| "Employment is nature's physician and is essential | | | | a persistent cough/phlegm, shortness of breath |
| for human happiness" Galen, ca 180 AD. In 2003 | | | | and chest infections. Once the damage of COPD |
| 04 30 million working days were lost to illness that | | | | has taken effect it cannot be reversed. COPD is |
| were caused by work related issues. Two million | | | | damaged airways in the lungs, causing them to |
| people believed they were suffering from a work | | | | become narrow, making it harder for air to get in |
| related illness in 2003/04. ½ a million people | | | | and out of the lungs.o Silicosis - The Oldest of all |
| were said to be suffering from stress/depression | | | | work related diseases. It develops over time |
| or anxiety. 183,000 claimed to have breathing or | | | | when dust from Silica is inhaled into the lungs. A |
| lung problems. Hearing problems were sustained | | | | persistent cough, with or without sputum, |
| by 81,000, skin problems by 31,000 and heart | | | | shortness of breath and chest tightness are all |
| disease/attack by 66,000. | | | | symptoms of Silicosis. All of these usually appear |
| These harrowing figures are a shocking insight into | | | | over many years of exposure to high levels of |
| the abuse of health and safety in the work place. | | | | Silica dust, with the tissue of the lungs becoming |
| Although these figures have improved slightly | | | | damaged by Fibrosis and being replaced with solid |
| now; health concerns due to occupations are still a | | | | nodules of scar tissue. Even after the exposure |
| major problem. | | | | stops, the disease still progresses.o Asbestos - |
| An occupational disease is a chronic ailment that | | | | work related disease due to asbestos exposure |
| occurs as a result of work. It is when symptoms | | | | can be highly serious. Mesothelioma is cancer of |
| of diseases are more prevalent in bodies of | | | | the pleura and asbestosis is a form of lung |
| workers than the general public. | | | | fibrosis, both of which are a direct result of |
| Improving organisation, work practises, addressing | | | | asbestos, as well as bronchial cancer.o |
| issues such as workload (over or under), matching | | | | Occupational Lung Disease - covers a range of |
| workers skills to their jobs and having clear lines | | | | damage, affecting things such as the tubes that |
| of accountability and responsibilities are all | | | | carry air in and out of the lungs (airways), the |
| appropriate steps to prevent ill health occurring in | | | | tiny air sacs where oxygen is transferred from |
| the work place. The right work patterns, security | | | | the air we breathe into our blood stream. Other |
| and ensuring a 'happy' work place as well as good | | | | damage may affect the thin lining between our |
| communication and safe working practises not | | | | lungs and ribcage. Symptoms include chest pain, |
| only improve the safety of the work place but | | | | prolonged coughing, breathlessness and wheezing.o |
| also creates a better working environment. | | | | Occupational Asthma - it has been said that by |
| Examples of occupational disease are:o Black lung | | | | 2010, the cases of occupational asthma are to be |
| disease - normally seen in coal mining industryo | | | | reduced by 30%. Occupational Asthma remains |
| Carpel Tunnel Syndrome - occurs when the | | | | the most common form of work related illness. |
| median nerve, which runs from the forearm into | | | | Dust from flour and grain; Industrial baking, farm |
| the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the | | | | work, grain transport. Wood dust, from hard |
| wrist. The symptoms are usually burning, tingling, | | | | wood, western red cedar, carpentry, joinery and |
| or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and | | | | sawmilling. Colophony, mostly found in soldering |
| the fingers, especially the thumb and the index | | | | fumes but also present in glues and floor cleaners |
| and middle fingers with some people even stating | | | | Dust from latex rubber, from jobs involving latex |
| their fingers feel useless and swollen even though | | | | gloves used in nursing and dentist work. Dust |
| they appear fine.o Radiation Sickness - seen in the | | | | from insects and animals are all causes of |
| nuclear industryo Byssinosis - disease of the lungs | | | | Occupational Asthma. |
| caused by breathing in cotton dust or dusts from | | | | The above list is only a small section of work |
| other vegetable fibers such as flax, hemp, or sisal | | | | related illness and disease that can affect many |
| while at worko COPD, Chronic Obstructive | | | | employees. |
| Pulmonary Disease - the symptoms of COPD are | | | | |