MONITORING WORKPLACE EXPOSURES AND HEALTH :MONITORING WORKPLACE EXPOSURES AND HEALTH


Slide 2:Definition: It is an action taken to determine the current state of a workplace, or staff member in relation to a hazard. Types of hazards that can be monitored would include: Physical Agent: - Noise - Vibration - Ionizing & Nonionizing radiation - Ergonomic factors Chemical Agents: - Gases - Vapours - Dusts - Liquids (Organic solvent lead)


Slide 3:Biological Agents: - Micro organism (Bacteria, Virus & fungus) - Animal products - Samples - Some plants.


Slide 4:The purpose of monitoring the workplace exposures and health is to provide procedures for baseline and ongoing environmental and personal health monitoring where it is required in relation to exposure to any job-related health hazards. Fundamental goal of any occupational health programme is to prevent occupational diseases by the elimination of exposures or, by their control to levels believed to be safe. Where hazard to health exists they need to be measured, assessed in terms of their significance, and controlled at source.


Slide 5:Health and safety in employment act requires that when there is a significant hazard that cannot be eliminated or, isolated an employees should also monitor the following:- a) The exposure of the employee to hazard. b) With consent of employee their health in relation to exposure to the hazard. Monitoring may involve: a) Environmental measurement viz. i)Air or dust ii) Sound levles etc. b) Direct health monitoring of individuals viz: i) Blood exmaination ii) Urine examination iii) Lung function test etc.


Slide 6:Health Monitoring required for following staff: Where there is an identifiable disease or, health effect that may be related to the exposure Where there is a reasonable likelihood that the disease or health effect may occur under the particular condition of work. There are valid techniques for detecting the indicators of the disease or effect. Sometimes health monitoring is required for students (medical, Nursing or research students in labs).


Slide 7:Responsibilities: -Line managers are responsible for implementing hazard management procedures in every work area under their control. Where a work activity or process involves substances hazardous to health viz, cadmium, inorganic arsenic, isocynates, lead, mercury, organophosphate pesticides and electroplating involving chromium or cadmium then approved code of practice for the management of substances hazardous to health in the place of work should be followed


Slide 8:The results must be documented and the results made known to staff members (and students) who may be exposed to that hazards. Where an assessment has established that there is a significant hazard to health that cannot be eliminated or isolated then health monitoring would be required: Pre employment procedure On going monitoring A Pre employment procedure: Before appointment is finalized they are assessed if they are physically and medically fit to perform the duties for which they have applied.


Slide 9:B) On going monitoring: - Vaccination may be required - Medical tests viz. – Audiometry - Staff exposed to noise level > 85dBA - Eye sight test exposed to visual hazard. - Spirometry, X-ray chest, - Lung function test For exposure to helding fume oxide of nitrogen asbestos dust. - Blood test in exposure to animal bites urine, - Urine tests – exposed to arsenic, Hexane, mercury etc. - Hazard e.g. Dying.


Slide 10:Employees at risk:- From workplace hazard to health are monitored to establish that work place hazard controls are effective. Information related to exposure, work & medical history is collected and interpreted by a medical practitioner having experience in occupational health. Results of all tests are kept in person’s personnel file, If abnormal result indicates that hazard control is not effective then hazard control mechanisms are improved.


Slide 11:MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE


Definition :Definition Continuous scrutiny of the factors that determine the occurrence and distribution of disease and other conditions of ill health. It is essential for effective control and prevention. It includes collection, analysis interpretation and distribution of relevant data: Surveillance must follow control measures. Fundamental purpose of surveillance is to detect and eliminate the underlying causes such as hazards or exposures of any discovered trends and thus has a prevention focus.


Slide 13:Surveillance serves as a feed back loop to the employer. Can be conducted on a single case or sentinel event on or group of employees. It can be conducted on a single employee over time. Review of group results help to identify potential problems. Based on the type of work being performed including factors viz duration of task, material being used, potential for exposure medical surveillance is recommended or required for job. Specific test results & other personal medical information are kept confidential between the employee & the physician. Physician determines the scope of the examination results.


Slide 14:Informs the supervisor of the recommendation based on examination results. Supervisor discusses these recommendation with the employee. Employee can contact the physician Employee has the right to request copies of their medical or exposure records at any time.


HAZARDOUS WASTE :HAZARDOUS WASTE A material or, waste is considered hazardous if it has hazardous properties and is dangerous to health and environment. It can result in spills and slippery surfaces, may harm the wildlife and natural resources. Improper handling of corrosive chemicals can result in danger to employees from skin contact or noxious fumes. Release of toxic metal and solvent wastes generated from equipment fabrication cleaning operations. This can result in soil, surface water and ground water contamination.


Hazardous waste categories :Hazardous waste categories Cyanide waste Metal finishing waste Waste containing water soluble chemical compounds of lead, copper, zinc, chroming and antimony. Mercury, arsenic, thallium and cadmium bearing wastes. Non haloqenated hydrocarbons including solvent. Halogenated hydro-carbon including solvents. Wastes from paints, pigments, glue, varnish and printing ink.


Slide 17:Wastes from Dyes and Dye intermediate containing in organic chemical compounds. Waste oil and oil emulsions. Tarry wastes from refining and tar residues from distillation or, prolytic treatments Wastes from treatment of heavy water containing heavy metals, toxic organies, oils emulsions. Phenols Asbestos Waste from manufacturing of pesticides and herbicides. Discarded containers etc.


Health Risk Associated with Hazardous waste :Health Risk Associated with Hazardous waste Uncontrolled disposal sites containing hazardous waste and other contaminants have created national and environments problems. Human health effect according to exposure of hazardous chemical can be divided into two: Occupational health hazard Health hazards due to environmental contaminations.


I) Occupational health hazards :I) Occupational health hazards Infections:- - Skin and blood infection due to direct contact with waste from infected wounds - Eye and respiratory infected dust. - Disease due to bite of animals feeding on the waste. - Intestinal infections transmitted by flies. Chronic Diseases: - Respiratory diseases - Cancers.


Slide 20:Accidents:- - Infecting wounds due to sharp objects - Poisoning and chemical burns due to hazardous chemical waste mixed with general waste - Burns & other injuries due to occupational accidents at disposal sites - Bone & muscle disorders due to handling of heavy containers.


II) Health Hazards due to environmental contaminations :II) Health Hazards due to environmental contaminations Pesticides:- - Organophosphates and carbonates present damage the nervous system and can cause cancer. Some may cause reproductive and endocrinal damage & few are carcinogens Synthetic organics:- Benzene and other petrochemicals can cause cancers


Slide 22:Lead:- Affects central nervous system children & pregnant women are at risk. Fluoride:- Yellowing of teeth and damage to the spinal cord Arsenic:- Poisoning through water can cause liver and nervous system damage vascular disease & skin cancer. Heavy Metals:- Industrial waste like mercury.


Slide 23:Electronic waste:- Short term exposure may lead to altered liver function and skin lesion where as long terms exposure leads to impairment of immune system, nervous, endocrine, and reproductive system.


Hazard waste standards. :Hazard waste standards. India is the first country that has made constitutional provisions from protection and improvement of the environment. In the directive principles of state policy of the constitution, Article 48-A of chapter IV enjoins the state to make endeavor for protection and improvement of the environment and for safeguarding the forest and wild life of the country. In Article 51A (g) of the constitution one of the fundamental duties of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rovers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures.


Slide 25:Ministry of environment and forests Government of India notified the Hazardous waste (Management and Handling) Rules on July 28, 1989 under the provisions of the environment (Protection) Act 1986 and was further amended in the year 2000 & 2003. Separate rules have also been notified in continuation of the above rules for Bio-Medical wastes. India and other Asian countries are a party to the Basel Convention which is a trans boundary movement of hazardous waste. India is obliged to regulate and minimise the import of hazardous waste for disposal.


Slide 26:The lack of technical and financial Resources and the regulatory control for the management of hazardous wastes in the past had led to the unscientific disposal of azardous wastes in India which posed serious risks to human, animal and plant life.