PREVENTION OF

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

1. MEDICAL MEASURES

2. ENGINEERING MEASURES

3. LEGISLATION MEASURES

1. MEDICAL MEASURES

(a) Pre-placement examination – It is the foundation of efficient occupational health services. Worker’s medical, family, occupational, social history is taken. Thorough physical examination, x- ray, ECG, vision testing, urine and blood examination. In this way a right person is employed for right job (ergonomics). Pre-placement examination is also necessary for future comparison. Some industries do not do this job like small scale industries, mines, etc. Examination should be frequent. Care to be taken of the employees returning from sickness.

(b) Periodical Examination – it is

necessary because sometimes disease

develops during working hours after days or

weeks. So recognition of disease in time is

necessary to cure. This frequency may be

once a year or once a month or once a

week depending on type of the industry,

particularly the workers returning from

sickness.

(c) Medical and Health Care Services – It is

basic health care service. ESIS provides

medical care to worker and his family. First

aid services be provided whenever

necessary which can reduce suffering and

disability. Timely immunization be given

whenever necessary.

(d) Notification – Some diseases require notification to higher authorities under the Factories Act for taking necessary steps for control, investigate the circumstances and situation.

(e) Supervision of working environment – Frequent visits by the physician to be given to the working place to know about environment like temperature, lighting, ventilation, humidity, noise, space per worker, air pollution and sanitations which may exert ill effect on the health of worker. Night work, shift work, weight lifting should also be observed.

(f) Maintenance of records – Proper records be maintained for planning, development and efficient operation of service.

(g) Health education and counseling –Workers be educated for correct use of protective devices like mask, gloves, apron, boots. Hand washing, pairing the nails, bodily cleanliness be explained. Education can be given by charts, posters, hand bills.

2. ENGINEERING MEASURES

(a) Design of building – Type of floor, walls, height, ceiling, roof, doors and windows should be properly constructed before the start of occupation, because change can not be done afterwards.

(b) Good house keeping –Attention be given to general cleanliness, ventilation, lighting, washing, food arrangements. Dusts should be cleaned by vacuum or by weight agents. Devices, equipments be kept clean. The right thing should be in the right place.

(c) General ventilation – Provision of fresh air incoming and bed air out going should be available. Sufficient space be provided to each worker for comfortable working. Good ventilation decreases airborne hazards specially dust and gases.

(d) Mechanization – The plant be mechanized to the fullest extent to reduce direct contact with harmful substances. In this way diseases like dermatitis may be prevented.

(e) Substitution – Replacement of a harmful material by a harmless one. For example white phosphorus can be replaced by phosphorus sesquisulphide in match industry. Zink and iron paints may be used in place of lead paints

(f) Dusts – They can be removed by wet cleaning, exhaust fans.

(g) Enclosure – Some machine like grinding machinery should be enclosed to stop pollution of the air.

(h) Isolation – The places, where offensive process is occurring should be isolated to save the other workers exposure. Certain operation may be done at night shift.

(i) Protective devices – Devices like respirators, ear plugs, ear muffs, helmets, safety shoes, aprons, gloves, gum boots, screens, goggles should be used by the workers for their safety.

(J) Monitoring Environment – Permissible limits for dust and gases in the air should be monitored periodically. Other factors like heat, ventilation, lighting should be monitored by the doctors and engineers jointly.

3. LEGISLATION MEASURES

For the protection of the workers engaged

in different occupations, Government has

employed certain laws:-

1. Factories Act, 1948

2. Employees State Insurance Act, 1948

3. Mines Act

4. Minimum Wages Act

5. Maternity Benefit Act etc.

These rules and laws are providing legal

safety and aid to the worker and the family in

form of leaves with wages, financial aid,

definite hours of work, ergonomics, ban on

child labour, medical benefit, sickness

benefit, maternity benefit, disablement

benefit, dependant’s benefit, funeral

expenses and rehabilitation facilities.

Thanks