identifying occupational disease

Question 1

what questions would you ask when taking an occupational history?

Answer 1

• what do you do for a living?
• what do you actually do at work?
• what do you use at work? any tools? substances?
• how long have you been doing this type of work?
• do you have more than one job?
• have you done any different types of work in the past?
• what symptoms do you get at work? are these absent at home?
• have you been told that anything you use at work may make you ill?
• has anyone at work had the same symptoms?
• do you have hobbies that may bring you into contact with chemicals? e.g. DIY, gardening, cleaning, painting
• is there an occupational health doctor or nurse at your workplace?

Question 2

what sorts of injuries/disease do occupational health workers deal with?

Answer 2

• infections
• inocuation injuries
• musco-skeletal injuries
• allergy-causing substances e.g. asbestos
• violence
• stress

Question 3

what is silicosis?

Answer 3

• fibrosis of lung > loss of lung function
• caused from respirable crystalline silica
• effect continues to develop after exposure has stopped and is irreversible
• sufferers become house/bed bound and die premature
• acute silicosis - rare complication of short exposure to large amount of silica
• complications = lung cancer, TB, kidney disease, arthritis, COPD