Workplace Health

Workplace health covers a range of topics relating to the effect of work on health and wellbeing and vice versa. Workers need to be able to work in an environment which does not compromise but rather protects and promotes their health. Also a worker’s individual health and wellbeing should not impact on work quality and productivity.

Workplace health includes addresssing physical issues such as manual handling and ergonomics, which if not properly managed can result in back and upper limb injuries. It also includes traditional workplace diseases such as dermatitis, asthma and noise induced hearing loss. In recent years psycho-social topics such as stress, bullying and behaviour at work have assumed an increased importance.

Other relevant areas are first aid and violence at work, smoke free workplaces, sensitive work groups such as pregnant workers and young persons, plus public health issues which can overlap into work such as avian influenza and tuberculosis.

Finally workplace health and wellbeing is beginning to look at issues such as the management of absence, rehabilitation of workers, access to work by people with a disability and the management of the working population as Ireland’s workforce starts to age.

Regulations, guidance and information

There are specific regulations on manual handling, display screen equipment, and first aid in the 2007 General Application Regulations - see the Legislation section of this website. In addition there are specific sets of regulations on protection of pregnant workers, night work and shift work, and protection of children and young persons.

There are a number of workplace health guidance publications, most of which can be downloaded free of charge from this website's Publications section. These include guidance on manual handling, display screen equipment, ergonomics, bullying, violence, asthma, dermatitis, smoke-free workplaces, pregnancy and first aid.

In addition there are frequently asked questions on a range of topics. These include avian influenza, bullying in the workplace, display screen equipment, first aid, night and shift workers, manual handling, pregnant at work, sit stand, smoke-free workplaces, stress in the workplace and tuberculosis (TB) in the workplace.

Other information and guidance on related topics which can affect workers' health such as exposure to chemicals, biological agents, noise and vibration are also available elsewhere on this website.