Development of occupational health policies in Japan
Seichi Horie, MD, MPH, PhD
Department of Health Policy and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health,Japan
1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu city, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan
abstract
Industrial Safety and Health Law (ISH Law) of Japan enforced in 1972, originates from Factory Law stipulated in 1911. Employers in Japan are required to implement regular evaluations on workers’ health and their working environments. Occupational physicians are assigned to medium to large workplaces and expected to give advises for improvement of workshop and adaptation of workers. Worldwide spreading of occupational safety and health risk management system (OSH-MS) provoked ISH Law amendment in 2006 to promote risk assessment. Moreover, Labor Contract Law in 2007 started to require employers to make reasonable efforts to ensure employee health for foreseeable and avoidable risks. At present, employers in Japan are obliged to carefully follow these legislations.
INFORMATION3 of 6th IPS-ICS
