Their work sustains the economic and material basis of society which is critically dependent on their working capacity. In countries where the present trends are still negative, positive development is expected and the legal and other actions, including the development of necessary resources and infrastructures, should be taken to make such positive trends possible. All countries should show a progressive development of occupational health services with the ultimate objective of covering all workers with such services irrespective of the sector of economy, size of company, occupation, mode of employment, or nature of self-employment. The workplace is a hazardous environment.
Many individuals spend one-third of their adult life in such hazardous work environments.
Furthermore, approximately eight out of 10 of the world's workers live in these countries. Such services, if organized appropriately and effectively for all workers, would contribute positively not only to workers' health, but also to overall socioeconomic development, productivity, environmental health and well-being of countries, communities, families and dependents. Also the control of unnecessary costs from sickness absenteeism and work disability, as well as costs of health care and social security can be effectively managed with the help of occupational health. Rapid change of the modern working life is associated with increasing demands of learning new skills, need to adapt to new types of work, pressure of higher productivity and quality of work, time pressure and hectic jobs and with growing psychological workload and stress among the workforce. Such developments require higher priority to be given for psychological quality of work and the work environment, and more attention to psychosocial aspects of work.