Occupational health hazards

OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH HAZARDS
Prepared by,
Mr. Mahesh
Nurse Educator
MGMCRI

Occupational health
refers to the potential risks to health and
safety for those who work outside the home
Hazard
something that can cause harm if not
controlled.
Occupational disease
Disease directly caused by a person’s
occupation.
Introduction

• Some of external conditions and influences
prevailing at the place of work which have a
bearing on the health of the working
population.
Three types of interactions in the work
place:
Man and physical, chemical, & biological
agents.
Man and machine.
Man and man.-

Physical hazards 5
• Heat and cold
• Light
• Noise
• Vibration
• Ultraviolet radiation
• Ionizing radiation

Cold
• Chilblains
• Erythrocyanosis
• Immersion foot
• Frostbite as a result of
cutaneous
vasoconstriction.
•11
G/20/
e15
neral hypothermia 9

Light
The acute effects of poor illumination are
• Eye strain,
• Headache,
• Eye pain,
• Lacrymation,
• Congestion around the cornea
• Eye fatigue.
• The chronic effects on health include "miner's
nystagmus"
11/20/15 10

Noise
(i) Auditory effects
 Temporary or permanent hearing
loss
(ii) Non auditory effects
 Nervousness,
 Fatigue,
 Interference with communication
by speech,
 Decreased efficiency
11/20/
a15
nnoyance 11

Vibration
• Exposure to vibration may also produce
injuries of the joints of the hands elbows and
shoulders.
12

Ultraviolet radiation 10
• Conjunctivitis
• Keratitis (welder's flash).

Ionizing radiation 11
The radiation hazards comprise
• Genetic changes
• Malformation
• Cancer
• Leukaemia
• Depilation
• Ulceration
• Sterility
• in extreme cases death.

Ionizing radiation
 The International Commission of Radiological Protection
has set the maximum permissible level of occupational
exposure at 5 rem per year to the whole body.
12

Chemical hazards 14
1)Local Action :
Dermatitis
Eczema
Ulcers
Cancer by primary irritant action

Chemical hazards 15
(2) Inhalation :
• Dusts
• Gases
• Metals and their
compounds

Chemical hazards 16
• Dusts
Dusts are finely divided solid particles with size ranging from
0.1 to 150 microns
Dust particles larger than 10 microns settle down from the
air rapidly,
IndefinitelyParticles smaller than 5 microns are directly
inhaled into the lungs and are retained there and is mainly
responsible for pneumoconiosis.

Chemical hazards
18
Classification of dusts
• Inorganic and organic dusts;
• Soluble and insoluble dusts.

Chemical hazards
19
Gases
• Simple gases (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen),
• Asphyxiating gases (e.g. carbon monoxide,
cyanide gas, sulphur dioxide, chlorine)
• Anaesthetic gases (e.g., chloroform, ether,
trichlorethylene).

Chemical hazards
 Lead, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt,
manganese, mercury, phosphorus, chromium, zinc and
others
20
• Metals and their compounds

Chemical hazards
21
(3) Ingestion:
Occupational diseases may also result from
ingestion of chemical substances such as lead,
mercury, arsenic, zinc, chromium, cadmium,
phosphorus etc.

Biological hazards
• Brucellosis
• Leptospirosis
• Anthrax
• Hydatidosis
• Tetanus
• Encephalitis
• fungal infections
• Schistosomiasis
1•1/20a/15 host of others 25

Psychosocial hazrds 25
Factors affect health
• Frustration
• Lack of job
satisfaction,
• Insecurity
• Poor human
relationships,
• Emotional tension

Psychosocial hazrds 26
The health effects can be classified in two
(a) Psychological and behavioural changes
(b) Psychosomatic ill health

PNEUMOCONIOSIS:
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

PNEUMOCONIOSIS:
Dust within the size of
0.5 to 3 micro is a
health hazard
producing, after a
variable period of
exposure, a lung
disease known as
pneumoconiosis

PNEUMOCONIOSIS:
The hazardous effects of dusts on the
lungs depend upon a number of factors
such as:
o Chemical composition
o Fineness
o Concentration of the dust in the air
o Period of exposure
o Health status of the person exposed.

SILICOSIS:
Major cause of permanent disability and
mortality.
It is caused by inhalation of dust
containing free silica or silicon dioxide.

SILICOSIS:
Pathologically, silicosis is
characterized by a dense
nodular‖ fibrosis, the
nodules ranging from 3 to
4mm in diameter.
Some of the early
manifestations are irritant
cough, dyspnoea on
exertion and pain in the
chest.

ANTHRACOSIS:
Anthracosis exhibits
two general phases
in coal miners
pneumoconiosis:
the first phase is
labelled as simple
pneumoconiosis
which is associated
with little ventilator
impairment.

ANTHRACOSIS:
The second phase is
characterized by
progressive massive
fibrosis; this causes
severe respiratory
disability and
frequently results in
premature death.

BYSSINOSIS:
It is due to
inhalation of cotton
fibre dust over long
periods of time. The
symptoms are
chronic cough and
progressive
dyspnoea, ending in
chronic bronchitis
and emphysema.

BYSSINOSIS:

BAGASSOSIS:
Is the name given to an
occupational disease of the lung
caused by inhalation of bagasse
or sugar-cane dust.

BAGASSOSIS:
SYMPTOMS

ASBESTOSIS:

ASBESTOSIS:
Asbestos enters the body by inhalation,
and fine dust may be deposited in the
alveoli.

ASBESTOSIS:
It causes pulmonary fibrosis leading to
respiratory insufficiency and death,
carcinoma of the bronchus and
gastrointestinal tract.
1.Serpentine (hydrated magnesium
silicate)
2.Amphibole type (contain magnesium).

FARMER’S LUNG
• It is due to the inhalation of
mouldy hay or grain dust
which contains
micropolyspora faeni.
• The disease is characterized
by respiratory symptoms and
finally leads to pulmonary
fibrosis and pulmonary
damage.

FARMER’S LUNG

PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
• Dust control
• Biological monitoring(x-ray, lung function)
• Periodic examination of workers and continuing
research.
• Use of safer types of asbestos(chrysolite and amosite)
• Mask and googles

CANCER
The characteristics of occupational cancer are:
• They appear after prolonged exposure
• The period between exposure and
development of disease may be 10 to 25 years.
• The disease may develop even after cessation
of exposure.
• The localization of tumours is remarkably
constant in any one occupation.

SKIN CANCER:-
Skin cancer is a main
occupational hazard among
gas workers, oven workers,
tar distillers, oil refiners, dye-
stuff makers, road makers
and in industries associated
with the use of mineral oil, tar
and related compounds.

LUNG CANCER:-
It is an occupational
hazard in gas industry,
asbestos industry, nickel
and chromium work and
in mining of radio-active
substances. The main
carcinogens in these
areas are nickel,
chromates, asbestos, coal
tar, etc.

BLADDER CANCER:-
The industries associated
with bladder cancer are the
dye-stuffs and dyeing
industry, rubber, gas, and
the electric cable industries.
The major bladder
carcinogens are benzidine,
auramine, beta-
naphthylamines, etc.

LEUKAEMIA: -
Exposure to benzol, roentgen rays and
radio-active substances give rise to
leukaemia. Benzol is a dangerous
chemical and is used as a solvent in
many industries.

PREVENTION:
• Pre-selection - the workers should be medically
examined before employment.
• Protection – protecting clothing, long leather gloves,
aprons, boots, barrier creams.
• Personal hygiene – supply of warm water and
adequate washing facility, soap, towels.
• Periodic inspection – medical check-up and early
detection, transfer from risky area, proper education
of workers to identify skin irritation.

RADIATION HAZARDS:
Exposure to x- rays,
ultraviolet rays occurs in
hospitals and other electric
welding processes. Infrared
rays are produced in welding
and glass blowing. The main
effects of radiation are acute
burns, dermatitis
malignancies, genetic effects
etc.

Preventive measures:

LEAD POISONING:
• Lead is used in variety
of industries such as
manufacture of storage
batteries, glass
manufacture, ship
building, printing and
potteries, rubber
industry etc.

Lead poisoning
• Mode of absorption is of 3 ways
– inhalation, ingestion and
absorption through skin.
Normal adult ingest about 0.2
to 0.3 mg of lead per day from
food and beverages.
Confirmation of lead poisoning
shows a blood count more than
70 mue gm. /100 ml and urine
lead more than 5mg/lt

Lead poisoning
• The toxic effect of inorganic
lead exposure are abdominal
colic, constipation, loss of
appetite, blue-line on the
gums, anaemia, wrist drop
and foot drop.
• The toxic effects of organic
lead compounds are mostly
on the CNS- insomnia,
headache, mental confusion,
delirium, etc.

Preventive measures:
• Substitution of lead with less toxic
materials.
• Isolation of all processes which gives
rise to lead dust and fumes.
• Personal protection, personal
hygiene and good housekeeping
• Periodic examination of workers
and health education.
• Medical management- saline
stomach wash if ingested, d-
penicillamine.

PREVENTION
• Medical measures
• Engineering measures
• Legislative measures

LEGISLATION
The most important factory laws in India
today are ;
The Factory Act , 1948
The Employees State Insurance Act , 1948

IMPORTANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN
HOSPITALS
X RAYS

HOSPITALS
BACK PAIN

HOSPITALS

OCCUPATION HEALTH NURSE:
Occupational Health
Nurses (OHN) are
registered nurses who
independently observe
and assess the
worker's health status
and to respect them
from job tasks and
hazards.

SCOPE OF OCCUPATION HEALTH NURSE:
Educationally prepared to
recognize adverse health effects
of occupational exposure and
address methods for hazard
abatement and control, OHNs
bring their nursing expertise to
all industries

THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH TEAM
1. Occupational health nurses
2. Occupational health physicians
3. Industrial hygienists
4. Safety engineers
5. Work organization specialists
6. Psychologists
7. Counsellors
8. Physiotherapists.
9. Ergonomists
10. Health economists

Role of the Occupational Health Nurse
in Workplace Health Management:
• Clinician
• Specialist
• Manager
• Co-ordinator
• Adviser
• Health educator
• Counsellor
• Researcher

JOURNAL
Occupational mental health: a study of work-related
depression among nurses in the Caribbean
Vishwanath V. Baba*, Bella L. Galperin, Terri R. Lituchy
This study addresses issues of occupational mental health among nurses
in the Caribbean. A linear model linking role, work and social factors,
stress, burnout, depression, absenteeism and turnover intention guides
the research. Data were collected from 119 nurses working for major
hospitals located in St. Vincent and Trinidad & Tobago using survey.
Psychometrically sound instruments with proven cross-cultural validity
were utilized in the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and
path analysis were used to analyse the data. The results indicated fairly
strong support for the proposed model which is tested for the first time
among a Caribbean population. Role conflict, role overload and social
support predicted stress, which along with social support predicted
burnout. Burnout was the sole predictor of depression which in turn
predicted both absenteeism and turnover intention.

Occupational health hazards

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