02Rantanen BOSH

In response to the global challenges to develop occupational health services, the WHO/ILO/ICOH Joint Effort on the Development of Basic Occupational Health Services (BOHS) was launched. A model framework providing guidance in the principles, content, models, and resources of BOHS was drawn up. The ultimate objective of the BOHS initiative is to provide occupational health services for all working people in the world, regardless of the sector of economy, mode of employment, size of the workplace, or geographic location. In this paper, the background for BOHS with respect to policy and public health theory is described, the model infrastructure is elucidated, and the stepwise development, as well as the necessary human resources, are discussed.