319 - OEM best practices for the health, safety, and sustainability of Underserved Occupational Populations

Session Description: Underserved occupational populations are integral part of our communities. They represent various groups of people who provide essential services to us all yet do not have the same workplace health and safety protections as many other occupational populations. The result is increased rates of illness and injury these workers. Chicago has a long history of raising the importance and humanity of treating all workers fairly and justly. There are efforts and successes which we will highlight as examples of what can be achieved through collaborative efforts that include occupational and environmental professionals. This progress represents best practice in OEM and is consistent with the AOHC 2026 theme of building a healthy, sustainable world through healthy workers.

Educational Gaps: In many areas of our world, as physicians, we continue to operate in the same way using the same approaches and often without collaboration. This session will present advances and even breakthroughs in worker health and safety because of diverse, collaborative work between physicians and communities.

Is this session being sponsored by an ACOEM Section or Component?: Yes, the Underserved Occupational Populations Section

Has this session previously been presented?: No

The AOHC 2026 theme is Healthy workers. Healthy world: As mentioned in the description above, this Session focuses on the health and sustainability of workers as a means to a healthier world. The themes of multidisciplinary collaboration to achieve healthier workers and healthier communities transcends geographical boundaries. It is grounded in the requirement that all workers have access to appropriate health and safety protections.