Occupational Health

1
Occupational Health
Professor Peter Sims Division of Public
Health The School of Medicine, University of
Papua New Guinea

• An exploration of a paradigm
• Work

HEALTH
DISEASE
2
Aim

• To show how
  The workplace can be both a threat to the
  health of the worker and/or an opportunity for
  health gain

3
The Objectives

• To determine the changing nature of work in human
  society and its implications for the health of
  the people
• To appreciate that a healthy workforce is more
  productive,efficient and effective
• To consider The diseases of occupations
• To examine the role of occupational health
  services

4
In the Sweat of Thy Face Shalt Thou Eat
Bread,till Thou Return Unto the Ground
Genesis Ch.2 V19

• Professor Peter Sims
• Division of Public Health
• The School of Medicine,
• University of Papua New Guinea

5
Human Happiness requires the fulfillment of
three key areas

• In our loves
• In our friends
• In our work

6
Ideas Around Work-labour As a Commodity,capital
Versus Labour,the Control of the Means of
Production

• Man as a machine
• Physical strength
• Repetitious
• Boredom
• Long hours
• Poor reward
• Expendable

• The dignity of labour
• Skills and trades
• Pride in craftsmanship
• Apprenticeship
• Price,shortage,reward
• Privilege and power
• The social bonds

7
The World of WorkIn the Past

• There was work for the unskilled
• 8-18 hours per day
• 5-6 days a week
• 52 weeks a year
• It was seasonal, sporadic,day labour
• The worker was used and discarded

8
Before the Industrial Revolution the Farm
Labourer worked long hours for small wages
The new factories were built in the towns Men and
women found low paid work,with long hours and
little security
9
Work in Transition

• The rise of union power and the realisation that
  a stable and well trained labour force was more
  effective in delivering a quality product,
  reliably in a competitive world produced
  stability of employment and often a
• Job for life

10
The World of Work Is Changing

• Shorter hours 6-8 hours per day
• Shorter weeks 4-5 days
• More holidays 46 week year
• Shorter working life-30years
• Work is more skilled,-more training is
  needed,-often contract work or part time,-we may
  do several different jobs in a lifetime and work
  for many employers

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The Modern Office
The Home Worker
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THE CHALLENGE-WORKER VERSUS OWNER
Not just for profit or higher wages but for HEALTH
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The Healthy Worker

• Is more productive
• Has less time off
• Is happier at work
• Is more likely to stay with that job
• Is worth training and investment

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Is This Person Fit to Do This Work?

• The physical and mental requirements of the task
• Physical health of worker- vision, hearing,
  speech, mobility
• Mental health- behaviour, motivation,learning
  ability
• Chronic illness or disability
• Work/employment record

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Pre-employment Screening

• Specific requirements
• Colour vision
• Height/weight
• Sex
• Age
• Fitness test
• Iq/personality

• Specific exclusions
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hepatitis carrier
• HIV ve
• Alcohol problem
• Criminal record

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Can We Keep This Person Fit at Work?

• Monitor the environment-dust,radioactivity etc
• Monitor the individual -blood tests,radiation
  badges, peak flow rate etc
• Monitor the workforce -patterns of sickness
  absence

• Training
• Protection
• Supervision
• Rewards
• Facilities
• Rest and meal breaks
• Positive health

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Occupational Diseases-some Classical Problems

• Bladder cancer Mesothelioma
• Asbestosis Silicosis
• Contact dermatitis Atopic eczema
• Farmers lung Occupational asthma

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Occupational Hazard
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Occupational Hazard
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Accidents at Work

• The major cause of Morbidity and Mortality
• Largely predictable and preventable
• Minor-a cut finger from a paperclip to
  Major-death from electrocution

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An Occupational Health Service

• Screen new employees
• Provide 1st AID training
• Monitor the workplace
• Review sickness rates
• Liaise with gp/hospital
• Health promotion (immunisation/smears/ exercise,
  smoking )
• Advice to management

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The Market place needs some rules-Rights and
Duties

• The Worker
• Security
• Sickness cover
• Pension
• Fair wages
• Honest labour

• The Owner/manager
• Reliable work force
• Well trained
• Minimal sickness
• Productive
• Fair conditions

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The ve -ve Stresses of Work

• Shift work Rest periods
• Production Demands TeamBuilding
• Quality standards Trust
  Management concern

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Output versus Stress
Output
Plateau
Decline
Optimal
Stress
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When things go wrong

• Strikes...Lockouts
• Process failures.....Faulty product
• Design failure....Staff stress
• Increased sickness..Absenteeism
• Human error...Accidents
• System fault....Disaster

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Some Special Areas

• Women at work
• Children at work
• 
  Prisoners

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Unemployment Underemployment

• Work for men and women
• Work that stimulates and enhances
• Work that is fairly rewarded and valued
• Work that keeps people healthy

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The Mental Health of the Worker

• Boredom-tedious and repetitious work
• Bullying-discrimination and harassment
• Alcohol-poor performance
• Absenteeism

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The Disabled Worker

• Impaired
• Handicapped
• Disabled
• Debarred

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Retraining Rehabilitation Retirement Redunda
ncy
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A Workplace Check list

• The Work Process-what is being done
• The Work force-who is doing it
• The hazards-what can go wrong
• The record-Accident and illness
• The Services-First aid, Occupational Health
• The ambience-Men, Management,Machines

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Conclusions

• Work is an important part of all our lives
• Work can endanger health or enhance it
• Many problems can be minimized or entirely
  prevented from existing knowledge
• Occupational Health Services can be the key to
  worker safety and wellbeing

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Bernardino Ramazzini 1633-1714 Professor of
Medicine at Padua
Medici munus plebios curantis est interrogare
quas artes exerceant In dealing with the
workman the doctor must think of the dangerous
trades