Occupational diseases are chronic ailments that occur as a result of work or occupational activity. They can develop instantly upon exposure to hazards like gases, or gradually over weeks, months, or decades from exposures like heavy metals or carcinogens. Globally, there are millions of occupational disease cases and deaths annually, costing countries 2-14% of GDP. Occupational diseases are classified into categories like those from physical, chemical, or biological agents. Examples of specific occupational diseases discussed are pneumoconiosis like black lung from inhaling dusts, occupational dermatitis from skin exposures, and hand-arm vibration syndrome from using vibrating tools. Prevention strategies include engineering controls, protective equipment, health monitoring, and legislation.

1. KiranRadhakrishnanRoll No. 8ISEM – X

2. Introduction“any chronic ailment that occurs as a result of work or occupational activity”

3. An important aspect of OS&H

4. It is called when it is more prevalent in a given body of workers

5. Should be distinguishable from injuries due to workplace hazardsOccur in varying time frames – from instantaneous development of symptoms to gradual development

6. instantaneous reactions - exposure to chemicals such as chlorine or ammonia gas

7. a delay of some six to twelve hours with fumes of aerosolized zinc

8. a delay of weeks to months with lead poisoning

9. a delay of decades with occupational carcinogens

10. even the finding of congenital malformations in children whose parents may have been exposed to hazardous materials

11. So, deaths from such diseases - difficult to enumerateSome Numbers...WHO - 100 million occupational injuries  0.1 million deaths in the world

12. India  17 million occupational non-fatal injuries (17% of the world) & 45,000 fatal injuries (45% of the total deaths due to occupational injuries in world) annually

13. 11 million cases of occupational diseases in the world  1.9 million cases (17%) contributed by India

14. Of 0.7 million deaths in the world, 0.12 (17%) from India

15. Adverse occupational factors have been estimated to cost2-14% of the gross national products for various countriesClassificationI. Diseases due to physical agents:Heat: Heat hyperpyrexia, heat exhaustionCold: Trench foot, frost biteLight: Occupational cataract, miner’s nystagmusPressure: Caisson disease, air embolism, blast (explosion)Noise: Occupational deafnessRadiation: Cancer, leukaemia, aplastic anaemia, pancytopeniaII. Diseases due to chemical agents:Gases: Gas poisoningPneumoconiosisMetals and their compounds: Chemicals & Solvents

16. III. Diseases due to biological agents:Leptospirosis, anthrax, actinomycosis, tetanusIV. Occupational cancer:Cancer of skin, lungs, bladderV. Occupational dermatosis:Dermatitis, eczemaVI. Diseases of psychological origin:Industrial neurosis, hypertension, peptic ulcer, etc.

17. Agricultural Worker’s DiseasesFarmer’s Lunga hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by inhalation of biological dusts

18. could progress into a potentially dangerous chronic condition.