Welcome to Fundamentals of Occupational Health. This course provides an introduction to basic concepts in occupational health. We will mainly focus on the United States, but we will take a look at some international topics. The course is designed to be the first course for occupational health students. You can follow this course by taking a more in-depth course in such core areas of occupational health as occupational and environmental hygiene; clinical occupational and environmental toxicology; toxicology; ergonomics; occupational safety; health law and policy; advanced topics in occupational and environmental health nursing; occupational and environmental health nursing; and occupational health.

Module 1 is an overview of occupational health, the resources available for occupational health professionals, and a look at some examples of workplaces in the U.S. and around the world. We examine the history of occupational health, along with case studies that focus on occupational exposure issues that continue to have relevance today. The last lecture discusses the burden of occupational illness and injuries in the U.S. This module will provide an introduction to the very important issue of workplace health and safety.

Module 2 focuses on the exposure to disease continuum. In this module, we focus on exposure assessment, biological monitoring, and medical surveillance. These activities are mandated by law but are also essential steps in prevention of occupational illness and injury. We also introduce two core disciplines in occupational health—occupational and environmental hygiene and occupational and environmental health nursing. Guest speakers from these disciplines will discuss their roles in the interdisciplinary occupational health team.

Module 3 presents the two core disciplines of clinical occupational medicine and injury epidemiology. We will also look at some of the key regulations that govern the workplace, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), and the Mine Safety and Health Act (MSH Act), we will discuss workers compensation, disability and impairment, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Module 4 covers workplace health promotion, emerging workplace issues, unions, special worker groups, and we will take a brief look at international occupational health.

Thank you, enjoy the course, and please let us hear from you!

—Maureen Cadorette, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Director

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