Occupational Risks And Safety Measures
It is now widely recognized that exposure to chemicals, dusts, vibrations, noise, or radioactivity can be hazardous to health.
The industries concerned have, where possible, reduced the risks of exposure. For example, since the second world war, dust control measures has been introduced into coal mines and has lowered substantially the chances of miners developing Pneumoconiosis. Also, many industries have occupational health schemes and workers are screened for early detection of clinical signs of disease, since in many cases can prevent the disease becoming serious.
However, occupational diseases are likely to remain common. Quarry workers, miners, and other industrial workers will continue to be exposed to the hazards of asbestors, silica and other types of dust. Some agricultural workers may be susceptible to farmer's lung. People who work with viberating machinery may develop Raynaud's disease and possibly occupational hearing loss. People who work with asbestors, tar and tar derivatives, certain chemicals, or radioactivity compounds, are known to be at increased risk from cancers. The health of such people needs to be monitored regularly throughout their lives, since occupational cancers may develop 30 years or more after exposure to the carcinogen.
Accidents at work remain a major cause of death and disability. Some occupations notably in the construction industry, the offshore oil industry, and deep sea fishing are unavoidably hazardous. However, the accident rate can be kept to a minimum by close monitoring of safety standards. Thus, no list of potential hazards can cover all the possibilities. For one thing, there are always new industries developing that create different kinds of work, and these jobs may lead to disorders of the body or even the mind. Then, two, unsuspected links between certain jobs and diseases may still be discovered. There is recent evidence, for instance, that workers exposed to certain chemicals used in the industrial manufacture of polyvinyl chloride(pvc) are susceptible to cancer of the liver. Infact, virtually every job has its health risks. If you are safely seated at a desk all day, you are more likely than others to develop coronary artery disease. In general, however, you are most at risk of a specific job-related disorder if your occupation exposes your respiratory system to chemicals, dusts, or harmful gases.
Nevertheless, there is need to take measures to avert this possible occurances. Today most of the obvious occupational hazards are
recognized and publicized, and employers are legally mandated to take steps to safeguard health and minimize accidents. If your job is even
slightly risky, be sure you understand what the hazards are. Your employer or union representative should have leaflets or other information on the subject. Then make sure you take all recommended safety precautions and wear approved protective clothing. Use the ear plugs or muffs provided if you work with noisy machinery, to protect your ears from occupational hearing loss. Never trust your luck instead of wearing a hard hat on a construction site. Finally, take advantage of every safety precaution that is available to you.
The industries concerned have, where possible, reduced the risks of exposure. For example, since the second world war, dust control measures has been introduced into coal mines and has lowered substantially the chances of miners developing Pneumoconiosis. Also, many industries have occupational health schemes and workers are screened for early detection of clinical signs of disease, since in many cases can prevent the disease becoming serious.
However, occupational diseases are likely to remain common. Quarry workers, miners, and other industrial workers will continue to be exposed to the hazards of asbestors, silica and other types of dust. Some agricultural workers may be susceptible to farmer's lung. People who work with viberating machinery may develop Raynaud's disease and possibly occupational hearing loss. People who work with asbestors, tar and tar derivatives, certain chemicals, or radioactivity compounds, are known to be at increased risk from cancers. The health of such people needs to be monitored regularly throughout their lives, since occupational cancers may develop 30 years or more after exposure to the carcinogen.
Accidents at work remain a major cause of death and disability. Some occupations notably in the construction industry, the offshore oil industry, and deep sea fishing are unavoidably hazardous. However, the accident rate can be kept to a minimum by close monitoring of safety standards. Thus, no list of potential hazards can cover all the possibilities. For one thing, there are always new industries developing that create different kinds of work, and these jobs may lead to disorders of the body or even the mind. Then, two, unsuspected links between certain jobs and diseases may still be discovered. There is recent evidence, for instance, that workers exposed to certain chemicals used in the industrial manufacture of polyvinyl chloride(pvc) are susceptible to cancer of the liver. Infact, virtually every job has its health risks. If you are safely seated at a desk all day, you are more likely than others to develop coronary artery disease. In general, however, you are most at risk of a specific job-related disorder if your occupation exposes your respiratory system to chemicals, dusts, or harmful gases.
Nevertheless, there is need to take measures to avert this possible occurances. Today most of the obvious occupational hazards are
recognized and publicized, and employers are legally mandated to take steps to safeguard health and minimize accidents. If your job is even
slightly risky, be sure you understand what the hazards are. Your employer or union representative should have leaflets or other information on the subject. Then make sure you take all recommended safety precautions and wear approved protective clothing. Use the ear plugs or muffs provided if you work with noisy machinery, to protect your ears from occupational hearing loss. Never trust your luck instead of wearing a hard hat on a construction site. Finally, take advantage of every safety precaution that is available to you.
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