Nursing Management of Patients With Occupational Disorders
Nursing Management of Patients With Occupational Disorders
d) Occupational lung disease is first on the list Silicosis, asbestosis are still
prevalent in many parts of the world
The prevalence of Occupational Asthma varies from 10% to
nearly all of the workers in certain high-risk occupations,
NISOH considers occupational cancer to be the second
leading work-related disease, followed by cardio-vascular
diseases, disorder of reproduction, neurotoxicity, noise
induced hearing loss, dermatological conditions, and
psychological disorders.
Major occupational diseases can be
divided in following categories for better
understanding:
A. Occupational injuries
B. Occupational lung diseases
C. Occupational cancers
D. Occupational dermatoses
E. Occupational Infections
F. Occupation toxicology
G. Occupational mental disorders
Occupational disorders can be grouped according the etiological factors:
Occupational injuries: ergonomic related
Chemical occupational factors: dust, gases, acid, alkali, metals etc.
Physical occupational factors: noise, heat, radiation
Biological occupational factors
Behavioral occupational factors
Social occupational factors
Occupational health was one of the components of the National Health
Policy 1983 and now also included in National Health Policy 2002 but
very little attention has been paid to mitigate the effect of occupational
disease through proper programme. Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare, Govt. of India has launched a scheme entitled "National
Programme for Control & Treatment of Occupational Diseases" in
1998-99, The National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad
(ICMR- Indian council of medical research) has been identified as the
nodal agency for the same.
• Capacity building to promote research, education, training at
National Institute of Occupational Disease
Wet floors, spills, and clutter may cause slips, trips and
falls. Poor vehicle maintenance, inadequate operator
training and lack of safety restraint contribute to
ambulance crashes. Unsafe electric work practices may
cause electric shock, electrocutions, fire and explosions.
Occupational infections
Tuberculosis
Occupational asthma
Silicosis- Silicosis is a chronic lung condition brought on by
exposure to hazardous quantities of silica dust, typically over a
lengthy period of time. Those who handle specific materials
have the risk of inhaling tiny silica dust. The dust particles
might leave lung scarring after entering the lungs.
Pharyngitis
stress-related illnesses are on the rise. The employees are under excessive
skills needed and those that are accessible, isolation at the office, and a lack
of appreciation.
Many musculoskeletal disorders are also brought on by
prolonged computer use, a sedentary workplace culture, and a
lack of mobility.
High Blood Pressure
Muscle pain, headache
Cardiovascular diseases
Gastrointestinal disorders
Weakened immune system
Increased cholesterol
Depression
Gasoline is not just toxic when people ingest it. A person can also
sustain damage to the skin, eyes, and lungs, when they come into
contact with gasoline liquid or the fumes or vapors of gasoline
Temperature
When working in a hot in, humans maintain normal body temperature by
perspiring and by increasing the blood flow to the surface of the body.
Heatstroke is characterized by thirst, fatigue, giddiness, and often muscle
cramps, fainting can also occur, a more serious and sometimes lethal
condition, results when prolonged exposure to heat and high humidity. If
victims are not quickly cooled down, coma, convulsions, and death.
Cold
Work in cold environment may also have serious adverse effects.
Tissue damage that does not involve freezing can cause
inflammatory swelling known as frost bite, or the freezing of
tissue, can lead to gangrene and the loss of fingers or toes. If
exposure is prolonged and conditions (such as wet or tight
clothing) encourage heat loss, may result, a critical fall in body
temperature.
Mercury poisoning, one of the classic occupational diseases,
is a representative example of metal poisoning Exposure to
mercury can occur in many situations, including the
manufacture of thermometers, explosives, fungicides,
batteries, and various electrical products. The disorders it
can vary depending on the type of mercury compound and
the method of exposure.
Noise
Exposure to excessive noise can be unpleasant and can impair working
efficiency. Temporary or permanent hearing loss may also occur,
depending on the loudness or intensity of the noise, its pitch or
frequency, the length and pattern of exposure, and the vulnerability of
the individual. Prolonged exposure to sound energy of intensity above
80 to 90 decibels is likely to result in noise- induced hearing loss,
developing first for high frequencies and progressing downward.
Vibration
Whole-body vibration is experienced in surface and air transport, with motion
sickness its most familiar effect. A more serious disorder, known as Raynaud's
syndrome or vibration white finger (VWF), the extensive use of vibratory hand
tools, especially in cold weather. The condition is seen mostly among workers
who handle chain saws, grinders, pneumatic drills, hammers, initial signs of
VWF are tingling and numbness of the fingers, followed by redness and pain
occur in the recovery stage. In some cases the tissues, bones, and joints affected
by the vibration may develop abnormalities; even gangrene may develop.
Other mechanical stresses
Muscle cramps often afflict workers engaged in
heavy manual labour as well as typists, pianists, and
others who frequently use rapid, repetitive
movements of the hand or forearm. Tenosynovitis, a
condition in which the sheath enclosing a tendon to
the wrist or to one of the fingers becomes inflamed,
causing pain and temporary disability. It can also
result from prolonged repetitive movement.
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation damages or destroys body tissues by breaking
down the molecules in the tissues into positively or negatively
charged particles called ions. Delayed effects of exposure to
radiation include the development of leukemia and other cancers.
Examples skin cancers that killed many of the pioneering
scientists who worked in radioactive department.
Disorders due to psychological factors
There are two psychological and commonly encountered at work are
boredom and mental stress. Workers who perform simple, repetitious
tasks for prolonged periods are subject to boredom.
Boredom can cause frustration, unhappiness, inattentiveness, and other
detriments to mental well-being it can play a major role in Job
dissatisfaction, increased responsibility.
Disinterest, competition, feelings of inadequacy, and bad
working relationships can also contribute to mental stress.
Stress affects both mental and physical health, causing anger,
irritation, aches, nausea, ulcers, migraine, asthma, colitis, or
even breakdown and Moderate exercise, meditation,
relaxation, and therapy can help workers to cope with stress.
Pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis is one of a group of interstitial lung disease
caused by breathing in certain kinds of dust particles that damage
lungs. As most often these dusts can absorbed only in the
workplace, pneumoconiosis is called an occupational lung disease.
Pneumoconiosis usually take years to develop, Because lungs can't
get rid of all these dust particles, they cause inflammation in lungs
that can eventually lead to scar tissue.
Causes
• Long-term cough
• Shortness of breath
Coal miners
Exposed to long term dust
Smoking
Age
Treatment
Wearing masks
Washing areas of skin that come in contact with dust
Washing face and hands thoroughly before eating, drinking or
taking any medications
Regular health check ups
Physical examinations
Silicosis
Silicosis is a chronic fibrotic pulmonary disease caused by
inhalation of silica dust (crystalline silicon dioxide particles).
Exposure to silica and silicates occur in almost all mining,
quarrying and tunnelling operations.
Glass manufacturing, stone cutting, manufacturing of
abrasives and pottery work occupations with exposure of
hazards.
Pathophysiology
Inhalation of the silica particles, which have fibrogenic properties
Fibrosis
Workers at risk in
Mining industries
Pottery and ceramic industries
Metal grinding
sand blasting
Building and construction workers glass manufacture
Slowly progressive symptoms;
Hypoxemia
Severe air flow obstruction
And right sided heart failure
Edema because of cardiac failure
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for silicosis, because the
fibrotic process in the lung is irreversible.
Supportive therapy is ordered for managing complications
and preventing infection
Other test are done such as, tuberculosis, lung cancer.
If tuberculosis is present, it is aggressively treated.
Additional therapy
Oxygen therapy
Diuretics
bronchodilators
Prevention
Cough
Hemoptysis
Slight fever
Bronchiolitis
Thoracocentesis
Lung transplantation
Integrative care