Occupational Health Flashcards
Harm definition
Death, injury, and any form of physical or mental illness
Hazard
Anything that might cause harm
Includes desth and injury and any form of physical or mental illness
Risk
A chance of a harm actually occurring
Type of relationship between health and work
2 ways relationship
Legal aspects (IV) Labour Act 651 : Obligation of Employees
Publication of employees to use safety appliances, PPE & other equipment in compliance with instructions
•Has Right to remove oneself from dangerous situation
BUT
•Law absolves employer for liability for injury suffered by worker due to non-compliance
What is occupational health
The science and arts devoted to the anticipation recognition evaluation in control of factors and stresses from work, which may cause sickness impaired health and well-being or significant discomfort and inefficiency among workers or among the citizens of the community
1992 constitution about occupational health safety
Every person has the right to work under safe and healthy conditions
Legal aspect (III) labour act 651, 2003
Duty of all employers to ensure that every worker employed by him or her works under satisfactory safe and healthy conditions
the employer has to
provide safe system of work ensure work environment free of risk to health and safety
prevent accident and injury to health
supply and maintain safety appliances
provide safe drinking water, toilet and other Hygiene facilities
What are all the parties involved in occupational health
Physicians nurses occupational hygienist sociologists psychologist Toxicologists Health physicist microbiologist Epidemiologists Ergonomist Safety engineers lawyers
What are all the stake holders in. Occupational health
Workers and their families employers shareholders community nation consumers legislators suppliers insurers media pressure groups
What is the function of occupational health services
Address risks from hazards caused by work and work environment to workers
What are the five basic strategies adopted by occupational health services
Preventive activities promotional activities Curative activities rehabilitation activities research activities
What is the goal of doing pre-employment health screening
See if person has pre-existing ill health or disability that can impact performance or could be in safe for the individuals or other workers
See if workplace can be adapted to disability of the individual
used as that baseline data for future assessments
reinforce advice on health promotion
What are the clinical occupational health activities
Pre-employment health screening
Periodic medical examination
Post sickness absence review
Retirement on grounds of ill health
exit medical examination
immunization
health education and counseling
treatments
rehabilitation
early return to work
What is the function of periodic medical examinations
It’s a legal requirements especially against asbestos leas ionizing radiation
Help advice on health and illness and reinforce occupational health prevention
What is the goal of post sickness absence review
Sees person has no residual effects from cause of sickness which Can impair return to work
What is the goal of retirement and grounds of ill Health
Health worker leave a job with benefits
What is an alternative to the retirement on grounds of ill health
Redeploying the worker Add another position but in the same establishments where Health will not be an issue
What is the goal of exit medical examination
Don’t work or before retirement which gives that’s all employees at the point of exit and help workers receive assistance for managing it after they leave the employment
What is the goal of health education and counseling
Using excess workforce to reduce risk factors for diseases in general and steps to prevent occupational disorders
What does rehabilitation involve
Facilitate early return to work
if disability -> provide services adapted
assist some staff to be granted retirement on medical grounds
facilitate payment of compensation or benefits
What are the benefits of early return to work
Employer minimize workers compensation costs
employees can return to work
social security doesn’t have to pay long-term benefits for disability
society wins by still having qualified labor
What are some non-clinical occupational health activities
Assessment of workplace through recognition and evaluation, control of workplace general advice and support audits quality assurance research
How do you recognize and evaluate a workplace
You recognize hazards in the workplace through seeing smelling hearing etc
. you evaluate the workplace by using measurements analytical techniques to quantify contamination with precision and accuracy