health

1. OCUUPATIONRELATEDRISKFACTORS
FORHEALTH
Dr.D.Rajesh
Emergency Physician
Senior Medical Officer
RIL – KGD6

2. INNUMBERS…..
• 2.9 billion workers across the globe are exposed to hazardous risks
at their workplaces.
• The occupational risk factors WHO study accounted for an estimated
37% of back pain, 16% of hearing loss, 13% of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), 11% of asthma, 8% of injuries, 9% of
lung cancer and 2% of leukaemia.
• These work-related risks caused 7,75,000 deaths worldwide in 2000

3. INNUMBERS…..
• The leading occupational cause of death among the six risk
factors was unintentional injuries (41%) followed by COPD
(40%) and cancer of the trachea, bronchus or lung (13%).
• Workers who developed outcomes related to the occupational
risk factors lost about 22 million years of healthy life

4. SADReality
• Occupational risk factors: occupational carcinogens, airborne
particulates, noise, ergonomic stressors and risk factors for
injuries.
• Owing primarily to lack of data in developing countries, we
were unable to include important occupational risks for some
cancers, reproductive disorders, dermatitis, infectious diseases,
ischemic heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of
the upper extremities, and other conditions such as workplace
stress - WHO

5. TragediesStimulatedChange
• Workplace Disasters of the early 1900s led to outrage and
subsequently to legislation to protect workers
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire probably was the most
important event leading to the regulation of occupational
safety
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Company was a New York City
“sweatshop” where dozens of mostly young female
immigrant workers crowded together to cut and sew
shirtwaists

6. TheTriangleShirtwaistCompanyCaughtFire-1911
–146 workers died from fire in the upper floors of this
“fireproof” building
• Fire exits were inadequate or locked to keep the workers
at their work stations
• Unable to flee, many victims jumped from the windows to
their deaths
• The tragedy led to 36 laws reforming the state labor codes

7. NonCommunicableDiseases
• Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic
diseases, are not passed from person to person.
• They are of long duration and generally slow progression.

8. NonCommunicableDiseases
• Do not result from an (acute) infectious process
• Are “not communicable”
• Cause premature morbidity, dysfunction, and reduced quality of life
• Usually develop and progress over long periods
• Often initially insidious –
• Once manifested there is usually a protracted period of impaired
health