We characterize a program that can improve the occupational safety and health (OSH) of precarious workers, a group that includes individuals employed in lower skilled workers in microenterprises, self-employed individuals without special skills or certifications, unskilled individuals with non-standard employment, and temporarily unemployed individuals. Five years ago, we began a small project that supported the health of workers in small-scale workplaces as a joint activity of a local NGO medical organization and a support center for non-standard workers, with support from a large labor union in a district of Ulsan (South Korea). Over time, we developed relationships with additional public resources, such as a regional Workers Health Center and a local public health center, and developed a cooperative system among these parties. The interventions intended to improve the health status of workers at small-scale factories initially consisted of health checkups and health counseling. After 5 years, so this program now provides more comprehensive OHS interventions that target many precarious workers. \nThese activities in Ulsan highlight that the OSH of precarious workers cannot be addressed with the existing OSH system, and that the participation of community health care providers is necessary. Thus, there should be a new paradigm for improving the health of precarious workers, in which there is a shift of focus from the ‘workplace’ to the ‘worker’, because the current workplace-focused OSH approach cannot cover precarious workers. The health of precarious workers can be more appropriately managed using a worker-focused approach, in which there is networking of occupational and community health resources. Our experience in Ulsan inspired us to develop a new paradigm — a worker-focused approach — which may also be effective in other cities or countries.

Login to Download PDF

Please login with your Paper ID and password to access the full PDF.

🔑 Login to Download