physical hazards at the workplace

Question 1

what are the different types of hazards in occupational medicine ?

Answer 1

physical 
chemical 
biological 
mechanical 
psychosocial

Question 2

what is the heat balance equation ?

Answer 2

body temp = M+R+c-E
metabolism 
radiation 
conduction 
evaporation

Question 3

what is heat stress determined by ?

Answer 3

air temperature
air movement
amount of radiant heat
humidity

Question 4

what are the different types of occupational exposures to heat ?

Answer 4

hot environment

direct exposure to the sun

Question 5

what are the different types of heat disorders ?

Answer 5

heat strokes 
heat exhaustion 
heat cramps 
heat syncope 
skin disorders

Question 6

what are some risk factors of heat disorders ?

Answer 6

extremes of age 
alcohol abuse 
dehydration 
obesity 
sleep deprivation 
lack of acclimatisation 
history of heat strokes

Question 7

what are some medical conditions that increase the risk factors for heat disorders ?

Answer 7

cardiac disease 
vascular disease 
hypotension 
disease of the CNS 
Extensive skin disease 
febrile illnesses
thyrotoxicosis

Question 8

what medications increase the risk of heat disorders ?

Answer 8

1. sympathomimetics like cocaine and amphetamine
2. anticholinergic drugs
3. drugs that decrease cardiac contractility
4. drugs that cause volume depletion
5. lithium drugs

Question 9

how does lithium have an affect on the occurence of heat disorders ?

Answer 9

lithium interferes with hypothalamic thermoregulatory mechanisms

Question 10

what is the manifestation of heat strokes ?

Answer 10

cerebral dysfunction

altered mental status

Question 11

what are the two types of heat strokes ?

Answer 11

classic type

exertional

Question 12

what is the difference between a classic type and an exertional type of heat stroke ?

Answer 12

classic is when extreme heat exposure occurs to a susceptible individual
an exertional one happens when a lot of effort is exerted inn a hot environment to an unacclimitazied individual

Question 13

what are the three cardinal signs of a heat stroke ?

Answer 13

1. red hot dry skin “generalized anhidrosis”
2. CNS manifestation
3. Core body temp more than 41.1

Question 14

what is the treatment for heat strokes ?

Answer 14

aim is to control the body temp within one hour
move to a shady cool place
entire body should be sprayed with cool water along with a fan
chlorpromazine can be used to control the shivering

Question 15

what is acclimatization ?

Answer 15

gradual, controlled exposure to heated environments of increasing intensity and duration to allow the body to adjust to heat

Question 16

what is heat exhaustion ?

Answer 16

strenuous work and prolonged exposure to heat with insufficient salt and water intake

Question 17

what are the signs of symptoms of heat exhaustion ?

Answer 17

1 .thirst or dehydration 
2 .heat cramps 
3. moist skinn 
4 .temperature more than 38 but less than 41.1 
5. loss of consciousness

Question 18

what is the treatment for heat exhaustion ?

Answer 18

1. place patient in a cool and shaded environment
2. hydration of 1-2 litres over 2 to 4 hours
3. saline or isotonic glucose solution should be given IV in more severe cases

Question 19

what are heat cramps caused by ?

Answer 19

dilutional hyponatraemia caused by replacement of sweat losses with water alone

Question 20

what is the treatment for heat cramps ?

Answer 20

relax the muscle and provide water and salt

Question 21

what is a heat syncope ?

Answer 21

sudden unconsciousness results from volume depletion and cutaneous vasodilation with consequent systemic and cerebral hypotension

Question 22

what is the clinical picture of heat syncope ?

Answer 22

1. the skin is cool and moist and the pulse is weak

2. systolic BP is usually below 100mmhg

Question 23

what is a heat rash ?

Answer 23

miliaria is caused by sweat retention resulting from obstruction of the sweat gland duct

Question 24

how do dysbaric disorders happen ?

Answer 24

when moving too quickly from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure can produce nitrogen gas bubbles in the body

Question 25

what are the types of decompression sickness ?

Answer 25

type 1
type 2
type 3

Question 26

what are the features of type 1 DCS ?

Answer 26

joint pain ( large joint)
skin rash “divers lice”
itching mottling rash

Question 27

what are the features of type2 DCS ?

Answer 27

associated with fat embolism:

1. spinal cord and brain disorders
2. pulmonary chokes
3. arterial gas embolism

Question 28

what are the features of type 3 DCS ?

Answer 28

delayed dysbaric osteonecrosis

which is basically aseptic necrosis of the bone

Question 29

what is the treatment for DCS ?

Answer 29

recompression with gradual decompression in hyperbaric chambers

Question 30

what are the types of ionizing radiation ?

Answer 30

alpha and beta particles

gamma and Xrays

Question 31

what are the types of non - ionizing radiation ?

Answer 31

ultraviolet
infrared
microwave

Question 32

what is the cause of acute radiation syndrome ?

Answer 32

sudden exposure to a high dose of radiation

Question 33

what is the clinical picture of ARS ?

Answer 33

1. bone marrow syndrome (hematopoeitic syndrome)
   2 .gastrointestinal syndrome
2. CV/ CNS syndrome

Question 34

what is the most radiosensitive organ ?

Answer 34

the bone marrow

Question 35

what is the primary cause of death in ARS ?

Answer 35

destruction of the bone marrow leading to infection and haemorrhage

Question 36

what is the prognosis in ARS ?

Answer 36

if GI symptoms have developed recovery is unlikely

if the CNS or CV is involved then death will occur within a few days from exposure

Question 37

what does chromic radiation dermatitis look like ?

Answer 37

1. thin atrophic skin
2. tenelgectasia
3. pigmentation
4. loss of sebaceous gland or 5. hair follicles and reduced sweating

Question 38

what must PPE include to reduce exposure to radiation ?

Answer 38

lead equipped PPE