The document discusses the history and importance of occupational health. It begins by mentioning early contributors to the field from the 17th-18th centuries. It then outlines key developments in occupational health in Sudan from 1908 onward. The definition of occupational health as the promotion of worker well-being is provided. Various types of occupational hazards are described in detail, including physical, chemical, biological, mechanical, and psychosocial hazards. Specific examples are given for each type of hazard and their health effects.

1. Abdelmageed Osman Musa
Community Medicine Specialist

2. History of Occupational H.
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3. Cont. History of Occupational H
 Bernardino
Ramazzini (1633-1714) Italy
 De Morbis Artificum Diatriba - (1700)
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4. History of Occup. H. in
Sudan
 1908
– Child labor Act
 1949
– Factory and Workshops Act
 1968
– Establishment of Occup. H. Dept.
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5. Definition of Occupational
Health
Promotion and maintenance of the highest
degree of physical, mental and social
well-being of all workers in all
occupations
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6. The importance (rationale)
of studying Occup. H.
 Annual
deaths > 200 000.
 Annual diseases > over 120 millions
 New introduced chemicals
 Affects economics directly
 Chemical epidemics are serious
 Industrialization is growing –
 Developing countries use pollutant
industries.
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7. 12/17/13
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8. Types of Occupational
Hazards
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Physical
Chemical
Biological
Mechanical
Psychosocial
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9. Physical Hazards
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10. Effects of Heat
Direct effects of heat exposure:
Burns
 Heat exhaustion
 Heat stroke
 Heat cramps

Indirect effects of heat:
Decreased efficiency
 Increased fatigue
 Enhanced accident rates

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11. Sources of heat
 Climate
 Foundries
 Ovens
It is a hazard mainly for:
 Construction workers
 Foundry workers
 Textile workers
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12. Accepted levels of temperature
 Measured
by the Wet Bulb Globe
Temperature (WBGT)
 It
measures the radiant
temperature
 Accepted
temperature
20 – 27° C
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13. Wet Bulb Globe
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14. Effects of Cold on health:
Effects are due to vasoconstriction:




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Chilblains (cold + humidity)
Erythrocaynosis discoloration on the legs and
thighs (chronic exposure of cold)
Immersion foot (a painful disorder of the foot)
Frostbite (damage to skin and other tissues
due to freezing)
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15. Erythrocaynosis
Chilblains
Immersion foot
Frostbite
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16. Light
Effects of poor illumination:
 Eye strain
 Headache
 Miner’s nystagmus
Effects of intense light:
 Visual fatigue
 Blurring of vision
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17. Measuring Light
 Light
meters
 Intensity of light is measured according to the
function of the worker
 Unit of measuring is the lux (symbol: lx)
 Examples:


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Normal Office Work, Study Library, 500
Supermarkets, Mechanical Workshops, 750
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18. Noise
Effects of noise:
 Auditory effects (temporary or permanent
hearing loss)
 Non-auditory effects:





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Nervousness
Fatigue
Difficult communication
Hypertension
Cardiovascular diseases
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19. Recommended levels
 80
– 90 dB(A) for workplaces 40 hr/week
 Noise levels could be reduced by ear plugs
or ear muffs
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20. Noise Measurements
 Noise
is measured by Sound level meters
 Occupational hearing loss is detected by
audiometers (The 4000 Hz Dip)
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21. Vibration
 Vibrations
encounter in
work with drills and
hammers
 It
may cause disorders
and injuries of the joints,
the hands and elbow
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22. Ultraviolet radiation
 It
is affects mainly welders through radiation
 Such radiation affects the eyes causing
intense conjunctivitis and keratitis (Welder’s
Flash)
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23. Ionizing radiation
 It
is increasing in medicine and industry
 It had different effects on health:






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Cancers
Genetic changes
Malformations
Sterility
...
Death
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24. Chemical Hazards
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25. 1. Local Actions
 Primary



irritant chemicals cause:
Dermatitis
Eczema
Cancers
 Absorbed
Chemicals (aromatic nitro and
amino compounds) may cause systematic
effects to some organs (hepatotoxicants,
neurotoxicants ..)
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26. 2. Inhalation of chemicals
i.




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Dust
Dust particles < 10 microns settle on the
ground but small particles remain in the air
Dust is released during crushing, loading,
grinding ..
Inorganic dusts (silica, coal, asbestos ..)
Organic dusts (cotton dust, bagasse dust.
grain dust ...)
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27. Main diseases caused by dust
 Byssinosis
(cotton textile factories)
 Bagassosis (sugar cane factories)
 Silicosis (construction works, foundries ..)
 Asbestosis (asbestos manufacturing)
 Farmer’s lung (inhalation of grain dusts ..)
 Anthracosis (coal workers)
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28. ii. Gases
 Simple
gases (Oxygen, hydrogen)
 Asphyxiating gases (carbon monoxide,
cyanide, sulphur dioxide, chlorine)
 Anesthetic gases (chloroform, ether ..)
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29. iii. Metals
 Lead
(the most common poisoning)
 Antimony
 Arsenic
 Beryllium
 The most common mode of entry is
inhalation of dusts and vapors
 Metal poisoning respond to cessation and
treatment
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30. Solvents
 Benzene
 Acetone
 Chloroform
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31. Biological Hazards
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32. Biological Hazards
 Macro-organisms:


Wild animals
Scorpions, snakes ...
 Microorganisms:




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Brucellosis
Tetanus
Anthrax
Viruses (HIV, Hepatitis B ..)
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33. Mechanical Hazards
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34. 1. Accidents in industry
 Human








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factors:
Physical
Psychosocial
Sex (males ↑) - Age (young age ↑)
Time and duration of work
Experience
Carelessness, overconfidence
Slow cerebration
Use of drugs and alcohol
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35. Environmental factors of
Accidents in industry
 Unsafe
machines
 Noise
 Poor
illumination
 Poor housekeeping
 Unsafe tools
 Unsafe buildings
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36. 2, Ergonomic disorders
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37. Ergonomics
 Ergonomics:
Adjustment
of
Man
&
Machine”
 Ergo-friendly
tools: Tools which reduce
the stresses or problems resulting work
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39. Factors of Psychosocial
hazards
 Lack
of job satisfaction
 Insecurity
 Poor interpersonal relations
 Work pressure
 Poor management
 Poor incentives
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40. Psychological &
behavioural changes
 Aggressiveness,
 Anxiety,
 Depression,
 Addiction
 Sickness
absenteeism
 Accidents
 Systemic disorders
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41. Organic disorders
 Hypertension,
 headache,
 body-ache,
 peptic
ulcers,
 asthma,
 diabetes,
 heart disorders, etc.
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42. Thank you
Ref:
• Park’s Textbook of Preventive and
Social Medicine
• Lecture notes on occupational health
• Handout
• Internet
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