Occupational Health and Environmental Health Flashcards
- A cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the health and safety of the people engaged in work or employment
- As a secondary effect, it may also protect co-
workers, family members, employers, customers, suppliers, nearby communities and other members of the public who are impacted by the workplace environment.
Occupational Health
anything that has the potential to cause harm
Hazard
the likelihood that a particular hazard will occur
Risk
environmental factors or stressors in the workplace, or etiologic agents of occupational diseases
Health Hazards
may either be due to unsafe condition in the workplace or unsafe act of the worker
Safety Hazards
CLASSIFICATION OF HEALTH HAZARDS
- Physical Hazards
- Biological Hazards
- Chemical Hazards
- Ergonomic stressors
- Involves contact with various forms of energy
- Environmental conditions in the workplace are mainly associated with agents in this group of hazards
Physical Hazards
Physical Hazards Examples:
Temperature (Heat and Cold)
Lighting
Noise
Radiation (Ionizing and Non-ionizing
radiation)
Vibration
Barometric pressure
Agents or organisms which transmit diseases
to man and affect his or her health adverselyB
Biological Hazards
Three Major Sources of Microbes in the Work Environment
- Those stemming from infective individuals
- Those arising from microbial decomposition of various substances associate with particular occupations
- Those associated with certain types of environment
Common Bacteria in the Healthcare Environment
- Staphyloccus aureus
- Streptococcus
- Escherichia coli
- Salmonella typhi
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Common Viruses in the Healthcare Environment
- Hepatitis B
- HIV
- Are the infection control techniques that were recommended following the AIDS outbreak in the 1980s
- Essentially it means that every patient is treated as if they are infected and therefore precautions are taken to minimize risk
- Observance of good hygiene habits
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
Observance of good hygiene habits
-handwashing
-use of gloves and other barriers
- correct sharps handling
-aseptic techniques
Should be practiced in any environment where
workers are exposed to bodily fluids such as:
-Blood
-Semen
-Vaginal secretions
- Synovial fluid
-Amniotic fluid
-CSF
-Pleural fluid
-Peritoneal fluid
-Pericardial fluid
Conditions indicating additional precautions:
- diseases with airborne transmission
-diseases with droplet infection - transmission with direct or indirect contact with dried skin or contaminated surfaces
- A freshly mixed solution of household bleach
- The spill area should be flooded with solution and allowed to soak the area for 10-15 minutes
- The solution may be soaked up in a routine cleaning manner and sewered
SPILL CLEAN-UP
- The company shall offer the Hepatitis B vaccination series to all identified employees who may incur occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens
- Post-exposure follow-up for employees
Hepatitis B Vaccination Program
- Substances used ,and/or generated as raw materials, intermediate products, finished products and waste materials
Chemical Hazards
Chemicals
- Gases
- Fumes
- Vapor
- Mists
- Widely used system for cataloging information on chemicals, chemical compounds and chemical mixtures
- Information includes properties of a particular substance, instructions for the safe use, potential hazards associated with a particular material or product, provision of procedures
for handling or working with that substance in a safe manner
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among human and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance
Ergonomics
- Refers to factors that result in worker’s discomfort, in relation to his/her job
- Result in inability to attain optimum efficiency and productivity
Ergonomic stressors
Ergonomics Physical and physiological aspects
-anthropometry
-muscular work
-postures at work
-biomechanics
-general fatigue
Ergonomics Psychological aspects
-mental workload
-mental fatigue
-sleep deprivation
Ergonomics Organizational aspects
-work organization
-work stress
Work situations that are stressful ergonomically are
characterized by:
- Prolonged working hours
- Awkward positions or postures
- Excessive physical exertions
- Improper lifting
- Repetitive motions
- Improperly designed/constructed work facilities
SAFETY HAZARDS Includes:
- Unsafe act
- Unsafe condition
- Requires risk to be managed to a level which is
low as is reasonably practical
Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment Should include:
-identification of hazards
-identification of all affected by the hazard
-evaluation of the risk
-identification and prioritization of the required actions
Should be recorded and reviewed periodically
and whenever there is a significant change in
work practices
Risk Assessment
a methodology for performing a risk assessment
JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS
CONTROL MEASURES
- Administrative Control
- Engineering control
- Use of PPEs
Administrative Control
-work transfer
-job rotation
-rest breaks
-training
-policies and procedures
Engineering control
-substitution
-isolation
-machine guards
-lock-out/tag-out system
-automation
- Branch of public health
- Concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Other terms used:
environmental public health, environmental health and protection
- Aspects of human health and disease that are determined by factors in the environment (WHO definition)
- Also refers to the theory and practice of assessing and controlling factors in the environment that can potentially affect health
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
May be also known as sanitarians, public health inspectors, environmental health specialist, or environmental health officers
Environmental Health Practicioners
Aspects of Environment Health (EH)
- Water sanitation
- Food sanitation
- Community waste management
- Rodent control
- Vector control
- Air pollution control
- Occupation health
- Radiologic health
- Sanitary housing
- Disaster management
safe, clean, free from contaminants and pollution, recommended for drinking purposes
Potable water
water which has suffered impairment on its physical qualities
Polluted water
contains infectious agents, materials and toxic or poisonous
substances, condemned for drinking purposes
Contaminated water
source of all fresh water, distilled pure water which may get contaminated at atmosphere during collection and storage
Rain water
natural flow of water as a result of ground see page like water from rivers, lakes, springs,streams
Surface water
below the layers of the earth usually clean and safe except when located near the source of pollution such as septic tank
Underground water
distributed to houses by means of pipes usually treated
Piped water
distributed to houses by means of pipes usually treated
Piped water
inert suspension of floating substances that are carried by water that cause cloudiness or turbidity
Physical impurities
dissolved constituents of water which account mostly for the color of water
Chemical impurities
include microscopic plants and animals other than bacteria present in water
Biologic impurities
results of nuclear weapon testing and discharge of radioisotopes and other radioactive wastes into water courses
Radiologic impurities
- To find out the physical attributes of water (color, odor, taste, clearness)
Physical examination
- To determine the chemical impurities of water
- Routinely measured are pH, alkalinity, total solids, presence of chloride, test for pollution
Chemical examination
- Determine the presence of aquatic planktons, algae, which are responsible for peculiar taste, odor and color
Microscopic examination
- Most important single test to determine the presence of bacteria in water
- Test to find out if the water iS potentially dangerous and whether or not the kind and number of bacteria present constitute to health hazard
Bacteriologic examination
This is done to enumerate the total viable population of bacteria present in sample
Standard plate count
- This is done to determine the specific type of coliform bacteria present in sample
Test for coliform
index of fecal contamination and serves as an indicator group in bacteriologic analysis of water
Escherichia coli
(Cont. Test for coliform) Stages:
- Presumptive test
- Confirmatory test
- Completed test
- Indicates whether or not there is a possibility that coliforms might be present in the water sample
- Often used in the analysis of samples known to be heavily polluted
Presumptive test
- Contributes addition supportive evidence for the presence of coliform organisms
- Used in the analysis of samples from closed water system in which a treatment process has been carried out
Confirmatory test
- Re-examined morphologically the typical coliform colonies and to re-examined their characteristic lactose fermentation
- Used as quality control test on finished water supplies for
contamination
Completed test
used of cloth to filter water impurities
Filtration or staining
universally employed for the following purposes
-Powerful germicide
-Readily available and easily applied to water supplies
-Cheaper than any other disinfectants
Chlorine
process whereby water particles are brought into intimate contact with air for the purpose of affecting the exchange of gas, peculiar taste and odor are removed
Aeration
method of removing calcium and magnesium salts which might affect the qualities of water
Softening
treatment process aimed at preventing dental carries or tooth decay especially among children
Fluoridation
removal of taste, odor, color of water by the use of activated charcoal as absorbent
Contact treatment
food provides essential nutrients needed by our body
Nutrition
food serves as vehicle/reservoir for food-borne
diseases
Disease
caused by living organisms such as bacteria and parasite entering the body with food as vehicle for transmission
Food-borne infection
Taeniasis, Trichinosis, Amoebiasis
Parasitic
Salmonellosis, Typhoid fever, Cholera
Bacterial
this maybe caused by bacterial toxins or chemicals, may also be naturally occurring poisons present in plants, mushrooms, fishes and spoiled foods.
Food poisoning or intoxication
- Low temperate (0-4 oC) prevents bacterial activity. Natural
flavor maybe maintained
Refrigeration (cooling)
Removes moisture from food stuff essential for bacterial
growth and multiplication since bacteria need water or
moisture to live and multiply so drying will kill the bacteria
Drying
Involves the addition of relatively large amounts of common
table salts to preserve foods. Salt is bacteriostatic.
Salting
Preserving food using weak acid (vinegar, lactic acid)
Pickling or souring
Involves the storage of foods in syrup containing
more than about 50% sugar as sucrose or dextrose
Sugaring
This involves rapid drying over smoke. The preserving
action comes from some preservatives in the smoke.
Usually done in meat and fish
Smoking
Sterilization, cooking and preserving in air tight tin
cans
Canning
Waste materials consists of human excreta,
refuse and industrial waste
COMMUNITY WASTE MANAGEMENT
solid and semi-solid waste material other than human
excreta
REFUSE
-These are solid wastes resulting from the processing, preparation and consumption of foods (ex. Left over vegetables, animals and fish materials)
Garbage
Public health importance
- Serve as breeding place of flies and other insects
- Harborage of rats
- Offensive odor
- Garbage fed to hogs
- These maybe combustible or non-combustible
Rubbish
discarded furniture, paper, yard trimmings. Considered as fire hazard
Combustible
tin cans, ceramic, glass waste, metals. Breeding places of mosquitoes and other insects, can cause wound injuries
Non-combustible
- Left-over from burning wood and charcoal
- Irritant to eyes and nose
Ashes
REFUSE
* solid and semi-solid waste material other than human
excreta and divided into:
- Garbage
- Rubbish
- Ashes
- Dead animals
- Stable manure
- Street sweeping
Three basic methods of refuse disposal
- Storage
- Collection
- Final disposal
Types of waste according to use:
A. Household waste
B. Hazardous waste
waste that can decomposed in the soil after a long period of time
Biodegradable
waste that do not decompose in the soil
Non-biodegradable
- Also known as industrial wastes
- Immediate and long term risk to man, animals, plants and environment
Hazardous waste
Hazardous waste
Any discarded solid or liquid that:
-Contains carcinogenic compounds
-Catches fire easily (gasoline, tinners)
-Reactive or unstable enough to explode or release toxic fumes
feces, urine and discharges from nose and skin
EXCRETA
water with discharge of the human body together with liquid waste from households and factory
SEWAGE
Three ways involved in disposing human wastes
- Use of privy
- Use of sanitary toilet
- Burying
structure that is used for reception, disposal and storage of feces and human excreta
PRIVY
Malaria, Filariasis, Dengue Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, West Nile Fever, Chikungunya Disease
Mosquitoes
Leishmaniasis, Sleeping sickness, Onchocerciasis, Typhoid fever, Dysentery, Cholera
Flies
Plague, Dipylidiasis, Hymenolepiasis
Fleas
Rocky mountain spotted fever, Tularemia, Lyme disease
Ticks
Scabies, Scrub typhus
Mites
Epidemic typhus
Lice
- A change in the environment is needed to make it unsuitable for the breeding and growth of insects
- Requires the knowledge of the life cycle and ecology of arthropods
- Requires a long range programs and may require agricultural and engineering projects
- Results are permanent, lasting and more effective
- Proper waste disposal, drainage or flushing of stagnant water
Naturalistic or environmental control
- Destruction of insects through the use of insecticides and larvicides
- Most popular method but with the following limitations:
Mechanical control
Most popular method but with the following limitations:
a. Expensive
b. Contaminates the environment, food, water and may cause poisoning
c. Prolong use of insecticides produces resistance among insects
- Introduction into the atmosphere of substance harmful to public health
- Any alteration of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the atmospheric air
- Presence of substances in the atmosphere in excess of normal limits and produce adverse effects on health
Air pollution
- Any substances found in the atmosphere other than nitrogen and inert gases in their normal concentration that is detrimental to health
- Consist of particulate matter, aerosol, gases and vapors
Air pollutants
Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas composed of three oxygen
atoms. It is not usually emitted directly into the air but at ground level and is created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compound (VOC) in the presence of heat and sunlight
Ground-level ozone
Sources: motor vehicles, electric utilities and other industrial,
commercial and residential sources that burn fuel
Nitrogen oxides
Particles found in the air including dust, dirt, smoke and liquid
droplets. Particles can be suspended in the air for long period of time
Particulate matters
- It dissolves easily in air
- Sources are industrial facilities that derive their products from raw materials like metallic ore and crude oil (examples are petroleum refineries, cement manufacturing and metal processing facilities)
Sulfur oxides
Colorless, odorless gas that is formed when carbon in fuel is not burned completely. Sources are motor vehicle exhaust, industrial processes such as metal processing and chemical manufacturing, woodstove, gas stove and cigarette smoke
Carbon dioxide
- Eliminate or reduce the source
- Use of anti-air pollution devices in industries
- Are planning/zoning
- Legislation
- Health education
- Tree planting
Measures to prevent and control air
pollution
- Eliminate or reduce the source
- Use of anti-air pollution devices in industries
- Are planning/zoning
- Legislation
- Health education
- Tree planting
Measures to prevent and control air
pollution
- Eliminate or reduce the source
- Use of anti-air pollution devices in industries
- Are planning/zoning
- Legislation
- Health education
- Tree planting
Measures to prevent and control air
pollution
- Eliminate or reduce the source
- Use of anti-air pollution devices in industries
- Are planning/zoning
- Legislation
- Health education
- Tree planting
Measures to prevent and control air
pollution
- Eliminate or reduce the source
- Use of anti-air pollution devices in industries
- Are planning/zoning
- Legislation
- Health education
- Tree planting
Measures to prevent and control air
pollution
- Eliminate or reduce the source
- Use of anti-air pollution devices in industries
- Are planning/zoning
- Legislation
- Health education
- Tree planting
Measures to prevent and control air
pollution
- Eliminate or reduce the source
- Use of anti-air pollution devices in industries
- Are planning/zoning
- Legislation
- Health education
- Tree planting
Measures to prevent and control air pollution
– enforcing laws and regulations prohibiting the use of smoke-belching vehicles and promotion of anti-pollution measures
especially in industries
Legislation
