Care Without Scare…! Occupational Health for Health Care Workers

IAOH OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PHYSICAL, MENTAL & SOCIAL WELL BEING IN RELATION TO WORK AND WORK ENVIRONMENT.

IAOH What is Occupational Health? Occupation (work) Health Accidents Environment Different Definitions: F Health problems arising from or pertaining to work F Health of people at work F The Health of the gainfully employed F Relationship between Occupation (work) & Health

IAOH  Occupational diseases have a long latent period.  Most occupational diseases cannot be treated.  All occupational diseases can be prevented. Occupational Diseases

IAOH “ What the mind does not know, the eyes do not see”

IAOH OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS  Physical Hazards  Chemical Hazards  Biological Hazards  Mechanical Hazards  Psychosocial Hazards

IAOH OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DISORDERS

IAOH Primary irritants, Allergy, Systemic toxicity Gas, Vapour, Aerosol, Dust, Fume, Smoke, Mist, Fog Eating, Smoking  INHALATION  INGESTION  SKIN ABSORBTION ROUTE OF EXPOSURE

IAOH FOUR TYPES Diseases only occupational in origin (pneumoconiosis) Where occupation as one of the causal factors (bronchogenic carcinoma) Occupation as A contributary factor (chronic bronchitis) Occupation aggrevating pre-existing condition (asthma)

IAOH OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS  Physical Hazards  Chemical Hazards  Biological Hazards  Mechanical Hazards  Psychosocial Hazards

IAOH OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES Diseases due to Physical Agents  Heat - Heat stroke, Burns  Cold - Frost bite  Light - Miners Nystagmus, Cataract  Pressure - Caisson disease, Air embolism

IAOH Diseases due to Physical Agents  Noise - NIHL, Hypertension, Irritability  Vibration - Neuromuscular diseases, Peripheral vascular diseases  Radiation - Leukemia, Aplastic anaemia  Mechanical - Injuries, Accidents  Electricity - Electric shock, Burns OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

IAOH OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES Diseases due to Chemical Agents  Gases - CO, CO 2, HCN, H 2 S,CS 2  Dusts - Pneumoconiosis  Metals - Lead, Mercury, Chromium, Manganese  Chemicals - Acids, Alkalies  Solvents - Benzene, Trichloroethylene

IAOH Chemical Hazards  Metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, zinc, beryllidum, tin, silver, etc)  Carbon compounds (organic solvents)  Benzine, Toluene, Zylene  Phenol, Nitrate, Napthalene, Isocyanates, Carbon tetrachloride, Carbon disulphide, Vinyl chloride monomer, etc  Pesticides & toxic gases (amonia phosgene, carbon monoxide)

IAOH Lung Diseases Caused by Dust  Depends on chemical composition, particulate size, concentration, shape, specific gravity & body’s reaction  Pneumoconiosis  Asbestosis  Silicosis  Coal workers pneumoconiosis  Lung diseases caused by dust of organic origin  Byssinois (exposure to cotton dust)  Mushroom workers lung  Suberrosis (Cork dust)  Bird breeders lung (chickens, parrots, pigeons)  Man made fibres  Occupational asthma  Flour insects and pollens: linseed, soya beans, teak wood, hair, fur, etc: isocyanates, poly urethane, amines, metals

IAOH Diseases due to Biological Agents  Hepatitis B, Rabies, AIDS, Leptospirosis…, Occupational Cancers  Cancer of Skin, Lungs, Bladder Occupational Dermatosis  Dermatitis, Eczema Psychosocial Diseases  Neurosis, Peptic ulcer, Hypertension OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

IAOH Musculo-skeletal problems  Due to Excessive load on the muscles, ligaments, tendons and bone.  Due to Insufficient circulation to the Musculoskeletal system.  Work that requires activity of a small group of relatively weak muscles (such as continuous use of fingers of the dominant hand in data entry).

IAOH Common sites for Musculo-skeletal problems  Neck  Forearm  Wrist  Fingers  Back  Knee

IAOH COMPUTERS / VDU  RSI / CTD – Tenosynovitis, Tendinitis, Tennis Elbow, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Finger  Musculoskeletal Problems in Neck, Shoulder & Upper Limbs  Visual Fatigue & Eye Problems  Bifocals & Computers  Skin Diseases  Low Back Pain  Effects of Shift Work

IAOH Occupational health & Computer work F Musculo-skeletal problems F Ocular problems F Reproductive problems F Skin problems F Psychosocial problems F Lifestyle problems

IAOH Repetitive Strain Injury F Muscular stress caused by the frequent, repetitive use of the same muscle throughout the day. F Accustomed and unaccustomed repetitive work with hands. F Work that involves repeated wrist flexion or extreme extension, particularly in combination with forceful pinching. F Repeated forces on the base of the palm or wrist.

IAOH Common RSIs F Carpal tunnel syndrome F Cervical radiculopathy F Epicondylitis F Ganglion cyst F Tendonitis

IAOH New Pathologies  AIDS  Stress  Geriatrics  Space Medicine  Genetic Aberrations (longevity!)  Cancer  Robotics-related Injuries  Migrant Global Workers

IAOH Elements of Occupational Health Services Medical treatment Assessment and control of work environment General preventive health measures Preventive medical examinations

IAOH Prevention of Occupational Health Hazards  Administrative Measures  Engineering Measures  Ergonomics  Medical Measures

IAOH Ergonomics The IEA divides ergonomics broadly into three domains:  Physical ergonomics: working postures, materials handling, repetitive movements, work related musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout, safety and health.  Cognitive ergonomics : mental workload, decision-making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work stress and training as these may relate to human-system design.  Organizational ergonomics: communication, crew resource management, work design, design of working times, teamwork, community ergonomics, cooperative work, new work programs, virtual organizations, telework, and quality management.

IAOH Goals Of Ergonomics  Improve quality of working environment engineered to the capabilities of the human body  Increase efficiency and productivity by reducing fatigue.  Prevention of Occupational injury & illness.  Work quality improvement.  Proactive Ergonomics Vs  Reactive Ergonomics

IAOH MEDICAL MEASURES  Pre-employment medical check up  Periodic medical examination  Health promotion  Health education  Specific protection  Assessment of risk by supervision of working environment

IAOH Pre-employment Medical Examination  To determine the physical and emotional capacity of the individual to perform the job.  To provide base line health data for epidemiological and legal purposes.  To counsel the person for correction of diseases / habits which may harm later.  Assessment of pre-existing toxicity / impairment due to past exposure, if any.

IAOH Pre-placement Medical Examination

IAOH Periodic Medical Examination  Evaluation of general health status.  Earliest detection and prevention of work related disorders.  Early detection, control and prevention of any health disorder which may affect the ability to perform the job.  To detect deviation in health status from base line data.  Detection of infectious / communicable diseases which may affect others.

IAOH OSH IN HEALTHCARE

IAOH Who is a Health Care Worker? Doctor Dentist Nurse Lab technician Radiology technician Physiotherapist Aaya, Wardboy Pharmacist Laundry worker Maintenance staff ………..

IAOH Occupational Risks in Various Areas Clinical Surgical Laboratory Radiology Physiotherapy CSSD Maintenance Housekeeping Laundry Food Handlers Others

IAOH Common Concerns Shift Work Emotional Stress Ergonomic Slips, trips, falls Violence ?

IAOH Preventive Measures Universal Precautions Training & Education Medical Surveillance Immunization Identify, Monitor & Control exposures Stress Management Violence Prevention Program

IAOH Hippocrates Refusing Gift from Alexander

IAOH Thank You Prepared by Dr. Shyam R. Pingle