In medicine and labour law there are two widely accepted concepts. The first of them refers to the meaning of the work. Work is an activity, often regular and often done in exchange for a payment ("for a living").
The second concept refers to occupational disease, which refers to the pathology established by employment. This indicates a series of risk factors and working conditions that after a while end up generating a work-related illness.
In a large number of countries, the recognition of a work-related illness to a worker gives him access to a series of economic and welfare benefits. The above occurs after probationary processes where rating boards determine whether the origin of the pathology is due to occupational exposure or not.
However, in practice in occupational medicine we face that extra-labour risk factors - generally linked to home care activities such as washing, ironing, caring for older adults or children, etc. - are a criterion for qualifying as non-work diseases (usually musculoskeletal).
Are not activities associated with home care also a job? Why use these types of risk factors to ignore the occupational disease, especially in women?
Good point. Activities both inside and outside of paid employment can combine as risk factors for disease. And this is not only home care but leisure activities too, such as sports. One thing to keep in mind is that the workplace is often safer than home because at work there are safety standards to follow, and often supervisors will be sure that people follow safety standards. At home a person is free to ignore safety.
Dear Jeadran
This is a great point. Yes, unpaid care work of women and men (though they engage less in unpaid care) can lead to accident and diseases. There is reference is sustainable development goals to access to safe fuel, but there is little recognition of consequences to women of caring of sick adults and eldelry- lifting them, supporting them etc. Looking after sick can also expose one to diseases. Further, mental health consequences of being tied to the home are not accounted for, as well as being held accountable by men for education performance of children and their relationships.
I think physical and psychological impact of unpaid care work of women and men needs documentation.
Best
Ranjani
Yes..indeed a good point for us to examine both paid and paid work particularly among women with regard to diseases. However, I do think culture also plays a role in this aspect- as a lot of studies have pointed out that different risk factors might trigger different consequences for both men and women in relation to occupational diseases.