An oversight that protects many people at once
Health surveillance looks after the safety of products that reach you — food, medicine, cosmetics — checking that they don’t put your health at risk.
What it does in practice
- Inspects commercial and industrial establishments.
- Evaluates and controls the quality of products and services.
- Creates technical health safety standards.
Where this intersects with workplace safety
Places handling food or medicine need to follow requirements that closely resemble workplace safety standards — controlling contamination and handling with care protects both the worker and the end consumer.
Two sides protected at once
Whoever works exposed to the production process and whoever consumes the final product gain protection from the same oversight — occupational health and public health moving together.
Not following the rules is costly
An establishment out of compliance can be shut down, fined, and in more serious cases, face criminal liability for endangering public health.