BSC HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT

BHSM 4313
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
AND
PREVENTION METHODS

CRITICALLY DISCUSS AT LEAST FIVE OCCUPATIONAL

DISEASES AND ILL-HEALTH PREVALENT IN YOUR CHOSEN
INDUSTRY, THE CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS, TARGET
ORGAN, AND PREVENTION MEASURES FOR EACH
DISEASE.

BY

NAME
ID NO

14 April 2022

PROGRAMME CO-ORDINATOR
DODEYE UBANA
 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

LEGISLATION 2

DISCUSSION 3

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN CHOSEN INDUSTRY 3

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS 3

TARGET ORGAN 3

PREVENTION MEASURES 3

CONCLUSIONS 4

TABLE OF REFERENCES 5
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INTRODUCTION

According to the protocol of 2002 to the occupational safety and health

convention, 1981 (no. 155), the term “occupational disease” covers any disease

contracted as a result of an exposure to risk factors arising from work activity. The

ilo employment injury benefits recommendation, 1964 (no. 121), paragraph 6(1),

defines occupational diseases in the following terms: “each member should, under

prescribed conditions, regard diseases known to arise out of the exposure to

substances and dangerous conditions in processes, trades or occupations as

occupational diseases.”

Two main elements are present in the definition of an occupational disease:

 The causal relationship between exposure in a specific working environment

or work activity and a specific disease; and

 The fact that the disease occurs among a group of exposed persons with a

frequency above the average morbidity of the rest of the population.

As a general rule, the symptoms are not sufficiently characteristic to enable an

occupational disease to be diagnosed as such without the knowledge of the

pathological changes engendered by the physical, chemical, biological or other

factors encountered in the exercise of an occupation.

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LEGISLATION

The causal relationship is established on the basis of clinical and pathological

data, occupational background and job analysis, identification and evaluation of

occupational risk factors and of the role of other risk factors. Epidemiological and

toxicological data are useful for determining the causal relationship between a

specific occupational disease and its corresponding exposure in a specific working

environment or work activity. As a general rule, the symptoms are not sufficiently

characteristic to enable an occupational disease to be diagnosed as such without the

knowledge of the pathological changes engendered by the physical, chemical,

biological or other factors encountered in the exercise of an occupation.

It is therefore normal that, as a result of improvements in knowledge regarding the

mechanisms of action of the factors in question, the steady increase in the number of

substances employed, and the quality and variety of suspected agents, it becomes

more and more feasible to make an accurate diagnosis, while the range of diseases

recognized as occupational in origin is broadening. The recognition of a disease as

being occupational is a specific example of clinical decision-making or applied

clinical epidemiology.

Legal provisions on compensation for victims vary from country to country.

Article 8 of the Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 [Schedule I amended

in 1980] (No. 121), which indicates the various possibilities regarding the form of the

identification and recognition of occupational diseases entitling workers to

compensation benefits, states that: Each Member shall:

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 prescribe a list of diseases, comprising at least the diseases enumerated in

Schedule I to this Convention, which shall be regarded as occupational

diseases under prescribed conditions; or

 include in its legislation a general definition of occupational diseases broad

enough to cover at least the diseases enumerated in Schedule I to this

Convention; or

 prescribe a list of diseases in conformity with clause (a), complemented by

a general definition of occupational diseases or by other provisions for

establishing the occupational origin of diseases not so listed or manifesting

themselves under conditions different from those prescribed.

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DISCUSSION

The Employer experts stated that they would not like to revisit issues agreed upon

during the consultations. They considered that problems encountered at the previous

Meeting should be avoided and that the updating of the list on a more regular basis in

the future should be emphasized. The Employer experts accepted the agreed contents

of the proposed list along the same lines as the Worker experts and that only the

problematic items should be revisited. They would not propose any new changes.

The Government experts accepted the proposal from the Worker experts. The

Meeting adopted the list of occupational diseases which did not include those

problematic items identified during the tripartite consultations.

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN CHOSEN INDUSTRY

Dermatitis. According to NIOSH, allergic and irritant dermatitis (also known as

‘contact dermatitis’) is the most important cause of occupational skin diseases, and

account for 15 to 20 per cent of all reported occupational diseases in the U.S. Contact

dermatitis is caused by a wide array of physical, biological or chemical agents.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

Contact dermatitis is caused by a substance you're exposed to that irritates your skin

or triggers an allergic reaction. The substance could be one of thousands of known

allergens and irritants. Some of these substances may cause both irritant contact

dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Each type of dermatitis tends to occur on a

different part of your body. Signs and symptoms may include:

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 Itchiness (pruritus)

 Dry skin

 Rash on swollen skin that varies in color depending on your skin color

 Blisters, perhaps with oozing and crusting

TARGET ORGAN

The main target organ of this disease is Skin.

PREVENTION MEASURES

 Avoid the irritant or allergen

 Apply an anti-itch cream or lotion to the affected area

 Take an oral anti-itch drug

 Apply cool, wet compresses

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN CHOSEN INDUSTRY

RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES:

This can include asthma, disease of the lung and chronic obstructive pulmonary

diseases (copd). According to ohcow, asthma is considered to be the most common

occupational lung disease in canada. Furthermore, ohcow states that there are over

300 chemicals in the workplace that are known to cause asthma, with the disease

being most prevalent in the auto parts, foam and plastic manufacturing industries.

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CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

 a cough – you may bring up mucus (phlegm)

 sneezing

 a stuffy or runny nose

 a sore throat

 headaches

 muscle aches

TARGET ORGAN

The target organ for this diseases is Lungs.

PREVENTION MEASURES

 Don’t Smoke

 Cover your mouth

 Wash your hands before touching your face

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN CHOSEN INDUSTRY

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS:

Msds are prevalent in most workplaces, even in office settings. Indeed, office

workers may be at risk of repetitive strain injuries (rsi) such as carpal tunnel

syndrome or tendonitis. The eu-osha says that most work-related msds develop over

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time and can be caused by repetitive movements, awkward positions, handling loads,

high work demands, lack of breaks, etc.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

The causes of musculoskeletal pain are varied. Muscle tissue can be damaged with

the wear and tear of daily activities. Trauma to an area (jerking movements, auto

accidents, falls, fractures, sprains, dislocations, and direct blows to the muscle) also

can cause musculoskeletal pain.

TARGET ORGAN

The target organ for this diseases is Muscles, Tendons, Ligaments and Bones.

PREVENTION MEASURES

 Heavy Weight Lifting

 Cover Joints

 Avoid Outing During Cold

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN CHOSEN INDUSTRY

HEARING LOSS:

Niosh conducted a study from 2000 – 2008 among u.s. workers who had higher

occupational noise exposures than the general population. They found that 18 per

cent of their surveyed sample had hearing loss. Niosh says that workers in the

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mining, construction and manufacturing industries need better hearing conservation

strategies.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) reports that there are

three basic types of hearing loss, each caused by different underlying factors. The

three most common causes of decreased hearing are conductive hearing loss,

sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and mixed hearing loss.

 sudden hearing loss

 ringing in the ear

 severe hearing loss

 having ear pain along with hearing problems

TARGET ORGAN

The target organ for this diseases is ear.

PREVENTION MEASURES

 Using Safety Equipments

 Regular Hearing Tests

 Avoid Prolonged Exposure

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OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN CHOSEN INDUSTRY

CANCER:

The european agency for safety and health at work states that cancer accounts for 24

per cent of global work-related deaths. Occupational cancers occur when workers are

in contact with carcinogenic substances in their workplace. Certain substances are

associated with different cancers, and certain carcinogens can be especially prevalent

in certain industries.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

A cancer can grow into,or begin to push on nearby organs, blood vessels, and nerves.

This pressure causes some of the signs and symptoms of cancer. A cancer may also

cause symptoms like fever, extreme tiredness (fatigue), or weight loss. This may be

because cancer cells use up much of the body’s energy supply.

 Fatigue or extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better with rest.

 Weight loss or gain of 10 pounds or more for no known reason

 Swelling or lumps anywhere in the body

TARGET ORGAN

The target organ for this diseases is body cells.

PREVENTION MEASURES

 Eat a Healthy Diet

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 Protect yourself from the sun

 Get Vaccinated

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CONCLUSIONS

Hundreds of thousands of people die every year due to occupational accidents and

occupational diseases in the world. Preventing occupational accidents and diseases is

certainly cheaper than indemnification. Social security on occupational accident and

diseases can be examined under two main titles. The first is occupational health and

security measures for removing the risks before an occasional accident and disease

takes place and the second is social security services which indemnify the income

loss and/or expenditure increases of the employee or family after the occupational

accident and disease takes place(4). It is known that the real number of occupational

accidents is much above the formal records. It is observed that occupational

accidents increase in Asia especially with the effect of globalization and

industrialization in developing countries.

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TABLE OF REFERENCES

Nisan Dünya İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Günü Türkiye Raporu, Sosyal Haklar

Derneği, 2007. www.sosyalhaklar.org

Karadeniz O. Dünya’da ve Türkiye’de İş Kazaları ve Meslek Hastalıkları ve

Sosyal Koruma Yetersizliği. Çalışma ve Toplum 2012(3): 15-75.

Koray, Meryem (2001), Küreselleşme Süresci ve Ulus Devlet, Ekonomi, Siyaset

Tartışmaları, Küreselleşme ve Ulus- Devlet, Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, Stratejik
Araştırmalar Merkezi Yayını.

Erdut, Zeki, (2004), Liberal Ekonomi Politikaları ve Sosyal Politika, Çalışma ve

Toplum Dergisi, S:2, ss.11-37.

Erdut, Zeki.Enformel İstihdamın Ekonomik, Sosyal ve Siyasal Etkileri, Çalışma

ve Toplum Dergisi 2007, S:12, ss.53-82.

Rantanen, Jorma. Grand Challenges for Occupational Health from Globalization

Journal of Occupational Safety and Health 2010: 18: 167-171.

Yıldırak, Nurettin, Bülent GÜLÇUBUK, Sema GÜN, Emine OLHAN, Mehmet

KILIÇ, (2003), Türkiye'de Gezici ve Geçici Kadın Tarım İşçilerin Çalışma
Yaşam ve Koşulları ve Sorunları, Tarım-İş Sendikası yayını: Yayın No:2003/4.

Meslek Hastalıkları Rehberi. Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı, İş Sağlığı ve

Güvenliği Genel Müdürlüğü (İSGGM) November 2011, Ankara.

Loewenson Rene. Globalization and occupational health: a perspective from

southern Africa, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2001, 79 ss.863–868.

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