Occupational Health—Or Occupational Sickness?

The current emphasis on occupational health and safety has been on curative practice as opposed to preventive measures. Business accumulates profit; if required by law, it treats those diseases or handicapped workers who have suffered due to unsafe, unhealthy working conditions. The illness of the worker often becomes a side effect of production, patched up after the fact. Such a problem oriented approach is insufficient. Ontario's occupational health legislation is ambiguous. Workers' rights are insecure. Experience in Saskatchewan has proven that well defined legislation against hazardous working conditions does not disrupt production. This article offers a progressive alternative to promote and maintain the highest degree of physical and social wellbeing of individual workers and groups in the workplace.