Mission of LDOH
The mission of the Learning and Developing Occupational Health (LDOH) Foundation is to promote good education for occupational safety and health professionals and to support access to basic occupational health services for all workers. The final goal is the prevention of accidents and work-related diseases, often causing loss of working capacity and poverty for the workers, their families, and communities. In this effort, we want to join other initiatives in the overarching objective of Universal Health Coverage (WHO).
Given the huge shortage of well-educated professionals in the world, the foundation wants to contribute to new education and training programs. We see it as a challenge to use new online opportunities, often in blended forms, mixed with face-to-face contacts. International and interdisciplinary collaboration is a must, given the scarce resources and the common challenges.
Target groups
Our focus is on Occupational Safety and Health experts and engaged professionals and volunteers in primary and community (public) healthcare. We are also committed to experts and professionals working in other healthcare institutions, education, enterprises, or international organizations. We want to collaborate in coping with the huge global need for innovations in health care and education to improve health and safety at work for all workers.
Who are we
The foundation LDOH is an initiative of occupational health experts, who have completed occupational health education and projects all over the world.
What does the Foundation LDOH offer
– The library of education in Occupational Safety and Health
In the library, you will find a selection of learning materials that are available on the Internet free of charge or for low prices, mostly developed by public or nonprofit organizations.
– Education on Occupational Safety and Health
Topics are OSH in agriculture, Basic Occupational Health Services, and finding reliable OSH information online. You can find books, lectures, workshop materials and even complete course materials on Work and Health in Agriculture for free on our website.
– Books
We offer a free-of-charge digital version of the book “OSH online. How to find reliable information” (English, Spanish, and Turkish versions). Although published as a third edition in 2016, it is still used in educational programs in occupational safety and health in many countries (2026).
In November 2022, we published a first book on Occupational Safety and Health in Agriculture for primary, community, and occupational health care. Next, a complete course has been developed, including many easy-to-use materials such as a Teacher’s Manual. The Book, the Manual and the other course materials are free-of-charge available in our online bookshop, accessible via this website.
Because about 85 % of all workers has no access to professional care, basic occupational health care (BOHS) must be developed. In 2025 we published the second improved edition of a unique online repository including records and links to more than 360 publications on the topic of BOHS, published in 2000-2024 (420 pages). As we needed a well-founded comprehensive keyword-based search system for this repository, we created a framework of themes on the development of BOHS. The background report describing the development of the themes, has been published in 2024 (edits in 2025).
More about the foundation LDOH
LDOH is an international foundation, not-for-profit, founded in July 2014. The international experts connected with LDOH have a long tradition of national and international activities in the OH field, working in various functions. Programs and projects were completed in many countries, mostly working in international teams, often connected with international organizations.
The LDOH is an official Charity according to Dutch law.
Background of why we do this
Poor working conditions and poor education and information regarding the risks, result in high rates of occupational and work-related diseases and injuries. Low productivity and low participation rates are among the results. This is true both in high and low-income countries. Policies and measures should be in place to reduce the risks and to strengthen human capacities.
Professional Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) organizations and activities can support workers, enterprises, and communities in improving working conditions and health. Vulnerable groups such as young people, women, migrants and people with chronic medical conditions, need tailor-made professional assistance. The large majority of workers has no access to OSH care and support. A solution can be found in well-educated primary and community health care providing basic activities for workers’ health. Still, many OSH experts are needed for education, support, and referrals.
As education is essential in capacity building, our mission is to support various professionals through developing and promoting good quality education. Online information and blended education can be of great value.
Collaborations and Partners
We cooperate actively with universities, national institutes and all kinds of schools for the education of OSH professionals. Internationally, we collaborate with ICOH, WHO, ILO, WONCA, EASOM, and ENETOSH. We stimulate an interdisciplinary approach and interactive education. International collaboration is a must.
Sponsor policy
Sponsor policy has to be developed.
Remuneration
The Foundation LDOH has a written remuneration policy.
You can find the document here: LDOH Remuneration Policy 23-2-2017
Annual Financial Report
You can find the documents for the years 2022 – 2024 here:
Annual Financial Report LDOH 2022
Annual Financial Report LDOH 2023
Annual Financial Report LDOH 2024
Annual Reports
You can find the most recent Annual Reports here:
The foundation LDOH has the aim to stimulate the development and sharing of education in Occupational Safety and Health. We have most experience in the education of professionals working in occupational health care and we are active in the education of primary and community health care professionals as far as related to workers’ health. Special expertise is available on the topic work and health in agriculture.
We think that there are many opportunities for better collaboration and for an exchange of visions and learning materials which are not yet being used. The quality of education and training could be enhanced. New initiatives can come from individual teachers and developers of education, but also from the Schools and Departments that organize education and training in Occupational Safety and Health. Online and blended learning offer great opportunities. At this moment we see a rapid increase in online international webinars.
Pioneering international organizations are EASOM (European Association of Schools of Occupational Medicine), IOMSC (International Occupational Medicine Society Collaborative), OHTA (Occupational Hygiene Training Association, ENETOSH (European Network Education and Training in Occupational Safety and Health), ICOH (Scientific Committee on Education and Training in OH), and WHWB (Workplace Health Without Borders).
In 2017 we started our international e-library for online learning materials (lessons, modules, courses). We offer a variety of international quality materials on OSH that offer more than just a series of slides, that teachers and students can use. We are curious to know from educators about opportunities to bring in materials that we do not yet know.
At this moment (2025-2026) we are exploring options for a more close collaboration on education with other (international) organizations.
LDOH staff members are lecturing in diverse courses, congresses and programs all over the world. Current topics are activities for workers’ health in primary or community health care (BOHS), education in OSH for agriculture, and finding reliable online information on OSH. We also offer a free digital book on how to find reliable information online (third edition in English, Spanish and Turkish), see our shop. Various scientific articles and an online repository on publications on Basic Occupational Health Services (BOHS) are free to download.
