The surveillance of the work environment is one of the key activities of Basic Occupational Health Services.
The main purpose of health examinations is to assess the suitability of a worker to carry out certain jobs, to assess any health impairment which may be related to the exposure to harmful agents inherent in the work process and to identify cases of occupational diseases which may have resulted from exposures at work.
Control measures should be adequate to prevent unnecessary exposure during normal operating conditions, as well as during possible accidents and emergencies.
Guidelines for preventive actions for management and control of health and safety hazards and risks: Information on identified workplace health hazards and risks must be communicated to the managers responsible for implementing prevention and control measures.
The idea of providing basic occupational health services deserved special attention, as it would provide countries with a practical tool for identifying priorities and pooling scarce resources to develop an integrative and effective occupational health system and services, tailored according to the national conditions and needs of each country.