occupational health work and health : is there any relation between work and health?
TRANSCRIPT
Occupational Health
Work and Health:
IS there any relation between work and health?
Occupational hazards
Definitions (WHO,ILO)
Occupational H. is the promotion & maintenance of highest degree of physical, mental & social wellbeing of workers in all occupations. It includes:
1-Promotion & maintenance of H.2-Prevent departures from H. caused by
working conditions3-Protection from risks due to working
conditions4-Placement of workers in appropriate
physiological & psychological Env. 5-Rehabilitation & compensation of disabled
Ergonomics (human engineering) (ergon =work, nomos=law)
*Definition: fitting job to worker. *It involves:-Design of machine, tools, equipment &
manufacturing processes-Lay-out of place of work, methods of
work & Env. *Objectives:-Best mutual adjustment between man &
his work-Improvement of human efficiency & well-
being-Decrease work accidents
Occupational Env.
*Def.: Sum of external conditions & influences that prevail in work place & can affect H. of workers.
It complements domestic Env.*3 types of interaction:-Man & physical, chemical & biological
agents-Man & machine (accident)-Man & man (psychosocial factors)
Occupational (industrial) Medicine:
*Is a primarily a branch of preventive medicine with therapeutic functions
*It deals with:-H. problems of peoples working in
industry-Study work Env. & its impact on H. of
workers-H. promotion for workers through
prevention & control of H. hazards
Occupat. MedicineGeneral Medicine
Deals with workerDeals with general population
Deals with healthyDeals with diseased
Field work is at plantField work at hospital/clinic
Many medical exam. (pre-employment, periodic, post-sickness)
Single ordinary clinical examination
Occupational dis. must be compensated
General dis. not compensated
Deals with Env. HNot deals with Env. H.
CauseHazardsWorkPhysical: Heat
Heat & humidity
Cold
Noise
Poor light
Intense light
Intense
heat/light
Vibration
Radiation
Heat stroke
Heat exhaustion
Frostbite
Impaired hearing
Nystagmus
Eye strain
Cataract
Raynaud
Radiation effects
Steel foundry
Textile
Cold storage
Drilling operations
Mines
Precision work
Welding
Pneumatic drill
Radioactive mines
CauseHazardsWork
Chemical: Dyes
Acid/alkali
Gases/fumes
Dust
Dermatosis
Burns
Asphyxia, death
Pneumoconiosis
Paints, dyes
Chemical
Chemical
Construction
Mechanical:
Friction
Flying objects
Callosities
Injury
Coal, oil workers
Moving machine
Biological: Brucella
Cl. Tetani,
Rabies virus
Brucellosis
Tetanus
Rabies
Agriculture
Hunters, vetern.
Psychological:
Disharmony
Depression
Accidents
Injury
Any work
Any work
Occupational Hazards (community level)
1-Increase social diseases : STD, TB
2-Poor env. Sanitation: slums, industrial wastes
3-Poor mental H. increase crimes & accidents
General methods of prevention of occupational diseases
- The main aim is to eliminate the HAZARD. - If this is not possible, we try to eliminate
the RISK i.e. eliminate the possibility that the HAZARD can induce Health effects.
- The preventive program includes: Environmental (engineering) measures
Medical measures.
Environmental (engineering) measures:- Substitution .- Isolation .- Segregation .- Ventilation .- Environmental monitoring .- Assurance of Ergonomics in the
work place .- Uses of personal protective
equipments.
Medical Measures:
. Pre-employment medical examination.
. Periodic medical examination.
. Personal protective devices.
. Health education.
Occupational H. team
1-Occupational physician2-Occupational hygienist3-Occupational nurse
4- Epidemiologist5- Ergonomist6- Safety engineer7- Lawyer
Duties of Occupational physician:1-Medical examination: -Pre-employment-Periodic -Post-sickness2-Medical care: -1st aid measures-Medical treatment -Medical
rehabilitation3-Supervision of workplace Env.4-Supervision of personal protective
measures5-Supervision of hygienic facilities in factory6-Supevision of nutrition of workers7-H. Ed.
Occupational health program
- Pre employment medical examination.- Survey of the work environment.- Periodic medical examination.- Special examination.- Medical care.- First aid facilities.- Disability evaluation.
Occupational health program
- Rehabilitation.- Plant sanitation.- Health education.- Keep up of medical records.- Study & control of absenteeism.
Some at-risk occupational groups
Medical profession 1-Radiation:-Artificial ultraviolet and infrared rays in physiotherapy. - Ionizing radiation in radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy.
2- Chemical exposure: handling chemicals used in disinfection and sterilization may cause contact dermatitis.
Some at-risk occupational groups
Medical profession 1-Radiation:-Artificial ultraviolet and infrared rays in physiotherapy. - Ionizing radiation in radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy.
2- Chemical exposure: handling chemicals used in disinfection and sterilization may cause contact dermatitis.
3- Biological exposure :- Inhalation infection: due to contact with cases of respiratory infection. - Contact infection: on handling infective or contaminated materials as blood (HBV, HCV, HIV).
4-Psychosocial risks: a- Worry, stress and tension of work. b- Faulty: Cigarette smoking. Sedentary life and lack of physical exercise. Lack of recreation.
3- Biological exposure :- Inhalation infection: due to contact with cases of respiratory infection. - Contact infection: on handling infective or contaminated materials as blood (HBV, HCV, HIV).
4-Psychosocial risks: a- Worry, stress and tension of work. b- Faulty: Cigarette smoking. Sedentary life and lack of physical exercise. Lack of recreation.
Farmers and Agriculture workers
1-Work accidents: on using agricultural articles and machinery.
2- Physical Agents: Prolonged exposure to heat and sun during summer may cause sunstroke . Exposure to cold during winter may predispose to respiratory diseases. Ultraviolet rays of sun affects skin and eyes long term exposure may cause skin malignancy.
Farmers and Agriculture workers
1-Work accidents: on using agricultural articles and machinery.
2- Physical Agents: Prolonged exposure to heat and sun during summer may cause sunstroke . Exposure to cold during winter may predispose to respiratory diseases. Ultraviolet rays of sun affects skin and eyes long term exposure may cause skin malignancy.
3- Chemical Agents:
Application of chemicals (insecticides and pesticides) exposes farmers to many health hazards depending on the type of the used chemical duration of exposure and route of entry (inhalation, contact and occasionally ingestion)
Using the empty containers of insecticides for filling water or other purposes is potentially risky.
3- Chemical Agents:
Application of chemicals (insecticides and pesticides) exposes farmers to many health hazards depending on the type of the used chemical duration of exposure and route of entry (inhalation, contact and occasionally ingestion)
Using the empty containers of insecticides for filling water or other purposes is potentially risky.
3-Biological Agents: a- zoonotic infections : due to handling infected animals. Contact zoonoses : determatophytoses, wounded infection (commonly staphylococcal sepsis, occasionally tetanus and rarely gas gangrene). Parasitic disease: bilhariziasis and ancylostomiasis. b- Allergy: due to inhalation of biological allergens present in air as pollen, wool, animal hair and others. c- Farmers’ lung disease caused by inhalation of spore-bearing dust, hay and straw.
3-Biological Agents: a- zoonotic infections : due to handling infected animals. Contact zoonoses : determatophytoses, wounded infection (commonly staphylococcal sepsis, occasionally tetanus and rarely gas gangrene). Parasitic disease: bilhariziasis and ancylostomiasis. b- Allergy: due to inhalation of biological allergens present in air as pollen, wool, animal hair and others. c- Farmers’ lung disease caused by inhalation of spore-bearing dust, hay and straw.
Review questions:
-Define: Occupational H. Occupational
medicine Occupational Env. Ergonomics-Compare between occupational & general
medicine-Enumerate different occupational hazards-What are the duties of occupational
physicians-Full account on occupational hazards
among: *Health care personnel *Farmers & agricultural workers