Transcript OH-illness diagnosis for GPsx

What is an Occupational Illness?
 Any illness mainly caused or significantly
aggravated by exposure to Health hazards in the
work environment.
 It must arise out of or in the course of
employment.
Health hazards
 Physical e.g. Noise, Heat, Cold, Radiation, Vibration
 Chemical e.g Metals (lead,Ni) Gases(H2S,CO,CO2)
Vapours, Benzene, Toluene, Dust (Asbestos, Silica).
 Biological e.g Bacteria, Viruses etc
 Ergonomics-work station design
 Psychological
When an illness is work related?
Has an illness occurred?
Steps before diagnosis
1st step
 Occupational History
- Job description & tasks
-Is causal agent/s present at work?
-Was employee exposed?
- List of previous employment & exposures
-Is exposure sufficient to cause illness?
- Duration and frequency of exposure
Is there any non-occupational exposure?
- Family history- genetic
- Past medical history
- Second job and hobbies
2nd step
 Clinical examination
3rd step
 Investigations
-Biological tests-urine, blood tests
-Radiological- X-ray, CT scan, MRI
- Physiological
4th step
 Site visit and exposure monitoring.
Combination of steps from 1-4 would help you
to make decision.
Final decision: Is the illness work-related i.e.
attributable mainly to occupational exposure or not?
Classification of Occupational Illnesses
1. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
Food poisoning, TB, infectious hepatitis, legionnaire‘s disease
2. Skin Diseases and Disorders
Contact dermatitis, Allergic dermatitis.
3. Respiratory Conditions due to Dust or Toxic Agents
Allergic Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis due to chemicals, dusts, gases, or fumes.
Pneumoconiosis (Coal dust, Silicosis, Asbestosis, Farmer’s lung (grain dust),
Byssinosis (cotton)
4. Poisoning (Systemic Effects of Toxic Materials)
Poisoning by metals e.g Lead, Mercury or other metals
Poisoning by gas e.g Carbon monoxide, Hydrogen sulphide, or other gases
Poisoning by solvents
Poisoning by pesticides
5. Upper limb and neck disorders e.g Mouse disease (RSI)
Classification of Occupational
Illnesses
6. Back problems and lower limbs disorder
7. Cancers e.g Mesothelioma; bladder cancer;
Leukemia
8. Disorders due to Mental Stress
9. Noise Induced Hearing Loss
10. Other Illnesses and Disorders
Eye conditions e.g Arc eye
Heat problems and Radiation.
Do we need to report and investigate occupational
illness? Yes, because of the following:
1. Moral obligations
2. Legislation
3. Negative Impacts

Employee(Death, disability, days away from work,
RW)
Employer

Costs(Litigation potential, sickness absence etc)

Reputation issue.

National income
4. Research purposes
Who should report suspected occupational illness?
 Employee
 Line manager/supervisor
 Medical professionals.
Occupational injury
Work injury is a case which results from
instantaneous work incident involving a single
event.
Can be external or/and internal
Examples
 Cut, amputation, laceration, bruise
 Fractures
 Strains and sprains
 Back disorders due to instantaneous event
e.g from slips, trips, sudden movements.
 Burns