ZIMBABWE INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

ASSIGNMENT COVER

1. DELEGATE’S NAME: LLOYD PANGANI MUNKOMBWE

2. COURSE: DIPLOMA 1 SAFETY, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

3. GROUP: 1

4. MODULE: OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE

.
5. DATES: JAN 11 2022 – JAN 15 2022

6. DELEGATE CONTACT DETAILS: 071 755 2551

ADDRESS: 6824 WESTLEA HARARE

7. PRESENTER: PROFFESOR T. MAZODZA

8. TITLE OF ASSIGNMENT HANDED IN:

…………OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE ………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. DATE DUE: 15 JANUARY 2022 A Penalty will be levied for late submissions

10. MARK AWARDED ……………………………………

ASSIGNMENT MARK SHEET

KNOWING THE REASON FOR DOING THINGS

SECTION COMMENT HPS AWARDED

INTRODUCTION
Organization 10
Assignment:
Purpose
Value

LAYOUT AND
PRESENTATION
Table of contents
Sequencing clarity
Group, Paragraph and
sub - 25
Paragraph
Headings
Conclusion
Recommendation
s
Acknowledge source
Graphs/Diagram
TECHNICAL
KNOWLEDGE 40
Analysis, Models
Findings, opinions Depth
and knowledge. Theories
etc.
GENERAL
Creative input 25
Original work related
examples
Theoretical

TOTAL MARKS 100

a) Discuss pneumoconiosis management in Zimbabwe [70]

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According to (Merriam Webster’s dictionary), pneumoconiosis is an interstitial disease caused by
breathing in certain types of dust particles which can cause an inflammatory reaction and destruct
the lung tissue. Pneumoconiosis has different forms, depending on the type of dust you breathe in
and one of the worst common forms of the pneumoconiosis disease is coal worker’s
pneumoconiosis (CWP) which is also called black lung disease. It is usually caused by breathing in
coal dust. Therefore for one not to suffer from tuberculosis, asthma, etc., prevention is important
because the disease can't be treated easily or reversed hence it can take one’s life within a short
period of time. Hierarchy stages of control which include wearing masks when working in dusty
workplaces, not smoking, washing skin that comes in contact with dust, and safely removing dust
from the exposed clothing is very important.

Pneumoconiosis may vary or appear in different forms, depending on the type of dust you inhale.
One of the most common forms is black lung disease, also known as miner's lung. It’s caused by
breathing in coal dust. Another is brown lung, which comes from working around dust from cotton
or other fibers. Other types of dusts that can cause pneumoconiosis include silica and asbestos.
Diacetyl, the compound used to give movie popcorn its buttery flavor, also can lead to the disease.
This is known as popcorn lung.
 
According to my research, I questioned Dr. Hikwa of the West End private hospital about
Pneumoconiosis and how we can manage it both medically and in the workplace. He said
pneumoconiosis can be simple or complicated. Simple pneumoconiosis causes a small amount of
scar tissue. The tissue may appear on an X-ray as round, thickened areas called nodules.
Complicated pneumoconiosis is known as progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), which means that
there is a lot of scarring; in the lungs therefore there will be a high probability of succumbing due
to the loss of blood vessels and air sacs in lungs.

Dr. Hikwa also mentioned that tissues that surround our air sacs and air passages become thick and
stiff from scarring then breathing becomes harder and this condition is called interstitial lung
disease. That is where the definition of the word pneumoconiosis comes from. Most people are
likely to be exposed to the specks of dust only in the workplace. So pneumoconiosis can be also
called a work-related lung disease.

KNOWING THE REASON FOR DOING THINGS

 Pneumoconiosis can’t be cured however there are necessary steps in place which helps to manage
and treat it . Once the disease has been diagnosed, treatment is aimed at keeping it from getting
worse and controlling your symptoms. A treatment plan may include
 Not smoking
 Avoiding all dust exposure
 Using oxygen
 Taking medications called bronchodilators that open lung passages

Pneumoconiosis prevention measures

Prevention is an important aspect of managing Pneumoconiosis because the disease cannot

be treated or reversed. Pneumoconiosis Act [Chapter 15:08] sets standard prevention rules
for workers at risk for pneumoconiosis. The standard prevention measures that are being
taken in Zimbabwe to manage pneumoconiosis are
 wearing a dust mask
 water sprinklers for dust suppression usually during construction,
 regular chest X-rays and physical exams at the workplaces with dust etc.
 Washing areas of skin that come in contact with dust
 Safe removal of dust from clothing
 Washing your face and hands thoroughly before eating, drinking, or taking any
medications
 Not smoking
 Letting your doctor and your employer know about any symptoms of
pneumoconiosis

The Government of Zimbabwe is also encouraging companies to go ‘green’, this is done

by us investing in modern technologies and using mechanized filters which trap dust and
other harmful particles in the air.

(b)   On carrying out personal monitoring of a workplace where   the OEL of the substance
being monitored was

KNOWING THE REASON FOR DOING THINGS

15ppm the occupational hygienist obtained the following results; 20ppm for 1
hour, 10ppm for 4 hours, 50ppm for 2 hours and 0ppm for 1 hour. Calculate the
Time Weighted Average and comment on what should be done.[30]

Time Weighted Average = Concentration in parts per million (ppm) X Hours of exposure
Total Number of Hours

(20ppm x 1hr) + (10ppm x 4 hrs.) + (50ppm x 2 hrs.) + (0ppm x 1 hrs.) = TWA

(1+4+2+1)

20+40+100+0 = TWA
8

TWA = 20 ppm

20ppm > 15ppm, it means that this worker was over exposed hence controls that start
with Engineering i.e. elimination, substitution and finally usage of PPE need to be
considered

REFERENCE

KNOWING THE REASON FOR DOING THINGS

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE, Diploma (Level 1) IN Environmental H ealth And Safety
Management Module, 2013

Pneumoconiosis Act [Chapter 15:08], 1996

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/pneumoconiosis

KNOWING THE REASON FOR DOING THINGS