Occupational Disease

Occupational
Disease
BY
PROF. LUCY MUCHIRI

MBCHB III/BDSIII
2024
Definition
 Occupational diseases
are diseases caused by work or work
environment
 Work-related diseases
are diseases initiated, hampered or easy
to get by work
Who is most affected?
 Occupational
disease occur among
workers exposed to specific hazards
 May also occur among the general
community as a consequence of
contamination of the environment from
the workplace
e.g lead, pesticides
Occupational Disease
 Occupational Disease occur due to exposure to

physical, chemical, biological or psychosocial factors
in the workplace
 These factors in the work environment are

predominant & essential in causation of occupational
disease
e.g.
1. Lead in the workplace  essensial for
lead poisoning
2. Silica  silicosis
Occupational Diseases
Factors:
 Occupational diseases are adverse health conditions in
the human being,
 The occurrence or severity of which is related to
exposure to factors on the job in the work environment
Major categories of
occupational illness by systems
 Musculoskeletal disorders
 Respiratory disorders
 Neurologic and psychiatric disorders
 Skin disorders
 Reproductive and development disorders
 Cardiovascular disorders
 Hematologic disorders
 Hepatic disorders
 Renal and urinary disorders
Occupational Diseases
Factors
Physical Heat, noise, radiation
Chemical Solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, dust
Biological Tuberculosis, Hep. B, HIV
Ergonomic Repetitive motion, improper designed

tools or work areas
Psychosocial Lack of control over work, inadequate
stressor personal support
Mechanical Mainly cause accident and injuries
Work Related Disease
 WHO categories work related diseases as “

multifactorial” in origin
 There are diseases in which workplace
factors may be associated in their
occurrence but need not be a risk factor in
each case
Epidemiology
 Workrelated diseases occur much more

frequently than occupational disease
 They are caused by interaction of several
extrinsic risk factors
 Working conditions can aggravate pre-existing
disease:
 Hepaticdysfunction can be aggravated by
exposure to certain chlorinated hydrocarbons
 Bronchial asthma can be aggravated by dust
exposure
 Renal disease can be aggravated by
inorganic mercury, cadmium and certain
solvents
Diseases related to
Working Conditions
 Frequently seen in the general community:

- hypertension
- ischaemic heart disease
- psychosomatic illness
- musculoskeletal disorders
- chronic non-specific respiratory
disease/chronic bronchitis
Differences between
Occupational Disease and Work-
Related Diseases
Work Related Diseases Occupational Disease
Occurs largely in the Occurs mainly among

community working population
Multifactorial in origin Cause spesific
Exposure at workplace may Exposure at workplace is

be a factor essential
May be notifiable and Notifiable and
compensable compensable
Costs of occupational and work-
related diseases
Recognizing
 Identification
of work-related medical
problems depend most importantly on
the occupational history
The Occupational History
1. Description of all jobs held

2. Work exposures
3. Timing of symptoms
4. Epidemiology of symptoms or illness
among other workers
5. Non-work exposures and other factors
History
 Hippocrates
the standard three questions

recommended
 name, age and residence
The component of an
occupational history
 Jobdescription/nature of job
 Hours of work/shift work
 Types of hazards
 Past occupation
 Other jobs
 Domestic exposures
 Hobbies
 Do other workers have a similar illness ?
 Relationship of illness to period away from work
Additional information in
occupational history
 Smoking/ alcohol intake/drugs
 Similar complaints among other workers
 Time relationship between work and
symptoms
 Degree of exposure
 Use of protective device
 Methods of materials handling
Screening for
Screening Approach :
1. History : questionnaire
2. Physical Examination
3. Tests :
1. Chest x-ray
2. Pulmonary Function Test
3. Biologic monitoring
4. Audiometry
Occupational diseases
ASBESTOSIS
Chronic inflammatory and fibrotic medical condition
Affecting parenchyma tissue of the lungs
Causes
Chronic Inhalation of asbestos
Clinical manifestations
 Dyspnea
 Reduction in lung volume
 Hypoxia
 lung cancer
 respiratory failure
Asbestosis
DIAGNOSIS
 History
 Physical examination
 X ray
 CT
 Lung biopsy
TREATMENT
 Broncho dilators
 Oxygen therapy
 Respiratory physiotherapy
 Postural drainage
 Nebulization
PNEUMOCONIOSES
DEFINITION
AN OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASE CAUSED BY
INHALATION OF DUST
TYPES
 COAL WORKER PNEUMOCONIOSES
 ASBESTOSIS
 SILICOSIS-MINERS PHTHISIS,GRINDERS
ASTHMA,POTTERS ROT. CAUSED BY CRYSTALLINE
SILICA DUST.
 BAUXITE FIBROSIS-IT IS A FORM OF
PNEUMOCONIOSES CAUSED BY BAUXITE
 BERYLLIOSIS-BERYLLIUM
 SIDEROSIS-IRON
 BYSSINOSIS -COTTON
DIAGNOSIS
 HC
 PE
 X-RAY
 CT
 LUNG BIOPSY
MANAGEMENT
 Broncho dilators
 Oxygen therapy
 Respiratory physiotherapy
 Postural drainage
 Nebulization
Occupational Disease in
Developing Countries
 Asbestos is a major cause of disability and ill
health
 Pesticides :
 Majority of workers in developing countries
are in agriculture
 Pesticidesare often applied by hand, or
without proper protection of workers who use
spray equipment
Occupational
Dermatoses
 The most common occupational disease
 Are almost always preventable by a
combination environmental, personal and
medical measures
Type of occupational
dermatoses
 Acute contact eczema
 Chronic contact eczema
 Chloracne
 Photosensitization
 Hypo/hyperpigmentation
 Keratoses
 Benign tumors and epitheliomas
 Ulcerss
Occupational cancer
 The
cause of many cancer still not
completely understood
 Epidemiologicalstudies  has been
associated with certain exposures
Preventing Occupational
Disease
1. Measures Applied to the Process or
Workplace
a. Substitution of a Non-hazardous Substance for
Hazardous One
b. Installation of Engineering Controls and Devices
c. Job Re-design, Work Organization Changes &
Work Practice Alternatives
2. Measures Primarily Directed Toward Worker
a. Education and Advice
b. Personal Protective Equipment
c. Organizational Measures
 To prevent occupational disease effectively,
health professionals must know how to
anticipate and recognize conditions in those
who present with symptoms and those who are
presymptomatic
The three levels of prevention
Primary Is designed to deter or avoid the occurrence
Prevention of disease or injury
Secondary Is designed to identify and adequately treat a
Prevention disease or injury process as soon as possible,
often before any symptoms have developed
Tertiary Is designed to treat a disorder when it has

Prevention advanced beyond its early stages, to avoid
complications & limit disability, to address
rehabilitative and palliative needs
Prevention of Occupational Disease
Primary Prevention Secondary Prevention
Control of new hazards Screening
Control of known hazards
Environmental monitoring
Biological monitoring
Identification of vulnerable Periodic medical examination
workers (pre employment medical
examination)
Substitution
Engineering controls to minimise
exposure
Personal Protective Devices
Prevention of
 Tertiary
prevention aims to minimize the
consequences in persons who already have
disease
 Thegoal is to limit symptoms or
discomfort, minimize injury to the body and
maximize functional capacity

Occupational Disease

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Occupational

PROF. LUCY MUCHIRI

 Occupational Disease occur due to exposure to

 These factors in the work environment are

Chemical Solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, dust

Biological Tuberculosis, Hep. B, HIV

Ergonomic Repetitive motion, improper designed

 WHO categories work related diseases as “

 Workrelated diseases occur much more

 Frequently seen in the general community:

Occurs largely in the Occurs mainly among

Exposure at workplace may Exposure at workplace is

1. Description of all jobs held

the standard three questions

Tertiary Is designed to treat a disorder when it has

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