DEFINITION:

The joint international labor organization committee on Occupational health, 1950 defined occupational health as The highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations.

GOALS
To reduce industrial accidents. To prevent occupational hazards/ diseases. To achieve maximum human efficiency and machine efficiency. To reduce sick absenteeism.

OBJECTIVES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH:

To maintain and promote the physical,

mental and social well being of the workers. To prevent occupational diseases and injuries. To adapt the work place and work environment to the needs of the workers i.e application of ergonomics principle. It should be preventive rather than curative.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

It represents a dynamic equilibrium between the worker and his occupational environment.

What is occupational health care?

Occupational health care is preventive health care, which is provided on the basis of the Occupational Health Care Act. The objective of occupational health care is a healthy and safe working environment, a well-functioning working community, prevention of work-related diseases as well as the maintenance of employees working ability and functional capacity, and promotion of their health.

Advantages of Occupational health care

Investigates and assesses load factors and hazards and gives expert assistance for eliminating them Gives information and advice Estimates employees working ability and monitors their health condition By its knowledge and skills supports action for maintaining working ability in the development of individuals, working environment and working community, in this way also affecting productivity continued

Advantages of Occupational health care - cont

Prevents occupational diseases and other work-related illnesses Prevents premature incapacity for work, reduces pension costs Reduces absenteeism due to sickness Can make calculations of the profitability of occupational safety and health and occupational health care in cooperation with workplaces or encourage workplaces to make these themselves.

THE UNDERTAKINGS FOR THE NEED OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES:

1. Any undertakings, which employ more than the prescribed number. 2. Public sector undertakings 3. Atomic energy unit, explosive production unit, mining unit, and asbestos production unit etc., 4. A unit where workers are exposed to health hazards from toxic substances.

FUNCTIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE - CONT..

1. Pre-employment medical examination. 2. First Aid and emergency service. 3. Supervision of the work environment for the control of dangerous substances in the work environment. 4. Special periodic medical examination particularly for the workers in dangerous operations. 5. Health education for disseminating information on specific hazards and risks in the work environment.

FUNCTION OF HEALTH SERVICE - CONT..

6. Special examination and surveillance of health of women and children 7. Advising the employer or management for improving working conditions, and placement of hazards. 8. Monitoring of working environment for assessment and control of hazards. 9. Supervision over sanitation, hygiene and canteen facilities. 10. Liaison and cooperation with the safety committees

FUNCTION OF HEALTH SERVICE - CONT..

10. Liaison and cooperation with the safety committees 11. Maintenance of medical records for medical check-up and follow-up for maintaining health standards and also for evaluation. 12. To carry out other parallel activities such as nutrition programme, family planning, social services recreation etc., Concerning the health and welfare of the workers.

THE FACTORS FOR EFFECTIVENESS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES:

1. The nature of industry; small, medium or large and its location. 2. Existing infrastructure of health services. 3. Trained manpower. 4. Workers involvement and employers commitment. 5. Surveillance of the working environment by means of epidemiological studies and testing.

Components occupational health services CONT..

Medical treatment, First aid treatment in emergency. Health education, First aid education. Medical examination Pre employment examination Medical treatment, First aid treatment in emergency. Health education, First aid education. Medical examination Pre employment examination Periodic medical examination Special medical examination

Components occupational health services - CONT..

.

Health counseling

. Stress management . Mental health . And Physical health . Rehabilitation programme . Medical rehabilitation

. Social rehabilitation
. Educational rehabilitation . Vocational rehabilitation

Components occupational health services CONT..

Assessment of dusts pollution Assessment of noise pollution

Assessment of vibration
Assessment heat radiation

Assessment of radiation

Components occupational health services CONT..

Supervision of the working environment
Hazard identification Monitoring Evaluation Engineering project review

Control measures
Development of personal protective devices

Components occupational health services CONT..

. Family welfare program

. To take care of employee and dependents . Disaster management . Health records maintenance

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY UNIT

Air Quality Monitoring Air-borne particulate sampling Ambient noise measurement and control Ventilation testing Lighting evaluation Thermal stress evaluation Biological Monitoring of workers exposed to lead, Manganese, Chromium and Nickel

OCCUPATIONAL PHYSIOLOGY UNIT

Evaluation of occupational work capacity Differential Diagnosis of exercise induced cardio-pulmonary stress Disability Evaluation Evaluation of fitness for highly demanding jobs

MEDITEL- A Radio Telemetry (3- Channel) system

Pulse Rate Body Temperature Energy Expenditure

PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS

VITALOGRAPH S-MODEL SPIROMETER (Total lung volume, timed lung volume and flow lung volume) WHOLE BODY PLETHYSMOGRAPH (residual lung volume, total lung capacity, air-way resistance, static and dynamic compliance)

OCCUPATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY UNIT

Stress Management Job enrichment Executive skill development Organizational development Safety awareness system development Absenteeism control Job satisfaction Mental health survey And human relation

TOXICOLOGY LABORATORY UNIT

PHOTOELECTRIC COLORIMETER SPECTROPHOTOMETER ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETER PLASMA EMISSION SPECTROMETER And GAS CHROMOTOGRAPHY

Work physiology & Ergonomics Unit CONT..

Development of exercise program Study of vibration exposure Categorization of work load Determination of energy expenditure And design ergonomics (machinery, equipment)

Work physiology & Ergonomics Unit CONT..

Evaluation of occupational work capacity Ergonomics analysis of work systems Work station design Development of pre employment job fitness tests Job analysis

MORGAN EXERCISE TEST SYSTEM

TEST MONITOR UNIT (E.C.G Monitor, Ventilation Monitor and gas analyser) MAGNA 88 MICROCOMPUTER And a PRINTER with graphic resolution

HEAT STRESS EVALUATION

Sling Psychrometer Kata Thermometer Hot Wire Anemometer WBGT index meter Dry Bulb thermometer Wet Bulb thermometer Globe thermometer Air velocity Physiological response to heat Humidity

APPLICATION OF HEAT STRESS EVALUATION

Heat stress index Predicted four hour sweat rate

NOISE LEVEL MEASUREMENT

Sound level meter Octave filter sets Personnel Noise Dose meter

ILLUMINATION & RADIATION MEASUREMENT

Lux meter UV digital meter Gamma Radiation Survey Meter

EVALUATION OF VIBRATION

Human Response Vibration Meter

EVALUATION OF ATMOSPHERIC CONTAMINANTS

Personal air samplers Drager Multigas Detector Drager Polymeter Drager CMS analyser Real Time Aerosol Monitor Gravimetric Dust Sampler Hexhlet air sampler

GLOPAL STRATEGY FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CONT..

Strengthening of international and national policies for health at work and development of policy tools Developing healthy working environment Developing healthy work practices and promoting health at work Strengthening occupational health services Establishing support services for occupational health

GLOPAL STRATEGY FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Developing occupational health standards based on scientific risk assessment Developing human resources for occupational health Establishing registration data system and raising public awareness through strengthened public information system

Strengthening research
Developing collaboration in occupational health services and organization