Transcript HL1115 Influences on Health at Work

Work and Health
HL1115
Sean Mahar, PhD, CIH, CSP, PE
Qualifications
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BS, Sacred Heart University
MS, Texas A&M University
PhD, University of Iowa
Certified Industrial Hygienist
Certified Safety Professional
Professional Engineer
Experience
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U of Wolverhampton, 7 years
Ohio University, 3 years
Worksafe Iowa, 3 years
US Navy, 9 years
Tracor, 1 year
ASSESSMENT METHODS AND
WEIGHTING
• Essay of no more than 1500 words 50%
• Unseen examination of 2 hours.
50%
• Students are required to pass (minimum
grade D5) (i) essay and (ii) the
examination in order to pass the module.
Please note that plagiarism will be dealt
with according to University Regulations.
ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
• Select a specific occupation and identify
the hazards that might be present in that
particular work environment. Discuss the
potential adverse effects on health. Include
in your essay the effect that individual
lifestyle and pre-existing health status may
have on factors found in the working
environment. Identify any relevant
legislation in force to protect employees.
ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
• Select a particular work-related condition
and discuss the effects on health status.
Identify the range of employees who may
be affected and what effect personal
lifestyle factors play in increasing
susceptibility in some individuals. What
relevant legislation is in force as a
protective measure?
ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
Factors to consider
1. When identifying hazards at work
remember it is not just the main hazard
which is significant. You also need to
consider what other factors are in the work
environment which may add to or increase
risks.
ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
Hazards are categorised into the following:
• Physical
• Chemical
• Biological
• Mechanical
• Psycho-social
Several of these hazards may be found in one
work environment.
ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
2. An understanding of the role of health and
safety legislation will be looked for, but it
will not be necessary to quote large
sections from any Regulations or Acts.
ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
3. Structure is important - your work must
have a title and introduction which will set
down the issues you wish to address. If
relevant, you may wish to include some
historical perspective but beware of making
this too long.
ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
The introduction will be followed by the main
body of your discussion - which should
demonstrate logical progression to your
conclusion and demonstrate understanding
of the health effects of your chosen
occupation or hazard. The conclusion
should summarise what has gone before.
ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
4. Referencing and bibliography: any material
used to help you write this essay should be
acknowledged in order to avoid plagiarism.
The bibliography should consist of all
books and articles read, any direct quotes
or references within the text of your work
should appear in a reference list. Harvard
method of referencing is preferred.
Topics
Introduction: Historical overview: Agricola,
Paracelsus, Ramazzini, Industrial
Revolution, first involvement of the state in
monitoring health effects. Factors affecting
health - recent statistics HSE, mortality
rates.
Overview of relevant legislation; HASAWA 74,
HSC, HSE, EMAS Welfare benefits, Social
Security Acts, Prescribed diseases and
disablement benefit
Topics
Occupational lung disorders: asthma,
byssinosis, pnuemoconiosis, asbestosis,
mesothelioma, farmers lung, acute and
chronic effects of exposure to toxic fumes
Back injury, cumulative strain, upper limb
disorders, ergonomics.
Skin conditions, occupational dermatitis;
contact/allergic, effects of solvents,
alkalines
Topics
Toxic substances and the effect on body
systems. Chemical hazards - Occupational
Cancer
Transmissible diseases - infections, body
fluids.
Topics
Physical hazards: Noise and hearing
impairment.
Physical hazards: Temperature, Vibration and
Radiation Mechanical hazards and
accidents
Topics
Vulnerable groups of workers: Women,
Reproductive hazards, Ethnic minority
groups, pre-disposing conditions, lifestyles.
Human factors. Psycho-social factors:
Occupational stress - fight or flight,
organisational styles, Hawthorne effect,
group dynamics, interpersonal
relationships, bullying, unemployment.
History
In ancient times work was performed by slaves
and no concern was made regarding worker
health.
4th century BC
Hippocrates notes lead toxicity in miners
1st century AD
Pliny the Elder discusses hazards of zinc
and sulphur and describes early respirator
2nd century AD
Galen writes of acid mist hazards to miners
History
1473
Ulrich Ellenborg described industrial poisoning from
lead and mercury and suggests preventative
measures
1556
Greorgious Agricola describes ulcerations of lungs
from dust inhalation in De re metallica
1567
Phillipus Paracelsus' (1493-1541) treatise on
diseases of miners published, Swiss alchemist was
highly controversial and held in low regard by peers
History
1700
Bernardo Ramazzini, father of occupational
medicine, published De Morbis Artificum in
which he describes various illnesses, causes
and suggest preventative measures. Patient
case histories should include the question "of
what trade are you?"
History
18th century
Sir George Baker attributes "Devonshire colic"
to lead in cider industry
Percival Pott recognizes soot as causative
agent in scrotal cancer, leading to ChimneySweepers Act of 1788
Charles Thackrah writes treatise on
occupational health urging employers to "let
benevolence be directed to the prevention,
rather than the relief of evils."
History
19th century
Sir Robert Peel brings the attention of Parliament
to the deplorable conditions in factories
1833
Passage of first Factory Act, limiting child labor
hours and providing for factory inspections in
certain industries, expansions of industries in
subsequent acts in 1864, 1867 and 1878.
History
20th century
Dr. Alice Hamilton, wrote extensively on
various occupations, their illnesses and
solutions to these problems.
History
1970
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
(U.S.)
• promulgation and enforcement by Department of
Labor
• research and education by Department of Health,
Education and Welfare
• purpose to "assure so far as possible every working
man and woman in the nation safe and healthful
working conditions and to preserve our human
resources."
History
1974
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• created health and safety commission and
executive
• purpose to "to make further provision for securing
the health, safety and welfare of persons at work,
for protecting others against risks to health or safety
in connection with the activities of persons at work,
for controlling the keeping and use and preventing
the unlawful acquisition, possession and of
dangerous substances, and for controlling certain
emissions into the atmosphere; to make further
provision with respect to the employment medical
advisory service;"
History
1992 Health and Safety Regulations - (EC Six-pack)
• Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations
• Workplace (Health and Safety and Welfare)
Regulations
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations
• Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment)
Regulations
• Personal Protective Equipment Regulations
Important legislation
• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
• Management of Health and Safety at Work
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
• The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
• Workplace health, safety and welfare
Trends of illness and disease in
the workplace
The Industrial Injuries Scheme
• administered by the Department of Social
Security (DSS)
• awards compensation to sufferers of
certain "prescribed diseases" as outlined
in the Social Security (Industrial Injuries)
(Prescribed Diseases) Regulations 1985 (as
amended)
Trends of illness and disease in
the workplace
• Conditions which have a well-established
occupational cause such as vibration white
finger, lead poisoning and nasal cancer
from exposure to hardwood dust.
Except for pneumoconiosis, mesothelioma,
byssinosis and deafness, which are
covered by special medical boards for
respiratory diseases and deafness; benefit
is payable only if the degree of disablement
is assessed as 14% or more.
Trends of illness and disease in
the workplace
Occupational Mortality Statistics
• collected from death certificates by the
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys
(OPCS).
• form the basis of occupational mortality
statistics.
Trends of illness and disease in
the workplace
Statutory Reporting
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
(RIDDOR)
• require employers to report all cases of the
diseases listed in the Regulations to the
relevant enforcing authority.
Trends of illness and disease in
the workplace
Voluntary Reporting Schemes
SWORD (Surveillance of Work-related and
Occupational Respiratory Disease)
• run by the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit at the
National Heart and Lung Institute began in 1989 and
gathers data on occupation-related respiratory
disease
EPI-DERM
• surveillance scheme for occupational skin diseases
run by a team at the University of Manchester
Centre for Occupational Health began with
dermatologists reporting in 1993 and occupational
health physicians reporting in 1995.
Trends of illness and disease in
the workplace
The Labour Force Survey (LFS)
• carried out annually by OPCS on behalf of the
Employment Department.
• The 1990 survey included a trailer questionnaire.
• The question of interest in the field of occupational
health was: "In the last twelve months, have you
suffered from any illness, disability or other
physical problem that was caused or made worse
by your work?" If the respondent answered
positively, further questions were asked to
establish the nature of the illness and the job that
was believed to have caused it.
Risk Assessment
• Council Directive 89/391/EEC
• Management of Health and Safety at
Work 1999
• Control of Substances Hazardous to
Health 2002 (COSHH)
Hazard and Risk
• Hazard: the inherent potential to cause
harm or injury
• Risk: the likelihood of harm or injury
arising from a hazard
Hazard and Risk
• Hazard is the potential
• Risk is the likelihood
Risk Assessment
Council Directive 89/391/EEC
Article 9, Various obligations on
employers
The employer shall be in possession of
an assessment of the risks to safety
and health at work, including those
facing groups of workers exposed to
particular risks;
Management of Health and
Safety at Work
Regulation 3 Risk Assessment,
requires employers to make a
suitable and sufficient assessment of
risks to the health and safety of their
employees whilst at work
Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
Regulation 6 Risk Assessment,
requires employers to make a
suitable and sufficient assessment of
risks to the health and safety of their
employees whilst at work
Risk Assessment
A "suitable and sufficient" assessment:
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correctly identifies any significant
risk that is reasonably foreseeable
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enables the assessor to decide what
action needs to be taken, and what
the priorities should be
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is appropriate for the type of activity
Risk Assessment
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remains valid for a reasonable time
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reflects what employers may
reasonably practicably be expected to
know about the risks associated with
their undertaking.
Risk Assessment
It should:
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disregard inconsequential risks and
those trivial risks associated with life
in general
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determine the likelihood of injury or
harm arising
Risk Assessment
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quantify the severity of the
consequences and the numbers of
people who would be affected
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take into account any existing control
measures
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identify any specific legal duty or
requirement relating to the hazard
Risk Assessment
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remain valid for a reasonable period
of time
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provide sufficient information to
enable the employer to decide upon
appropriate control measures, taking
into account the latest scientific
developments and advances
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enable the employer to prioritise
remedial measures
Risk Assessment
1. Look for the hazards
2. Decide who might be harmed and how
3. Evaluate the risks and decide whether
the existing precautions are adequate
or whether more should be done
4. Record your findings
5. Review your assessment and revise it
if necessary
Health and Safety (First-Aid)
Regulations
Duties specified
• employer to provide first aid
• employer to inform employees of the first
aid arrangements
• self-employed person to provide first aid
equipment.
Questions?