This document discusses occupational diseases, their causes, and methods of prevention. It begins by defining occupational health and occupational diseases. Some common occupational diseases are then listed along with their causes, such as silicosis from dust exposure in mining. The key strategies for preventing occupational diseases are avoiding hazards through safe technology, optimized working conditions, and primary employer responsibility. Methods of prevention include engineering controls, protective equipment, health monitoring, and legislation. Employers must inform workers of risks and minimize disease impacts through various medical, technical and administrative measures.

1. OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES AND THEIR PREVENTION
(A) FUNDAMENTALS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
What is Health ?
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an
absence of disease or infirmity. So, that each citizen can lead a socially and economically
Productive life (WHO).
Dimension of Health :
• Physical Dimension
• Mental Dimension
• Social Dimension
• Spiritual Dimension
Changing concept of Health :
i. Bio-Medical Concept : Absence of disease is health.
ii. Ecological Concept : Dynamic equilibrium between man and
environment.
iii. Psychological Concept : Health is influenced by social Cultural,
Psychological Economical and Political factors.
iv. Holistic Concept : Synthesis of all above concept.
Occupational Health (WHO – ILO)
Occupational health is the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical,
mental and social well-being of workers on all occupation.
Occupational Disease :
ι. Any disease caused in whole or in a part by exposure in the work environment,
usually excluding accidental trauma.
ιι. A disease, such as byssinosis or black lung, resulting from the conditions of a
person's work, trade, or occupation.
ιιι. Occupational diseases (O.D. or OD) are diseases resulting from the employment.
There are two ways to establish an occupational disease, which is compensable under
the workers compensation system.

2. ιϖ. Occupational Disease : A disease due to a factor in a person's occupation. For
example, lunge disease in mines.
The term "Occupational Disease" creates much confusion amongst who think they might be
suffering from a work-related condition. The commonly accepted definition of occupational
disease is a chronic ailment that occurs at a far higher rate for a certain body of workers than
for the normal population.
For example, radiation sickness is a recognized occupational disease among workers who
interact with radioactive chemicals and toxic byproducts of the nuclear industry. Other
examples of occupational disease are asbestosis among construction workers who are
exposed to asbestos and carpal tunnel syndrome amongst file clerks and typists. Occupational
disease does not include work-related accidents. The term only applies to medical condition
contracted through work activities.
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, 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 health and safety.
• Cooperation and collaboration on an equal basis by employers and workers.
• 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 services.
What are Workers Rights ?
Workers have the right to work in safe, healthy conditions. If a chemical or exposure is
known to cause disease to worker, it is the employer's responsibility to inform worker their
risks, to provide safety equipment and to minimize the impact of occupational disease to the
largest possible degree. Unfortunately, workers often are stricken with occupational illnesses
that do not manifest themselves until years, even decades, after the work performed. In these
cases, there is still some legal protection. Workers have the right to sue against current or ex-
employer for an occupational illness suffered during their employment at that employer‘s
workplace.

3. Occupational disease is surprisingly common. An estimated 860,000 illnesses and 60,300
deaths from workplace exposures occur annually in the United States, Studies have found that
75 percent of hospitalized and primary care patients report hazardous exposures, and 17
percent suspect that their illness is linked to their job, according to the American Family
Physician. Work-related illness is diagnosed in approximately 10 percent of these patients.
Since the beginning of the industrialization of the Western world, workers have struggled for
a safe and healthy work environment. Toxic chemicals, agricultural pesticides, asbestos,
silica, welding rod times, and many other harmful substances have been linked to a host of
diseases and health problems, including blood disorders, pregnancy complications, lung
ailments, and cancers. Moreover, family members of exposed workers may also be affected.
Occupational disease is any abnormal condition or disorder caused by exposure to
environmental factors associated with employment.
Occupational disease is a chronic illness that occurs at a far higher rate for a certain body of
workers than for the normal population by inhalation, absorption, ingestion, or direct contact
with toxic substances or harmful agents.
Occupational Hazards :
ι. Physical Hazard : Heat Cold, light, Noise Vibration.
ιι. Chemical Hazards : Arsenic, Mercury and Zinc
ιιι. Biological Hazards : Bacteria, Virus, Fungal
ιϖ. Mechanical Hazards : Crushed, injury, various accident
ϖ. Psychological Hazards
ϖι. Hypertension, Psychosis
ϖιι. Some common Occupational diseases
.1 Pulmonary Disease : Asbestosis, Silicosis and Asthma
.2 Cardiovascular Disease : Coronary artery, Hypertension
.3 Hepatic Disease : Hepatitis, Hepatic necrosis
.4 Musculoskeletal : Low backache
.5 Reproductive Disease : There is significant public health concern about
potential effects of occupational exposures on reproductive outcomes. Examples
of substances with reported reproductive or developmental effects, still in regular
commercial use includes heavy metals (such as lead), solvents, and pesticides.
Estimates of adverse reproductive outcomes demonstrate widespread impact. For
example, it is estimated that 10% to 20% of recognized pregnancies end in
spontaneous abortion, and that 3% of all live births have major malformations-
Others hawe estimated that 3% of major malformations are due to toxicant
exposure, 23% are due to multi factor causes,and 40% are due to unknown causes.
Despite the public health concern and the widespread impact, progress has been

4. limited in identifying occupational reproductive hazards and in separating the
contributions of potential occupational hazards from other etiologic factors.

5. Some of the Occupational Diseases
Name of Disease Cause
Anthrax Handling of wool, hair, bristles and animal
carcases.
Compressed air illness Any process carried on in compressed air.
Lead tetra-ethyl Poisoning Any process involving the use of lead tetra-
ethyl.
Poisoning by nitrous fumes Any process involving exposure to nitrous
fumes
Silicosis Any inhalation of dust containing silica.
Coal Miner's pneumoconiosis Any employment in coal mining.
Asbestosis a. From fiber cements materials or asbestos
mill board
b. Construction workers who are exposed to
asbestos
Bagassosis In the production of bagasse mill board
Byssinosis In cotton—rooms, blowing-rooms in
spinning
Fibrosis of lung Arises out of jute and cotton fibers
Writer's cramp Handwriting for prolonged periods.
Lung disease In mines
Radiation Interact with radioactive chemicals and toxic
by products of the nuclear industry.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among fileclerks and typists
Phosphorous poisoning
Mercury Poisoning
Primary Skin Cancer
Arsenic Poisoning
Lead Poisoning
Toxic anemia
Toxic jaundice
Loss of hearing
Chemical & Paint Poisoning
Benzene Poisoning

6. (B) PREVENTION TECHNIQUES OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
What is Occupational Disease ?
An occupational disease is a health problem caused by exposure to a workplace health
hazard.
Your workplace should be healthy for your body and mind. You can help to keep yourself
and your workplace healthy by being aware of health hazards in your environment.
These workplace health hazards can cause an occupational disease :
• dust, gases, or fumes
• noise
• toxic substance (poisons)
• vibration
• radiation
• infectious germs or viruses extreme hot or cold temperatures
• extremely high or low air pressure
Asbestos-related Diseases :
• Asthma and work
• Campylobacter
• Contact with Blood and other Body Fluids
• Preventing Silicosis
• Preventing Workplace Contact Dermatitis
• Silicosis
Workplace hazard reaction in body
Workplace health hazards can cause three kinds of reaction in body :
• Immediate or acute reactions, like shortness of breath or nausea, can be caused by a
one-time event, (e.g. a chemical spill). These reactions are not usually permanent.
• Gradual reactions, like asthma or dermatitis (skin rashes), can get worse and persist
when someone is exposed over days, weeks or months. These reactions tend to last for
a longer time.
• Delayed reactions or diseases that take a long time to develop, like lung cancer or
loss of hearing, can be caused by long-term exposure to a substance or work activity.
These reactions can be noticed long after the job is over.

7. Avoiding Occupational Diseases : What can you do?
• Find out what materials and substances are being used in your workplace.
• Find out how to work safely around materials and equipment in your workplace. Your
supervisor is required to provide you with this information and appropriate training.
• Use protective equipment provided by your employer. Make sure that you know how
to use it properly. If you don't know, ask.
• Be alert to symptoms or changes in your health.
• Tell your doctor where you work, what you do, and what substances you work with.
• Keep Records : Deep list of all jobs and industries that you have worked in. It will
help if you need to file an occupational disease claim.
Protection against Occupational Diseases :
Industrial establishment must protect their employees against occupational diseases. There
are two step
i. Preventive Measures
ii. Curative measures
Apart from the above two there are some other steps could be practiced against for the
protection occupational diseases, like
i. Medical Measures
ii. Engineering Measures
iii. Legislation
iv. Protective Measures for General Health of Industrial Workers
Preventive Measures :
• Pre—employment medical examination.
• Periodic post-employment medical examination.
• Removal of hazardous materials/process wherever possible.
• Surveillance of employees exposed to health hazards.
• Emergency accident in case of accidents.
• Availability of First Aid Equipment.
• Training of first-aid treatment.
• Education of workers on health and hygiene.
• Special surveillance of health of weaker persons like children and women employees.
• Proper factory layout and illumination.
• Proper design of factory building with proper ventilation.
• Proper effluent (Waste Materials) Disposal Treatment Plants.
• Careful design and selection of handling equipment.
• Careful design of work palaces and tools based on principles of Ergonomics.
• Proper redesign of job to remove monotony and fatigue.

8. • Proper scheduling the work with adequate rest.
Curative Measures :
• Adequate medical treatment.
• Allowing adequate period of recovering and improving.
• Adequate compensation.
• Provision of best medical treatment from outside hospitals.
Medical Measures :
• Pre—placement examination
• Periodical health examination
• First Aid & Medical Care
• Working Environment
• Health Education
• Maintenance of Records and medical catalog
Engineering Measures :
• Location
• Proper designing
• Good housing
• Enclosure : Covering of dangerous machine, wheel, belts.
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Control of dust fumes
• Substitution : Harmful substance should be replaced by harmless one
• Periodical monitoring
• Mechanization
Legislation :
• Factory laws should be strictly followed.
• Industrial Health regulation should strictly observed
• Smoking prohibited/Disallowed.
•
Protective measures for General Health of Industrial Workers :
• Nutrition
• Control of communicable disease
• Environmental Sanitation
• Mental health
• Measures For women and children : No children- under age of 18 yrs. will be allowed
as worker.
• Health Education

9. • Family Planning : Small family normally.

10. • Family Planning : Small family normally.