OCCUPATIONAL

HEALTH AND
SAFETY
DR ELIJAH KAKANDE

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 DEFINITION

  The identification and control of

the risks arising from physical,
chemical, and other workplace
hazards in order to establish and
maintain a safe and healthy working
environment.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK- a human right

 United Nations Universal declaration of Human Rights, 1948 states that:

Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable
conditions of work …(Article 23)

 The United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
1976, reaffirms this right in the following terms:
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the
enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work, which ensure, in particular:…(b)
Safe and healthy working conditions …
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OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

1. Physical hazards
A physical hazard arises when use of a chemical is potentially dangerous due,
for example, to the possibility of explosion, fire, or violent reaction with
water. E.g. Peroxides, sulfuric acid, diethyl ether, and phosphorus
pentachloride are.
2. Chemical hazards,
A chemical/substance is a health hazard if it produces acute or chronic
health effects in exposed individuals. E.g. carcinogens, toxic agents,
irritants, corrosives, insecticides
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3. Biological hazards
A biological hazard is one that is posed to humans by a biological organism or by a
material produced by such an organism. The risk can be direct through infection or
indirect through damage to the environment. e.g., parasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi
and biohazardous materials with terrorist/weapons potential.
4. Ergonomic hazards
An ergonomic hazard is a physical factor within the environment that harms the
musculoskeletal system e.g. repetitive movement, manual handling,
workplace/job/task design, uncomfortable workstation height and poor body
positioning.
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 PRINCIPLES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

1. All workers have rights which must be protected by governments, employers and workers
themselves.
2. Occupational safety and health policies must be established and implemented at all levels
3. A national system for occupational health must be formulated, implemented, monitored, and
evaluated periodically.
4. Employers and workers must be consulted during formulation, implementation and review of
OHS policies and systems.
5. OHS programmes must aim at both prevention and protection

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 PRINCIPLES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

6. Continuous improvement of OHS must be promoted through periodic review of policies

and laws to keep up with technical and scientific progress.
7. Compensation, rehabilitation, and curative services must be made available to workers
who suffer occupational injuries.
8. Education and training of workers and employers are vital components of safe, healthy
working environments
9. Policies must be enforced to ensure compliance

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CHALLENGES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

 Lack of personal protective equipment

 Understaffing
 Lack of political will- governments gain from relaxed laws on OHS
 Lack of strong scientific evidence due to a weak scientific community in this field
 Laws on OHS have not been upgraded to represent changing working
environments
 There are gaps in training of workers about occupational health and safety in the
workplace
 Lack of funding to enforce OHS policies.
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 Occupational Health Hazards among Healthcare Workers in
Kampala, Uganda- Ndejjo et al, 2015

50.0% of respondents reported experiencing an occupational health hazard.

39.5% experienced biological hazards
31.5% experienced nonbiological hazards.
Predictors for experiencing hazards
not wearing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE),
working overtime,
 job related pressures, and
working in multiple health facilities.
Control measures to mitigate hazards were
availingseparate areas and containers to store medical waste and
provision of safety tools and equipment 08/31/2020