Introduction to Occupational

Health and Safety

DR . TAR I Q SUL TAN PASHA

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
FACULTY OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH
INFORMATICS
UMM AL QURA UNIVERSITY
MAKKAH AL MUKARAMA
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
It is estimated that at least 250 million
occupational accidents occur every year
worldwide. 335,000 of these accidents are
fatal (result in death).
 What is Occupational Health and Safety?

Occupational health and safety is a discipline with a broad scope

involving many specialized fields. In its broadest sense, it
should aim at:
 The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of
physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all
occupations;
 The prevention among workers of adverse effects on health
caused by their working conditions;
 The protection of workers in their employment from risks
resulting from factors adverse to health;
 The placing and maintenance of workers in an occupational
environment adapted to physical and mental needs;
 The adaptation of work to humans.
 Occupational Health and Safety

 The prevention, promotion and

maintenance of physical, mental, social and
spiritual wellbeing of workers in all
occupations
 Occupational Health

 Occupational Health is the promotion and

maintenance of the highest degree of
physical, mental and social well-being of
workers in all occupations by preventing
departures from health, controlling risks
and the adaptation of work to people, and
people to their jobs. (ILO / WHO 1950)
 Occupational Hygiene

 It is the art and science devoted to the

recognition, evaluation and control of
environmental stresses, factors or
hazards that may arise from or to the
workplace which may cause sickness,
significant discomfort or inefficiency among
the workers and to the surrounding
communities
 Occupational Medicine

 Occupational Medicine is the branch of clinical

medicine active in the field of Occupational Health.
It is concerned with keeping people well at work –
physically and mentally. This includes advising about
workplace safety and the prevention of occupational
injuries and disease, assessing fitness for work and
helping to rehabilitate those who have suffered
injury or sickness back into work. Occupational
health services are also used to assist organisations
in managing absence situations – both short and
long term. (Society of Occupational Medicine)
 Father of Occupational Medicine

 Bernardino Ramazzini, Italian Physician

De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Printed in 1700)
(Diseases of Workers)
It contains a description of the disease
associated with a particular work activity
followed by a literature analysis, workplace
description, questions for workers, disease
description, remedies, and advice
 Different Names for Same Discipline

 Occupational Health and Safety

 Occupational Safety and Health
 Occupational Hygiene
 Industrial Hygiene
 Occupational Medicine
 Occupational Health
 Routes of exposures

 Inhalation
 Skin contact (Dermal route)
 Ingestion (Oral route)
 What are the major types of hazards?

 Cultural Hazards such as unsafe working conditions,

smoking, poor diet, drugs, drinking, driving, criminal
assault, unsafe sex, and poverty
 Chemical Hazards from harmful chemicals in the air,
water, soil and food
 Physical hazards such as ionizing and non ionizing
radiations, illumination, high noise levels, thermal stress,
fires, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, tornadoes
and hurricanes,
 Biological hazards from pathogens (bacteria, viruses and
parasites), pollen and other allergens and animals such as
bees and poisonous snakes
 Ergonomic hazards, hazards associated with the non-
application of ergonomic principles. For example badly
designed machinery, mechanical devises and tools used by
workers, improper seating and workstation design, or
poorly designed work practices
 What are the major types of hazards?

 Ergonomics: The study of the relationship between

workers and their environment, especially the equipment
they use.
 Ergonomics is the study of how equipment and parts in
a vehicle can be arranged in the most efficient and
comfortable way.
 Ergonomics (from the Greek word ergon meaning
work, and nomoi meaning natural laws), is the science
of refining the design of products to optimize them for
human use. Human characteristics, such as height,
weight, and proportions are considered, as well as
information about human hearing, sight, temperature
preferences, and so on. Ergonomics is sometimes known
as human factors engineering.
 Occupational Diseases

 Asbestosis (caused by asbestos, which is common in

insulation, automobile brake linings, etc.)
 Silicosis (caused by silica, which is common in
mining, sandblasting, etc.)
 Lead poisoning (caused by lead, which is common in
battery plants, paint factories, etc.)
 Noise-induced hearing loss (caused by noise, which
is common in many workplaces, including airports,
and workplaces where noisy machines, such as
presses or drills, etc. are used)
Potentially crippling health problems

 Heart disease
 Musculoskeletal disorders such as permanent back
injuries or muscle disorders
 Allergies
 Reproductive problems
 Stress-related disorders
 Importance of Management
Commitment
 A successful health and safety programme
requires strong management commitment
and workers participation.
 The Importance of Training

 Effective training is a key component of any

health and safety programme
 Control of Hazards

 Elimination
 Engineering Control
 Administrative Control
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Engineering Control

 Substitution: Changing the Material

 Substitution: Changing the Process
 Isolation
 Ventilation-Local Exhaust ventilation and
General ventilation
 Administrative Controls

 Work period reduction

 Job rotation
 Appropriate work practices
 Personal hygiene
 Proper maintenance
 Personal Protective Equipment

 Respiratory Protection
 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
 Full face masks
 Half face masks
 Dust masks
 Gloves
 Aprons