OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, the participants will

be able to:
Explain the basic concept of occupational health
Identify health effects of common hazards in

construction work
Identify ways to protect themselves from health

hazards

DATA

ON

OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
AND INJURIES

LOCAL STATISTICS
Top 4 Diseases in Construction Industry (n=1,928)
Musculoskeletal disorders
Tuberculosis
Occupational asthma
Occupational dermatitis
Source: 2009/2010 BLES Integrated Survey

Top 4 work-related claims (n=490)

Dermatitis and other skin diseases
Hypertension
Renal failure
Tuberculosis
Source: OSHC Study on EC Claims from SSS, 2001-2004

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Occupational Health Defined

(ILO / WHO)

The promotion and maintenance of the highest

degree of physical, mental and social well-being of
workers in all occupations by

PREVENTING
workers from
getting sick,

PROTECTING
workers from
health risks,

PLACING worker in
tasks adapted to
his ability.

Will exposure to hazards in the

workplace ALWAYS
cause injury, illness or other adverse
health effects?

Physical
properties

Age
Lifestyle

Duration of
exposure

Genes

Workers
response to
hazards

WORKRELATED
DISEASE

Workplace Frequency
of exposure
Factors
Magnitude of
exposure

Gender
Medical
history

Multiplicity of
exposure

Will exposure to hazards in the

workplace ALWAYS
cause injury, illness or other adverse
health effects?

ITS

HAZARDS AND
HEALTH EFFECTS

Health Hazards
Physical
noise, vibration, radiation,
defective illumination,
temperature extremes

Biological
viruses, bacteria, fungi,
parasites, insects, etc.

Chemical

dusts, gases, vapors,

fumes, mists, etc.
Ergonomic risks, psychosocial
and organizational factors
exhaustive physical exertions,
excessive standing, improper
motions, lifting heavy load, job
monotony, etc.

Examples of Hazards
OCCUPATIONS
Carpenters
Electricians
Painters
Demolition workers
Tile setters

HAZARDS
Wood dust, heavy loads, repetitive
motion
Heavy metals in solder fumes, asbestos
dust, awkward posture
Solvents, paint additives, toxic metals in
pigments
Asbestos, noise, lead, dust

Solvents from adhesives, awkward

postures
Pipefitters, plumbers Lead fumes and particles, asbestos

Examples of Hazards
OCCUPATIONS

HAZARDS

Masons

Cement, awkward posture,

heavy loads

Drillers

Noise, vibration, dust

Truck and equipment

operators

Noise, vibration, engine exhaust

Highway and street

construction workers

Asphalt emissions, heat, engine

exhaust

Welders, solderers

Welding emissions, metal fumes,

lead

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
NOISE
HEAT
VIBRATION
RADIATION

NOISE
Health Effects

Noise-induced Hearing
Loss
Decrease work
efficiency

Preventive Measures

Periodic hearing tests

should be carried out
Wear hearing protective
devices

NOISE: Preventive Measures

Otoscopic

Audiometry

Early Signs of Hearing Loss

Difficulty in understanding spoken words in a noisy
environment
Need to be near or look at the person speaking to
help understand words
Complaints that people do not speak clearly
Ringing noises in the ears (tinnitus)

HEAT
Health Effects
Heat cramps due to
excessive perspiration
Abdominal pain, leg
muscle cramps

Heat stroke due to

exposure to
environment with high
temperature/humidity
Heat stroke leads to an
increase in body
temperature and is
potentially fatal

HEAT
Preventive Measures
Frequent drinking of
fluids
Proper rest should be
taken during work
hours

Light clothing should be

worn
Local exhaust
ventilation system
should be used to
remove hot air around
objects generating heat

VIBRATION
Health Effects

Segmental
Vibration

Pain, numbness,
tingling, blanching
of hands

Whole body
Vibration
Spine
Disorder,
Fatigue,
Headache

Preventive Measures

RADIATION
Types

Sources

Health
Effects

Ionizing

X-rays

Cancer, congenital
defects, death

Non-ionizing

Ultraviolet
Infrared
Laser
Microwaves

Skin redness,
Premature skin
ageing, and Skin
cancer
Corneal and
Conjunctival burns,
Retinal injury and
Cataract

RADIATION: Health Effects

UV Keratitis

Cataract

RADIATION: Preventive Measures

CHEMICAL HAZARDS
LEAD

ORGANIC SOLVENT
DUSTS:

CEMENT, SILICA & ASBESTOS

LEAD
Source/
Exposure

Routes of
Entry

Welders
Inhalation
Solderers
Ingestion
Demolition workers
Painters

Health Effects

Anemia
Kidney damage
Miscarriages/infertility
Central nervous system
effects (irritability, memory
loss, convulsions, psychiatric
disturbance)
Symptoms of fatigue,
difficulty in concentration,
headache

LEAD: Preventive Measures

ORGANIC SOLVENTS
Source
Paints
Varnishes
Adhesives
Preservation

agents

Routes of
Entry

Health Effects

Inhalation Narcosis (depresses the normal

function of CNS) Headache, dizziness,
of vapors
drunken feeling, disorientation,
Skin
confusion, loss of consciousness,
absorption
short term memory

Reproductive: Infertility
Liver : Cirrhosis, Cancer
Respiratory : Pulmonary Edema
Kidney : Glomerulonephritis
Skin Effects : Irritative effects

ORGANIC SOLVENT:

Preventive Measures

ORGANIC SOLVENT:

Preventive Measures

DUST: Cement
Source
Cement Mfg.
Construction

Routes of
Entry
Inhalation
Skin
Absorption

Health Effects
WET POWDER
Skin - irritation
Eyes abrasion, irritation
DRY POWDER
Eyes irritation
Respiratory Tract irritation,
small airway disease,
pneumoconiosis
(accumulation of dust in lungs)

CEMENT: Health Effects

Cement Burns

Dermatitis

DUST: Silica
Source
Crushing
granite
Sand
blasting

Routes of
Entry
Inhalation

Health Effects

Pneumoconiosis (silicosis)
Increased risk of lung cancer
Pleural effusion
Tuberculosis
Bronchitis
Emphysema

DUST: Asbestos
Source
Fire /Heat
proofing
and
insulation

Routes of
Entry

Health Effects

Inhalation of Asbestosis
airborne
Lung Cancer
fibers
Bronchitis
Emphysema
Mesothelioma
(a malignant
growth in the
pleural lining
of the lung)

DUST: Preventive Measures

BIOLOGIC HAZARDS

- ANYTHING

OF BIOLOGICAL NATURE

- HAS POTENTIAL TO CAUSE HARM TO HUMAN

- VIRUSES, BACTERIA, FUNGI, PARASITES

TUBERCULOSIS
Chronic bacterial infection
Caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (tubercle bacilli)
Damages the lungs and other
body parts

Fatal if not treated properly

TB: Spreading the infection

When
a
person
with
contagious TB disease coughs,
sings, sneezes, or laughs, TB germs
can be forced from the lungs into
the air

Another person MAY breathe

in the germs
If the germs make it into the
lungs and are not killed by the
bodys immune system, the person
becomes infected

M. tuberculosis can exist in

the air for up to six hours,
during which time another
person may inhale it.

Signs and Symptoms of TB

cough

weight loss

afternoon fever

blood-stained
sputum

night sweats

Preventive Measures
Cover your mouth :

Clean your hands :

Top 10 Causes of Deaths in the Philippines 2009

Cause
1 Diseases of the heart

Number of cases

Percentage

100,908

21.0 %

2 Cerebrovascular diseases

56,670

11.8 %

3 Malignant neoplasm

47,732

9.9 %

4 Pneumonia

42,642

8.9 %

5 Tuberculosis

25,470

5.3 %

6 Chronic lower respiratory

diseases

22,755

4.7 %

7 Diabetes mellitus

22,345

4.6 %

8 Nephritis, nephrotic
syndrome and neprosis

13,799

2.9 %

9 Assault

12,227

2.5 %

10 Perinatal-period illnesses

11,514

2.4 %

All Other Causes of Deaths

124,758

25.9 %

Total Deaths

480,820

100 %

Source: 2009 National Statistics Office Data

DOTS Strategythe Solution!

Directly Observed Therapy Short Course

With DOTS
90% CURE RATE

TETANUS
An acute, often fatal disease characterized by
spasmodic contraction of voluntary muscles,
especially those of the neck and jaw.
Caused by the toxin of the bacillus Clostridium
tetani.
Typically infects the
contaminated wound.

body

through

TETANUS
Clinical Manifestations
Lockjaw
Sustained contraction of
the facial and back
muscles
Prevention
Active immunization
with tetanus toxoid
Careful wound
management

HIV/AIDS
HIV is the virus which causes AIDS.
AIDS is a serious and usually fatal condition in
which the bodys immune system is severely
weakened and cannot fight off infection.

Body Fluids with High Viral Load

Blood
Semen
Vaginal and cervical mucus
Breastmilk
Amniotic fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid

HIV can enter the bloodstream

During unprotected sex
Through transfusions of
contaminated blood or
blood products
Puncturing of the skin by
needle or sharps infected
with HIV
From an HIV positive
mother to her baby

HIV is NOT transmitted

How can I prevent transmission

of HIV ?

REMEMBER ABCDE!
Abstinence
Be Faithful to uninfected
partner
Condom use or safer sex
Do not inject prohibited
drugs
Education & ensure that
blood are screened for
HIV

ERGONOMIC RISK
FACTORS
RESULTING TO MUSCULOSKELETAL
DISORDERS

ERGONOMICS

(OSHA)

The science of fitting jobs to the people

who work in them
Goal:
Reduce musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs) in workers when major part of
the jobs involve

Work in which improper posture is

maintained

Prolonged Reaching/
Shoulder elevation

Bending

Kneeling/Squatting
Twisting

Work requiring abnormal amounts of hand

strength

Weight lifting work

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Health Effects : Musculoskeletal Disorders

(MSDs)
injuries and illnesses that affect muscles, nerves, tendons,
ligaments, joints or spinal discs

Common Symptoms of MSDs

Painful joints
Pain, tingling, numbness in hands, wrists,
forearms, shoulders, knees and feet
Shooting or stubbing pains
Swelling or inflammation
Low back pain
Neck/shoulder pain
Stiffness

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Preventive Measures
Redesign the work station

Preventive Measures
Take regular breaks from work
Alternate work tasks
Regular stretching

SMOKING AT WORK
Fires and explosions
Accidents
Tensions between
smokers and nonsmokers

SMOKING : Health Effects

Cancer
Heart diseases

Lung diseases and

asthma
Osteoporosis

What is your CHOICE?

The Impact of Alcohol on Health

Alcohol may cause or make worse:

Liver damage
Stomache ailments
Heart disease
Certain forms of cancer
Irreversible brain damage

Drugs of Abuse

Major Drugs of Abuse

The first is methamphetamine

hydrochloride commonly known as

Shabu, which is the main drug of abuse
The second is marijuana, which
grows naturally in the Philippines

The third is contact cement adhesives, e.g.

rugby

Impacts of Drugs at Work

A negative impact
on physical health
A negative impact
on mental health
A negative impact
on safety

A negative impact
on productivity

The Impact of Drugs

ON PHYSICAL HEALTH:
Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
Respiratory failure
Convulsions
Cardiovascular problems including
strokes and heart attacks
Certain forms of cancer
Liver or kidney impairment
HIV/AIDS

ON MENTAL HEALTH:
Altered perceptions
and emotions
Changes in personality
Decreased social
inhibitions
Paranoia
Anxiety
Irritability
Depression

The Impact of Drugs

ON SAFETY:

ON PRODUCTIVITY:

Distorted vision, hearing

and coordination

Increase health care costs

Loss of
concentration
and coordination

Sleepiness
Decreased
awareness of
touch and pain

Increase the number

of accidents
Increase absenteeism
Result in poor work
relations
Impair performance
Increase replacement costs

Therefore, the Use of Drugs at

Work Can Result in:
Increased costs
Decreased outputs
Which result in:

A lack of competitiveness
Lower enterprise viability

Lifestyle habits to prevent the

occupational diseases
Observe personal
hygiene
Exercise
Proper Diet
Enough sleep
Smoking Cessation
Drinking

Summary
Exposure to workplace hazards may have illeffects to the workers health.
Company policies and programs are important to
protect and monitor workers health.
Workers have roles in the promotion of their
own health by following company policies on
safety and health, participating in the
implementation of programs and through lifestyle
modification.

Be safe and stay healthy!

Thank you for listening!