Introduction to Occupational medicine

Question 1

what is the definition of occupational health ?

Answer 1

the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all
occupations.

Question 2

what is the main difference between occupational disease and work related disease ?

Answer 2

occupational disease is cause specific and affects the working community specifically
work related disease is multifactorial and is common in the community

Question 3

what is an example of an occupational disease ?

Answer 3

silicosis due to silica dust exposure

Question 4

what is an example of work related disease ?

Answer 4

hypertension due to stressful work environment

Question 5

what is a hazard ?

Answer 5

is the intrinsic ability of an agent to cause damage to biological material

Question 6

what is exposure ?

Answer 6

is the contact to hazard in a way that allows effective transmission

Question 7

what is risk ?

Answer 7

is the potential or probability that adverse effects will occur in a given situation

Question 8

what does hazard identification include ?

Answer 8

the identification of any hazardous agents the worker may be exposed to

Question 9

what does hazard evaluation include ?

Answer 9

to determine whether a substance has health hazards or not

Question 10

how is exposure assessment done ?

Answer 10

estimating the level of exposure through material safety data sheets

Question 11

what does risk characterisations include ?

Answer 11

based on information gathered from :
hazard identification
hazard evaluation
exposure assessment

Question 12

what does risk communication mean ?

Answer 12

informing the involved individuals about the information gathered in attempt to allow them to make informed decisions

Question 13

when should risk communication be conducted ?

Answer 13

prior to actual exposure inn order to intervene at the primary prevention stage

Question 14

what actions may be considered for risk management ?

Answer 14

1. exposure reduction or elimination
2. temporary job transfer
3. disability leave
4. remove individual from work

Question 15

what is the most desirable option for risk management ?

Answer 15

exposure reduction or elimination

Question 16

when should a temporary job transfer be considered ?

Answer 16

in high risk situations involving susceptible individuals from the work environment when risk elimination is not possible

Question 17

when should a disability leave be considered ?

Answer 17

when risk elimination cannot happen and a temporary job transfer is also not possible

Question 18

what is the last option and least desirable option in risk management ?

Answer 18

removing individual from work

Question 19

what does an occupational health team include ?

Answer 19

1. occupational medicine physician
2. nurse and technicians
3. hygienist
4. ergonomist

Question 20

what are the environmental/engineering measures that can be taken ?

Answer 20

1. substitution
2. isolation
3. segregation
4. ventilation
5. environmental monitoring
6. assurance of ergonomics in the work place

Question 21

what is TLV - threshold limit value ?

Answer 21

it is the concentration in air that may be breathed in without harmful effects for 5 consecutive days of 8 hour days

Question 22

what are some medical or personal measures that may be taken to prevent occupational disease ?

Answer 22

pre-employment examination
periodic medical examination
biologic monitoring

Question 23

what are examples of biologic monitoring in occupational diseases ?

Answer 23

1. CBC for x-ray workers
2. blood lead and urine delta amino leveolonic acid in lead workers
3. urine mercury in mercury exposed