The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." It is the result of several factors, including behaviors, genetic predisposition to disease, the environment, and the community in which a person lives. The maintenance and promotion of health is achieved through different combinations of physical, mental, and social well-being.
Occupational health deals with all aspects of health and safety in the workplace and has a strong focus primarily on the prevention of hazards. It is important to understand that the overall health of workers has several determinants, including risk factors at the workplace leading to cancers, accidents, musculoskeletal diseases MSDs), respiratory diseases, hearing loss, circulatory diseases, stress-related disorders, obesity, communicable diseases, and others. Coupled with workplace risk factors are personal or individual risk factors such as lifestyle, diet habits, posture, work habits, and the person's current state of health, including chronic conditions.