Primary and Secondary Prevention of Illness in the Workplace

Abstract

Illnesses and injuries in the workplace have a considerable impact that go beyond the ill-health and suffering of the affected individual. The broader socioeconomic impact of workplace illnesses and injuries include reduced workplace productivity, creating a dangerous work environment, increasing healthcare costs, and potentially increased liability assessments through workers’ compensation premiums. This chapter discusses primary and secondary prevention strategies suitable for implementation at the workplace. An overview of the principles of preventive medicine is presented, with a description and broad goals for primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary prevention strategies. Following this, a review of the theoretical framework that was developed to address prevention strategies and health promotion behaviors is discussed, with a focus on the Health Belief Model, the Theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior, the Precaution Adoption Process Model, and the Transtheoretical Model. Finally, overviews of primary and secondary prevention strategies are discussed for common diseases and illness prevalent in the workplace, including prevention of occupational injuries and disability, smoking, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mental health disorders.