Affiliated to the universities of Lausanne and Geneva, IST (Institut universitaire romand de Santé au Travail, Institute for Work and Health) is a foundation under private law, mainly supported by the cantons of Vaud and Geneva. Its mission is teaching, research, assessment and consultancy as well as promotion in the field of occupational health. IST has no inspection or monitoring function; it only acts as a consultant or expert in the field.

Located at Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV), the Institute for Work and Health is made up of three distinct divisions: Workers’ Health, World of Labour, Work Environment. IST has over sixty employees.

IST is the only organisation of this kind and with this scope in Switzerland and its specialists have already gained a national and international reputation in their disciplines. It is also one of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centres for Occupational Health.