Prevention of Occupational diseases Outline Classification Medical measures

Prevention of Occupational diseases

Outline • Classification • Medical measures • Engineering measures • Legislations

Classification • Physical agents: üHeat: hyperpyrexia, exhaustion, syncope üCold: trench foot, frost bite, chillblains üLight: occupational cataract, miner’s nystagmus üPressure: air embolism üNoise: occupational deafness üRadiation: cancer, leukaemia üMechanical: injuries, accidents

Classification • Chemical agents: üGases: CO, CO 2, HCN üDusts: inorganic: anthracosis, silicosis, asbestosis, siderosis. üOrganic: bagasosis, bysinosis, tobaccosis üMetals: lead, mercury üChemicals: acids, alkalies

Classification • Biological agents: brucellosis, leptospirosis • Occupational cancers: skin, lungs, bladder • Occupational dermatosis • Psychological origin: hypertension, peptic ulcer

Medical measures • Pre-placement examination: üLead: anaemia, hypertension, peptic ulcer üDyes: asthma, skin, bladder diseases üSilica: tuberculosis • Periodical examination: üSlow development, once a year üLead, toxic dyes: monthly üIrritants: dichromates-daily

Medical measures • Medical and health care services: üSchemes: worker+ family üFirst aid services, immunization • Notification: üFactories Act: 22 diseases üTo initiate measures: prevent

Medical measures • Supervise working environment: üPeriodic inspection: environment üPhysician: check lighting, ventilation, humidity, noise • Maintenance of records: üWorker’s health, occupational disability record

Medical measures • Health education, counseling: üRisks : explained üCorrect use of protective devices üSimple rules of hygiene: hand-washing

Engineering measures • Design of building: üType of floor, roof, ceiling, door, windows: planned • Good house keeping: üCleanliness, ventilation, food arrangements, maintenance üWhite-wash: once a year üDusts: removed üProtective devices: clean

Engineering measures • General ventilation: üVentilation openings: 5 sq feet per worker üContinued supply of fresh air üDust: exhaust ventilation üMinimum 500 cu feet air space/worker • Mechanization: üTo reduce contact: harmful substances

Engineering measures • Substitution: üReplace harmful-harmless üWhite phosphorous by phosphorous sesquisulphide- phossy jaw • Dusts: ü Control at point of origin by water sprays. Eg : wet drilling of rock

Engineering measures • Enclosure: ü Enclose harmful materials, processes-escape • Isolation: ü Offensive processes: separate building-workers protected üCertain operations: night

Engineering measures • Local exhaust ventilation: ü Dusts, fumes trapped and extracted at sourcebefore atmosphere üHeart: hood-as near to point of origin. • Protective devices: ü Respirators: know how to use ü Not substitute to other control

Engineering measures • Environmental monitoring: üPeriodic surveys: factory atmosphere üWhether dusts, gases: permissible limits • Statistical monitoring: ü Review data : regularly üTo evaluate adequacy preventive measures • Research

Legislations: Factories Act, 1948 • Latest amendment, 1987 • Scope: Factory : 10 or more-power, 20: no power • Health, safety and welfare: ü Minimum 500 Cu, ft üPrecautions : ensure safety üNo worker lift loads-injury üSafety Officers: 1000 üMore than 250 workers: canteen, creches: 30 women, 500 workers : Welfare Officer

Factories Act, 1948 • Employment young : ü Prohibits: below 14 years üAge 15 -18: adolescents- certified : fitnesssurgeons üAdolescent: 6 am to 7 pm

Factories Act, 1948 • Hours of work: ü Maximum : 48 hours per week , not more 9 hours/day üRest ½ hour after 5 hours work üAdolescents : 4 and half hours work-rest üIn 1976: hours in a week : 60 hours

Factories Act, 1948 • Leave with wages: ü After 12 months continuous service: 1 in 20 days, children: 1 in 15 days • Occupational diseases: ü Give information: accidents, diseases üNotifiable diseases: byssinosis, asbestosis, occupational dermatitis, noise-induced hearing loss

Factories Act, 1948 • Employment in hazardous process: ü Site Appraisal Committee: examine conditionsfactories involving hazardous processes üWorkers participate : safety management.

Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 • Passed in 1948. Amended: 1975, 1984, 1989. • Scope: All power using factories : more than 10 people. New classes: ü Small factories üShops, hotels, restaurants üCinemas, theatres üNewspaper establishments üPrivate medical, educational institutions: more than 20 persons: some states

Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 • All employees: manual, clerical, supervisory, technical: upto 15, 000 month • Administration: üESI Corporation üChief Executive Officer: assisted by 4 officers üMedical facilities: ESI dispensaries, hospitals üBranch offices: pay cash benefits üInspection officers: inspect factories

Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 • Finance: üEmployer: 4. 75% -total wage bill üEmployee: 1. 75% wages üThose: below Rs 70 exempted üGrants from State and Central Governments üESI Corporation

Benefits to employees • Medical benefit: üFull medical care: hospitalization; free üOut-patient, drug supply, specialist services üInvestigations, antenatal, postnatal services, family planning services üAmbulance , in-patient

Benefits to employees • Direct pattern: üIn areas: 1, 000 or more employees: full-time dispensaries üLess than 750: part-time dispensaries • Indirect pattern: ü Panel system üRegistered Medical Practitioners provide care.

Benefits to employees • Sickness benefit: ü Periodical cash payment : sickness-certified by Insurance Medical Officer. üMaximum of 91 days: 50% daily wages üShould remain in treatment under Act

Benefits to employees • Maternity benefit: ü Insured woman: confinement/ miscarriage üConfinement: 12 weeks üMiscarriage : 6 weeks üSickness due to confinement: 30 days. üAt about full wages

Benefits to employees • Disablement benefit: ü Temporary or permanent : employment injury, occupational diseases üTemporary : 70% wages ü Permanent: life pension

Benefits to employees • Dependant’s benefit: üDeath : employment injury, occupational diseases: pension 70% wages; fixed ratiomonthly üUpto 18; withdrawn : daughter marries early.

Benefits to employees • Funeral expenses: ü Expenses not exceeding Rs. 5000 • Rehabilitation: üMonthly payment Rs 10: person, family: medical treatment after retirement/ permanent disablement.

Summary

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