Occupational Health

Definition

• Occupational health is the branch of medical and engineering sciences which adverse environmental factors and stresses arising at the work place and their effects on the health of workers aiming to protect them from these hazards. This results in promotion of physical, mental and social health of exposed workers. This leads to prolongation of life and increasing of efficiency.

Objectives of Occupational Health

• The objectives can be divided into two sections

• A.- Protective Objectives• Prevention or reduction of

occupational diseases.• Prevention or reduction of accidents.• Prevention of fatigue and

malformations through adequate performance of work.

• B.- Constructive Objectives• Recognition of a work related

disorder & occupational hazards along with follow up counseling can help to prevent diseases among the coworkers.

• Promoting the health of workers physically, mentally and socially to the highest possible standard.

Occupational Health Team

• The team will include medical doctors, nurses, engineers, chemists, social workers, nutritionists and statisticians.

• Specialized occupational doctors, hygienist , nurses, safety officer, epidemiologist & ergonomics‘.

Essential Elements of the Occupational Hx & Questionnaire

• Job title, type of industry .• Year work started and year work

finished• Description of the job• Current work hours and shift

changes

• Current exposures to dust fumes, radiation, chemicals, biological hazards or physical hazards

• Other employee who have similar problems in the same working place

Major types of exposure associated with clinical illnesses

• Gases• Corrosive substances• Dyes and stains• Dusts and powder• Asbestos and other fibers

• Insecticides, herbicides, rodentcides i.e pesticides

• Metals and metals fumes• Organic dusts cotton, wood• petrochemicals• Radiation and other physical factors

Types of Exposures in Occupational Health

Accidents• Mechanical exposure e.g.: friction, callosities …

etc.• Physical exposure e.g.: heat, noise, pressure, light,

electricity, radiation …etc.• Chemical exposure e.g.: solids, dust, liquids, gases

…etc.• Biological exposure e.g.: bacteria, virus, parasites,

…etc.• Socioeconomic status e.g.: wages, shift, working

hours, human relations, housing, transportation, …etc.