Occupational and Environmental Medicine specialises in health and safety in the workplace and the impact of industrial practices, and environmental conditions, on human health. This field of medicine is a subspecialty of Internal Medicine. It is concerned with the health and wellbeing of workers, including their mobility, dexterity, aerobic capacity, vision, hearing, skin and mental function. It studies harmful exposures in workplaces- such as dusts, airborne toxins, radiation and noise and those in the environment – which may come from air, water, soil, food, and recreation. It studies law and legislation relating to environmental control and employment, and strategies that help prevent illness or harm in the workplace or from environmental exposure.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine involves research, monitoring, and assessment of worker and public health matters, such as clusters of adverse health effects in the community, or environmental hazards generated by industry – including neighbourhood noise, dust, or contamination of waterways. Services can help to establish causal links between human health and occupational/environmental conditions. This field of medicine involves education and preventative health care strategies in the workplace and community, and rehabilitation and assistance for people to return to work after illness or injury.