Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Occupational Health
Occupational Health
Occupational Health
HEALTH
OH Services, Surveillance
& Programming
Llanne J. Concepcion RN
OSH Practitioner : #1033-161205-H-0223
Objectives
By the end of the session, participants will be able to
a. Define occupational health and its role in the
workplace
b. Discuss medical surveillance and biological
monitoring as strategy in the prevention and
maintenance of worker‟s health
c. Identify different strategies in establishing
occupational health program ini construction
industries
Occupational
Health
Defined
Occupational health is the
promotion and
maintenance of the highest
degree of physical, mental
and social well-being of
workers in all occupations
by preventing departures
from health, controlling risks
and the adaptation of work
to people and people to
their jobs. ((ILO/WHO)
Case Study
◦ A case of 20 year old machine
operator whose finger was
accidentally caught by the grinder.
◦Occupational Health
Personnel – qualified first
aider, nurse, dentist or
physician engaged by the
employer to provide
occupational health
services in the
establishment
Covered workplaces shall have qualified occupational health
personnel such as certified first-aiders, nurses, dentists, and
physicians duly complemented with the required medical supplies,
equipment and facilities.
The employer shall provide the workers medical services and facilities
and shall not be an excuse from maintaining in the workplace a first aid
treatment room or clinic for workers which shall be as follows:
OH Services / Facilities
• hospital or dental clinic located not more than five (5) kilometers away
from the workplace, accessible in not more than twenty-five (25)
minutes travel time, and the employer has facilities readily available for
transporting workers to the hospital or dental clinic in cases of
emergency.
• For this purpose, the employer shall enter into a written contract with
the hospital for the use of such hospital for the treatment of workers in
cases of emergency.
DUTIES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PHYSICIANS
• Organize, administer and maintain OH
• Maintain and analyze records of all
program integrating safety program
medical cases and to prepare and
• Continually monitor health hazards submit to the employer annual medical
through periodic inspection reports as required by this Standards
• Prevent disease or injury by establishing • Conducts studies on occupational
proper medical supervision health within his means and resources.
• Physical examinations, advice for • Act as adviser to management and
placement and health education. labor on all health matters.
• Medical and surgical care to restore • Report directly to top management in
health and earning capacity of injured order to be effective.
workers.
DUTIES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSE:
• In the absence of a physician, to organize and
administer a health service program integrating
occupational safety
• Provide nursing care to injured or ill workers;
• Participate in health maintenance examination.
• Participate in the maintenance of OSH by giving
suggestions in the improvement of working
environment.
• Maintain a reporting and record system.
DUTIES OF FIRST-AIDER
Knowledge since industrial revolution Understanding lags behind, e.g. what triggers an
allergic reaction to some substances
Hardware or safe place solutions are usually Often rely on behavioral safe person or medical
available, expertise
e.g. Guarding, protection of electrical e.g. use of personal protection, safe systems of17work
systems
Health Hazards
Have potential to adversely affect the health of individuals or groups
and potential to caused occupational diseases which maybe acute,
delayed or chronic and with varying degrees of disability and even
death.
◦ Noise induced hearing loss
◦ Irritant contact dermatitis
◦ Occupational asthma
◦ Upper limb disorders
◦ Back disorders
18
Types of health hazards
CHEMICAL
PHYSICAL
ERGONOMIC
Ergonomic hazards are BIOLOGICAL
the most frequent health
hazard PSYCHOSOCIAL
Mechanism of Toxicity
Factors Influencing Work-Related Diseases
Genetic Physical
factors properties
Lifestyle Magnitude of
exposure
WORK-
Workers’ Workplace
Age RELATED
Susceptibility Factors Duration of
DISEASE exposure
Timing of
Gender
exposure
Medical Multiplicity of
history exposure
Physical Hazards Adverse Health Effects
Noise
Extreme Temperatures
Noise induced hearing
loss (NIHL) (temporary Heat stroke, Heat
hearing loss, permanent exhaustion, Heat cramps
hearing loss))
Inadequate Vibration
Illumination Hand-arm
Radiation
Visual fatigue, vibration
glare, headache Cataract, radiation burns, cancer, syndrome
congenital birth defects
Heat Heat generated by physical
SOURCES OF HEAT activity
SUN
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Develops after several days of
extreme heat exposure
And inadequate replacement of fluids
HEAT STROKE
A medical emergency
Temperature rise to 41.1 C in15
minutes
Recommendations for Working in Hot Conditions
◦ Acclimatization is necessary
◦ Encourage drinking small amount of fluids at
frequent interval
◦ The greater the heat and physical load, the
more frequent the cooling period
◦ The drinks should be available close to the
worker
◦ Proper clothing should be worn
Hypothermia
Our Ears
Hearing Loss
resulting from damage or aging of the central hearing mechanism
Certain types of outer or middle ear problem can be corrected at least partially
through surgery.
AUDIOMETRY & AUDIOGRAM
Control Measures
Monitoring
Work Environment Monitoring
Audiometric testing
Education
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
A range of reversible and
permanent injuries
◦ Nervous system
◦ blood circulation – blanching
◦ Sensory nerves – numbness, pins
and needles
◦ Muscles
◦ Bones
◦ Joints
Health effects of Whole Body Vibration
◦ Lower – back pain : back,
shoulder or neck disorders,
Exposure to whole body vibration
may cause:
◦ Discomfort
◦ Aggravate pre-existing back
injuries
◦ Motion sickness (low frequency
vibration)
Vibration Control Measures
◦ Technical Control Measures :
automation, remote control and
elimination o reducing vibration from the
design stage or at source, use of
vibration dampers, device for
prevention, suppression, damping and
insulation of harmful vibrations
◦ Organization measures: corrective
maintenance and arrangement of work
◦ Prophylactic and therapeutic measures
◦ Special vibration absorbing handles
fitted to hand tool, springs, suspension,
seats and shock absorbers
Radiation: Non-Ionizing & Ionizing
Radiation Sources Effects
Non-Ionizing
Ultraviolet Sunlight, Arc flash erythema, skin
Welding cancer, sunburn
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
Chemical Hazards
Adverse Health
Effects
Localized Effect
Systemic Effect
Multisystem Effect
Acute effect
Chronic effect
Toxicology of Organic Solvent
◦ Acute health effects are like in acute
alcoholism
◦ 1st phase : excitation, hyperactive, laughing
and singing
◦ 2nd phase : depression symptoms like
headache, drowsiness, loss of consciousness
◦ I f ill continue e nausea and dizziness occur
◦ Continue exposure - lose of consciousness
followed by comma and might b fatal
◦ Most severe intoxication
Health Effects of Organic Solvents
◦ Peripheral nervous system
◦ n-hexane, toluene
◦ Liver
◦ Cirrhosis - Toluene, xylene, etc.
◦ Kidney
◦ Toluene, xylene
◦ Lung
◦ Skin
◦ Reproductive
Lead
◦ Occupational Sources
- Welders
- Radiator repairmen
- Solderers
- Shipyard workers
- Garage workers
- Pipe fitters
◦ Exposure
- inhalation
- ingestion
Health Effects
Prevention
Know the
source of lead
monitoring
Metal fumes : Acute Exposure
◦Metal fume fever :
Influenza-like illness
Chills, muscle aches, nausea, fever
Dry throat, cough, weakness
◦ Occupational Sources
- Construction
- Cement Manufacturing
◦ Exposure
◦ Inhalation
◦ Skin absorption
Cement: Health Effects
◦Limit Exposure
◦Avoid handling
◦Worker isolation
◦Wet clean-up methods With Asbestosis :
Tuberculosis
Respiratory fungal
infections
Prevention :
Dust control
Respiratory protection
Personal hygiene
Medical Monitoring
Health Effects
of Wood Dusts
Irritation of the nose,
throat, and lungs
Prevention
Active immunization
with tetanus toxoid
Careful wound
management
Housekeeping
PPE
Personal Hygiene
Tuberculosis
Chronic bacterial infection
Caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (tubercle bacilli)
Damages the lungs and
other body parts
Fatal if not treated properly
Prevention
Monitoring
Adherence to 6 month treatment regimen (DOTS)
Personal Hygiene
HIV/AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
REMEMBER!
Abstinence
Be Faithful
Correct and consistent
condom use
Do not use Drugs
Education
COVID - 19
• SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus.
• First cases identified with pneumonia in Wuhan, China, December 2019.
60
Symptoms Headache
Fever Shortness of
breath
Muscle
Sore throat aches
61
Prevention
◦ Good personal hygiene : hand washing; use of(70% alcohol-
based hand sanitizer
◦ Physical distancing : 1-2 meter away from others
◦ Cough, sneeze etiquette
◦ Wearing of Mask at all times or other PPE in high risk areas
◦ Clean and disinfect frequently touch areas every 2 hrs.
◦ Seek medical attention once with symptoms: use medical
assessment questioner
62
HAZARDS AND HEALTH EFFECTS :
ERGONOMIC HAZARDS
Ergonomics
The study of work and the relationship of work to the physical and
cognitive capabilities of the person
the task
(job content
& context)
the the
Fitting the job (tools, tasks and organization tool
environment) to the
employee, instead of forcing
the worker to fit the job
the the
environment workstation
ERGONOMICS RISK FACTOR
Force Identify and remove
ERGONOMIC RISK
Repetition ergonomic risk
FACTORS
Posture
Musculo factors
Over time response to risk factors leads to Skeletal Preventing risk factors
Poor Work Practices Disease
INDIVIDUAL RISK Poor Health Profile Identify and remove
FACTORS No Recognition of individual risk factors
early warning signs
Ergonomics in Construction
Common Conditions
Ergonomics
◦ Musculoskeletal Disorders
◦ Neck-shoulder pain
◦ Low back pain
Carpal tunnel
syndrome
PSYCHOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Troubles an individual very much to an extent that his
general well-being is affected
Psychological Hazards
◦ Work-related stress : excessive working time,
overwork, burnout
◦ Bullying – emotional, verbal
◦ Sexual harassment
◦ Violence at work
◦ Body odour
◦ Health effects
◦ Occupational stress, Anxiety, depression
◦ Cardiovascular Disorders, GI Disorder
◦ Drug Abuse, Smoking
Identification
Control
Evaluation
Solving
Effectiveness Occupational
Health Hazards
OH and its effects
Hazard
Implement
Prioritization
Control
Select
Control
Health Risk Control program consists all necessary steps
to protect workers
◦ Exposure to substance or system
◦ Training and procedures to monitor worker exposure
◦ Monitoring of the health hazards
Controlling of
Choosing a control method may involve:
Health Risks at
• Evaluating and selecting temporary and permanent controls.
Work
• Implementing temporary measures until permanent
(engineering) controls can be put in place.
• Implementing permanent controls when reasonably
practicable.
Strategizing Control Setting
73
Health Monitoring
Medical Screening Medical Surveillance
Purpose Early diagnosis and Detect and eliminate the underlying cause
treatment
Personal-Social Factors
• Gender, age, race, residence Access to health services
tc. • Occupational health
• Medical history services
• Family history • Hospitals and
• Occupational status rehabilitations centers
• Employment conditions • Health and accident
• income insurance
78
Steps in Surveillance of Occupational
Diseases
1.Identification of
1.Hazard and 1.Selection of 1.Interpretation of
target organ
exposure medical screening data and
toxicities for each
assessment tests Recommendation
hazard
1.Communication 1.Evaluation of
1.Recordkeeping
of results control measures
Surveillance of Occupational Diseases
1. Hazard and exposure assessment
Estimate intensity,
frequency and
1.Types of Exposure Exposed
Process Involved duration of
substances pathways population
exposure to
toxic agent
Surveillance of Occupational Diseases
2. Identification of Adverse health outcomes for
each hazards
Industry/Process Hazard Target Organ System
Machine Operator Noise Ears
Painting Toluene Nervous system (dizziness, headache,
euphoria)
Skin (dermatitis)
Kidney, liver
Group patterns
Individual action
What to do if a group of workers show
What to do if tests are poorer lab results than the others?
abnormal? • Determine relation between
• Removal from exposure exposure and test results
• Referral for further tests • Was there overexposure?
• Ineffective control measures?
• Treatment
Surveillance of Occupational Diseases
5. Communication of results
DOLE
Department Order 73-05
• Pursuant to Executive Order No. 187
“Instituting a Comprehensive and Unified Policy for the TB
Control in the Philippines”
DOLE
Department Advisory 05-10