INDUSTRIAL HEALTH HAZARDS &

CONTROL

BY

Dr RAVI PRAKASH K.C

MBBS,AFIH
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CENTRE
JSW STEEL LIMITED
 DUST

IN
IN DUST RY
DUST
DUST
DUST
DUST AFTER SUNSET
DUST/ SMOKE
DUST
Respiratory Tract

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 Functions of Lungs

• Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

between blood and air in the alveoli

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 What is Dust?

• Fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles

of earth or waste matter lying on the ground
or on surfaces or carried in the air.

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 Types of Dust

• Respirable dusts <5micron size

• Non Respirable Dusts > 5micron size

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Route of Entry to body

• Inhalation
• Ingestion

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 Factors affecting dust related
occupational disease
• Nature

• Amount(total)

• Amount retained in the lungs

• Duration of exposure

• Individual Idiosyncrasy(structural, behavioral)

• Immunity of the Individual

• Behavior of the inhaled particles

– Sedimentation Due to gravitation in larger airways

– Impaction -Nose and bifurcation of larger airways

– Interception

– Diffusion
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Pathophysiological Mechanisms – Dusts

>15micron

5 -15
micron

<0.5 0.5-5
micron micron

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Possible Occupational Lung Diseases

• Extensive dust of all types –

• Occupational asthma-Cough with phlegm
due to increased load on
bronchopulmonary clearance
• Fibrogenic dusts-
• Quartz contains free silica and may cause
Silicosis,
• Coal dust – Anthracosis/ Anthracosiliciosis
• Non Fibrogenic dusts –
• Iron oxide - Siderosis

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Occupational asthma

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Occupational asthma

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Occupational asthma

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Silicosis – X Ray

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Silicosis – Silica dust

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Anthracosis – Coal dust

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 Siderosis – Iron dust

• Either co exist with silicosis or anthracosis

• Restrictive type of pulmonary function test.

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 Preventive measures for Dust

• Control of Dust by PRE WETTING, WET DRILLING

• Any residual Dust by proper Ventilation
• vaccum suction
• Filter Dust from Exhaust Air
• Prevent workers entry until cleared by Ventilation
• DE-DUSTING OPERATIONS 24/7
• Use of Dust Mask
• Air conditioned cabin for crane operators, drivers.
Etc
• Monitoring of Free silica, coal and Respirable Dust
• Avoid smoking

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DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM
WET DUST SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
 ASSESMENT OF EXPOSURE
• Air Sampling at fixed locations by
– Membrane filters
– Impingers
– Thermal precipitators
– Konimeters
• Preferred method is by PERSONAL AIR
SAMPLING using membrane filter
• Quantification possible by
– X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrometry.
• Electron microscope used to count fibers.

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 Treatment

• There is no treatment
• Only prevention

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PHYSICIAL HAZARD-NOISE
ANATOMY OF EAR

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How do we hear a sound?

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 Hazard Definition

• A hazard is a situation that poses a level of

threat to life, health, property, or
environment
• A chance of being injured or harmed
 Noise
• Sound is a sensation produced in the ear
by the vibrations of the air or other media
• Noise unwanted sound
• 16-20000Hz hearing frequency
• 250Hz to 4000Hz speech frequency
 Occupations involving

 Mining
 Tunneling
 Drilling
 Iron casting
 Forging
 Combustion engines and jet engines
 Etc…
 Assessment of exposure- Environmental

• Industrial noise measurement

• Sound filters of diff. types
– dB(A), dB(B), dB(C)
• Dosimetric measurements- Sound level
meter – 8hours

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 NOISE LEVEL COMPARISON
• Threshold of Hearing 0 dB
• Rustling of Leaves 20 dB
• Quiet Whisper 30 dB
• Quiet House 40dB
• Quiet Street 50dB
• Normal Conversation 60dB
• Inside Car 70dB
• Motor Cycle 88dB
• Diesel truck 100dB
• JET Plane 130dB

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Effects of exposure

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 Auditory effects of noise

• Acoustic trauma
• Tinnitus
• Temporary hearing loss-
temporary threshold shift (TTS)
• Permanent- NIPTS

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Mechanism of action in hearing loss

 Loud audible sound Irreversible changes of

cochlea
 Early changes affect base of cochlea

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 Non Auditory effects of noise

• Sleep disturbance
• Startle reaction(sudden involuntary response to
stimulus like sound,.. turns head,flexion of
muscles,heart rate, respiration .)
• Stress
• Degradation of performance
• Intermittent noise is more disturbing than continuous
noise.
• Cardiovascular effects
– Myocardial infarction
– Elevated blood pressure-hypertension
– Increased Heart Rate

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Permissible Industrial exposure
limits

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 Permissible Industrial exposure
limits

• For 8 hours for frequency of 1000Hz= 90dB

• For every 5dB increment the working hours
should be halved
– At 95dB work hours will be 4 hours
– At 100db work hours will be 2 hours

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Permissible Industrial exposure
limits
Hours dB
8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1.5 102
1 105
0.5 110
0.25 115

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 Preventive and Control measures

• Engineering methods
• Administrative control
• Use of PPE
• R&D
• Hearing conservation programs

45
 Control measures
 Pre and periodical examination
 Engineering
Sound absorbing antireflection panels
Baffle plating
Hooding
Acoustic barrier
Design less noise machinery
 PPEs
Ear plugs 8-30dB
Ear muffs 20-40dB
 ENGINEERING METHODS OF NOISE
CONTROL
• SOURCE IDENTIFICATION
• ENCLOSURE DIMENSIONS
• ENCLOSURE WALL
• SEALS
• INTERNAL ABSORPTION
• ENCLOSURE ISOLATION
• PROVIDING FOR PRODUCT FLOW
• PROVIDING FOR WORKER ACCESS
• VENTILATION OF ENCLOSURE
• PROTECTION OF ABSORPTIVE MATERIAL

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 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL
FOR NOISE
• Replacement of old equipment with quieter new
models
• Adherence to equipment maintenance programs
related to noise control
• Changes in employee work schedule to reduce
noise doses by limiting exposure time when
practical & technically advised.
• Planning & designing to achieve non-hazardous
noise levels when new production facilities are
brought on-line.

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PPE FOR CONTROL OF
NOISE

LIGHT WEIGHT EAR

DEFENDER

HIGH ATTENUATION FOAM EAR

PLUGS Occupational Diseases
PPE FOR CONTROL OF
NOISE

SILENT REUSABLE SILICONE EARPLUGS

HELMET WITH ATTACHED EARMUFF

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HEAT

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 HEAT STRESS

• ILLNESS is caused by generation of Heat is

MORE than Heat Loss by body
• Causes are
– Increased environmental temp.
– Impaired sweating
– Heat loss mechanism failure due to
increased ambient Humidity
• Result is increased Core temperature

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 SUSCEPTIBILITY TO HEAT ILLNESS

is increased by
– Increased muscular activity
– Increased intercurrent illness
– Increasing age
– Drugs like Diuretics, alcohol,
Phenothiazines.

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 HEAT STRESS

• Excess heat causes

– Heat Syncope
– Heat Cramps
– Heat Exhaustion
– Heat
stroke/hyperpyrexia
– Burns

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 Prevention

• Heat illness can be prevented to a large

extent by adequate replacement of Salt and
Water.
• Aviod excess Water intake alone to prevent
risk of Hyponatraemia if sweating is profuse
• Use proper dressing material
• Engineering control of heat at work place
• Enclosing the work space where heat is
generated

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 HEAT SYNCOPE
• Heat syncope is fainting as a result of
overheating
• Because of Peripheral vasodilatation
• Similar to vasovagal attack.

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HEAT SYNCOPE – FIRST AID

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 HEAT CRAMPS

• Heat cramps are muscle spasms that

result from loss of large amount of salt
and water through exercise/intense work.

• Extracellular Sodium is lost

• Excessive sweating present
• Symptoms gets aggravated if treated with
water alone if Salt is not added.
• So…….Salt replacement is a must

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 Heat cramps – First Aid

Drink
electrolyte
solution

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 HEAT EXHAUSTION

• Prolonged exertion, humid weather

• Profuse sweating
• Inadequate Salt and water Replacement
• Findings on examination…..
• Increased core temperature 37-40 deg. Cent
• Increased blood urea
• Increased Haematocrit
• Increased PCV
• Evidence of Dehydration
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 Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

– The most common signs and symptoms of heat

exhaustion include:
– Confusion
– Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration)
– Dizziness
– Fainting
– Fatigue
– Headache
– Muscle cramps
– Nausea
– Pale skin
– Profuse sweating
– Rapid heartbeat
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 HEAT EXHAUSTION

• Treatment is
– Active cooling of the body
• Tepid sponging, bath
• Fans
– Oral / Intravenous fluids
– Adults require 5 litres or more positive
fluid balance in first 24 hrs.
– IF NOT TREATED HEAT EXHAUSTION
WILL BECOME HEAT STROKE.

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 HEAT STROKE

• Life threatening condition

• Core temp. more than 40 deg
• Headache, nausea, Vomiting.
• Neurological manifestation…..
– Coarse muscle tremors
– Confusion
– Aggressive
– LOC
– HOT SKIN
– No Sweating
– FAILURE OF
THERMOREGULATORY
MECHANISM.
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 COMPLICATIONS OF HEAT STROKE

• Hypovolaemic shock
• Lactic acidosis
• DIC
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Hepatic Failure
• Renal Failure
• Pulmonary Oedema
• Cerebral oedema

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 HEAT STRESS - PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• Drink plenty of water

add ORS salts if sweat
is excessive
• Prevent Dehydration
• Protective clothing
• Hand Gloves
• Alumina Dress
• Avoid getting Burns

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 TREATMENT OF HEAT STROKE
• Rapid cooling- spray water to increase heat
loss evaporation
• Fanning- to increase convection heat loss
• Ice packs in axilla, groin to increase
conduction heat loss
• Cold crystalloid iv fluids
• Sedation -benzodiazepines

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POISONING

First Aid Training 75

 Inhalation poisoning
• Call for emergency help. Never attempt to rescue a
person without notifying others first.

• Open windows and doors to remove the fumes.

• Hold a wet cloth over your nose and mouth.

• Do not light a match

• ABC

• Even if the person seems perfectly fine, get medical

help.

• Move the person against wind direction

First Aid Training 76

Blood cells

First Aid Training 77

HAEMOGLOBIN INSIDE RBC

First Aid Training 78

HAEMOGLOBIN INSIDE RBC

First Aid Training 79

 Carbon monoxide poisoning
Concentration Symptoms
Headache and dizziness within six to eight hours of
35 ppm (0.0035%)
constant exposure
100 ppm (0.01%) Slight headache in two to three hours
Slight headache within two to three hours; loss of
200 ppm (0.02%)
judgment
400 ppm (0.04%) Frontal headache within one to two hours
Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 min;
800 ppm (0.08%)
insensible within 2 hours
1,600 ppm Headache, tachycardia, dizziness, and nausea within 20
(0.16%) min; death in less than 2 hours
3,200 ppm Headache, dizziness and nausea in five to ten minutes.
(0.32%) Death within 30 minutes.
Headache and dizziness in one to two minutes.
6,400 ppm
Convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death in less than
(0.64%)
20 minutes.
12,800 ppm Unconsciousness after 2–3 breaths. Death in less than
(1.28%) three minutes.
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Carbon monoxide poisoning
symptoms

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 TREATMENT

• Rescuer protection and safety important

• Wear mask fitted with portable O2 cylinder

• CO Monitor estimation at spot

• Mobilize to safer zone -

Against/perpendicular to Wind direction.

• Administer Oxygen as early as possible

• Shift to hospital immediately

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THANK YOU