Discussion Forum #7 - Essay Example

CHEMICAL EXPOSURES AS AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD TO DISEASE SURVEILLANCE During the of their work, people come across all kinds of constituents, physical proxies and varying working conditions; largely, some of these situations and anomalies are the core causes and contributors of diseases and injuries, on their own or together with other risk factors (Barry 2011). Due to this, it is essential for utter disease surveillance and research on exposure to occupational hazards and risk factors; assertively, this is essential primarily when the disease underdevelopment periods are extensive.

Disease surveillance by the epidemiologists should entail gathering information on the people in the workplace such as their occupations and stations, and recognizing the demographic group that is mostly exposed; typically, this can lead to primary prevention as more information is gathered (NIOSH 2001). Nonetheless, secluding and recognizing the primary cases may not necessarily be a basis of preventing the disease. Chemical hazards have become very common, especially in working environments and they are big barrier to comprehensive hazard surveillance (NIOSH 2014).

For instance, employees working at ports and other factory depots are familiar with chemical exposures from the shipping containers that produce residual gases especially prior to opening for unpacking. These situations call for evaluation of the exposures in order to identify the different breaks that epidemiologists can intervene and follow up for a solution that reduces or eliminates the exposures. The best method for countering chemical hazards should entail the specialist gathering information on acceptable limits of exposure, properties of the different chemicals and other related health factors that could be collaborating with a certain chemical (Barry 2011).

Secondly, the epidemiologists need to device ways to use for medical surveillance, ensure personal and respiratory protection for the workers; additionally, it is significant that the sanitation practices are also included as part of the precautions. There are challenges experienced when dealing with chemical exposures as a hazard for disease surveillance; such as establishing places where there is critical exposure, and how to counter certain chemicals, most of which are not common. Nonetheless, it is advisable that the epidemiologists apply criteria from the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Regulations that entail how to deal with a vast range of chemicals such as asbestos, acetic acid, bromine among others that are not common (SWA 2014).

People argue that there are thousands of hazardous substances making it hard to identify a single one as the core cause; however, there are different tactics that epidemiologists can apply to know such as the reverse approach where one knows that development or diagnosis of asbestosis results from high exposure to asbestos. Generally, frequent review is required for different surveillance systems such as the ones used for chemical surveillance to define whether they are serving their purpose and operations for the health of the community.

Moreover, epidemiologists and other core stakeholders should consider the significance of certain disease and injury before its surveillance initiates; largely, for a system to be fit for surveillance some factors such as the methods of collecting data, sensitivity and efficiency require evaluation (NIOSH 2014). All the same, chemical exposure workplaces require assessment and development to ensure virtuous work sanitation and reviewed practices on medical surveillance; also, the execution should help in growth and easy management of a health program that is effectual in all occupations.

REFERENCESBarry, L (2011) Recognizing and Preventing Disease and Injury: Occupational and Environmental Health, Retrieved on 1st October 2014, from http://sgh.org.sa/Portals/0/Articles/Occupational%20and%20Environmental%20Health%20-%20Recognizing%20and%20Preventing%20Disease%20and%20Injury.pdf National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (2001) Tracking Occupational Illnesses, Injuries and Hazards: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Retrieved 1st October 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2001-118/pdfs/2001-118.

pdf Safe Work Australia (SWA) (2014) Hazard Surveillance: Australian Strategy, Retrieved 1st October 2014, from http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/research/hazard-surveillance/pages/hazard-surveillance National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (2014) Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Retrieved 1st October 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/81-123/