OCC HEALTH HAZARDS

Occupational Health and Diseases : 

1 Occupational Health and Diseases It is concerned with the health of workers in its relation to his/her work and working environment Occupational Diseases occurs due to exposure to environmental factors such as chemical hazards, physical hazards, biological hazards psychological and ergonomical hazards

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2 Occupational Hazards They are:- Physical Chemical Biological Psychological Ergonomical

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3 I). Physical Heat & cold – most common is Heat. Direct effects of Heat are- Burns Heat exhaustion Heat cramps Heat stroke Sweating deficiency Skin disorders like pigmentation, heat rash, etc

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4 Indirect effects are – Decreased efficiency, Increased fatigue, Enhanced accidents Psychoneurotic disorders like Thermal discomfort, sudden loss of emotional control, annoyance.

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5 Hot spots” like oven, furnaces in foundry, glass & steel industries radiate “Radiant Heat”. “Heat Stagnation” in jute & cotton textile industries. Highest temp. of 150o F recorded in Kolar Gold mines (Mysor), which is the 2nd deepest min in the world (11,000 ft). Such stressful temp. affects efficiency. No provision in Indian Factory Act. Rao & Mukharjee’s work (1952 –53) says that temp between 69 to 80oF is reasonable, >80 of causes discomfort

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6 Cold – skin crack, chilblains, erythrocyanosis, frostbite, & immersion foot, as a result of vasoconstriction. Hypothermia is also quite common.

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7 Light Requirements of good lighting Sufficiency – basic minimum satisfactory requirement is 15 -20 foot candles for efficient vision without eye strain. varies from 5 FC in corridors to 100 FC in some industries. Distribution – Uniform with same intensity. Any Difference will strain eyes & affects visual acuity adversely. Absence of Glare –is excessive contrast. May be Direct –Automobile Headlights, Indirect – refection from tabletop or polished furniture. Causes annoyance, discomfort, reduces critical vision.

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8 Light (contd) Absence of Sharp shadows – slight shadows inevitable, Sharp shadows – disturbing, confusion in the field of vision. Steadiness – constant source essential, Flickering causes eye strain & accidents. Color of light – natural light soothing to eyes, Artificial light be similar to daylight, Color does not matter if intensity adequate, but should be soothing. Surroundings – High illumination required for little contrast, Contrast Color scheme of rooms important to prevent accidents, Reflection factor of the following should be - Ceilings-roofs –80%, walls – 50-60%, furniture -30-40%, and floor -15-20%.

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9 Light (contd) Measurement of light – 4 measures of light. 1. Luminous intensity – power of light source, i.e. a point radiating in all directions. Unit – candle power. 2. Luminous flux – flow of light related to a solid angle, -Lumens. 3. Illumination - amount of light reaching a surface, Lux / unit area. 4.Brightness - amount of light reflected from a surface, -Lamberts. Measurement by Daylight Factor -ratio of illumination@ a given point to illumination@ a point exposed simultaneously to the whole hemisphere in the sky. D.F.= instantaneous illumination indoors /simultaneous illumination outdoors X 100. Determined by modified photoelectric Daylight Factor Meter. Normal-8% for living room, 10% for kitchens.

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10 Light (contd) Natural Lighting – partly from sky, partly by reflection. Efficient utilization needs careful design, location, & orientation of building/s. Depends on season, weather, atmospheric pollution. 1. Orientation – India – Tropical country, hence, North facing building to prevent direct sunlight specially in summer. 2. Removal of Obstructions – wholly or partially improves room light. 3. Windows- natural lighting influenced by amount of visible sky, hence, be maximum in No., Tall window- great penetration, Broad window – more diffusion of light. 4. Interior of Room – ceiling –white, walls –white or light colored, both with maximum reflection, floor & lower wall – darker with minimum or no reflection.

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11 Light (contd) Artificial Lighting – to supplement adequate illumination. 5 systems of artificial light available. 1. Direct– 99-100% light projected directly to work area, efficient, economical, but it’s sharp shadow not to fall on eyes. 2. Semi Direct – 10 to 40% light projected upwards, so reflected on object from ceiling. 3. Indirect – 90 to 100 % light projected towards ceiling & walls for general illumination, but not directly on object. 4. Semi Indirect – 60 to90 % upwards, rest downwards. 5. Direct Indirect – light distributed equally. No one system can be recommended to the exclusion of others. “Mix and Match” system to be adopted according to the necessity,

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12 Light (contd) Methods of Artificial Illumination Filament Lamps -widely used, light emitted depends on temp of filament, accumulation of dust reduces illumination by 30 - 40%. Fluorescent Lamps -economical in electric current, cool, efficient, Fluorescent chemicals absorb all UV rays & emit radiation in visible range. Total emission of energy from 2 types of Lamps – Type Light Heat Filament 5% 95% Florescent 21% 79% Lighting standards – Eye response to illumination range from 0.1 lux (Full moon light) to 100,000 lux (bright sunshine). Depends on adaptability of Eyes, normal illumination level -30 times higher than the level of task just can be done. At higher illumination Law of diminishing return applies.

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13 Light (contd) Biological effects of light – daylight causes degradation of bilirubin, Hence used in premature infants with hyperbilirubinia. Affects biological rhythm of body temp, physical activity, stimulates melanin synthesis. Activates precursor of vitamin D, hormone (adrenocortical )secretion, and food consumption. Recommended Illumination Visual Task Illumination (lux) Casual reading 100 General office work 400 Final assembly 900 Very severe tasks 1300 – 2000 Watch making 2000 - 3000

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14 Light – poor or excessive illumination. Poor illumination Acute effects– eyestrain, eye pains, headache, eye fatigue, lacrimation, congestion around cornea etc. Chronic effects – miner’s nystagmus Intense light – glare, discomfort, annoyance & visual fatigue. Intense direct glass – blurred vision, accidents.

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15 Industrial Noise Unwanted or undesired sound, causes annoyance to human being. Sources Impact Noise – hammering, riveting, chipping, pressing, weaving, turning, drilling. Vibration – lack of balance in machinery, foundry. Friction – grinding, cutting edge on lathe, machine tools, badly lubricated bearings & conveyers. Air turbulence - from high velocity of air or steam – e.g. exhaust noise from pneumatic tools, combustion in furnaces or boilers. Air compressors Generators Other sources – vehicle horns, loudspeakers, radio, TV etc. Century of Noise – 20th Century.

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16 Properties of Noise 1. Loudness or Intensity Depends on amplitude of vibrations initiating noise. Measured in Decibels (db). E.g.60 db means i.e.60 db more intense than the smallest distinguishable noise, or the “Reference” sound pressure which is understood to be 0.0002 microbar or dyne/cm2. A dyne is 1/1000,000th part of atmospheric pressure. Human ear responds in a non uniform way to different sound- pressure levels. Responds not to real loudness but to it’s perceived intensity.

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17 Recommended Maximum Noise level is 85 db. Acceptable Noise levels

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18 2. Noise Frequency Denoted by Hertz (Hz). 1 Hz = 1 wave / second. Human ear can hear from 20 to 20,000 Hz, Range affected by age & other subjective matters, Range below 20 –infra –audible, >20,000 is ultrasonic. Many Animals e.g. dogs can hear sounds inaudible to human ear. Noise is also expressed in Psycho-acoustic terms – the Phon. Phon – index of loudness, considers both intensity and frequency.

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19 Noise - 2 types of effects. Auditory – temporary or permanent hearing loss. Non-auditory – nervousness, fatigue, irritability, interference in speech communication, decreased efficiency & annoyance, disturbance in relaxation and sleep, may contribute to heart disease, ulcers, & other stress related problems. Degree of effect depends on Intensity & frequency range, Duration & exposure, and Individual susceptibility.

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20 Noise (contd) – Approximate Noise levels

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21 Prevention and Control of Noise Careful Planning of Cities / Factory / Plants Division of city in to zones with separation of Areas for Industries and Transport. Separate residential areas from main streets by Green belts, house fronts 15 meters away from main street, space thickly planted with trees and bushes. Widening of main streets to keep away the noise from dwellings. Control of Vehicles No heavy vehicles on narrow streets or lanes. Prohibit use of pressure horns & their indiscriminate blowing. Improve Acoustic Insulation of Building Detached buildings rather than single large continuous building, Sound proof building where necessary. Control of noise at source wherever possible.

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22 Prevention and Control of Noise (contd) – Protection of exposed persons Recommended to all constantly exposed to noise louder than 85 db & 150 Hz frequency. Provide ear plugs, ear muffs – Personal Protective Devices (PPE). Rotation of duty from noisy area to comparatively quiet area. Periodical audiogram examination, health check up. Industry/ Factory Effective equipment maintenance by Replacement or repairs of unbalanced machinery, Lubrication of bearings & conveyers, Concrete or wooden base for machinery. Substitution- nylon, plastic or other material instead of steel parts Flame welding in place of noise making tools.

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23 Prevention and control of Noise (contd) – Enclosure – of the sound producing equipments. Reduce driving force of the machine. Provision of muffling arrangements to machines. Sound absorbing material like glass fiber, glass wool, mineral wool, & thermo Cole, etc, to cover walls, ceiling, and floor. Isolation of process from other area. HE/ IEC to workers, management, family members and community. Legislation – workers right for compensation, if inability to understand speech, supreme court’s judgment to prohibit loudspeakers after10pm to 6am to avoid noise pollution.

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24 Vibration – Especially in frequency range 10 to 500 Hz pneumatic tools like drills & hammers. Usually affects comfort, reduced work output. Vascular disorders in hands, arms & legs. Chronic exposure to – Small blood vessels of hand become sensitive to spasm (white fingers), later their loss of sensation. Injury to joints - elbows & shoulders. Affects CNS and Heart.

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25 UV radiation – mainly in Arc welding. Effects- are intense conjunctivitis & keratitis (Welder’s flash), which disappears after discontinuation. No effect on vision or deeper structure of the eye.

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26 Ionizing radiation – due to use of X-rays, & radioactive isotopes in medicine & industries. Common RA isotopes are – Cobalt 60 & phosphorus 32. Bone marrow most sensitive. Gonads important from genetic point of view.

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27 Ionizing radiation (contd) – Genetic changes, malformations, Ca, Leukemia, depilation, ulceration, sterility & rarely death. International Commission for radiological protection has set maximum permissible level of occupational exposure at 5 REM per year to the whole body.

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28 Occupational Diseases Diseases arising out of or in the course of employment are grouped as under – Diseases due to physical agents Heat – hyperpyrexia, exhaustion, syncope cramps, burns prickly heat. Cold – trench foot, frostbite, chilblains. Light – Cataract, miner’s nystagmus. Pressure – Caisson’s disease, air embolism, blast (explosion). Noise – deafness. Radiation – Ca, leukemia, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia. Mechanical factors – injuries, accidents. Electricity – Burns.

Heat Hazards : 

29 Heat Hazards HEAT= Evaporative cooling will be more COLD= Process of conserving heat from conductive, radiative & convective heat will be more so that the body will remain in thermo-neutral e.g. it will neither gain or loss heat irrespective of environment heat or cold change.

Heat Illness : 

30 Heat Illness Predisposing Factors Physical activity Extremes of age, poor physical condition, fatigue Excessive clothing Dehydration Cardiovascular disease Skin disorders Obesity Drugs Phenothiazines, anticholinergics, B and Ca channel blockers, diuretics, amphetamines, LSD, cocaine, etc.

Heat Stroke : 

31 Heat Stroke SYMPTOMS True emergency Any neurological finding And elevated temperature May still be sweating initially Syncope History is critical PREVENTION Awareness Adaptation of behavioral and physical activity Clothing Activity Appropriate hydration Education

Frost Bite : 

32 Frost Bite SYMPTOMS Caused by freezing conditions which cut off circulation, usually in extremities (hands, feet, ears, nose), which may be permanently affected. Frost-bitten areas are cold, pale or marbled-looking, solid to the touch, and painless (until circulation is restored). TREATMENT Giving warm drinks, and covering with blankets. Warm the injured part with body heat only-put a hand under an armpit, for example. Do not rub the skin or apply direct heat to the injured area.

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33 Radiation Hazards Use of radium or Ra substances in painting of luminous dial of watches, instruments, & paints; ores, sand workers etc. UV rays in arc welding, foundries etc. Effects - burns, dermatitis, blood dyscrasias Ca, genetic disorders etc.

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34 Prevention – Avoid inhalation, swallowing or direct contact with skin. X-rays – use thick shielding to reduce exposure; film badges for periodic monitoring & also by electrometer (pocket) devices. Protective clothing Adequate ventilation Replacement & periodic exam every 2 months.

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35 Agricultural hazards Zoonotic diseases. Accidents – insect & snakebites, machinery. Toxic substances – fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides etc. Physical – climate, e.g. temperature, humidity, cold, solar radiation etc. Respiratory – tobacco, cotton, grains, rice husks, coconut fibers, hay & wood.

Chemical Hazards and diseases : 

36 Chemical Hazards and diseases Dust, fumes, vapours, gases, smoke, mist Carcinogenic chemicals C.N.S. depressant chemicals Asphyxiants

Effects on health : 

37 Effects on health Primary irritant (eyes, nose) Sensitization (Itching and burning) Oil dermatitis (acne) Respiratory irritant (lungs) Cancerous (kidney) Reproductive system (Pb)

Biological health hazard : 

38 Biological health hazard Bacterial Viral Rickettsial Fungal Parasites Insects

Health effect : 

39 Health effect Infection (septic), typhoid, cholera Typhus disease H1N1, aids Asthma, poisoning Malaria, hookworm, gastrointestinal infection

Psychological : 

40 Psychological Failure to adapt to an alien psychological environment, frustration, lack of job satisfaction, insecurity, emotional tension, poor human relationship etc undermine the physical, mental health of the workers. Capacity for adaptation is influenced by education, cultural background, family life, social habits & expectation of the worker from the job.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH : 

41 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Psychological Health effects classified as – Psychological & behavioral changes – such as hostility, aggressiveness, anxiety, depression, tiredness, alcoholism, drug dependence/ addiction/ abuse, sickness absenteeism, etc. Psychosomatic ill health – fatigue, headache, pain in shoulders, neck & back, propensity to peptic ulcer, hypertension, heart disease, & rapid aging. Physical factors viz- heat, noise, poor lighting, may precipitate mental disorders. Increasing stress on automation, electronic operations & nuclear energy may introduce new psychological problems; therefore hazards have more importance.

PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARDS : 

42 PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARDS v      Lack of job satisfaction, insecurity, poor interpersonal relations, work pressure, ambiguity, etc. v      Psychological & behavioral changes – hostility, aggressiveness, anxiety, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, sickness absenteeism. v      Psychosomatic disorders- Hypertension, headache, body-ache, peptic ulcers, asthma, diabetes, heart disorders, etc.

Ergonomics : 

43 Ergonomics It is a systematic study of the ill effects on man of poorly designed work situation Work physiology Environmental physiology (climate, light)

Hazards sign & symptoms : 

44 Hazards sign & symptoms Hazards caused by different work postures, machineries and equipments which are not properly designed and manufactured taking into consideration of the user Injury to spinal column Intra-abdominal blood pressure Sudden rise in blood pressure Shoulder and neck pain

TYPE OF CONTROL MEASURES : 

45 TYPE OF CONTROL MEASURES Medical (required to monitor effectiveness of Engg. Controls)    Engineering (Best Engg. Control is to reduce exposure)   Administrative / Legal. (Emphasis given to reduce the exposure

ENGINEERING CONTROLS : 

46 ENGINEERING CONTROLS A  Designing-building, Work station. B  Good Housekeeping. C  Ventilation D  Mechanization E   Substitution. F   Enclosure G   Isolation H   Local Exhaust Ventilation. I    Personal Protective Devices. J    Work Environment Monitoring K   Statistical Monitoring.

Thank You! : 

47 Thank You!