Occupational HEALTH

The Occupational Health Timeline

BC: Hypocrates describes the symptoms of lead poisoning, not realising it is an occupational disease1700: Ramazinni, the “Father of occupational health” says the patient must always be asked what their occupation is.1833: The first factory inspectors and medical examinations in occupational health conducted in England.1895: The first occupational disease is declared notifiable.1980: South Africa starts training doctors and nurses in OH1993: The OHS Act is published as well as compensation legislation1996: The Mine Health and Safety Act is published

OH Timeline (cont)

South African health care professionals only received training from 1980!

Mining (open diamond mining) already started in 1872, gold mines in 1887.Farmers have been using pesiticides for decades prior.Factories have been using chemicals and operated in high noise levels long before 1980.Construction sites have been operating for even longer, full of dust and noise.The fishing industry have been operating for centuries before 1980.

➢ The industries have been in existence long before occupational health care in South Africa.

OH Timeline (cont)

According to a study conducted and published in the SASHON Journal of 2009, occupational disease in South Africa is made up of the following:

NIHL – 56%Depression/PTHD – 13%Dermatitis – 12%TB – 5%Pneumoconiosis – 4%Occupational asthma – 3%

This brings us to today's topic:

Medical Surveilance

Hazard identification

Risk assesment

Risk mitigation

Medical serveilance

Medical Surveilance

Medical surveilance according to OHS Act:

A planned programme or periodical examinations of employees by an OHP or

OMP (in prescribed cases).

Medical Surveilance

Periodical examinations may include:

Clinical examination

Biological monitoring

Medical tests

Medical Surveilance

Clinical examinations:Examining the body

Biological monitoring:Collecting body fluid, tissue or exhaled air to detect of quantify the exposure or absorption of any substance or organism by a person.

Medical tests:X-raysAudiometrySpecial vision screening

Steps toward Medical Surveilance

Hazard identification

Risk assesment

Risk mitigation

Medical surveilance

Hazard Identification

Physical Hazards

Chemical hazard

Biological hazards

Ergonomical hazards

Psycho-social hazards

Physical Hazards

Noise NIHL

Vibration Raynoud's Phenomenon (vibration white fingers)Osteo Arthritis (hand arm vibration)Lower back pain (whole body vibration)Early degeneration of lumber spine (whole body vibration)

Physical Hazards (cont)

Electricity

Burns

Electrocution (death)

Electrification (shock)

Physical Hazards (cont)

Extreme temperatures

Heat Stroke

Frostbite

Radiation

Cancer

Physical Hazards (cont)

Dust

Pneumoconiosis (inorganic dust)

Silicosis

Asbestosis

Occupational Asthma

Chemical Hazards

Solvents

Benzene – Leukemia

Toluene – NIHL (Noise & Toluene)

Etc.

Chemical Hazards (cont)

Metals

Metal fume fever

Pesticides

Organophosphate poisoning (lethal)

Chemical Asphyxiants

Carbon monoxide (coma, lethal)

Biological Hazards

Snake/Spider bites (loss of limb, lethal)

HIV

TB

Ergonomical Hazards

Illumination (glare, headaches, poor vision)

Repetitive actions (repetitive strain disorders,

poor work performance, pain, pain, pain!)

Psycho-social Hazards

Stress

High-blood pressure

Stroke

Depression

Psycho-social Hazards (cont)

Boredom

Stress

Depression

Psycho-social Hazards (cont)

Substance abuse

Injuries

Death

Lung disease

Psycho-social Hazards (cont)

Night Work

Stress

Social issues

Metabolic disorders (i.e. Diabetes), due to biological clock

disturbances (controlled metabolic illnesses can become

uncontrolled)

Risk Assessment

Using a measuring tool, ranking the hazards as low, med and high.

Risk matrix

Risk rating sheet

Basic risk scale

One might need:

Occupational hygienist

Material safety data sheets

Risk Mitigation

Reducing the effect of the hazard on the employee's health

Engineering controls (ex. Less noisy machines)

Adminstrative controls (shift rotation, less personel in area, rules

and regulations)

Personal protective equipment (gloves, safety specs, etc)

AND THEN:

Medical Surveilance

Plan the examinations and the intervals or frequency. Medical

surveilance will only change if the process or the environment

changes.

Frost Bite

Heat Stroke

Sunburn

Skin Cancer

Electrocution

Electrical Burns

Raynoud's Phenomenon

Spider bites

Stroke

Metal Fume

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