Chapter 28 Work and health
The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights states that ‘Everyone has the right to work’. Does this imply that work is ‘good’ for us and for our health? Is all work good for us? Table 1 summarizes some of the characteristics of work which have been identified as important for health. The other side of this picture is that the absence of these criteria can lead to ill health and injury. World Health Organization statistics tell us that 2 million people worldwide die each year from work-related accidents and disease. The ‘right to work’ is, therefore, complemented by the United Nations International Labour Organization’s (ILO) commitment to ‘adequate protection for the life and health of workers in all occupations’.
Table 1 Characteristics of ‘healthy’ jobs
| Pay and conditions | Good wages/benefits |
|---|---|
| Security | |
| Physical environment | Protection from physical, chemical and biological hazards |
| Demands | Neither too much nor too little work. Not excessive hours |
| Clarity of role and no conflicting demands | |
| Minimal unsocial hours or shiftwork | |
| Minimum conflict between demands of home and work | |
| Skills | Ability to use skills and be creative |
| Opportunity to develop new skills | |
| Control | Ability to control how you work |
| Participation in decision-making | |
| Ability to organize independently | |
| Support | Collaboration and collective effort. Good communication |
| Good relationships with colleagues and supervisors | |
| Being valued and respected. Equality of treatment |
