Summary
Injuries and illnesses are a major concern in the modern workplace. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 1.1 million people are killed annually as the result of work-related accidents and health issues. The National Occupational Research Agenda reports that more than 17,000 workers are injured during an average work day. The associated economic costs run to about $121 billion per year. Millions of workers suffer job-related injuries that result in lost work time each year, making this a topic that deserves attention.
How can workplace safety be improved? How can businesses soften the loss of productivity related to employee illnesses? How many of those illnesses are caused by work-related factors such as stress or unhealthy working environments? These questions and others like them bear asking, and their answers can help employees, employers, policy makers, and activists grasp the repercussions of work-related health issues on personal and public life in America.
The Encyclopedia of Work-Related Illnesses, Injuries, and Health Issues is a complete reference to the relationship between individual health and the workplace and the rights of employees. There is no other book like this that offers the depth of coverage and unique insights related to the topic. The book explains the issues in high-risk industries such as construction, mining, and farming, and it explains the factors affecting industries such as hospitals and groceries where the risk of nonfatal injury is a serious threat. Covering stress and health concerns unique to the modern office, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and sick building syndrome, the book also discusses child labor laws, workmen’s compensation, and health insurance. Appendixes include a bibliography and directory of resources.
Specifications
Index. Appendixes. Bibliography. Cross-references.
About the Author(s)
Ada P. Kahn holds a Ph. D. in public health. She is the author of Stress A to Z; coauthor of Facing Fears, The Encyclopedia of Phobias, Fears and Anxieties, The Encyclopedia of Mental Health, The A to Z of Women’s Sexuality and Midlife Health. Several of her Facts On File books have won awards from the American Medical Writers Association and the Illinois Women’s Press Association.
Delbert H. Meyer, M.D., is a clinical instructor at the University of California at Davis and a medical adviser for the School of Respiratory Therapy at American River College in Sacramento. He is on staff at Mercy San Juan Hospital in Carmichael, California, and has written extensively for a number of medical journals. He has more than 30 years' experience in medicine.