T.S.Ravi Kumar M Sc N

Professor &

Head Emergency Nursing

Christian Medical College Vellore

Occupational Health –

Nursing Perspective

WHAT IS WORK & HEALTH

WORK / OCCUPATION

An essential human activity that occupy a considerable part of a person’s waking hours

Can be stimulating & rewarding

Can contribute to stress

HEALTH NOT merely the absence of disease BUT a state of complete

physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being

(Wellers, 2000)

What is Occupational Health?

WHO defined Occupational Health as;

‘the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental

and social well-being of workers in all occupations’

(Harrington & Gill,1992)

Concerned with two-way relationship of

WORK and HEALTH

What is Occupational Health Nursing?

Application of nursing principles in conserving the health

of workers at the workplace.

Based on principles of recognition, prevention and

treatment of illness, injuries.

Formally known as ‘Industrial Nursing’

Objectives

Maintenance and promotion of workers’ health and working

capacity (Health monitoring)

Improvement of working environment and work to become

conducive to safety and health (Worksite visits)

Development of work organizations and working cultures in

a direction, which supports health and safety at work

(Health Education )

The Scope of OHN practice

1. Prevention of ooccupational injuries

2. Prevention of ooccupational illness

3. Reducing work place hazards

4. Promotion of worker’s health

5. Restoration of worker’s health

(maintenance of worker’s health)

Occupational Injury & Illness

such as a cut, fracture, sprain, amputation, etc, that may results from a single instantaneous exposure or incident in the work department or during the course of work.

any abnormal condition or disorder, other than one resulting from an occupational injury caused by exposure to environmental factors associated with employment.

Work and Health

Exposure to health hazards in the workplace may

cause adverse health effects.

Disease development depends on;

host factors,

non-occupational exposure (lifestyles & hobbies),

environmental factors,

inherent properties of the agent,

exposure level,

exposure length &

other workplace stressors.

Cause and effects

Cause is

easy to see

Cause is

hard to see

Minutes Days Months Years Decades

Accidents

Welder’s Flash

Solvent

effects

Fume fevers

Musculo-skeletal disorders

Dermatitis

Stress

NIHL

Mesothelioma

Lung cancer

Leukaemia

Basic Principles of Disease Prevention

High

degree

of hazard

TERTIARY

PREVENTION

System of enquiry

SECONDARY PREVENTION

Limited evidence of hazard and exposure

PRIMARY PREVENTION

Higher level

of surveillance

Lower level

of surveillance

NURSING INTERVENTIONS

• Treatment / Referral

• Lung Function Test

• Personal Protective

Equipment

• Health Screening

• Early detection

• Health education

• Base-line health

assessment

• Elimination of

substances

Workplace Hazards Physical hazards

Chemical hazards

Biological hazards

Mechanical hazards

Psychosocial hazards

Ergonomic Hazards

Safety

Who are the Occupational Health Team?

Occupational health

physician

Occupational

Health Nurse

Occupational health

epidemiologist

Occupational hygienist

Industrial toxicologist

Industrial psychologist

Ergonomist

Occupational therapist

Physiotherapist

Health educator

Safety engineer

5 Major Roles of the OHN

Clinician/Practitioner (CMC)

Administrator

Educator

Researcher

Consultant

Clinician/Practitioner

Perform health surveillance

Provide direct nursing care

Collaborate, communicate and consult with

Occ. Safety & Health (OSH) team

Maintain accurate, concise and complete

records

Initiate referrals to hospitals and clinics

Conduct health screening programs

Cont…

Maintain professionalism and ethical

conduct

Adhere to legal requirements in

exercising duites

Administrator

1. Maintain awareness of technology, legal &

professional changes

2. Formulates policies for OH and Safety

Educator

1. Provide education programs to employers &

employees

2. Promotes integration of OHN practice into

nursing education

3. Utilise experts in OHS in planning &

coordinating relevant education programs

Researcher

1. Participates in the development & implementation

of research

2. Disseminates research findings to others through

presentation, publication & practice

3. Incorporates research results into own practice

4. Collaborates with other members of OH team in

developing & conducting research

Consultant

1. Offer needed guidelines for Occupational safety

norms

Conclusion

OHN to provide health care

with accountability,

respect for human dignity

self-worth and

to consider the ethical, spiritual,

cultural and corporate sensitivities.

Thank You