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International Organizations as Drivers of Change in Occupational Health

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Handbook of Socioeconomic Determinants of Occupational Health

Part of the book series: Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences ((HDBSOHS))

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Abstract

This chapter presents the background, mandate, and reason for existence of international occupational health organizations and the role they play as drivers of change. The main focus is on the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) because they are intergovernmental and thus more influential than nongovernmental organizations. International occupational health organizations have played important roles in the struggle for peace and social justice for more than 100 years. Today they face dilemmas and problems, including silo-thinking and insufficient funding, but there are also reasons for optimism, such as growing political recognition of decent work and occupational health. The recent suggestion to make occupational safety and health one of ILO’s fundamental principles and rights at work is potentially very promising for the future of international occupational health organizations as drivers of change.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Working Life Science, Karlstad Business School, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden

    Carin Håkansta

  2. Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Carin Håkansta

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  1. Carin Håkansta
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Correspondence to Carin Håkansta .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Stockholms Län, Sweden

    Töres Theorell

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan

    Akizumi Tsutsumi

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Håkansta, C. (2020). International Organizations as Drivers of Change in Occupational Health. In: Theorell, T. (eds) Handbook of Socioeconomic Determinants of Occupational Health. Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05031-3_36-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05031-3_36-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-05031-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-05031-3

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