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Occupational Health |
STOP - You must read Chapter 15 before doing this lesson
Introduction
For centuries, employers and employees have recognized the need for health and safety in the workplace. Modern occupational health in the United States was the result largely of the industrial revolution. With the rapid development of deplorable work conditions and the exploitation of women and children in the workplace, various laws were passed to protect workers.
- 1970 - Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHAct) - It guaranteed a safe and healthful workplace to all people, recognized the rights of workers, and gave workers the protection of the U.S. goverment. This Act creates the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- OSHA - OSHA is charge with setting standards for safety in the workplace and with maintaining compliance with these standards. It also has the authority to set and enforce regulations for workplace safety and health through civil penalty. OSHA allowed for any worker to register a complaint and call for an inspection, while protecting the worker from discrimination for using provisions of the OSHAct.
- NIOSH - NIOSH was established to conduct research and identify industrial hazards, as well as to promote occupational safety and health through education and the dissemination of information. NIOSH has researched and published many important criteria documents for industrial exposure, as well as describing risks and protective measures.
Occupational Health Team - It works to protect workers from illness and injury on the job, either by law, regulation, or contract. These team can be made of the following professionals:
- Occupational Health Nurse
- Occupational Physician
- Industrial Hygienist
- Safety Engineer
- Industrial Health Educator
Occupational Diseases
Biological Hazards (Biohazards) -
They are living organism that are infectious agents and represent a potential risk to human or animal health. These can be bacteria, viruses, rickettsias, fungi, and parasites. The transmission can be through inhalation, injection or ingestion. A biohazard may be odorless, and tasteless. When an infection does develop, its origin may be difficult to determine.
Chemical Hazards - Primary routes of entry are inhalation, absorption through the skin, and ingestion. Excluding dermatitis, inhalation of air cantaminants is the leading cause of occupational illness. Air contaminats may exist in the following forms: mist, vapor, gases, smoke, dust, fumes.
Control of Airborne Chemical Hazards - control of air contaminants should receive priority. Some common control methods include the following:
- Substitution or replacement - replace toxic substance with less toxic ones.
- Isolation of operation
- Elimination or reduction of employee exposure
- Local exhaust - by using hoods and fans toxics are removed.
- Ventilation
- Wetting methods - It reduces or eliminates the amount of dust generated.
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Detailed and accurate labeling
Physical Hazards - They include excessive levels of electromagnetic and ionizing radiation, noise and vibration, and extremes of temperature and pressure.
Laboratory Safety Standard - web site with more information about biological, chemical and physical hazards.
Industrial Toxicology
A material is considered toxic if it demonstrates the potential to:
- Induced cancer
- Produced long-term disease or bodily injury
- Affect health adversely
- Produce acute discomfort
- Endanger human or animal life through exposure via the respiratory tract, skin, eyes, mouth, or other routes.
The factors that contribute to determining the degree of hazard a toxin may pose are:
- route of entry
- dosage
- physiological state of the worker at the time of exposure
- environmental variables.
Harmful effects include local and systemic damage.
OSHA - web site of OSHA.
NIOSH - web site of NIOSH
