Abstract

Total Worker Health® (TWH) is an emerging, professional practice concept and approach to occupational health and safety introduced by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health in 2011. It was introduced to support the shift of focus from occupational safety to include health and well-being and effectively address worker conditions such as stress, chronic disease, and aging. This was deemed necessary as scientific evidence confirmed that risk factors in the workplace are contributing to health problems previously considered unrelated to work (e.g., sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, depression, obesity, etc.).  TWH has five key elements, with many aspects within each element, and is very much in developmental stages. As an inaugural member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Total Exposure Health (TEH) / TWH Task Force and Steering Committee and current Advisory Group to the AIHA Board of Directors, Ms. Wilk, in this presentation, will define TWH and explain the five key elements of the approach as well as introduce the concept of TEH by definition and application. Using the NIOSH model, the presentation will draw linkages as to where Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) and Industrial Hygiene (IH) professionals, as exposure scientists, can have direct and indirect exposure-based input into the various aspects. TEH / TWH includes the consideration that injurious exposures leading to negative health outcomes potentially occur in both the occupational and non-occupational settings. The TWH / TEH approach focuses on how the workplace environment can both mitigate the risk to worker safety and health and enhance overall worker well-being. Finally, as exposure scientists, OEHS and IH professionals can have meaningful input into TEH / TWH strategies and programs, disease prevention, and ultimately, worker health outcomes. Points will be raised for consideration with regards to the evolution of exposure science instrumentation and use, worker engagement, and the need for TEH / TWH to drive research.