Introduction
The traditional occupational hygiene model of hazard control suggests that the ideal situation is to avoid exposures altogether. This is known as source control, and it involves the substitution or enclosure of the hazard, among other things. If this is not possible, exposure should be reduced along the path through ventilation, protective barriers, or other measures. Exposure should only be controlled by the person as a last resort, using personal protective equipment, administrative controls, or other primary prevention measures such as training or even biological measures such as immunization.
What Is Occupational Hygiene?
All work activities and processes involving the worker, raw materials, and processing activities, such as operating machinery and handling chemicals, are considered occupational hazards. Workers, whether farmers, students, secretaries, teachers, industrial workers, or soldiers, are all exposed to hazards due to the nature of their work. Observations of adverse health effects among workers have frequently led to identifying occupational health, safety, and hygiene hazards. Without a doubt, the impact of industrial exposures is best understood in the workplace. Identification of safety and health problems include:
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Examine the workplace.
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Investigate employee complaints.
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Examine accident and near-miss records.
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Examine sickness figures.
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Use checklists to help inspect the workplace.
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Use simple surveys to ask coworkers about their health and safety concerns.
How Is Occupational Health, Safety, and Hygiene Classified?
The various hazards that cause occupational diseases or have a negative impact on health can be classified as follows:
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Physical hazards.
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Mechanical hazards.
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Chemical hazards.
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Biological hazards.
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Ergonomic hazards.
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Psychosocial hazards.
Physical Hazards:
Physical hazards can have long-term or short-term effects on employee health. As a result, employers and inspectors must be vigilant to protect workers from potentially hazardous physical hazards.
Physical Hazards Include:
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Ionizing Radiation: Radiation is an example of energy. Ionizing radiation is any electromagnetic or particulate radiation capable of producing ions. Radioactive materials emit energy that can cause tissue damage. Different types of radioactivity pose different types of radiation safety issues. We will be concerned about the following types of ionizing radiation, X-rays and electromagnetic radiation.
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Non-Ionizing: This type of electromagnetic radiation whose effects on the exposed body vary greatly depending on the wavelength of the radiation involved.
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Excessive Noise: Noise is defined as any unwelcome sound. Sound is any pressure variation or stimulus that causes a sensory response in the brain. For example, an object's vibration causes air compression and expansion.
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Extreme Temperature: The working conditions are comfortable, extremely cold, or hot. Heat is the most common physical hazard in most industries. Extremely high temperatures are common among those who work in foundries or industries that rely on an open fire for energy. Examples include soap factories in both the formal and informal sectors that use extreme heat to mold iron ore.
Effects of temperature on the workplace include:
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Heat Stress - Heat stress is a common problem because people generally function only within a very narrow temperature range, as measured by core temperature deep within the body. Core temperature fluctuations of about 2 degrees Celsius below or 3 degrees Celsius above the normal core temperature of 37.6 degrees Celsius significantly impair performance and pose a health risk. When this occurs, the body attempts to compensate by increasing the heart rate, which causes sweating and causes the capillaries in the skin to dilate by bringing more blood to the surface and increasing the cooling rate.
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Heat Stroke - Heat stroke occurs when a worker's body temperature rapidly rises due to exposure to a work environment where the body cannot cool itself sufficiently. Excessive physical exertion in extreme heat conditions is a risk factor for heat stroke. The control method is thus to reduce the temperature of the surrounding environment or increase the body's ability to cool itself.
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Heat Cramps - Heat cramp can occur after prolonged exposure to high temperatures, especially if it is accompanied by heavy exertion or sweating with excessive loss of salt and moisture from the body.
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Heat Exhaustion - It is also caused by physical exertion in a hot environment. Mildly elevated temperature, dizziness, weak pulse, profuse sweating, moist skin, and heat rash are all symptoms of the problem.
How to Practice Occupational Hygiene?
The traditional steps in occupational hygiene practice are as follows:
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The identification of potential health hazards in the workplace.
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The evaluation of hazards is the process of assessing exposure and reaching conclusions about the level of risk to human health.
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Control and prevention of hazards, which is the process of developing and implementing strategies to eliminate or reduce to acceptable levels the occurrence of harmful agents and factors in the workplace while also taking environmental protection into account.
How Can Occupational Hygiene be Maintained?
Occupational hygiene maintenance includes:
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This includes workplace cleanliness, adequate washing, waste disposal, an adequate toilet, clean eating facilities, and an independent cloakroom. In addition, good housekeeping is essential in preventing occupational health hazards.
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An important control measure is the immediate cleanup of any accidental spill of toxic materials.
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A regular cleaning schedule, preferably using vacuum cleaners, is an effective method of removing dirt from the work area that is likely laden with harmful substances.
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Good housekeeping is essential, where solvents are stored, handled, and used. Implementing a cleaning and maintenance schedule in any workplace is critical to prevent harmful dust from accumulating on pipes, ceilings, and other objects.
What Are Various Occupational Hygiene Programs and Services?
A comprehensive occupational hygiene service should be able to conduct adequate preliminary surveys, sampling, measurements, and analysis for hazard evaluation and control purposes and recommend if not design, control measures. Human and financial resources, equipment, facilities, and information systems that are well organized and coordinated through careful planning, under efficient management, and involving quality assurance and continuous program evaluation are key elements of a comprehensive occupational hygiene program or service. Successful occupational hygiene programs require top management commitment and a policy foundation. The acquisition of financial resources is outside the scope of this article.
Conclusion
A workplace hazard is any condition that may have a negative impact on the well-being or health of those who are exposed. Hazard identification in any occupational activity involves characterizing the workplace by identifying hazardous agents and groups of workers who may be exposed to these hazards.
