Course : Occupational Health and Vulnerable Worker Populations
Lecture Materials
Module 1: Workforces and Workplaces
Define the terms used to describe and enumerate the U.S. labor force
Describe the changing distribution of occupations and industries in the U.S.
Describe significant trends over time in the demographic characteristics of the labor force
Module 2: Working Through the Lifespan
Describe the demographic characteristics of the working adolescent
Identify the physical and psychological characteristics of adolescents and the impact of work
Discuss the risks and benefits of adolescent worker
Define the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the lack of enforcement and health and safety implications for working adolescents
Describe current research on working adolescents
List common obstacles and myths that impact the ability of older workers to have safe and productive working lives
Describe the relationship between work demands and physical changes that occur with aging
Discuss the risk factors and prevention of occupational injuries in older workers
Cite strategies that can be incorporated into policies and programs to prevent discriminatory treatment and maintain the health and well being of older workers
Module 3: Disability, Obesity, Mental Illness, and Infectious Disease
Identify the characteristics (demographics, statistics) of workers with disabilities in the United States
Describe current models of disability
Discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 2008 ADA Amendments Act and theimplications for the employer and the employee
Explain the barriers to the disabled by completing an interview with Dr. SB Lee, an individual with a mobility disorder
Define overweight and obesity
Describe the impact of obesity on morbidity and mortality
Discuss how the relationship between obesity and work impacts occupational safety and health
Identify the ethical, legal and social issues related to work and obesity
» Lecture 6:
Infectious Diseases (IDs) and Health Care Personnel (HCP) - This lecture is not currently available
Discuss the common infectious disease exposures among health care workers
Describe preventive methods for reducing the occupational transmission of infectious diseases
Describe the epidemiology, costs and management issues of mental illness issues in the workplace
List the more prevalent mental health problems in the workplace
Identify interventions related to prevention, management and accommodation of mental illness in the work setting
Module 4: Management of Disability/Illness and Return to Work
Describe the demographic, physical, psychosocial, and clinical factors that influence return to work (RTW)
State the current statistics with respect to returning the employee to work
Discuss the components of a disability management program
Module 5: Women, Minority, and Immigrant Workers
Describe the characteristics of women workers and their work
Identify safety and health issues for working women
Summarize the impact of multiple roles on women's work: caregiving
Examine the social and economic factors that influence job opportunities for minority workers
Describe how minority workers are at increased risk for occupational disease and injury
Describe interventions and actions to promote the health and safety of diverse workforces
Discuss the relationship between U.S. immigration trends and occupation-specific demographics
Cite reasons for increased rates of injury among immigrant workers
Describe barriers to health care for immigrant workers
Identify approaches to maximize the effectiveness of health and safety training programs for immigrant workers
Module 6: The Second Shift: Workers' Families
List the signs and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Describe the concerns experienced by family members of emergency response workers
State important considerations for providing mental health services after an event
Describe the means by which non-workers, such as household members, become exposed to work-related toxic agents
Identify the classes of toxins most commonly reported to be transferred from the work to home environments
Describe measures that can be taken in the workplace and home to reduce the risk of non-worker exposure to workplace hazards
Module 7: Special Working Populations
List worker, family, co-worker and employer issues related to military reserve participation
Discuss health and workplace implications of reservists' deployment and return
Identify resources that are available to employers and reservists
Identify newly emerging industries that that account for increases in "green jobs."
Describe what is meant by decent work