Occupational Health

Occupational Health “ It is defined as the promotion and maintenance of highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations.”

Why Occupational Health is important?

To maintain and promote the physical, mental and social well being of the workers. To prevent occupational diseases and injuries. To adapt the work place and work environment to the needs of the workers i.e application of ergonomics principle. It should be preventive rather than curative.

Chemical hazards: Solids, liquids or gases, vapours, fumes, dusts, smoke, mist, fog, or smogs. Biological hazards: Viruses, rickettsiae, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and helminthes transmitted in certain occupations. Mechanical hazards: Defective design of machinery, defective procedures, unguarded machinery, protruding & moving parts, falling heavy objects & poor ergonomics. Psychosocial hazards: Type of work, risks involved in work, monotony, long working hours, lack of recognition & job satisfaction, poor man made management, lack of welfare activities, tensions at home & work place

Physical hazards in industry Occupation Health Effects Heat Glass & heavy metal industry, underground mines and textile industry Heat stroke, hyperpyrexia, exhuation, syncope and cramps Cold Armed forces, food processing & preservation industry Frost bite, Trench foot cyanosis Light Mines, driving Headache, eyestrain nystagmus Noise Loud sound producing machinery Auditory fatigue, permanent hearing loss, nervousness, annoyance, ↑ BP, loss of sleep

Hazard Occupation Health Effects Vibration Pneumatic drill users Vibration induced white fingers due to Raynaud’s phenomenon, osteoarthritis of wrists, elbows shoulders UV radiation Arc welding Pain & gritty feeling in eyes Ionizing radiation Radiography, radioisotope use, processing of plastics, food preservation, chemical industry & medical research Cancer, leukaemia, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia

Occupational Health Hazards of Agriculture Exposure Health Effect Weather, Climate Dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, skin cancer Snakes, insects Fatal or injurious bites & stings Sharp tools, farm equipment Cuts, hearing impairment Physical labour carrying loads Musculoskeletal disorders, soft tissue disorders i.e. back pain Pesticides Acute poisonings, neurotoxicity, cancer

Exposure Health Effect Dusts, fumes, gases, particulates Eye & respiratory tract irritation, allergic reactions, respiratory diseases such byssinosis, bagassosis, asthma, COPD & pneumonitis Biological agents & vectors of disease Skin diseases such as fungal infections, allergic reactions & dermatoses Schistosomiasis, malaria, leishmaniasis, ascariasis & hookworm Antrax, bovine TB & rabies

Occupational Lung Diseases (“Condition that develops as a result of person inhaling harmful substances at his or her place of work”) Occupational Lung Diseases Pneumoconiosis Hypersensitivity Diseases Asthma: Overreaction of airborne pollutants Inhalation of dust

Occupational Exposure Lung Diseases Occupational Exposure Pathogenesis Silicosis Silica dust mines: tunnels, quarries, potteries & soap Fibrosis by silica dust: emphysema, right lung failure, Pulmonary TB Anthracosis Coal miners & handlers Asbestosis Brake & fire resistant manufacturers Lung fibrosis: Emphysema Byssinosis Cotton dust in cotton industry during spinning & weaving Allergic reaction :Bronchospasm, Emphysema & its Cx

Occupational Exposure Lung Diseases Occupational Exposure Pathogenesis Bagassosis Fibrous residue of sugar cane in Cardboard and paper industry Fungal infection leading to acute bronchitis And broncho pneumonia Farmers lung Agricultural workers Fungalinfectionleading to bronchitisand broncho- pneumonia Siderosis Foundry workers, grinders and welders No tissue reaction or Functional impairment Though lungs are loaded with iron dust.

Epidemiology of Industrial Accidents Diseases Host Factors: Age Sex Experience and education Concomitant disease Psychological factors Personality Traits/Emotional stability Wearing unsuitable shoes Carrying improper loads Faulty stepping Not using personal Protective measures Physical defects

Agent Factors Improper planning and construction of factories, Machines, Faulty design, Lack of maintenance Entanglement of loose clothes and hair Transmission of Machinery, Speed of Work Processes, Faulty planning Boiler explosion, Dust explosion, Corrosive materials Molten metal and Hot liquids Flying solid particles Metal grinding Chipping metal Electricity

Enviornmental factors Physical Overcrowding Defective lighting Temperature Ventilation Humidity Radiations from surroundings Pressure Noise Vibrations Ionizing Radiation Slippery Floors Uncovered drains Social At work place Domestic Relationship between workers and management Lack of Safety Policy