Occupational Hazards and Safety
Presented by,
Vd. Akash T. Matre
Assistant professor.
Defination
• Occupational health :- It is the promotion and
maintenance of the highest degree of
physical, mental and social well being of
workers in all occupations.
• Hazard :- something that can cause harm if
not controlled.
• Occupational disease :- Directly caused by a
persons occupation.
• Occupational hazards :- Occupational
diseases are adverse health conditions in the
human being, the occurrence or severity of
which is related to exposure to factors on the
job or in the work environment.
Types
Physical: e.g. heat, noise, radiation
Chemical: e.g. solvents, pesticides, heavy metals,
dust
Biological: e.g. tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus, HIV
Ergonomic: e.g. improperly designed tools or work
areas, repetitive motions
Psychosocial stressors: e.g. lack of control over
work, inadequate personal support
Mechanical: these mainly cause work accidents and
injuries rather than occupational diseases.
Diseases due to physical agents
• Heat :- Heat hyperpyrexia, exhaustion, syncope,
cramps, burns
• Cold :-Trench foot, frost bite
• Light:-Occupational cataracts, miner’s nystagmus
• Pressure :- Caisson disease, air embolism, blast
(explosion)
• Noise :- Occupational deafness
• Radiation :- Cancers, leukemias, aplastic anemia,
pancytopenia
• Mechanical factors :- Injuries, accidents
• Electricity :- Burns
Diseases due to chemical agents
• Gases:- CO2, CO, HCN, N2,NH3,HCL
• Dusts (pneumoconiosis) :- Coal dust (anthracosis), silica
(silicosis), asbestos (asbestosis, Ca lung), iron (siderosis)
Cane fiber (bagassosis), cotton dust (byssinosis), tobacco
(tobacossosis), hay or grain dust (farmers lung)
• Metals and their compounds :- Toxicity from Lead,
mercury, cadmium, mercury, arsenic
• Chemicals :- Acids, alkalis, pesticides
• Biological agents :- Brucellosis, leptospirosis, anthrax,
tetanus, encephalitis, fungal infections
• Occupational cancers :- Skin, lung, bladder
• Occupational dermatosis :- Dermatitis and eczema
• Psychological origin :- Industrial neurosis, hypertension,
peptic ulcer.
Modes of absorption
• Inhalation of fumes and dust
• Ingestion through food or drink
• Skin absorption “tetraethyl lead”
Treatment
• Eliminate hazard
• Hazard prevention
• Management leadership
• Safety training
• Evaluate Progress
• General health education and surveillance.
• Provide safe working procedures.
• Supervision of high-risk group e.g. Pregnancy.
• Personal protective equipment.
