Industrial Safety and Health for Goods and Materials Services - Chapter 8

Bệnh nghề nghiệp không phải là dễ dàng xác định là chấn thương. Theo Cục Thống kê Lao động, đã có 5,7 triệu chấn thương và bệnh tật được báo cáo vào năm 1999. Trong số này chỉ có 372.000 trường hợp bệnh nghề nghiệp được báo cáo. 372.000 bệnh nghề nghiệp bao gồm chấn thương lặp lại, chẳng hạn như hội chứng ống cổ tay, mất mát noiseinduced nghe, và ngộ độc. Nó chắc chắn xuất hiện rằng nhiều căn bệnh nghề nghiệp không được báo cáo khi người sử dụng lao động hoặc người lao động là không...
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Industrial Safety and Health for Goods and Materials Services - Chapter 8 8 Health HazardsExposure in the workplace can cause occupationally related illnesses. (Courtesy of the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency.)8.1 OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSESOccupation illnesses are not as easily identified as injuries. According to the Bureauof Labor Statistics, there were 5.7 million injuries and illnesses reported in 1999. Ofthis number only 372,000 cases of occupational illnesses were reported. The 372,000occupational illnesses included repeat trauma such as carpal tunnel syndrome, noise-induced hearing loss, and poisonings. It certainly appears that many occupationalillnesses go unreported when the employer or worker is not able to link exposurewith the symptoms the employees are exhibiting. Also, physicians fail to ask the rightquestions regarding the patients employment history, which can lead to the com-monest of diagnoses of a cold or flu. This has become very apparent with the recentoccupational exposure to anthrax where a physician sent a worker home withanthrax without addressing his=her potential occupational exposure hazards. Unlessß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.physicians are trained in occupational medicine, they seldom address work as thepotential exposure source. This is not entirely a physician problem by any means since the symptoms that areseen by the physician are often those of flu and other common illnesses suffered by thegeneral public. It is often up to the employee to make the physician aware of their on-the-job exposure. If, I have continuously used the term exposure since, unlike traumainjuries and deaths, which are usually caused by the release of some source of energy,occupational illnesses are often due to both short- and long-term exposures. Ifthe result of an exposure leads to immediate symptoms, it is said to be acute. If thesymptoms come at a later time, it is termed a chronic exposure. The time betweenexposure and the onset of symptoms is called the latency period. It could be days,weeks, months, or even years, as in the case of asbestos where asbestosis or lungcancer appears 20–30 years after exposure. It is often very difficult to get employers, supervisors, and employees to takeseriously the exposures in the workplace as a potential risk to the workforce both shortand long term, especially long term. ‘‘It cannot be too bad if I feel alright now.’’ Thisfalse sense of security is that the workplace seems safe enough. The question is howbad could it be in our workplace? Everyone seems well enough now.8.2 IDENTIFYING HEALTH HAZARDSHealth-related hazards must be identified (recognized), evaluated, and controlled toprevent occupational illnesses, which come from exposure to them. Health-relatedhazards come in a variety of forms, such as chemical, physical, ergonomic, orbiological: . Chemical hazards arise from excessive airborne concentrations of mists, vapors, gases, or solids that are in the form of dusts or fumes. In addition to the hazard of inhalation, many of these materials may act as skin irritants or may be toxic by absorption through the skin. Chemicals can also be ingested although this is not usually the principle route of entry into the body. . Physical hazards include excessive levels of nonionizing and ionizing radiations, noise, vibration, and extremes of temperature and pressure. . Ergonomic hazards include improperly designed tools or work areas. Improper lifting or reaching, poor visual conditions, or repeated motions in an awkward position can result in accidents or illnesses in the occupa- tional environment. Designing the tools and the job to be done to fit the worker should be of prime importance. Intelligent application of engin- eering and biomechanical principles is required to eliminate hazards of this kind. . Biological hazards include insects, molds, fungi, viruses, vermin (birds, rats, mice, etc.), and bacterial contaminants (sanitation and house- keeping items such as potable water, removal of industrial waste and sewage, food handling, and personal cleanliness can contribute to the effects from biological hazards). Biological and chemical hazards can overlap.ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. TABLE 8.1 Reported Nonfatal Occupational Illnesses Total Illnesses Type of Illness Reported (%) Skin disease or disorders 17 Respiratory conditions because of toxic agents 8 Poisoning ...