NIOSH’s Howard: Tear down the company fence; build Total Worker Health programs
Statement by NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard
We often speak of our personal and working lives as if they were mutually exclusive. We "go to work" or "come home."
A similar perception of life divided by the company fence has traditionally driven public policy, business practice, and individual initiative for worker health. Typically, a corporate safety and health department is responsible for practices to prevent injuries or illnesses associated with the conditions of work. The human resources department handles insurance duties (including the administration of workers’ compensation insurance for injuries on the job after the fact) and provides assistance for health issues viewed as "life style" or "personal health" choices, such as smoking cessation and stress management.