Occupational health in India is more complex than just a health issue as it encompasses variety of issues like child labour; poor and ineffective plethora of legislations; a vast informal sector; less attention to industrial hygiene and poor surveillance data. Poor surveillance makes it impossible to assess the disease burden in this country due to occupational exposure.With a working population of more than 500 million Indians, 60% people work in unorganized sectors, 12% work in organized sectors while remaining work in smaller sectors. Although there are 3.24 lakh registered factories under Factories Act but only 2.7 lakh factories are active. The working conditions are severely compromised leading to increased mortality and morbidity causing 17 million injuries and 12000 deaths annually.

Gujarat is one of the most progressive state of Modern India. Spread over in a geographical space of 1.9 lac sq. KMs distributed in 26 districts. Gujarat has 36000 registered factories; 1200 large, 4097 Chemical factories ((MAH- Highly hazardous390. There are 3.5 million MSME’s under the umbrella of GIDC accounting 40% of Indian export.

Healthy worker is an asset to the management as only a healthy worker can give his maximum output in terms of productivity. Most management realise that health is an important factor, hence they see to it that they employ healthy workers and ensure that fit worker do not suffer from any illness on account of his work. The interaction of the worker with his working environment has got direct effects on the health of persons. The environ¬ment may be responsible in causation of occupational diseases or exacerba¬tion of other non-occupational diseases. Their health can also be adversely affected by high concentrations of substances like metal, pesticides, dyes, carcinogenic agents, gases, fumes etc. Moreover, new chemical agents are introduced for manufacture and use in industry. Workers exposed to all these toxic agents are at risk of suffering from their harmful effects. The state of health of the worker can influence his ability to work safely and efficiently. It is, therefore, of vital importance that the employees who are required to work in industries are protected and kept in a healthy state.

About Us

IAOH Vadodara is a non-profit, association of occupational healthcare professionals and is an affiliated branch of IAOH Headquarters. Founded since 1968, IAOH Vadodara’s prime objective is to spread awareness and scientific knowledge in the field of occupational health. We conduct various training programmes, seminars and workshops so that people can know causes and result of occupational illnesses and their prevention. Our aim is to help industry adopt best OH practices so that Health & Safety of its workforce is promoted in a big way

With membership of 271 life members,  IAOH Vadodara is one of the most dynamic and active branches in western India. We have organised SIX  times - National Conferences of IAOH India in the years -1955, 1968, 1980, 1990  2011 & 2024. In collaboration with Directorate of Industrial Safety & Health (DISH) IAOH Vadodara had organised 61^st National conference VOISHCON in 2011 at GSFC Auditorium Vadodara with a record number of 456  delegates from India and abroad. IAOH Vadodara has to its credit the conduction of Two state level conferences ( GUJCON 2016 – 189 delegates & GUJCON 2022- 456 delegates ) & GUJPARAMED 2015 ( 126 delegates) Lastly in January 2024, IAOH Vadodara planned and organized 74^th National Conference of IAOH India at Waves Club Vadodara with 304 delegates from all over India.

For its variety of activities , IAOH INDIA awarded the Vadodara Branch bagged the Best IAOH Branch award four times (2004, 2008, 2012 and 2018) To cater to local manpower needs, IAOH Vadodara conducts a training programme ( Six Consecutive Sundays)  for paramedics in OH, known as Medical Assistant Course for Occupational Health Centre (Popularly known as MACOHC). It has  trained 1043 ( One thousand and fourty three )  participants from 225 industries till date and many of them are deployed as paramedics and Medical Assistants in various Industries of Gujarat.The objective of this training is to update and improve skills, knowledge and attitude of paramedics as well as associated healthcare workers so that they can perform efficiently and effectively in OHCs and hospitals.

Three of IAOH Vadodara members have been awarded & recognized  by IAOH India in various ways. In 2013, Dr RC Saxena, a senior OH Physician was conferred National oration award of L&T at Bangalore. Dr J R Kamath was awarded as BEST RESOURCE PERSON AWARD in 2022.Dr Kishor Parikh was elected unanimously as Hon Gen Secretary of IAOH India for year 2022-2024.

In 2017, IAOH Vadodara branch acquired its own Commercial premises in Vadodara. It is the only branch amongst 28 branches to have it’s own commercial premises known as Learning Centre at 310 LABH Business Hub in Gorwa Karodiya area of Vadodara. This LEARNING CENTRE was inaugurated on 4th June 2017.The office has  a full time secretarial staff to cater to day to day activities of Association.