This document provides historical context on occupational health and discusses key figures and concepts. It summarizes that Bernardino Ramazzini in 1700 published the first study linking environmental hazards to specific occupations and diseases. In 1775, Sir Percivall Pott associated cancer with occupational exposure from chimney sweeping. Occupational health refers to risks and safety for work outside the home. Occupational diseases are directly caused by a person's occupation. The document outlines various occupational hazards like physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial factors and diseases they can cause. It also discusses prevention of occupational diseases through various medical and environmental measures.

2. Bernardino Ramazzini (1633 – 1714)
• Considered to be the father of occupational and
industrial medicine
• Diseases of Workers
(De Morbis Artificum Diatriba)
First edition - 1700 Second edition – 1713
• published the first systematic study connecting the
environmental hazards of specific professions to disease
Example: lead exposure in potters and painters
• His book on occupational diseases outlined the health
hazards and other disease-causative agents encountered
by workers in 52 occupations.

3. Sir Percivall Pott (1714 – 1788)
• Chimney Sweepers’ Cancer of
the scrotum
• first to associate cancer with
occupational exposure (1775)

4. Occupational health
 refers to the potential risks to health and safety
work outside the home
for those who
Hazard
 something that can cause harm if not controlled.
Occupational disease
 Disease directly caused by a person’s occupation. Thus 2 main
things are there in its definition.
1. The causal relationship between the specific working
environment exposure and a specific disease.
2. frequency of disease occurrence is above average morbidity in
the rest of population.

5. Ecological approach
 it seeks to ensure a dynamic equilibrium
between the industrial worker and his
occupational environment.
Workplace
 setting in which many people spend the
largest proportion of their time.
 exposes many workers to health hazards

6. HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE ON
OCCUPATIONAL
DISEASE
BIRTH OF OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE

7. Occupational Environment
• Sum 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.-

8. WORK ENVIRONMENT
Recognition of health hazards
Potential health hazards:
1. Air contaminants
2. Chemical hazards
3. Biological hazards
4. Physical hazards
5. Ergonomic hazards
6. . Psychosocial Hazards

9. Physical
Noise, Vibration, Radiation, Heat
Chemical
Dusts, Heavy & Heavy reactive Metals, Solvents, Gases, Fumes
Biological
Human tissue & bodily fluids (blood) causing Hepatitis B,C,HIV (
AIDS)
Microbial pathogens causing Anthrax, TB, Brucellosis, asthma &
Tetanus.
Animal and animal products, Birds, Insects e.g Mosquitoes.
AIR CONTAMINANTS
PARTICULATE
Dusts, Fumes, Mists, Aerosols, Fibers
GAS AND VAPOUR
Ergonomic/Mechanical
Lifting & handling
Poor posture
Repetition
Poor equipment & workplace design
Psychosocial
Organizational Psychosocial Factors
High demand & Low control
Violence and verbal abuse
Lone working, Shift work, Night work
Burn out due to Long working hours
Exposure to unnecessary tobacco or smoking.

10. Ways of acquiring Chemical Hazards
A. Local action: irritants, sensitizers
B. Inhalation:
Dusts – organic , Inorganic
Gases – Simple asphyxiants : Methane, Nitrogen, CO2.
– Chemical asphyxiants : CO, Hydrogen sulphide, HCN
– Irritant gases: Ammonia, SO2,
– Anesthetic gases: Chloroform, Ether, Trichloroethylene.
Metallic compounds
C. Ingestion:
Metallic compounds: Arsenic, Antimony, Beryllium, Chromium,
Cadmium, Cobalt, Lead, Mercury, Manganese, Zinc.

11. Diseases due to chemical agents
• Gases – gas poisoning.
• Inorganic dusts:
 Coal dust - Anthracosis
 Silica
- Silicosis.
 Asbestos - Asbestosis.
 Iron
- Siderosis
• Organic dusts :
 Cane fiber - Bagassosis.
 Cotton dust – Byssinosis.
 Hay or grain dust – Farmer’s lung.
• Chemicals – Burns, dermatitis, cancer, respiratory illness
• Metals – lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium cause poisoning

12. OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
1. Physical hazards
Heat – Direct & indirect effect of high temperature, radiant heat,
heat stagnation.
Cold – General & local cold injury
Light – Acute & chronic effect of bright & dim light & glare.
Radiation
a.
b.
Ionizing - X-rays, gamma rays, beta particles, alpha particles
Non-ionizing - microwaves, infrared, and ultra-violet light
Noise – Auditory & non auditory effect.
Vibration – hazardous in the frequency range of 10- 500Hz

13. Diseases due to Physical agents
Heat – Heat stroke, Heat hyperpyrexia, Heat
syncope, Heat Exhaustion, Heat rash.
Light – Occupational cataract, Miners nystagmus.
Cold – Hypothermia, Frost bite, Trench foot.
Pressure – Air embolism, Blast injuries.
Vibration – Osteoarthritis, Reynaud's disease [white
fingers]
Noise – Occupational deafness.
Radiation- Cancer, genetic changes, Aplastic anaemia.

14. Diseases due to Biological Agents
Hepatitis B Virus
Hepatitis C Virus
Tuberculosis – particularly among Healthcare
Workers
Asthma – among persons exposed to organic dust
Blood-borne Diseases – HIV/AIDS
Anthrax
Brucellosis
Tetanus
Leptospirosis

15. OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
4. Psychosocial hazards
Work-related stress – excessive working time and overwork
Violence – from outside the organization
Bullying – emotional and verbal abuse
Sexual Harassment
Mobbing
Burnout
Exposure to unhealthy elements – tobacco,
uncontrolled alcohol

16. Disorders due to Psychosocial Agents
MSDs and work-related psychosocial factors such as
high workload/demands, high perceived stress levels,
low social support, low job control, low job satisfaction
and monotonous work.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
• can affect the body’s muscles, joints, tendons,
ligaments and nerves. As well as the back, neck,
shoulders and upper limbs; less often they affect the
lower limbs.
• develop over time and are caused either by the work
itself or by the employees' working environment.

17. Disorders due to Psychological
Agents
Psychological Hazards resulting from stress & strain:
Depression
Discouragement
Boredom
Anxiety
Memory loss
Dissatisfaction
Frustration
Irritability
Discouragement
Pessimism

18. PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES.
MEASURES FOR HEALTH PROTECTION OF WORKERS.
1. Nutrition.
2. Communicable disease control.
3. Environmental sanitation.
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Water supply
Food
Toilet
Proper garbage & waste disposal.
General plant cleanliness.
Sufficient space.
Lighting.
Ventilation.
Protection against hazards.

19. PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES.
MEASURES FOR HEALTH PROTECTION OF WORKERS.
4. Mental health:
GOALS:
To promote health and happiness of workers.
To detect signs of stress and strain and take necessary
measures.
Treatment of employees suffering from mental illnesses.
Rehabilitation of those who become ill.
5. Measures for women and children.
6. Family planning services
7. Health education.

20. PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
MEDICAL MEASURES:
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Pre –placement examination.
Periodical health check up.
Medical and health care facilities.
Supervision of work environment.
Water supply , food, general plant cleanliness
Toilet. Proper garbage & waste disposal.
Sufficient space.
Lighting.
Ventilation.
Protection against hazards.
5. Notification
6. Maintenance and analysis of records.
7. Health education and counseling.

21. Any Questions !!!!!!
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