OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Erestain, Emmanuel Facton, Rosabelle T. Fang, Mark David G.
-
Upload
hector-jefferson -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
0
Transcript of OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Erestain, Emmanuel Facton, Rosabelle T. Fang, Mark David G.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Erestain, Emmanuel
Facton, Rosabelle T.
Fang, Mark David G.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
A multidisciplinary activity aiming at:•protection and promotion of the health of workers by preventing and controlling occupational diseases and accidents by eliminating occupational factors and conditions hazardous to health and safety at work
•enhancement of physical, mental and social well-being of workers and support for the development and maintenance of their working capacity
WHO Health for All principles and ILO Conventions on Occupational Safety and Health (No. 155) and on Occupational Health Services (No. 161)
◦Every worker has the right of access to occupational health and safety services, irrespective of the sector of the economy, size of the company, or type of assignment and occupation.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Scope of Occupational HealthRecognition of environmental
factors or stresses associated with work and their effects on man and his well being
Evaluate the magnitude of these stresses in terms of ability to impair well-being
Prescription of methods to control or reduce such stresses
Importance of Occupational Health1. Millions are injured and hundreds of
thousands death every year in occupational accidents.
2. The formal workforce constitutes on average 50-60% of a country’s total population.
3. The level of occupational health and safety, the socioeconomic development of the country and the quality of life and well-being of working people are closely linked with each other.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Recognition of occupational hazards:
1. Safety hazards
2. Health hazards
Safety Hazards
Slipping/tripping hazardsFire and explosion hazardsWork at heightMaterials falling from heightWorkplace violence
Health Hazards
Chemical hazards Physical hazards Biological hazards Ergonomic hazards
CHEMICAL HAZARDSHarmful chemical
compounds in the form of solids, liquids, gases.
exert toxic effects by inhalation, absorption, or ingestion.
• Dusts• Organic - Sugar cane dust (Bagasosis)• Inorganic – Asbestos, silica, lead, mercury
• Gas• Natural – CO2• Asphyxiants - Nitrogen, methane,
hydrogen, CO, H2S• Irritant gases - SO2, formaldehyde,
Nitrogen fumes
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
BacteriaVirusesFungi
Biological hazardsOccupational infections
◦TB◦Brucellosis
Cattle, sheep, pigs
◦Anthrax◦Viral hepatitis B and C◦AIDS
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Include:◦Temperature◦Excessive noise◦Vibration◦Radiation
• Thermal stress• Vascular injury• Increased muscle tone• Hypothermia/heat stroke
• Prevention–Gradual exposure leading to
acclimatization–Engineering control (proper
insulation and ventilation)
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Noise and Vibration◦Noise induced hearing loss
85 db for prolonged period
◦Related to amount, frequency and duration of exposure
◦Prevention Design and maintenance of machinery Workshift/work schedule Protective equipment
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
ERGONOMIC HAZARDS
Excessive physical workContributing factors
◦Awkward postures◦Repetitive motions◦Forceful exertions
- workplace conditions that pose the risk of injury to the musculoskeletal system of the worker
Occupational diseases
• Are illnesses caused by or precipitated by factors inherent in the employee’s nature of work and working conditions
Occupational HistoryDescriptions of all jobs held
Types of tasks performed
Materials exposed to, amount, date of exposure
Personal protective equipment used
Similar health complaints in other workers
Previous medications, exams, pre-employment data
Characteristics of occupational diseases
The clinical and pathological presentation is identical to that of non-occupational diseases
May occur after the termination of exposure
The clinical manifestations are related to dose and timing of exposure
Occupational factors can work in combination with non-occupational factors to produce disease
Evidence of work-related diagnosis
Symptoms compatible with exposureDiagnostic physical signsSimilar problems in other workersComplaint related to timeKnown exposureScientific plausibilityBiologic confirmationLack of non-occupational cause
Number and types of occupational diseases
Occupational health problems are not only problems of individual workers’ health, but they are also problems relating to the healthiness and safety of work and the work environment, the organization of work and the management philosophy of the enterprise and workplace.
Occupational safety and accident prevention
Levels of Prevention
1. Primary – promotion of health Information dissemination Training, research and interventions on
workplace improvements
2. Secondary – for early detection and prompt and effective intervention to correct illnesses and accidents
3. Tertiary – to reduce impairments and disabilities and promote patient’s adjustment to irremediable conditions
Controlling Hazards
• Identify• Evaluate• Control• Educate
1. Engineering Control–Design specification–Substitution, isolation, ventilation
2. . Administrative control– Work rotation– Work schedule / workshift– Proper waste disposal/good housekeeping– Informed– Adequate sanitary facilities
3. Personal Protective Equipment–Determine the need–Approved design and construction–Maintenace–No one should be subjected or exposed to
hazarda without proper protection
Key strategies
The key strategy principles of international and national occupational health and safety policies are:
avoidance of hazards (primary prevention) safe technology optimization of working conditions integration of production and health and safety activities government’s responsibility, authority and competence in the development
and control of working conditions primary responsibility of the employer and entrepreneur for health and safety
at the workplace recognition of employees’ own interest in occupational health and safety cooperation and collaboration on an equal basis by employers and workers right to participate in decisions concerning one’s own work right to know and principle of transparency continuous follow-up and development of occupational health and safety. Implementation of such principles requires appropriate legal provisions,
administrative enforcement and service systems for occupational safety and health and occupational health services.
Duties of Occupational Health Physician
1. Organize, administer and maintain an occupational health service program Health Protection Health Promotion Health Surveillance
2. Monitor work environment3. Provide medical and surgical care4. Maintain and analyze medical records
References:WHO
◦http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/globstrategy/en/index5.html
Thank you!