Care Without Scare…!

Occupational Health for Health Care Workers

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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

PHYSICAL, MENTAL & SOCIAL WELL

BEING IN RELATION TO WORK AND

WORK ENVIRONMENT.

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What is Occupational Health?

Occupation (work) Health

Accidents

Environment

Different Definitions:Health problems arising from or pertaining to workHealth of people at workThe Health of the gainfully employedRelationship between Occupation (work) & Health

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Occupational diseases have a long latent period.

Most occupational diseases cannot be treated.

All occupational diseases can be prevented.

Occupational Diseases

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“ What the mind does not know, the eyes do not

see”

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OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

Physical Hazards

Chemical Hazards

Biological Hazards

Mechanical Hazards

Psychosocial Hazards

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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DISORDERS

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Primary irritants, Allergy, Systemic toxicity

Gas, Vapour, Aerosol, Dust, Fume, Smoke,

Mist, Fog

Eating, Smoking

INHALATION INGESTIONSKIN ABSORBTION

ROUTE OF EXPOSURE

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FOUR TYPES

Diseases only occupational in origin (pneumoconiosis)

Where occupation as one of the causal factors (bronchogenic carcinoma)

Occupation as A contributary factor (chronic bronchitis)

Occupation aggrevating pre-existing condition (asthma)

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OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

Physical Hazards

Chemical Hazards

Biological Hazards

Mechanical Hazards

Psychosocial Hazards

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OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Diseases due to Physical Agents Heat - Heat stroke, Burns Cold - Frost bite Light - Miners Nystagmus, Cataract Pressure - Caisson disease, Air embolism

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Diseases due to Physical Agents

Noise - NIHL, Hypertension, Irritability

Vibration - Neuromuscular diseases, Peripheral vascular diseases

Radiation - Leukemia, Aplastic anaemia

Mechanical - Injuries, Accidents

Electricity - Electric shock, Burns

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

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OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Diseases due to Chemical Agents

Gases - CO, CO2, HCN, H2S,CS2

Dusts - Pneumoconiosis

Metals - Lead, Mercury, Chromium, Manganese

Chemicals - Acids, Alkalies

Solvents - Benzene, Trichloroethylene

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Chemical Hazards

Metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, zinc, beryllidum, tin, silver, etc)

Carbon compounds (organic solvents)

Benzine, Toluene, Zylene

Phenol, Nitrate, Napthalene, Isocyanates, Carbon tetrachloride, Carbon disulphide, Vinyl chloride monomer, etc

Pesticides & toxic gases (amonia phosgene, carbon monoxide)

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Lung Diseases Caused by Dust Depends on chemical composition, particulate size,

concentration, shape, specific gravity & body’s reaction Pneumoconiosis

Asbestosis Silicosis Coal workers pneumoconiosis

Lung diseases caused by dust of organic origin Byssinois (exposure to cotton dust) Mushroom workers lung Suberrosis (Cork dust) Bird breeders lung (chickens, parrots, pigeons) Man made fibres

Occupational asthma Flour insects and pollens: linseed, soya beans, teak

wood, hair, fur, etc: isocyanates, poly urethane, amines, metals

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Diseases due to Biological Agents Hepatitis B, Rabies, AIDS, Leptospirosis…,

Occupational Cancers Cancer of Skin, Lungs, Bladder

Occupational Dermatosis Dermatitis, Eczema

Psychosocial Diseases Neurosis, Peptic ulcer, Hypertension

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

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Musculo-skeletal problems

Due to Excessive load on the muscles, ligaments, tendons and bone.

Due to Insufficient circulation to the Musculoskeletal system.

Work that requires activity of a small group of relatively weak muscles (such as continuous use of fingers of the dominant hand in data entry).

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Common sites for Musculo-skeletal problems

Neck Forearm Wrist Fingers Back Knee

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COMPUTERS / VDU

RSI / CTD – Tenosynovitis, Tendinitis, Tennis Elbow, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Finger

Musculoskeletal Problems in Neck, Shoulder & Upper Limbs

Visual Fatigue & Eye Problems Bifocals & Computers Skin Diseases Low Back Pain Effects of Shift Work

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Occupational health & Computer work

Musculo-skeletal problemsOcular problems

Reproductive problemsSkin problems

Psychosocial problemsLifestyle problems

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Repetitive Strain Injury

Muscular stress caused by the frequent, repetitive use of the same muscle throughout the day. Accustomed and unaccustomed repetitive work with hands.Work that involves repeated wrist flexion or extreme extension, particularly in combination with forceful pinching.Repeated forces on the base of the palm or wrist.

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Common RSIs

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Cervical radiculopathy

Epicondylitis

Ganglion cyst

Tendonitis

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New Pathologies

AIDS Stress Geriatrics Space Medicine Genetic Aberrations (longevity!) Cancer Robotics-related Injuries Migrant Global Workers

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Elements of Occupational Health Services

• Medical treatment

• Assessment and control of work environment

• General preventive health measures

• Preventive medical examinations

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Prevention of Occupational Health Hazards

Administrative Measures Engineering Measures Ergonomics Medical Measures

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Ergonomics

The IEA divides ergonomics broadly into three domains:

Physical ergonomics: working postures, materials handling, repetitive movements, work related musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout, safety and health.

Cognitive ergonomics : mental workload, decision-making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work stress and training as these may relate to human-system design.

Organizational ergonomics: communication, crew resource management, work design, design of working times, teamwork, community ergonomics, cooperative work, new work programs, virtual organizations, telework, and quality management.

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Goals Of Ergonomics Improve quality of working environment

engineered to the capabilities of the human body

Increase efficiency and productivity by reducing fatigue.

Prevention of Occupational injury & illness.Work quality improvement.

Proactive Ergonomics

Vs Reactive Ergonomics

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MEDICAL MEASURES

Pre-employment medical check up

Periodic medical examination

Health promotion

Health education

Specific protection

Assessment of risk by supervision of working environment

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Pre-employment Medical Examination

To determine the physical and emotional capacity of the individual to perform the job.

To provide base line health data for epidemiological and legal purposes.

To counsel the person for correction of diseases / habits which may harm later.

Assessment of pre-existing toxicity / impairment due to past exposure, if any.

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Pre-placement Medical Examination

HAZARD UNDESIRABLE CONDITIONS

Lead Anaemia, Hypertension, Peptic ulcer

Dyes Asthma, Skin & Kidney disease

Solvents Liver & Kidney disease, Alcoholism

Silica Tuberculosis, Chronic lung disease

X rays / Radium Blood diseases

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Periodic Medical ExaminationEvaluation of general health status.

Earliest detection and prevention of work related disorders.

Early detection, control and prevention of any health disorder which may affect the ability to perform the job.

To detect deviation in health status from base line data.

Detection of infectious / communicable diseases which may affect others.

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OSH IN HEALTHCARE

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Who is a Health Care Worker?Doctor

Dentist

Nurse

Lab technician

Radiology technician

Physiotherapist

Aaya, Wardboy

Pharmacist

Laundry worker

Maintenance staff ………..

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Occupational Risks in Various Areas

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Common Concerns

Shift Work

Emotional Stress

Ergonomic

Slips, trips, falls

Violence ?

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Preventive Measures

Universal Precautions

Training & Education

Medical Surveillance

Immunization

Identify, Monitor & Control exposures

Stress Management

Violence Prevention Program

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Hippocrates Refusing Gift from Alexander

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Thank YouPrepared by Dr. Shyam R. Pingle