3 Occupational Diseases And How To Fight Them

1 Sep, 2021 | Cally | No Comments

3 Occupational Diseases And How To Fight Them

Ever since the beginning of the 20th century, occupational hazards have been recognized as a real danger to human lives. Back in the day that was an awareness of visible injuries and poor physical health that were a direct result of a bad working environment. It is fairly easy to combat this, by taking frequent breaks from work, and resting your body and your brain.

The past 100 years were heavily impacted by technological advancements, therefore many professions appeared and disappeared overnight. With every new job position that emerged, a new occupational disease was brought to light. And throughout all those years one thing remained the same though – the effects caused by occupational disease left a lasting mark on people’s lives. According to the data provided by ILO, there are over 2 million fatal cases of work-related diseases every year.

Occupational diseases are in fact diseases caused by a poor working environment. There is a number of ODs, and they all depend on the type of hazard that the worker is exposed to. In some countries, ODs are being fought with new regulations that require both the workers and the employees to follow safety measures in preventing them.

In this article, we will go over some of the most common occupational diseases and the way they can be prevented. 

Occupational Asthma

Constant exposure to chemicals like paint, insecticides, and insulation can cause asthma in workers. Although some may be more immune than others, extreme exposure on a daily basis will almost certainly leave permanent damage to the lungs. Asthma symptoms are usually characterized as difficulty with breathing, coughing, and other respiratory problems.

Preventing this occupational disease is very simple – avoid exposure to harmful factors. If the job position requires the worker to be exposed to such factors then there should be special measures introduced like a protective mask or limited exposure time.

Occupational Hearing Loss

Hearing loss at work can be caused by ototoxic chemicals and extremely loud noises. According to NIOSH, over 20 million workers are being exposed to noises that are above the recommended limit. One of the first symptoms can be a diminished hearing, and it can progress to a complete hearing loss. The recommended limit for every human being is 85 decibels, meaning that no one should listen to the noise that loud, even less be exposed to it for eight hours every day.

The number one tip for preventing these outcomes is not being exposed to any harmful factors. Personal protective equipment is helpful but only to a certain point. Before anything else, steps should be taken towards controlling, replacing, and setting time limits to noise exposure.

Occupational Contact Dermatitis

Any kind of working environment that includes allergens, chemicals, radiation, plants or animals can be the cause of contact dermatitis. Skin disease is one of the most common occupational diseases globally, and the reason for this is the ease with which skin diseases can be transmitted. All it takes is direct contact from the worker to any of the above-mentioned factors. Not all of these factors are dangerous for human life, but with radiation, the damage can be irreparable.

NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has discovered that over a dozen million workers in the USA are at risk of occupational contact dermatitis. 

The only way to stay out of harm’s way is by not getting into direct contact with any of the possible hazardous materials or sources. Or if the contact is required the employer should provide the worker with the necessary protective equipment.