Center for Research in Occupational Health, Universitat Pompeu Fabra IMIM PSMar, CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Barcelona, Spain
Departament of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA.
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2019 Dec;73(12):1141-1144. doi: 10.1136/jech-2018-211561. Epub 2019 Oct 5.
The welfare state has a long history of uncertain future. Nonetheless, health indicators of people living in countries with a more universal and generous welfare state remain better than those living under less generous and more individualist welfare regimes. In this essay, we reflect on how occupational health, as part of public health, can contribute to the sustainability of the welfare state.
Over the course of the political and social transformations of the State, from single guarantor of security to assuming civil and social rights, the practice of public health has added, to its original objectives related to the control of epidemics of contagious diseases, the promotion of health and the reduction of inequalities in health. In the context of the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals, there is a great opportunity to expand the welfare state through public health policies.
On the other hand, the welfare state is only possible when persons are employed in the formal sector. Through their taxes, workers and employers support the welfare state. Occupational health, by preventing injury and illness, and promoting the health of working people, can contribute significantly to the existence of decent work and a quality labour market.
The mission of occupational health is to help people enjoy a healthy and prolonged working life, as a critical component of human well-being.
福利国家的未来前景一直存在不确定性。尽管如此，生活在福利制度更普遍和慷慨的国家的人们的健康指标仍然好于生活在福利制度不那么慷慨和更个人主义的国家的人们。在本文中，我们反思了作为公共卫生一部分的职业卫生如何有助于福利国家的可持续性。
随着国家政治和社会转型的发展，从单一的安全保障者到承担公民和社会权利，公共卫生实践除了最初与控制传染病流行、促进健康和减少健康不平等有关的目标外，还增加了这些目标。在 2030 年可持续发展议程的背景下，通过公共卫生政策扩大福利国家的机会很大。
另一方面，福利国家只有在人们在正规部门就业的情况下才有可能。工人和雇主通过纳税来支持福利国家。职业卫生通过预防伤害和疾病以及促进工作人群的健康，可以为体面工作和高质量劳动力市场的存在做出重大贡献。
职业卫生的使命是帮助人们享受健康和长寿的工作生活，这是人类福祉的重要组成部分。
