Conceptual Framework of Occupational Health and Safety

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the reader to the conceptual framework of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). It examines the legal framework for safety and health, focusing on the key features and significant historical changes of both old and modern legislative OSH frameworks. The chapter presents a variety of legal instruments with different jurisdictions and legislative orders, and it concentrates on the offender of the omission who has created a risky condition that has made it easier for the consequence to arise by earlier action or inaction. In addition, the active subject of the offense is recognised as the individual who must adopt legal safety and health measures at work, as well as patrimonial culpability when the employer fails to comply with legal obligations to guarantee health and safety at work. After reading this chapter, the reader should be able to outline the legal framework for safety and health and to describe the influence of the European Union on OSH, identifying the key sources of health and safety information.