Introduction
When it comes to protecting the environment, there are hundreds and thousands of people who put their lives in danger in the environmental safety and health sector. These people risk their safety and health on a daily basis. This means protecting employees that deal with exposure to biological, physical and as well as chemical hazards as they work. Occupational Health and Environmental safety is an important subject in any working environment. Employees and employers should know and understand more about occupational health and environmental safety in order for them to stay safe and health in their working places.
History
For employees dealing with the disposal of waste to keep their communities environmentally safe and healthy they should be given the right gear to protect themselves from all the germs and dangerous materials they are exposed to. They should be given strong industrial gloves, working boots, masks and overalls to ensure their occupational safety. Even those working in hospitals, they are at risk of getting infections from the patients. It is therefore important for them to be protected from occupational and environmental risks. Another group of people that is at risk from environmental and occupational risks are those working in the mining and manufacturing industries. People working in asbestos mines for example are at risk of suffering from a disease known asbestosis. It is the duty of the government and the companies concerned to make sure that there are proper occupational health and environmental safety measures in place. This is to ensure that employees are protected, just in case something happens to them whilst they are on duty.
Features
A number of professions need occupational safety equipment for them to carry out their duties of ensuring environmental safety and health. This doesn’t only include employees working outdoors but indoor employees as well, for example; biologists, physicists, as well as any other occupation that deals with the testing of chemicals or any other potentially harmful objects or substances. Even for people working in the offices they also need to be protected from work related injuries and environmental risks. The labor law requires that companies have occupational health and environmental safety procedures in place. This is a government regulation and must be adhered to by every company in any industry.
Tips and comments
It is important for Governments to have strict laws when it comes to employees that work hard to maintain environmental safety and health. This will lead to having companies ensuring that their employees have at least the minimum protective gear to ensure their occupational safety whilst working. If these needs are not met and an employee happens to fall sick, lose a limb or even die whilst working, the employee or the employee’s family can sue the company for not adhering to occupational safety laws. Therefore to prevent unnecessary injuries in the workplace organizations should ensure that their employees are always protected when they are working; especially since they are risking their lives to keep the environment safe and healthy for all of us to live in.
