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Pressure Hazards at Workplace

Lecture 20
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Definition

Pressure is force acting on a unit area (Force/Area)

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Units of pressure
1 atmosphere equals to:

= 29.9 inches (760 mm) of Hg

= 33 feet (10.08 meters) of seawater

= 101.3 kilopascals (kPa)

= 14.7 pounds per sq inch (psi)

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Composition of Gases in Atmosphere

Component Nitrogen Oxygen Argon Neon Helium Hydrogen Others Symbol N O A Ne He H (Co, Kr, Xe etc) Volume Percent 78.094 20.948 0.934 0.001818 0.000524 0.00005 0.01

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Gas Laws
1. Boyles Law: Volume of gas is inversely proportional to its pressure in body (PV=K) . P1V1-P2V2. (Trapped gas in cavities) 2. Daltons Law: Total pressure of mixture of gases equals sum of partial pressure of each gas in mixture. PT=P1 + P2 +Pn (Hypoxia) 3. Gaseous diffusion: Gas will diffuse from area of high concentration to area of low concentration (Transfer of gases in body (O2 and CO2).

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TYPES OF PRESSURE HAZARDS

1. HYPERBARIC 2. HYPOBARIC

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1. HYPERBARIC WORK ENVIRONMENT

(below sea level pressure or aquatic)
Potential hazards: 1. Mechanical effects 2. Inert gas narcosis 3. Effects of CO2 accumulation 4. Oxygen toxicity 5. Decompression sickness

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Body cavities trapped with gases

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Lungs Middle ear Sinuses Tooth cavities Stomach Intestines

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Boyles Law and Diving

Air
Sea 33 ft Sea 66 ft Sea 99 ft Sea 132 ft

760 mm Hg
1520 mm Hg 2280 mm Hg 3040 mm Hg 3800 mm Hg

14.7 psi
29.4 psi 2280 mm Hg 58.8 psi 73.5 psi

1 at
2 ats 3 ats 4 ats 5 ats

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Decompression sickness (Caisson Disease)

Effect due to air bubbles in the tissue and blood vessel. Nitrogen gas air bubbles is the commonest. Rapid ascension 9 m depth. Or sudden pressure loss at attitude > 7000m

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Types of decompression Sickness (1-3)

Type 1
Affect limbs and skin; Acute pain at major joints; Pain immediate 12 hrs after decompression; Good prognosis.

Type 2 Type 3

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Types of decompression Sickness (2-3)

Type 2:
Symptom central-peripheral nerves damage Paralysis, weakness of limbs, headache seizures, visual defects etc. Pulmonary barotrauma Tissue infarction

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Types of decompression Sickness (3-3)

Type 3:
Chronic/ long term effect, Osteonecrosis Memory deficit

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Manifestations of Decompression sickness 28000 feet Altitude

1. Bends joint pains 74%

2. Creeps skin rash

3. Chokes chest discomfort

7%
5%

4. Staggers neurological complaints

5. Visual disturbances

1%
2%

6. Reduced of awareness/ confusion

9%

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Factors predisposing to Decompression Sickness

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Ill health Old age Obesity Exercise/ exertion Drugs Alcohol Cold Hypoxia Previous exposure to decompression, e.g. several unpressurized flights scuba or professional diving before flight

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2. HYPOBARIC WORK ENVIRONMENT

(Low pressure (above sea level) aviation, space industry)
Potential hazards: 1. Reduction in partial pressure of oxygen 2. Decompression

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Daltons Law and Hypoxia

Ambient air partial pressure (mmHg) Nitrogen Oxygen Carbon dioxide 600 160 Alveolar air partial pressure (mmHg) 570 103 40

Water vapour
TOTAL 760

47
760

% saturation of hemoglobin varies with changes in partial pressure of alveolar oxygen at various altitudes

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Effects of Increasing Hypoxia to Central Nervous System

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Feeling tiredness, sleepiness Euphoria with outbursts of joy Impairment of judgment Dulling of thoughts Light headedness, dizziness, nausea Tingling of hands and feet Pallor of skin, cyanosis In-coordination of limbs and disorientation Failing of vision Semi-consciousness Unconsciousness

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Time of Useful Consciousness with Increasing Altitude

Rapid disconnect of O2 Systems Altitude (ft) 22,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 Moderate activity 5min 2min 45s 30s 18s Sitting activity 10min 3min 1 min 45s 30s

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Rapid disconnect of O2 Systems Altitude (ft) 22,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 Moderate activity 5min 2min 45s 30s 18s Sitting activity 10min 3min 1 min 45s 30s

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Hyperbaric Chamber

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Role of occupational health doctor

1. Advice on health effects of pressure changes; 2. Treatment of pressure related complications; 3. Medical selection of workers to be engaged in work in hypobaric or hyperbaric environments; 4. Periodic medical examination of diving or aviation personnel;

5. Certification of invalidity for air travel.