Military medicine: establishing a more comprehensive strategy for improved worker health

In an era of decreased resources, optimizing worker safety and health has become increasingly challenging. Data obtained from the Army and Navy Safety Centers suggest that current strategies for managing worker safety and health can be improved. In the past, work safety management practices placed sole responsibility for safety upon the worker. More recently, safety and health practices have recognized that organizational climate and structure influence worker safety and health. Furthermore, although worker safety and health, work site health promotion, and risk management efforts have been managed autonomously, all three components are interrelated and dependent on one another to achieve greater worker safety and health. The intent of this article is to increase awareness and marketing among military medicine staff members of the crucial components of an improved health and safety program. This article explains common organizational barriers to achieving worker safety and health, provides an understanding of the interconnectedness of occupational safety and health, health promotion, and risk management, and suggests strategies for optimizing worker safety and health.