

Safety Areas:

• Safety intervenes in various aspects of life, but industry stands out as the primary field where safety measures are crucial, aiming to prevent or reduce work-related accidents and mitigate the possibilities of injury from occupational diseases. This doesn't negate the need for safety in other areas, such as traffic, where safety measures are equally crucial.

Main Production Elements:

Safety in any institution is considered a facet of successful administrative development and economic planning. It reflects the general awareness of the importance of safety and its role as a crucial production sector. Safety, in its modern and comprehensive sense, means preserving the main production elements, namely:

1. Human Resources (Inside and Outside the Institution):
   • Ensuring the safety of individuals within and outside the institution.
2. Raw Materials and Produced Materials:
   • Safeguarding raw materials and the final products.
3. Equipment and Production Tools:
   • Ensuring the safety of equipment and production tools.
4. Surrounding Environment (Water, Air, Soil):
   • Preserving the surrounding environment, including water, air, and soil.

To advance occupational safety effectively, attention must be given to maintaining these four elements. This is achieved through:

• Scientific and Purposeful Planning:
  • Implementing scientific and purposeful planning.
• Advanced and Development-Oriented Legislation:
  • Adhering to advanced and specialized legislation that keeps pace with developmental changes.
• Implementation and Compliance with Legislation:
  • Executing and complying with legislation through specialized technical and regulatory bodies.

Impact of Poor Working Conditions on Workers' Safety and Health:

Any form of poor working conditions can adversely affect workers' safety and health. Unhealthy or unsafe working conditions extend beyond workplaces; they can be present anywhere, whether internally or externally. Poor working conditions can also impact the environment in which workers live, as work and living environments are often the same for many workers.

Occupational risks can have harmful effects on workers and their families, as well as other individuals in society. Traditional examples include the use of pesticides in agriculture, where workers may be exposed to toxic chemicals through inhalation, absorption through the skin, or ingestion.

Efforts in occupational safety and health should aim to prevent workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Simultaneously, these efforts should distinguish the connection between worker safety, health, workplace, and the external environment. The goal is to prevent accidents and occupational diseases while recognizing the link between worker safety, health, workplace, and the external environment.

Why is Occupational Safety and Health Important?

Work plays a primary role in people's lives. Since most workers spend at least eight hours each day in the workplace, whether on a farm, in an office, or in a factory, work environments should be secure and healthy. Unfortunately, many workers face health risks every day, such as dust, gases, noise, vibrations, and extreme temperatures.

Some employers may neglect their responsibility to protect workers' safety and health. Lack of attention to safety and health can lead to accidents and diseases related to work, and, in some cases, employers may not be fully aware of their ethical and legal responsibilities to protect workers. As a result, workplace accidents and occupational diseases are prevalent worldwide due to risks and inadequate attention to safety and health.

Identifying Risks in the Workplace:

In any workplace, there is an unlimited number of risks that can be present. Some hazards are apparent, such as machines without protective measures, slippery floors, or inadequate fire extinguishing precautions. However, there are also hidden risks (those that may not be immediately obvious), including:

1. Physical Hazards:
   • Examples include noise, vibrations, inadequate lighting, radiation, extreme temperatures, and pressure. For more information, refer to the interactive library on the website for occupational safety and health videos.
2. Chemical Hazards:
   • Arising from liquids, solid substances, dust, smoke, vapors, and gases.
3. Electrical Hazards:
   • Resulting from electric shock due to electrical connections and equipment.
4. Mechanical Hazards:
   • Originating from machines, mechanical equipment, machinery, conveyors, and rotating parts.
5. Engineering Hazards:
   • Construction-related risks and risks associated with loading and unloading.
6. Biological Hazards:
   • Such as germs, viruses, infectious waste, insects, and rodents.
7. Fire Hazards:
   • Resulting from the absence of safety requirements during construction, lack of alarm systems, firefighting equipment, and training.
8. Psychological Hazards:
   • Resulting from stress and pressure.
9. Hazards Associated with Non-Application of Ergonomic Principles:
   • For example, poor design of machines, equipment, and mechanical tools used by workers, or inappropriate design of workplace seating, or poor design of work practices.

The interactive library on the website provides safety and health videos covering various areas. Additionally, the library contains books on the subject of safety and occupational health that can be referred to for further knowledge.