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1. by
RONALD HUNTE
Safety & Health Inspector – 1
OSH Agency
NATIONAL SAFETY WEEK 2013

8. Challenges
General Industry Exposures & Illnesses
Energy Industry Exposures & Illnesses
Case Study in Occupational Illnesses
The Way Forward:
*OSH Agency Intervention
*Internal Proactive Approaches
*Internal Reactive Approaches

9. Non-reporting of Occupational Illnesses
Absolute duty of
Medical practitioners to CMO – Section 48 (1)
CMO to CI– Section 48 (2)
Employers to CI – Section 48 (3)
Non-enforcement of penalties – Section 48 (6),(7)
Employers - Section 48 (6)
Medical practitioners – Section 48 (7)

10. OCCUP.
ILLNESS
POSSIBLE
EXPOSURE
ACTIVITY
POSSIBLY
RESPONSIBLE
PERIOD OF
EXPOSURE
TYPE OF
INDUSTRY /
PROCESS
No. of
PERSONS
POSSIBLY
EXPOSED
Dermatitis- Form Oil Spraying oil
onto Bed-
forms
Over 8yrs Construction > 4-6
Dermatitis Alum Mixing of
Alum with
muddy water
to flocculate
clay sediments
Approx. 15-
20 yrs.
Potable
Water
Treatment
3
Impaired
Respiratory
Function
Isocyanates Mixing of
chemicals for
the
manufacturing
of foam
Approx. 8-13
yrs.
Foam
Manufacture
>15-20

11. ILLNESS POSSIBLE
EXPOSURE
ACTIVITY
POSSIBLY
RESPONSIBLE
PERIOD OF
EXPOSURE
TYPE OF
INDUSTRY /
PROCESS
# PERSONS
POSSIBLY
EXPOSED
Suspected
tumors &
cancers
Actellic
Dust
Artegram
Field
Application
Storage &
Re-
packaging
25 years + Agriculture >35
named
Respiratory
and skin
Silica Dust Process
operations
Approx.10
-15 yrs.
Sand Milling
and mixing
(thinset and
grout)
> 30
Impaired
Respiratory
Function/
Dermal
Irritation
Deteriorating
Films and
audio tapes
Storing and
retrieving
archived
media in
unventilated
Approx.
10-25 yrs
Communication
s Industry
< 20

12. ILLNESS POSSIBLE
EXPOSURE
ACTIVITY
POSSIBLY
RESPONSIBLE
PERIOD OF
EXPOSURE
TYPE OF
INDUSTRY /
PROCESS
# PERSONS
POSSIBLY
EXPOSED
Asthma
Skin
Rashes
Dust –
Black
Pearl/Black
Beauty
Sand-Blasting Approx.
15-20 yrs
Sand
Blasting
Operations
> 20-40
Asthma
Skin
Rashes
Dermatitis
Silica sand
Cement
Dust
Grinding and
milling of the
particles for
the production
of cement
Approx.
15-20 yrs
Cement
Manufacture
> 60
Asthma Chlorine
gas
Installing and
changing of
chlorine
storage tanks -
swimming
Approx.
10-15 yrs
Water
Treatment
Plants
> 15-20

13. ILLNESS POSSIBLE
EXPOSURE
ACTIVITY
POSSIBLY
RESPONSIBLE
PERIOD OF
EXPOSURE
TYPE OF
INDUSTRY /
PROCESS
# PERSONS
POSSIBLY
EXPOSED
Respiratory
Complaints
Methanol
Vapours
Process
Operations
Approx. 10
yrs
Methanol
Manufacture
>10
Respiratory
Complaints
Nausea
Vomiting
VOCs Proximity to
Refinery
Vent Stack
Approx. 5
yrs
Petroleum
Refining
>75
Respiratory
Problems
Paints,
Varnishes,
Dust
Clerical
Work
Approx. 15-
20 yrs
Private
Sector Office
>40
Asthma,
Respiratory
Irritation
Syndrome
Dust
Heat
Poor
Indoor Air
Sedentary
Work
Approx.15-
25 yrs
Public Sector
Office
>100

14. ILLNESS POSSIBLE
EXPOSURE
ACTIVITY
POSSIBLY
RESPONSIBLE
PERIOD OF
EXPOSURE
TYPE OF
INDUSTRY /
PROCESS
# PERSONS
POSSIBLY
EXPOSED
Cancer - VOC’s,
Petroleum
Distillates
Analysis of
Petroleum
Samples
10 – 27 yrs Petroleum
Testing
Laboratory
< 10
Cancers Insecticides,
Agricultural
Chemicals
Field
Application
Storage &
Repackaging
25-30 yrs Agriculture > 35
Elevated
Blood Lead
Levels
Lead Oxide
Dust
Lead Fumes
Smelting Pb
Billets
Grid Casting
Sulfuric Acid
<5-30 yrs Manufacture > 75-120
Noise
Induced
Hearing
Loss
Noise Process Plant
Operations
Approx. 5-7
yrs.
Chicken
Processing
> 75

15. Employee Mr. Thomas X has worked for the past twenty (20)
years on unmanned offshore platforms as an Operations
Supervisor
To get to work daily, Mr. Thomas X boards a fast launch for an
average 30-40 minute ride out the platform(s), and repeats the
journey at the end of his shift.

16. The sea is frequently rough and the seats in the launch are
unpadded, causing the passengers to experience whole-body
vibration and spinal compression from the very rough ride.
Over the past five (5) years, Mr. Thomas X and at least thirty
(30) named fellow employees have been diagnosed with
cervical and lumbar spinal disorders; and they all
underwent reconstructive spinal surgery.

25. Focus on Industry Clusters for Inspection
I.D. technical training foci for S.H.I.’s
Development of robust regulations
Building prosecution quotient
Targeting of Public Awareness Strategies
Strengthening stakeholder partnerships

26. Internal Pro-active Approaches:
1. Preventive Maintenance
2. Risk Assessment
3. Training
4. S.S.O.W.
5. 3rd Party Certification
6. Internal Audit/ Workplace
Inspection
7. C.A.T.S.

27. Internal Reactive Approaches:
5. Health Surveillance
6. Medical Surveillance
7. Workplace Monitoring (Surveys)
8. Personal Monitoring (Dosimetry)
9. Analysis & Trending of Personal Data