OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Anand dubey

Everybody has an Occupation

Working in factories / call centre Office/Workmen/Salesman Students/Retired person Housewife/Homemaker Using latest machine or Computer Traveling or sitting in front of Computer Cutting vegetable /meat

Every Occupation has Occupational Health Hazard. Occupational hazard, if ignored leads to Occupation disease/disorder Occupation disorder can be prevented with proper awareness and prevented methods.

AIM OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

I. To protect the worker from the risk resulting from factors adverse to health. To prevent among workers the departure from health caused by their working condition.

II.

III. To promote and maintain Highest degree Physio logical & psychological well-being of workers of all occupation.

MISC. FACTS ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & HAZARDS

Leakage of MIC gas in the union carbide , Bhopal was a burning example ( 12-13 April 1984) . It has not only resulted a large numbers of casualties in Bhopal but also thousands of people are still suffering with various deceases and unable to lead normal family.

MISC. FACTS ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & HAZARDS

The Bhopal gas tragedy (1984) was a turning point

towards legislation pertaining to Occupation Health and Safety in India. The Fy. Act was amended and stipulated the Qualification/Strength of Occupation Health Staff in hazards Industries. At present 29 diseases have been included as notifiable Occupation diseases under this Act.

MISC. FACTS ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & HAZARDS

There is a dearth of qualified Occupation Health

physician in our Country. Awareness about Occupational Health is at a low level even in the organized sector. Most affected is the unorganized & small-scale sector. The Indian Association of Occupational Health is the leading NGO in the field of Occupational Health in India.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SOURCES

The environmental impact is Any direct or indirect impingement of the activities , product or services of organization effects the environment whether adverse or beneficial. For example an environmental aspect may the discharge of trade effluent into a local watercourse . The impact may be - Increase in thermal load of watercourse. - Increase of dissolved heavy metals and suspended solids in the watercourse.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND RECEPTORS

An environmental aspect has to have an impact. Identification of receptors is an important part of environmental management of a particular operation. It can be undertaken in two stages in the implementation of EMS. - During the initial IER. - During the assessment of environmental aspect.

SOURCE, MIGRATION, PATHWAYS AND RECEPTORS

It is important to know what receptor(s) the environmental aspect is likely to reach, and how it may be able to reach the receptors. In this situation an auditor would consider the following. - Identification of these source. - Migration pathways. -Targets or receptors.

SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION
Sources of contamination or pollution can be solid, liquid gaseous form. Different properties and characteristic which may alter their impacts on receptors are: Mobility. Migration characteristic and pathways. Impacts on receptors.

Typical Sources of contamination

Solids - Contaminated solids. - Spilled solid raw materials/ product wastes. Liquid - Spilled liquid raw materials. - Leakage from storage tanks. - Damaged supply lines. - Mobilizing of contamination in soil by rainwater.

Typical Sources of contamination

Gases - Decomposition of organic materials. - Degradation of organic chemicals in soil. - Vapors from volatile chemical spills/leaks. - Naturally occurring radioactive gases.

Mobility
Solid sources of contamination generally have a low mobility and their impacts can be restricted. Liquid sources of contamination are generally are more mobile and can impact receptors from the source of location. It can be:- In suspension - Solution. - Non aqueous phase. - Low density ( float on water) - High density.( do not float) Liquid sources of contamination can often give rise to toxic or flammable gases.

Mobility
Gaseous sources of contamination can have a high mobility. It depends on atmospheric conditions, properties of gases. Gaseous sources can be: - Asphyxiates ( carbon, methane) - Flammable ( methane, petroleum vapors) - Radioactive (Radian. Thereon) One of the major concern with gases to prevent their built to dangerous concentrations in enclosed buildings or underground cavities.

Migration Pathways
In order to reach a pollutant to receptors , it has to travel via a migration pathways which are following: - Atmospheric. - Surface watercourse. - Underground

Atmospheric Pathways
The pollution is dependent on the wind direction. The pollution is diluted relatively rapidly. Certain type of pollution re-deposited in watercourse or ground at variable distance from the source. Ground based emission is immediately adjacent to the site. Process emission from stack atmosphere diluted and dispersed. Uncontrolled emission ( from waste stockpiles some re-decomposition on ground watercourse, other receptors).

Surface watercourse
Liquid effluent or run-off from site will generally discharge through surface water courses. Watercourse have particular characteristics to be considered. - Flow is down slop or downstream. - The liquid is generally constrained in a channel. - Pollution is diluted less rapidly than atmosphere. - The highest concentration is at discharge point. - The watercourse may be a pollution receptors

Underground Pathways
Both liquid and gaseous pollutants can migrate through soil and rock formation. Different soil will affect the migration pathways at speed up or slow down. While considering migration path the following factors should be considered. Soil Type:- Will it readily transmit pollutants into underground rock strata( is it permissible or impermeable).

Use of Aquifer
Underlying Rock Type: What is Underlying Rock Type ? Is it a major aquifer, minor aquifer or non aquifer. Flow characteristics in the aquifer: - Which direction is pollution is likely to flow in particular rock strain and geological features likely to increase or decrease the migration.

Use of Aquifer
Are there any public or private ground water nearby, particularly those migration pathways. Does ground water underlying the site feed sprints or provide basis flow for nearby rivers? The path ways can be broken into two stages: - Migration from site to soil or aquifer. - Migration through soil or aquifer to receptors.

Receptors
The significance of environmental aspects will depend a lot upon the environmental sensitivity of the receptors. When assessing potential receptors of pollution an appropriate methodology may be divided into those at high, medium and low risk from the operation. The same will be based on distance from the site and also on other factors such as :-

Receptors
Location on pollution pathways. Aspects of site and surrounding. Sensitivity of potential receptors. Physical geology. Surrounding land use. Prevailing wind direction.

Receptors
Potential receptors of pollution from the site could include any of the following depending upon operation and site setting. - The local human population. - Local ecological features. - Surface watercourse. - Ground water and solids. - Local built environment.

The local human population

The local population might be direct receptors ( by inhalation of dust and gases) or indirect receptors ( through contaminated food and water).

Local ecological features

Sites are area ecological interest is receptor of pollution from a nearby operation. In addition in certain site and habitats , protected species may be present. Such ecological features like marshes, lakes or rivers are likely to be susceptible to contamination to air pollution. Other species could be noise vibration or light pollution in night.

Surface watercourse
Rivers, streams, canals and sea are all potential receptors of liquid pollution from site. It depends upon number of factors including:- Quality of watercourse (chemical/biological). - Proximity of site. - Local topography. - Size of abstraction point - Location of abstraction point. - Ecological interest.

Ground water and solids

Ground water an important source of water is also a potential receptor of liquid pollution , which is escaped into the ground. Soil quality can grade for agricultural purpose. High quality of soil is not common and relatively valuable. As such they may be regarded as more sensitive receptor.

Local built environment

The local built environment can obtain a number of receptors, which can be affected by an organizations activities. The receptors of local built environment may be :- Site of archeological or historic importance - Building with architectural significance.

HAZARDS
A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most hazards are dormant or potential, with only a theoretical risk of harm; however, once a hazard becomes "active", it can create an emergency situation. A hazard does not exist when it is happening. A hazardous situation that has come to pass is called an incident. Hazard and vulnerability interact together to create risk.

Mode of Hazards
Dormant - The situation has the potential to be hazardous, but no people, property, or environment is currently affected by this. For instance, a hillside may be unstable, with the potential for a landslide, but there is nothing below or on the hillside that could be affected. Armed - People, property, or environment are in potential harm's way. Active - A harmful incident involving the hazard has actually occurred. Often this is referred to not as an "active hazard" but as an accident, emergency, incident, or disaster.

Classifying hazards
A common method is to score both likelihood and seriousness on a numerical scale (with the most likely and most serious scoring highest) and multiplying one by the other in order to reach a comparative score. Risk = Likelihood of Occurrence x Seriousness if incident occurred

Causes of hazards
There are many causes, but they can broadly be classified as below. Natural hazards include anything that is caused by a natural process, and can include obvious hazards such as volcanoes to smaller scale hazards such as loose rocks on a hillside Man-made hazards are created by humans, whether long-term (such as global warming) or immediate (like the hazards present at a construction site).

THE CAUSES OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE

Physical Hazards Chemical Hazards Biological Hazards Mechanical Hazards Psychological Hazards

THE CHALLENGES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT White collar jobs in computer leads to Eye, Stomach, other problems. Modern life-style leads to diabetes, hypertension and cognitive problems. Organized sectors are only attended by Occupation Health programmers. Unorganized sectors are totally neglected. Agricultural sectors require immediate attention

ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Prevent occupational Hazard at work. Protect workers against Hazard at work. Help in adapting work and work environment of the worker. Promoting physical, mental & social well-being of workers. Cure and rehabilitation of accidental occupational injuries. Provide medical treatment & support in case of illness or accident.

ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Plan and execute health education and awareness programme. Provide first Aid and other related training to employees. Periodical medical check-ups. Special programme like medical surveillance and monitoring of chronic disease like Diabetes, Asthma, Hypertension etc.

THANK YOU