The Occupational Health and Safety Act

• In 1970, the Occupational Health and Safety Act was passed to help protect workers and to ensure a safe work environment. Among other requirements, the law mandates that employers protect workers from injury by providing safe tools and equipment. It also requires employers to report injuries to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
  
  

Physical Safety at Work

• According to a study released in September 2010 by the Public Welfare Foundation, 85 percent of workers polled said safety at work was their top occupational concern. About 12 percent of those polled said they had a job-related injury in the past year and 37 percent reported past treatment of a work-related injury.
  
  

Mental Health and Work

• The World Health Organization defines a healthy workplace as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease." According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 25 percent of all employees say work is their biggest stessor. Many employers have contracted with Employee Assistance Programs that provide counseling to employees undergoing stress.
  
  

Employee Wellness Programs

• Increasingly, employers are developing comprehensive workplace wellness initiatives. These programs typically include a survey to determine the health status of employees. Programs are developed based on survey findings. If a large number of employees smoke, an employer may develop a smoking cessation program to help smokers quit. Often employers offer financial and other incentives to employees who complete programs that improve their health.