Ss34-01 the Workplace Health Without Borders Ethos and Service Delivery in a Nutshell

Abstract Introduction Workplace Health Without Borders (WHWB) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting international occupational health. This presentation will provide an overview of WHWB, and share what we have learned about the ethos and culture of the global occupational health / hygiene community. Materials and Methods WHWB’s vision is ‘a world where workers, their families and communities do not get ill because of their work’. Our mission is ‘to prevent work-related disease around the world through shared expertise, knowledge and skills’. An entirely volunteer organization, WHWB leverages the expertise of its members, including occupational hygienists and healthcare professionals, to offer training, mentoring and technical assistance on projects to help local partners assess and control work-related hazards. Results Since its founding in 2011, WHWB has built a global network of volunteers dedicated to building international capacity for preventing work-related injury and illness. Our achievements have included numerous training programs, both in-person and virtual, that have educated occupational health / hygiene professionals who lack access to such education. Our committees devoted to specific issues, such as brick kilns, waste picking, nail salons and asbestos, have conducted projects to provide training, or assess and control hazards. Conclusions WHWB has demonstrated that occupational hygienists, physicians and other professionals have a vast reservoir of expertise that they are willing to share to build international occupational health / hygiene capacity. The expertise of volunteers is a valuable resource in improving global health, and a testament to the collaborative culture and dedication of the occupational health community.