OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE [028][029][030][031][033][035] Flashcards
Define hazard
any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone.
Define exposure
It Is the contact to hazard in a way that allows for effective transmission
Define risk
the chance or probability that harm may occur. For harm to occur or for the risk to be present, there must be the presence of hazard.
What are the steps of workplace risk assessment?
Workplace Risk Evaluation
- Hazard Identification
- Hazard Evaluation (determine whether a given substance have health hazards by reviewing databases and the literature)
ing databases and
the literature)
- Exposure Assessment (estimating the level of exposure)
- Risk Characterization
I1. Risk Communication: (the logical follow-up by which the involved person or persons obtain the information
needed to make informed and independent decisions about health and safety risks. When possible, the risk
communication is conducted prior to actual exposure in order to intervene at the primary prevention stage)
Ill. Risk Management:
- risk reduction or Elimination
- temporary job transfer
- disability leave
- remove individual from work (last resort)
State the general methods of prevention of occupational diseases from most to least effective
Elimination or removal of risk
Substitution to a less harmful alternative
Engineering ( isolate the hazards, ventilation, ergonomics, segregation)
Administrative ( change the way people work)
PPE (Masks for dust or gases exposure / Ear muffs or ear plugs for noise exposure / Gloves for chemical exposure/ Leaded aprons for radiation exposure)
State the medical/ personal measures taken to avoid occupational hazards
- Pre employment medical examination
- Periodic medical examination (e.g. audiometers for noisy environments)
- Biological monitoring (e.g. urine mercury for those exposed)
- Health education ( Avoid eating or drinking during work because most chemicals are absorbed freely by ingestion of contaminated food / Wash their hands before eating )
What are the heat disorders that can result from excessive exposure to hot environments? (Most to least severe)
Heat stroke, Heat exhaustion, Heat cramps, Heat syncope, Skin disorders
Can these factors result in heat loss, heat gain, or both?
Metabolism, radiation, conduction, evaporation
Metabolism: HEAT GAIN
Conduction and radiation: both
Evaporation: HEAT LOSS
What are the x ray findings in a patient with silicosis?
- Nodular opacities of varying size more at the upper parts of the lungs.
- Hilar LN calcification (egg-shell appearance).
Complications of silicosis?
• TB
• Cor-pulmonale (Rt sided heart failure)
• Lung cancer (Bronchogenic carcinoma)
What are the findings in a local chest examination in a patient with asbestosis?
fine crepitations at the base of the lung due to lung fibrosis
X-ray findings in asbestosis?
Opacities at the base of the lung, tenting of the diaphragm (fibrosis)
• Pleural thickening, pleural plaques, pleural effusion
Complications of asbestosis ?
- Cor-pulmonale
- Mesothelioma: an aggressive malignant tumor that origin from the endothelial lining of the serous sacs.
What are the two types of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis?
- Simple coal worker’s pneumoconiosis: small regular opacities
- Progressive massive fibrosis: an aggressive fibrotic process
X-ray findings for progressive massive fibrosis in a patient with CWP?
Larger opacities (with central necrosis)
- necrotic changes occurs in the centers of these masses, necrotic material may be expelled in a bronchus leading to the sudden cough and expectoration of black necrotic materials (jet black) “black lung”
