Introduction to Occupational Health

Introduction to Occupational Health

• Occupational health is health and safety at work.
• It's about preventing illnesses and injuries directly caused by work environments.
• The WHO defines it as promoting and maintaining workers' physical, mental, and social well-being in all occupations.

What is Occupational Health?

• Occupational health is a branch of medicine focused on studying and preventing health hazards arising from work.
• Exposures vary across different industries, including agricultural, commercial, construction, medicine, and transportation.
• Traditionally, it was concerned with how workers' health impacted their job performance, and vice-versa.

Further Aspects of Occupational Health

• Today, occupational health is more comprehensive, including health promotion, risk assessment, and well-being.
• It addresses a broader range of lifestyle issues including smoking, fitness, stress management, nutrition, and obesity.
• Developed nations consider a healthy workforce crucial for national development, as it increases output and reduces sickness absence and associated costs.

Goals of Occupational Health

• Reducing industrial accidents.
• Preventing occupational hazards/illnesses.
• Maximizing human and machine efficiency.
• Reducing sick leave.

Objectives of Occupational Health

• Maintaining and promoting workers' physical, mental, and social well-being.
• Preventing occupational illnesses and injuries.
• Adapting workplaces to meet worker needs (ergonomics).
• Prioritizing prevention over treatment.

Definitions (cont.)

• Occupational hazard: A factor or exposure potentially negatively affecting health.
• Occupational risk: The chance that a health problem will appear after being exposed to a specific hazard amount.
• Occupational disease: Specific illnesses prevalent among people in particular work types.

Occupational Health Overview

• Occupational health is a balance between the worker and their work environment.

Size of the Problem

• Occupational risks like injuries, noise exposure, and ergonomic issues cause substantial chronic health issues as shown by:
  • 37% of back pain cases
  • high rates of hearing loss & several other chronic diseases.
• These issues result in an overall economic loss of 4-6% of most countries' GDP.
• Workplace health initiatives show positive impacts by reducing absenteeism (by 27%) and health care costs (by 26%).

Work-Related Issues

• Many workers lack insurance to cover occupational diseases or injuries.

Work-Related Illnesses and Disorders

• In 2018, the WHO estimated over 885,000 deaths and 51 million lost healthy years from work-related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental disorders.
• Key factors contributing to these issues: occupational carcinogens, air contaminants, work-related stress, and physical strain issues

Creating a Safe Workplace

• Emphasizes the importance of a safe environment.
• Practical steps for employers include:
  • Providing and maintaining safe machinery and work systems.
  • Ensuring safe use of hazardous goods and chemicals.
  • Controlling hazards like dust, noise, and fumes.
  • Providing hygiene facilities like toilets and change rooms.
  • Providing clear information about workplace hazards.
  • Providing instruction, training, and supervision, with employee well-being in mind.

Safe Working Areas

• Monitoring work areas and employee health is crucial.
• Maintaining detailed information and records regarding health and safety is paramount.
• Supporting employees with injuries or illnesses to ensure a safe return.

Criteria for a Safe Work Environment

• Sufficient space for all workers (minimum 15 m3 per person).
• Cleanliness and sanitation (especially for separate male/female facilities).
• Adequate water supply with sanitation measures (safe water supply).
• Proper lighting and workstation designs (preventing eye strain or fatigue).
• Controlling exposure to hazardous substances (chemicals, dust, noise).
• Maintaining safe temperatures (considering heat or cold exposure).
• Well-maintained equipment and safety measures (properly maintained machinery).

Manpower Management

• Worker-worker and worker-authority relationships within workplaces are considered.
• Managing these interactions helps improve job satisfaction, worker trust, and workplace stability.

Hazard Identification and Control

• A diagram describes the cyclical process of hazard control.
• Starts with identifying and defining the hazard.
• Next, potential harms are listed.
• Control methods are applied.
• Controlling options are determined.

Hierarchical Control of Hazards

• Includes Hierarchy of Controls from most effective (eliminating or substituting) to least effective (personal protective equipment).
• The principle is to initially focus on the source and implement preventive methods before focusing on personal protective measures.