Which statement best describes primary prevention in occupational health surveillance?

• A. It focuses on reducing exposure before disease occurs
• B. It screens workers for disease
• C. It treats disease early
• D. It rehabilitates after illness

Answer: (A)

Primary prevention in occupational health surveillance aims to prevent illness by removing or reducing workers’ exposure to hazards before any disease develops. This means addressing the risk at its source through strategies like eliminating the hazard, substituting safer materials, and using engineering controls (ventilation, enclosure, machine guarding) or administrative controls (limiting exposure time, safety training) along with proper use of personal protective equipment. The goal is to keep people healthy by preventing disease rather than detecting it or treating it after it appears. In contrast, screening workers for disease is a secondary prevention effort aimed at early disease detection to prevent progression, treating disease early is management after disease onset, and rehabilitation after illness is concerned with restoring function, which is tertiary prevention.