An occupational disease is a chronic illness that results from work or occupational activities. Occupational diseases can be grouped into categories including those caused by physical agents like heat, cold, radiation; chemical agents like gases, dusts, and direct chemical contact; biological agents like anthrax and fungi; and physiological factors like hypertension. Dermatitis is a common occupational skin disease that causes redness, itching, rashes, and skin cracking or peeling. It is usually caused by repeated skin irritation or sensitization to substances. Silicosis and asbestosis are lung diseases caused by inhalation of silica or asbestos dust over long periods of time. They cause scarring of the lung tissue and shortness of breath.

2.  An Occupational disease is any chronic
ailment or illness that occurs as a result of
work or occupational activity. An occupational
disease is typically identified when it is shown
that it is more prevalent in a body of workers
then in the general population or in other
worker population.

3. Occupational Diseases may be grouped
under
1. – Disease due to Physical agent
A – HEAT (Heat Hyperpyrexia, Heat Exhaustion, Burn and
local effect
B- COLD (Trench Foot, Frost Bite)
C – PRESSURE (Air Embolism, Caisson’s Disease)
D- LIGHT (Occupational Cataract)
E- NOISE ( Noise Induced Hearing loss)
F – RADIATION (Cancer, Leukaemia)
Trench foot
Frost bite
Frost bite

4. 2– Disease due to Chemical agent
A- Gases (CO2)
B- Dust
-Inorganic Dust
Coal dust : Anthracosis
Silica : Silicosis
Asbestos : Asbestosis
Iron : Siderosis
-Organic Dust
Cane Fibre – Bagassosis
Cotton Dust – Byssinosis ( Brown lung or Monday Fever)
Hay or Grain dust : Farmers Lung Diseases,
C- Direct Chemical Contact
Dermatitis, Skin Burn, Eye Irritation,

5. 3– Disease due to Biological agent
Anthrax, Tetanus, Fungal Infection,
4 – Occupational Cancer
Lung Cancer, Cancer of Bladder, Cancer of Skin
5- Diseases due to Physiological Origin
Hypertension, Peptic ulcer, Anxiety, Depression
Fungal infection
Anthrax

6. Occupational Dermatitis
(Notifiable disease under factory act 1948 Schedule III. 21 no.
disease)
 It is disorder of the skin caused by exposure
to a substance in the workplace. Exposure
usually occurs from direct contact but may, in
rare circumstances, occur through the
airborne route. Dermatitis is a common and
potentially serious problem that need not
happen.
 Depending on the types of substances
present, dermatitis may take two forms: a)
allergic contact dermatitis, or b) irritant
contact dermatitis.

8. Dermatitis is a common occupational skin
disease often caused by repeated skin
irritation or sensitization, symptoms include:
• Skin redness or soreness
• Itching
• Skin rash or inflammation
• Skin cracking or peeling
• Dermatitis is easy to detect and can be
managed using simple procedures but can be
irreversible if left untreated

9.  Redness
 Scaling / flaking
 Blistering
 Weeping
 Swelling
 Cracking
 Crusting

10. Irritant contact dermatitis
• Can be considered a form of physical damage which can be caused by
exposure to contact with strong irritant or corrosive substances.
• Regular contact with mild irritants or brief contact with strong
irritants (or corrosive substances) increases the risk of dermatitis as
does prolonged contact with relevant substances.
• Can also be caused by physical conditions e.g. extremes of
temperature or sweating caused by prolonged use of gloves (including
nitrile gloves).
• The risk of irritant dermatitis is increased in individuals who have
atopic eczema or other skin conditions
Irritant contact dermatitis (70 to 80%)
Allergic contact dermatitis (20 to 30%)

11. Allergic contact dermatitis
• Many substances can act as sensitizers meaning
that the body develops an allergy to them after one
or more exposures. In many cases there will be no
immediate evidence that an individual has been
affected.
• Once an individual has become sensitized it is likely
that they will remain so permanently, even a very
minor exposure can then lead to a severe immune
response causing the skin to become red and itchy.

14. Avoid contact with materials that cause dermatitis where possible
• Substitute hazardous substances with safer alternatives
• Keep a safe working distance
• Automate or enclose processes
Protect the skin
• Provide appropriate protective clothing / gloves
• Contamination should be washed from skin as quickly as possible
• Hands should always be fully dried after washing
• Consider providing moisturizing pre-work and after work creams.
• Application of Barrier Cream
Check for early signs of dermatitis
• Regular skin checks should be used where the risk cannot be fully eliminated
by avoidance / protection
• Health surveillance should be provided where required
Barrier Cream- A Barrier cream is a product applied directly to the skin
surface to help maintain the skins physical barrier, providing protection
from irritants and preventing the skin from drying out. they can also make
it easier to remove paint glue and sealant from hand s during or after
industrial or occupational work without use of harsh solvent.

15. Talk to staff in your area and ask the following questions:
• Ask the employee if they are having problems with their skin (itching,
dryness, redness, cracking, weeping, scaling)
• Ask what they are doing to protect their skin
• Encourage avoidance of contact with substances and use of the
correct PPE
• Encourage them to tell you if problems start before their next check
is due
 What actions to take if a problem is identified*:
• Remind the employee to:
• Avoid contact with water and chemicals
• Keep their hands dry
• Use PPE as instructed

16. Pneumoconiosis
•Pneumoconiosis is the general terms for a class of
lung diseases where inhalation of dust has cause
interstitial fibrosis.
•The International Labour Organisation defines
Pneumoconiosis as the Accumulation of dust and the
tissue react its presence.
•The Term Pneumoconiosis derives its meaning from
greak words Pneuma = Air and Conis = Dust.
Video

17. For Pneumoconiosis to develop 3 essential factors
are required:
Expose to specific substance like Coal, Silica,
Asbestos.
Particles of appropriate size to be retain in lungs
(1-5 Micron)
Exposure for a sufficient length of time.
Pathogenesis

18. Pathogenesis
From an Occupational Health point of view
Dust is classified by its size into following
categories

22. SILICOSIS
(Notifiable disease under factory act 1948 Schedule III. 12 no. disease)
Caused by inhalation of crystalline silica, (including
quartz which is the most abundant in nature,
crystobalite, and trimidite.)
Develops with repeated and usually long term exposure
to silica dust.
The silica dust cause irritation and inflammation of the
airways and lung tissue.
Scar tissue form when the inflammation heals. resulting
in fibrosis that gradually overtakes healthy lung tissue.
The fibrosis continue extending through the lungs even
after exposure ends.

25. Three forms of Silicosis
-Acute Silicosis Occurs with Exposure to fine dust
with high quartz content, very heavy exposure for
months show symptoms within weeks to months of
exposure.
-Accelerated silicosis; Show rapidly progressive
symptoms after 5 to 10 years of high exposure to
fine dust of high silica content.
-Chronic Silicosis: The most common form results
from long term exposure 10 to 20 years or longer to
dust containing less than 30% silica content.

26. Egg cell
calcification

28. ASBESTOSIS
(Notifiable disease under factory act 1948 Schedule III. 20 no.
disease)
Asbestosis is chronic lung disease caused by inhaling
asbestos fibres,
Prolonged exposure of these fibres can cause lung
tissue scarring and shortness of breath.
Asbestosis symptoms can range from mild to severe,
and usually don't appear until many years after
continued exposure.

29. Asbestos is classified into two group -
Serpentine (curly) and Amphibole (thin and strait)

30.  The effect of long term exposure of Asbestos
typically dont show up until 10 to 40 years after
initial exposure.
 It may include:
 Shortness of breath
 A persistent, dry cough
 Loss of appetite with weight loss
 Fingertip and toes that appear wider and rounder
than normal(clubbing)
 Chest tightness or pain.

33.  Pleural plaque disease- A fibrous scar can form
on the outer surface of the lungs and is only
noticed on X-rays, it is mainly useful as an
indicator of asbestos exposure lung function
test is usually normal.
 Lung cancer (Broncogenic carcinoma of the
lungs)-Asbestos exposure increase the risk of
cancer, that occurs deep inside the lungs.
 Mesothelioma- this cancer grows on the outer
lining of the lungs,and can develope with a
trivial exposure of asbestos.

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