Occupational Health & safety

Margaret K. Semakula
6/26/2014 Margaret 1
Introduction to OHS
Occupational health and safety is a cross-disciplinary area
concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of
people engaged in work or employment. The goal of all
occupational health and safety programs is to foster a safe
work environment.

As a secondary effect, it may also protect co-workers, family
members, employers, customers, suppliers, nearby
communities, and other members of the public who are
impacted by the workplace environment.

Is another way of saying 'Health and Safety at Work'. It's
about preventing disease or injury that is a direct result of
your workplace.


6/26/2014 Margaret 2
Introduction to OHS
Branch of medicine that deals with ,
diseases related to work and its environment
the disease covers even the workers living environment
plus life style
the persons living with the worker could exhibit the disease

It is a broad discipline involving many specialized fields
including occupational medicine, occupational (or
industrial) hygiene, public health, safety engineering
among others.



6/26/2014 Margaret 3
Introduction to OHS
Several definitions of OHS have been developed by
professional bodies e.g. WHO & ILO, national bodies
and authorities.

In summary it is considered to be a multidisciplinary
activity aiming at the promotion and maintenance of
the highest degree of physical, mental and social
well-being of workers in all occupations.

In other words it encompasses the social, mental and
physical well-being of workers i.e. whole person in all
occupations


6/26/2014 Margaret 4
Introduction to OHS - definition
Since 1950, the (ILO) and the(WHO) have shared a common definition of
occupational health. It was adopted by the Joint ILO/WHO Committee on
Occupational Health at its first session in 1950 and revised at its 12
th
session in
1995.
The definition reads: "Occupational health and safety
should aim at: the promotion and maintenance of the
highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of
workers in all occupations; the prevention amongst workers
of departures from health caused by their working
conditions; the protection of workers in their employment
from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; the
placing and maintenance of the worker in an occupational
environment adapted to his physiological and psychological
capabilities; and, to summarize, the adaptation of work to
man and of each man to his job.
6/26/2014 Margaret 5
Occupational health & safety Aims
The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical,
mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations;

The prevention amongst workers of departures from health caused
by their working conditions;

The protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting
from factors adverse to health;

The placing and maintenance of the worker in an occupational
environment adapted to his physiological and psychological
capabilities; and,
The adaptation of work to man and of each man to his job"

6/26/2014 Margaret 6
Occupational Health
The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree
of physical, mental and social well being of workers in
all occupations

Health Work

Any poor working conditions have the potential to
affect a workers health and safety;

All types of work places could be unhealthy or unsafe.

6/26/2014 Margaret 7
Definitions
Occupational hygiene is defined as the science of
anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of
health hazards in the working environment which
could impair the health and well being of workers.

It also takes into account the possible impact on the
surrounding communities &the general
environment.

Occupational medicine is the discipline which
studies the relationship between worker and
environment. It recognizes the causes to, prevents,
gives diagnoses of and treatment for occupational
health disorders.


6/26/2014 Margaret 8
Definitions
Occupational environment is the sum of external
conditions and influences which prevail at the
place of work and which have a bearing on the
health of the working population.

Occupational Hygiene technician is a person
competent to carry out measurements of the
work environment but not to make the
interpretations, judgments & recommendations
required from an Occupational Hygienist.
6/26/2014 Margaret 9
Occupational health vs safety
Safety means preventing accidents
Safety Accident
Health Illness

OH issues are often given less attention than OS
because they are not considered as important and are
difficult to confront.

Yet when health is addressed so is safety; a healthy
work place is also a safe work place and yet the reverse
may not be true.

6/26/2014 Margaret 10
Occupational health vs safety
Most important is that both the health and safety issues
must be addressed in every work place.

Poor working conditions affect workers health and safety,
families, other people in the community and environment.
(e.g, pesticide use).

The successful OHS practice requires collaboration and
participation of both employers and workers.

It involves the consideration of other issues: occupational
medicine, industrial hygiene, toxicology, education,
engineering safety, ergonomics and psychology etc.



6/26/2014 Margaret 11
History of Occupational Health
Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714), a physician and
professor of Padua, Italy discovered an association
between the disease and the life and the work of
his patients. He studied diseases that he identified
with specific occupations, thereby earning himself
the title of father of occupational medicine
6/26/2014 Margaret 12
Historical milestones
There has been several eras or shifts in OH
health needs and trends.

The industrial revolution wave
Increased production and use of coal
High turn over of workers
Workers realized the need for protection
Workers went on strike; long working hours,
increased incidence of illness, no consideration for
those who are ill, increased mortality.
6/26/2014 Margaret 13
Historical milestones
The industrial health service wave
There was initiation OH care but on a limited
scale;
To cover only industries
Cover only for workers alone not their families
No component of compensation
No treatment of worker while at home; only at work.

As a result of dissatisfaction, the workers went
on strike again

6/26/2014 Margaret 14
Milestones
The occupational health wave
In this wave OH care became widely viewed as
necessary and was incorporated into systems.

In Uganda, it came in 1940s in the form of industrial
health and started in the department of labour.

Then it had 4 objectives
To carry out medical examination of workers
To conduct research on occupational health
To teach higher institutions
Inspection of work places

6/26/2014 Margaret 15
How it started in Uganda
As industrial Health in the department
Started to cater for all the industries at the time
Responsible for:
examination of all the employees,
to carry out industry/work place inspection
to advise both employers and govt.. on toxicity

To carry out research
To conduct teaching programs for the training
institutions
To render services to cover the whole country.

6/26/2014 Margaret 16
OH situation in Uganda
1. Occupational health manpower is still very low.
2. It is currently not part of the minimum health care package.
3. Lack of knowledge on occupational diseases and hazards.
4. Illiteracy , unskilled man power and lack of employment.
5. No political will to address occupational hazards.
6. Knowledge among employers is not passed on to the
employees.
7. Laws and policies have not embraced OHS; fear that investors
will not manage and will be drawn away.
8. Even the existing laws are not enforced.
9. The workmans compensation act has been updater but the
actual implementation is not yet seen.
10. There is a general move to increase protection for workers at
their work place- health insurance, life insurance, social
insurance, community insurance.
6/26/2014 Margaret 17
OH problems in developing countries
The workers in the developing countries are at a higher risk of
exposure to occupational hazards due to;
1. Low education high Illiteracy rates
2. Unfamiliarity with the work processes
3. Inadequate training
4. Predisposition to complain (fear of job loss)
5. Lack of protective equipment
6. High prevalence of endemic communicable diseases.
7. Inadequate infrastructure and human resource to prevent
and control exposure; diagnose and treat illnesses.
8. Low wages.
9. Lack of policy and regulation
10. Aggravating factors- other infections, poor hygiene, poor
nutrition, poverty, vulnerability (vulnerable group- children,
orphans, women, migrants, displaced persons)
6/26/2014 Margaret 18
PH Importance of OHS (WHO 2010)
Annually, an estimated 160 million new cases of work-
related diseases occur worldwide

1.1 M people die every year due to occupational diseases
and injuries (same no. as malaria). Diseases include
asbestosis, silicosis, lead poisoning and noise induced
hearing loss.

250 M occupational accidents happen every year
resulting in 300,000 fatalities, also lead to partial or
complete incapacity to work and generate income.

More in developing countries:- A worker in developing
countries is 5-7x likely to get an occupational accident.



6/26/2014 Margaret 19
PH Importance of OHS (WHO 2010)
2.6 bn are in work force and need to be protected.

Economic losses from work-related disease and injuries is
about 4% of the worlds GNP.

Only 5-10 % and 20-50 of workers in developing and
industrialised countries respectively access OH services.

An increasing number of workers in industrialized
countries complain about psychological stress and
overwork.

Even in advanced economies, a large proportion of work
sites is not regularly inspected for OHS

6/26/2014 Margaret 20
Why Occupational Health?
Moral and Ethical Issues Respect Human Resources and
their family

Legal Issues Claims for compensation

Financial Issues Increase of Insurance Premium

Large numbers of people exposed to toxic materials and
substances.

Many new chemicals introduced into the market about
6m per year. These include chemicals, drugs &
pharmaceuticals, computers etc.





6/26/2014 Margaret 21
Why Occupational Health?
Most of the exposed persons globally are illiterate and lack
the knowledge to protect and prevent themselves from
acquiring the OH related diseases. They are exposed
unprotected

Early recognition by physicians of unusual patterns of
illnesses can alert them and employers.

Multidiscipline team required.

Developing countries have become a damping ground; as a
result there is a shift of occupational diseases and hazards
(non communicable diseases- cancers, chronic diseases)
and the cause is not known.

6/26/2014
Margaret
22
Why Occupational Health?
New trends in occupational diseases are emerging daily.

Physicians will continue to encounter the patients with
work related problems.

Chemicals used in developing countries are used by
poorly trained or non trained at all.

World wide people are appreciating the need to take
care of their own health so as to increase life expectancy.

6/26/2014 Margaret 23
Benefits of Good OSH
Reduced lost time

Reduced need to provide cover for personnel absent
from work because of injury

Reduce sick pay payments

Reduce need for time-consuming accident investigation
and consequent saving in management time and
production down-time


6/26/2014 Margaret 24
Benefits of Good OSH
Reduced potential for prosecution and other
enforcement action by authorities

Reduction in the number of claims for compensation by
injured personnel

Reduced employers liability insurance premiums

Improved image of company, both in terms of employer
and competent contractor

6/26/2014 Margaret 25
References.
Pantry Sheila, 1995. Occupational Health.T.J. Press (Padstow)
Ltd. Great Britain.
www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/../
import_Hazard+identification.
K. Park, 2000. Parks text book of preventive and social
medicine.
Mark G Robson, Risk assessment for environmental health.
Occupational Health And Safety Risk Assessment And
Management Guidelines, The University of Queensland.
Occupational Health and Safety,- Hazard Identification, Risk
Assessment and Control (HIRAC), University of Ballarat.