PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Dr. Ayesha Shahin

WHAT IS AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE?

An occupational disease is a health problem caused by exposure to a workplace health hazard. The work environment plays a significant role in our health. Workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses are high and lead to an enormous health burden, suffering, and economic loss. A proactive approach to health and safety at work can help employers achieve healthier employees, low absenteeism, fewer injuries, lower long-term risk, and lower payouts for disability and health care costs.

OBJECTIVES OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE PREVENTION

Promote and maintain the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of employees in all occupations; Prevent diseases among workers caused by their working conditions; Protect employees from risk factors which could affect their health; Place & maintain of workers in an occupational environment adapted to their physiological & psychological status.

WORK-RELATED DISEASES CAN BE

DETERMINED BY Physical factors: noise, light, vibrations, emission of rays, industrial environment/ climate Chemical factors: toxic chemical substances (exposure to chemicals, irritating gases, fumes) Biological factors: micro-organisms (viruses, parasites, fungi, microbes) Psychological factors: overstress, inadequate work conditions, inappropriate relationship between colleagues etc.

MOST COMMON OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES & ACCIDENTS

Cuts and wounds:

work related accidents

Musculoskeletal disorders:
repetitive strain injuries caused by short-cycle movements, tendinits, muscular strain due to non-neutral postures like reaching, squatting, bending, twisting of spine, & wrists; vibration induced skeletal disorders, same posture for prolonged period sitting or standing, lifting heavy weights

Dermatological conditions:
acute trauma due to brief exposure to toxic agents or chronic irritation, allergic dermatitis

Heat related conditions:

exhaustion, dehydration, salt imbalance

MOST COMMON OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES & ACCIDENTS

Diseases due to extreme temperature:

sunstroke, frostbite, cardiovascular diseases

Infections or parasitic diseases:

where there is a particular risk of contamination

Eye problems:
dryness & tiredness caused by excessive periods in front of the computer; burns caused by splashing chemicals, welders eye

Noise-induced hearing loss Respiratory Tract Disorders:

upper airways disorders caused by sensitizing agents or irritants inherent to the work process

MOST COMMON OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES & ACCIDENTS

Cardiovascular

diseases:

arterial hypertension, complications of pre-existent cardiac diseases

Digestive

disorders: disorders:

gastritis, gastro-duodenal ulcer

Psychological Travel

depressions, panic attack

related conditions:

travelers diarrhea, sleeping disorder, infectious diseases, complication of the pre-existing conditions; deep vein thrombosis - provoked by long hours travel whether by air, car, train.

PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Safety

and prevention practices can reduce risk of occupational diseases:

try to stay fit reduce stress set up work area properly use the right protective equipment (PPE) An understanding of workplace health and safety issues can protect yourself against workplace hazards

PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Recognize

risks/ hazards or health & safety

problems

Observe workplace; investigate complaints from workers; examine accident and near-miss records; examine sickness figures; use simple surveys to ask co-workers about their health & concerns; use check-lists to help inspect workplace; learn the results of inspections that are done; Make sure to know and understand the hazards

PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Control

measures - there are five major categories of control measures: Elimination: removing a hazard completely Substitution: replacing one hazardous agent with a less dangerous one engineering controls: changing a piece of machinery administrative controls: job rotation leading to working a limited number of hours in a hazardous area personal protective equipment: according to exposure type using protective clothing, head, ear and eye protection

PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Three

measures:

Medical

measure Engineering measure Legislative measure

 Medical

measure

Pre-placement examination: A thorough medical examination such as chest x-ray, ECG, blood examination, urine and vision test Periodic health examination: to recognize early onset of occupational and other diseases once a year First aid and medical care Notification: is done to investigate the working condition for remedial measures and for the purpose of workmans compensation Working environment: all aspects of environment temperature, lighting, noise, ventilation, humidity, sufficient cubic space, sitting arrangement, air pollution, food & nutrition, water supply, toilet, general plant cleanliness should receive attention Health education: starts when the worker enters the factory

 Engineering Location

measure:

industry sufficiently away from the residential area Dangerous machines (moving wheel/belt) to be protected by enclosing it

Enclosures:

PPE

Working clothes Head protection Eye protection Protective suits Foot and arm protection

Control of dust, fumes and gases by local exhaust ventilation Mechanization

All process should be mechanized to fullest possible extent to avoid danger & to reduce hazard of contact with harmful substances Maintenance of high standard of general cleanliness

Good house keeping:

Proper designing of the factory building:

in respect of space , seating arrangement, ventilation, lightning, sanitary facilities, safety measures. There should be lunch room, rest room, washing room and dressing room. Correct selection of the machineries and their correct setting

 Legislation

Factory laws should be strictly followed Smoking should be disallowed

PREVENTION OF ACCIDENT IN INDUSTRIES

Ensuring safe working environment Personal protection Adequate replacement examination Adequate job training Continuing health education Periodic surveys for finding out hazards, careful reporting & publicity A safety department under a competent safety engineer Not to work continuously for a long time

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES ACCORDING TO

CAUSE
Causative agent Heat Cold Light Noise Gases Low pressure Biological agents Toxic hazards Psychological Disease Heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope Trench foot, frost, chilblains Poor illumination-headache, eye pain, fatigue, lachrymation, nystagmus Occupational deafness Gas poisoning Air embolism Infections & contamination Metals & solvents Neurosis, hypertension, peptic ulcer

Thank You!