CH 4182: Safety and Loss Prevention

INTRODUCTION TO

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS,

WORK, HEALTH AND

PRODUCTIVITY

A working condition that can lead to il lness or death

Occupation hazard may include,

Risk of accident

Contracting occupational diseases

Danger to health, l imb or l ife that is inherent in or associated with a particular occupation, industry or work

environment

Often, jobs with higher risk levels are paid more than similar low risk jobs, in order to compensate for the involved danger

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

A chemical or physical condition that has the potential to cause damage to people, property or the environment

Hazard A measure of human injury, environmental damage or economic loss in terms of both the incident likelihood and the magnitude of the loss or injury

Risk

HAZARD VS. RISK

WORKPLACE HAZARD

Working conditions where harm to the workers is of an immediate and violent nature

Result in broken bones, cuts, bruises, sprains, loss of limbs, etc.

The harm results in some kind of injury to the worker Associated with poorly guarded or dangerous

equipment and machinery

Safety Hazard

Working conditions which result in an illness Exposure to dangerous substances or conditions,

such as chemicals, gases, dusts, noise etc.

Often, latency between exposure and disease

Health Hazard

Age

Gender

Race

Medical

history

Genetic

factors Lifestyle

WORKERS SUSCEPTI

BILITY

Physical

properties

Multiplicity of

exposure

Magnitude of

exposure

Duration of

exposure

Timing of

exposure

Workplace

Factors

WORK-

RELATED

DISEASE

Physical hazards

Chemical hazards

Biological hazards

Mechanical hazards

Psychosocial hazards

CLASSIFICATION : OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

Physical Hazard

Extreme Tempera

ture

Light

Noise

Vibration

UV Radiation

Ionizing Radiation

PHYSICAL HAZARD

Auditory effects

Temporary threshold shift (Auditory fatigue)

Temporary loss of hearing acuity after exposure to loud noise

Recovery within 16 48 hours

Permanent threshold shift

Irreversible loss of hearing

Non-auditory effects

Nervousness, fatigue, interference with communication by speech, decreased efficiency and annoyance

NOISE

Early Signs of Hearing Loss

Difficulty in understanding spoken words in a noisy environment

Need to be near or look at the person speaking to help understand words

Familiar sounds are muffled

Complaints that people do not speak clearly

Ringing noises in the ears (tinnitus)

Other Harmful Effects of Noise

Hypertension

Hyperacidity

Palpitations

Disturbs relaxation and sleep

NOISE CONT.

The degree of injury from exposure to noise depends on,

Intensity and frequency range

Duration of exposure

Individual susceptibility

NOISE CONT.

Physical factor which affects man by transmission of

mechanical energy from oscillating sources such as

pneumatic tools (ex. Dril ls, hammers etc.)

Types

Segmental vibration

Whole body vibration

VIBRATION

Segmental vibration

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome

(HAVS)

Tingling, numbness, blanching

of fingers

Pain

Whole body vibration

Fatigue

Irritability

Headache

Disorders in the spine

VIBRATION HEALTH EFFECTS

Hot Temperature

Sources of heat stress

Natural conditions

Hot work processes related to furnace, klins, boilers and smelting

Health effects of Heat stress

EXTREME TEMPERATURE

Disorders Clinical features

Prickly Heat (Miliaria rubra) Pruritic rash

Heat cramps Cramps in the body, usually legs

Heat exhaustion Dizziness, fainting attack, blurring of

vision, cold, clammy and sweaty skin

Heat stroke Cyanosis, muscle twitchings,

disorientation, delirium, convulsions

Cold Temperature

Sources of cold environment

Ice plants and freezers in the food industry

Health effects of Cold temperature

Frostbite : reddening of skin, localized burning pain and numbness. Fingers, toes,

cheeks, nose, ears are most susceptible

Trench foot or immersion foot : numbness, pain, cramps, ulceration and gangrene.

EXTREME TEMPERATURE

Inadequate il lumination health effects

Visual Fatigue

Double Vision

Headaches

Painful irritation

Lacrimation

Conjunctivitis

Exposure to excessive brightness

Discomfort

Annoyance

Visual fatigue

Blurring of vision leading to accidents

LIGHT

Types Sources Health Effects

Ionizing X-rays

Gamma rays Cancer, congenital defects, death

Non-ionizing

Ultraviolet Skin redness, premature skin

ageing, and skin cancer

Infrared Corneal and conjunctival burns,

retinal injury, cataract

Laser Skin and eye problem

RADIATION

Routes of entry into the body,

Produced il l -effects depends on the duration of exposure, way of exposure and individual susceptibil ity

CHEMICAL HAZARDS

Chemical Agent

Skin Contact

Inhalation Ingestion

Effects Chemical Agent Industry/Process

Renal Diseases:

acute/chronic renal

failure

Mercury, cadmium,

chloroform

Battery, chemical

industries, pesticide

Respiratory Diseases:

Irritation, inflammation

Solvents, ammonia

Chemical industries

Pneumoconiosis Inorganic dust Mining, construction,

sandblasting, coal

Cancer Chromium Plating, metal refining

Blood Diseases:

Anemia

Lead

Battery mfg., lead smelting

Aplastic anemia Benzene Solvent & soap mfg.

CHEMICAL HAZARD

Effects Chemical Agent Industry/Process

Skin Diseases:

Allergic/contact

dermatitis

Plastic epoxides

Plastic, varnish

Acne Cutting oils, grease Machine-tool operators

Skin Cancer Arsenic, tar Petroleum refinery

Liver Disease:

Acute liver toxicity

Carbon

tetrachloride

Cleaning fluids, dry

cleaners

Liver cancer Vinyl chloride Plastics & vinyl chloride

mfg.

Aplastic anemia Benzene Solvent & soap mfg.

CHEMICAL HAZARD CONT.

Effects Chemical Agent Industry/Process

Cardiovascular

Disease:

Hypertension

Lead, Cadmium

Battery mfg. & recycling

Atherosclerosis Carbon disulfide Degreasing, dry cleaning

Arrythmias Fluorocarbon,

trichloroethylene

Refrigeration, solvent

workers

CHEMICAL HAZARD CONT.

Employees can be exposed to infective and parasitic agents

Occupational diseases in this category

Brucellosis

Leptospirosis

Anthrax

Hydatidosis

Psittacosis

Tetanus

Encephalitis

Fungal infections

Schistosomiasis

Persons working with animal products (ex. Wool, hair, hides etc.) and agricultural workers are specially exposed to

biological hazards

BIOLOGICAL HAZARD

VIRUSES FUNGI

BACTERIA

PARASITES

Centers around machinery, protruding and moving parts etc.

Accounts for ~10% of industrial accidents

MECHANICAL HAZARD

Arise due to the workers failure to adapt to an alien psychosocial environment

Psychosocial factors which may undermine both physical and mental health of the workers;

Frustration

Lack of job satisfaction

Insecurity

Poor human relationships

Emotional tension

The capacity to adapt to different working environments is influenced by,

Education, Cultural background, Family life, Workers expectations from employment

PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARD

Health effect can be classified as,

PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARD CONT.

Including hostility, aggressiveness, anxiety, depression, tardiness, alcoholism, drug abuse, sickness, absenteeism

Psychological and behavioral changes

Including fatigue, headache, pain in the shoulders, pain in the back, propensity to peptic ulcer, hypertension, heart disease and rapid aging

Psychosomatic ill-health

Physical factors (heat, noise, poor lighting etc.) play a major role in adding/precipitating mental disorders among workers

The increasing stress on automation, electronic operation may introduce newer psychosocial health problems in

industry

Thus, psychosocial hazards are assumed to be more important than physical or chemical hazards

PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARD CONT.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

Environmental monitoring

Biological monitoring and

surveillance

Treatment and surveillance

- Morbidity

- Mortality

Workplace-Related Events

Exposure at the workplace

Chemicals Physical agents

Biologically significant exposure

Chemicals absorbed Early (reversible) changes

None

Early

Late

Clinical diagnosis

measurable health effects

End effects

Diseases unfavorable events

(spontaneous abortion)

Monitoring Activity Health Effects

High levels of worker productivity are critical to the success of all sorts of organizations, whether for-profit, government,

or non-profit... As a result, health [and safety] risks and

productivity are being discussed within corporate medical

departments, executive suites, academic centers, and

government agencies around the world" (Brandt-Rauf et al,

2001:1)

Some of the direct and indirect benefits of OHS interventions identified in the literature are summarized in

the following slides

IMPACT ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH FOR HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY

Direct Benefits

Reduced insurance and workers' compensation premiums

Reduced litigation costs

Reduced sick pay costs

Lower injury and il lness costs

Fewer production delays

Reduced product and material damage

Improved production/productivity rates

Reduced absenteeism

Reduced staff turnover

Improved corporate image

Improved chances of winning contacts

Improved job satisfaction/morale

IMPACT ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH FOR HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY CONT.

Indirect Benefits

Reduced insurance and workers' compensation premiums

Reduced litigation costs

Reduced sick pay costs

Lower injury and il lness costs

Fewer production delays

Reduced product and material damage

Improved production/productivity rates

Reduced absenteeism and staff turnover

Improved corporate image and chances of winning contacts

Improved job satisfaction/morale

IMPACT ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH FOR HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY CONT.

The drive to link employees' productivity with their overall

health and safety is fuelled by,

The need for more innovative ways to reduce the high rates of workplace injury and il lness

The pressure to reduce the social and economic costs of injury and il lness, particularly compensation costs

The need to improve labour productivity without employees needing to work longer hours and/or taking on more work

The need to offer good working conditions as an enticement to recruit and retain skil led workers in a tight labour market

IMPACT ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH FOR HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY CONT.

Most workplace health and safety programs that try to prevent

incidents and il lnesses focus on,

Job/task (re)design

Engineering processes (re)design

Work environment (re)design

Personal protective equipment/clothing

Education and training measures

Improvements to management and monitoring

Improvements in inter-personnel communication

IMPACT ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH FOR HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY CONT.

Looking at

developmental

strategies

Looking at regulatory

requirements

Information Education Training Campaigns Good practices Successful cases Competitions Demonstrations Interventions

Relevant laws, standards, issuances and guidelines

Enforcement Implementation Inspection Evaluation

APPROACH IN ENSURING

WELL-BEING OF WORKERS

Participation and involvement from stakeholders

Coordinated intervention

Learning from

Specifications/guidelines,

Scientific data

Best practice

PARTICIPATORY APPROACH

Enhanced worker motivation and job satisfaction

Added problem-solving capacity

Greater acceptance of change

Greater knowledge of work and organization

Reduces the extent and severity of work related injuries and i l lnesses

Improves employee morale and productivity

Reduces workers compensation costs

BENEFITS TO THE WORKERS