OCCUPATIONAL

HEALTH NURSING
INTRODUCTION
 WHAT IS WORK & HEALTH
WORK / OCCUPATION
 An essential human activity that occupy a
considerable part of a person’s waking hours
 Can be stimulating & rewarding
 Can contribute to stress

HEALTH
 NOT merely the absence of disease BUT a state
of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual
well-being
(Wellers, 2000)
 What is Occupational
Health?
WHO defined Occupational Health as;
‘the promotion and maintenance of the highest
degree of physical, mental and social well-being
of workers in all occupations’

(Harrington & Gill,1992)

Cont......
Concerned with two-way relationship of
WORK and HEALTH
Related to the effects of working condition
and/or environment on health of worker –
influence on ability to perform tasks in the
workplace
Prevention is better than cure –ensuring
work & working condition DO NOT affect
the health of people
 What is Occupational Health
Nursing?

Application of nursing principles in conserving

the health of workers at the workplace.

Based on principles of recognition, prevention

and treatment of illness, injuries.

Formally known as ‘Industrial Nursing’

 Pioneers of OHN Services

Florence Nightingle (UK 1820)

Phillipa Flowerday (UK 1878)

Betty Moulder (US 1888)

Ada Mayo Stewart (US 1895)

 Aims of OHN
Promotion and maintenance of the highest
degree of physical,mental and social well-being
of workers in all occupations ;
- by preventing- departures from health caused
by their working conditions,
- protecting the workers in their employment -
from risks resulting from factors adverse to
health
- and adaptation of work to the workers and
workers to their jobs
 Objectives
Maintenance and promotion of workers’
health and working capacity(Health
monitoring)
Improvement of working environment and
work to become conducive to safety and
health(Worksite visits)
Development of work organisations and
working cultures in a direction, which supports
health and safety at work(Health Education )
 Relevant Legislations on Occupational Health &
Safety

• Employment Order 2009( pre-employment medical

examinations ,first aid & medical treatment, worker
housing ,night work ,child labour)-Previously Brunei
Labour Laws 1954

• Workmen Compensation Act 1957 (workplace

accidents & occupational diseases)

• Workplace Safety & Health Order 2009  

 The Scope of OHN practice

1. Prevention of occupational injuries

2. Prevention of occupational illness

3. Reducing work place hazards

4. Promotion of worker’s health

5. Restoration of worker’s health (maintenance of

worker’s health)
 Occupational injuries

such as a cut, fracture,

sprain, amputation, etc,
that may results from a
single instantaneous
exposure or incident in
the work department or
during the course of
work.
 Occupational illness

any abnormal condition or disorder, other than one

resulting from an occupational injury caused by
exposure to environmental factors associated with
employment.

It can be acute or chronic illnesses, following

exposure to the hazards through inhalation,
absorption, ingestion, or direct contact.
 Work and Health
Exposure to health hazards in the workplace
may cause adverse health effects

Disease development depends on;

host factors, non-occupational exposure
(lifestyles & hobbies), environmental factors,
inherent properties of the agent, exposure
level, exposure length & other workplace
stressors.
 Factors influencing our Health
Genes
• Determine who you are
• Likelihood of contracting disease

Environment
Health •Workplace
• Leisure
• Domestic/living Environment

Lifestyles
• Smoking
• Diet
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Exercise
 Cause and effects
Lung cancer
Cause is
hard to see
Fume fevers Stress Leukaemia

Dermatitis

Musculo-skeletal disorders
Solvent
effects
NIHL
Welder’s Flash
Cause is Mesothelioma
Accidents
easy to see

Minutes Days Months Years Decades

Basic Principles of Disease Prevention
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
Higher level
of surveillance High • Treatment / Referral
degree • Lung Function Test
of hazard • Personal Protective
TERTIARY Equipment
PREVENTION

System of enquiry • Health Screening

• Early detection
SECONDARY PREVENTION

• Health education
Lower level Limited evidence of hazard and exposure • Base-line health
of surveillance assessment
PRIMARY PREVENTION • Elimination of
substances
 Workplace Hazards
Physical hazards

Chemical hazards

Biological hazards

Mechanical hazards

Psychosocial hazards

Ergonomic Hazards

Safety
 Workplace Health & Safety
Who are legally responsible for identifying
and correcting health and safety hazards?
Authorised personnels
Employers
Contractors
Owners
Workers
Supervisors
Self-employers persons
Suppliers
 Protected workers fundamental
rights
To know about hazards in the workplace, how
to identify them and how to protect themselves

To participate in health and safety decisions

through management’s consultation with
occupational health committees and workers

To refuse unusually dangerous work

 According to The Occupational Health
and Safety Act - OSHA (1993),

“…..everyone in the workplace is required

to work together to identify and control
health and safety hazards”
Who are the Occupational Health
Team?
Occupational health Industrial psychologist
physician Ergonomist
Occupational health Occupational
nurse therapist
Occupational health Physiotherapist
epidemiologist
Health educator
Occupational
Safety engineer
hygienist
Industrial toxicologist
THANK YOU !
 Ergonomist

design the workplace and the job to fit the

worker.
It deals with designing and changing the
workplace to ensure employees are not
injured or made unusually uncomfortable
when working.
 Ergonomics
Lifting and handling loads
Work that involves standing for long periods of
time, antifatigue mats and footrests
Situations where it is appropriate for workers to
be permitted to sit while working, seating
requirements and footrest
Musculoskeletal injuries which include muscle
injuries or disorders of tendons, ligaments,
nerves, joints, bones, etc
 Epidemiologist

studies the incidence and distribution of

diseases in large populations, and the
conditions influencing the spread and
severity of disease.
 Hygienist
responsible for
recognizing, evaluating
and controlling health
hazards in the workplace.

to do this an occupational
hygienist will examine the
work environment and
work activities.