Transcript Slide 1

Physical hazards
Dr Majid Golabadi
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS
 Physical
 Chemical
 Biological
 Ergonomic
 Psychosocial
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
 Noise
 Temperature
 Vibration
 Radiation
 Atmospheric pressure
Temperature
 Heat
 Cold
Noise
 Hearing loss
Vibration
 Whole body
 Hand arm
Radiation
 Ionizing
 Alpha,ß,
 X,gama
 Non-ionizing
 EMF, Radiofrequency ,Microwave
 Infrared (IR), Visible ,Ultraviolet (UV)
Atmospheric pressure
 Compress
 Decompression (caisson )
Vibration
 8-10 million workers in the USA exposed to
occupational vibration.
 Of these 7 million: Whole Body Vibration.
 Others: Hand Arm Vibration.
 Injury
 Loss of equilibrium
 Nausea
 HAVS
 CTS
Truck drivers & heavy equipment operators:
 Lumbar spinal disorders
 Hemorrhoids
 Hernia
 GI problems
 Urinary tract problems
Result of extended sitting+ vibration
Resonance (amplification):
 Vibration of the same frequency .
 WBV: 5 Hz
 WBV: <20 HZ
 Critical :3-5 Hz
Discomfort:2-11 Hz
 Musculoskeletal, neurologic, circulatory, and digestive
system disorders.
 Visual performance impairment: 10-25Hz
LBP ,intervertebral disc damage, spinal degeneration,
intervertebral osteochondrosis, calcification of discs.
Reproductive effects: SAB, congenital malformation,
menstrual changes.
Vibration sickness:
 GI problems, decreased visual acuity, labyrintine
disorders, intense musculoskeletal pain.
Vibration induced white finger (HAVS)
 Ranging from 5-1500 Hz
 Usually 125-300 Hz
 Cumulative trauma: at least 2000 hours and usually
over 8000 hours.
HAVS:
 Spasm of digital arteries (raynaud phenomenon):
damage of
 Peripheral nerve
 Vascular tissue
 Subcutaneous tissue
 Bones
 joints
Pathology:
 Arterial muscle wall hypertrophy
 Demyelinating pripheral neuropathy
 Connective tissue deposition
 Micro vascular occlusion
Clinical findings:
 Severe attacks:15 minutes to 2hours
 remove from exposures: reversible in 50%
symptoms:
 Tingling then numbness then white finger in cold.
 Intermittent blanching of tip of one finger.
 Progress to tip and base of all fingers.
 Progress to summer season.
Advanced cases:
Degeneration of bone & cartilage resulting:
Joint stiffness, restriction of motion, arthralgia.
Manual dexterity may decrease.
Clumsiness may increase.
Diagnosis:
 Exposure history & response to cold.
 Association with Raynaud phenomenon.
 Exclusion of idiopathic Raynaud disease & other
causes of Raynaud phenomenon.
Other causes of Raynaud phenomenon:
 Trauma
 Frostbite
 Occlusive vascular disease
 Connective tissue disorders
 Neurogenic disorders
 Drug intoxication
 Vinyl chloride monomer
Prevention:
 Wearing gloves
 Keep the hands warm
 Prevent long period of exposures
 Training
Avoidance from:
 Vasoactive drugs & cigarette smoking
Treatment:
 Removal from exposure
 Massaging, shaking, placing in warm water
For intractable episodes:
 Nifedipin 30-40mg/day
 Thymoxamine
For more sever cases:
 Stanozolol
 PGE
 Biofeedback & surgical sympathectomy