The Multi-disciplinary nature of health and safety

Workplace health and safety practice together knowledge from many different disciplines. Some health and safety topics are simple to understand; others are technical and require specialist knowledge. Sometimes the practical solution to health and safety problem is straightforward; at other times the solution is complicated and demanding and requires the correct application of technical knowledge and thinking.

In order to fully understand a health and safety issue you need to be familiar with:

• technical background to issue and have relevant knowledge

• standards that may apply to workplace and to the specific health and safety issue under consideration.

• possible strengths and weaknesses of the various options available to solve the problem

The study of health and safety therefore involves many different subject, including the sciences (chemistry, physics and biology), engineering, psychology, sociology and the law.