Work and Wellness

This is the latest in a series of posts highlighting a chapter from the Department of Public Health’s new and comprehensive "Health of Massachusetts" report.

Massachusetts workers drive our economy, from biotechnology and health care to fishing and construction. While work is fundamental to well being, working conditions can also have negative impacts on health. This is most obvious in jobs such as construction where many dangers are well recognized, but exposure to chemicals, chronic wear and tear, and stress can also take a toll in many workplaces.  

Workplace hazards should not be simply accepted as part of the job. There is extensive evidence that with effort, these risks can be reduced or even eliminated. The Department’s Occupational Health Surveillance Program (OHSP) manages prevention activities and works with a wide range of government and community partners to address identified workplace health and safety problems. These activities include interventions in individual worksites, educational outreach to workers, employers, and health care providers, recommendations for changes in equipment design, and development of public policies to reduce workplace risks.

Learn more about the work of OHSP and the wide range of health needs of our increasingly diverse and mobile workforce at www.mass.gov/dph/healthofmassachusetts.