Injury and Illness Prevention Program - Term Paper Example

Learning Objectives: At the end of the research, you will be able Identify some common illnesses and injuries found at work, and Enumerate ways to prevent and handle common injuries and illnesses at the workplace for an industrial worker. Introduction The workplace is a significant element of life for those with jobs. Normally, people spend at least eight hours at the workplace. Most workplaces are indoors and are usually safe, but for those who work in the chemical industry, workplaces are as dangerous as the substances and the equipment being used and made in the industry. Volatile materials and heavy machinery can pose a risk for the health of the workers. Injuries and illness in the workforce can cost companies huge amounts of time and money. Production slows down; health care has to be given, and if it is because of faulty facilities, compensation has to be made. The United States Department of Labor addressed this problem and created the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. This act is geared towards the prevention of injuries and illnesses found during work by requiring employers to provide safe, working conditions that are free from dangers for their employees. The act also made the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that serves as the enforcers of the law, and it implements standards that describe methods that employers must utilize to protect their employees from hazards. Some of these standards include fall protection, prevention of infectious diseases, limiting exposure to harmful substances, provision of safety equipment, and giving training for dangerous jobs. It is the workers’ right to be protected on the job (OSHA, n.d.). Overview of Illness and Injury in the Workplace In 2011, almost three million nonfatal workplace injuries were reported to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012). 94.8% of these consisted of injuries in the workplace while 5.2% accounted for illnesses. Among the 94.8% of injuries, there are 7 ‘compensable’ claims, which are serious injuries that really hurt the employees to the extent that they could not work, or are disabled. The seven compensable claims are: 1. Caught in/under/between - getting stuck and squeezed, pressed, or crushed in equipment 2. Falls from elevation - falling from a height such as ladders, roofs, elevated walkways 3. Falls at the same level - falls on a flat surface such as slips, trips, etc. 4. Struck by/against - hitting something or getting hit by an object. This includes noise because it can impact the eardrum. 5. Motor vehicle accidents - involving vehicles 6. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the lower extremities 7. Work-related musculoskeletal injuries of upper body - overexertion, kneeling, squatting, repetitive motion, heavy lifting, awkward positioning, hand pinching, gripping, or vibration. (Source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, n.d.) Other health hazards available in the workplace that can cause illness are non-communicable and communicable diseases. The common non-communicable diseases common in the adult working class are Heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes. These non-communicable diseases are a burden on the global workforce. According to the World Health Organization (2008), in 2005, Non-communicable diseases made up 60% of all deaths worldwide. Aside from affecting the workers and their families, these diseases can also affect the economy. One example is that the WHO estimates that China can lose around 558 Billion International dollars from 2005-2015 due to these non-communicable diseases. It is projected that the deaths from non-communicable diseases are going to increase by 17% within 2005-2015 because the population is aging, and because of multiple risk factors. The good news is that deaths from communicable diseases, malnutrition and complications from pregnancy and childbirth are expected to decrease within the same span of years. Communicable diseases are also threats to the workforce. According to AON (2008), infectious diseases in the workplace have the potential to increase the incidences of worker absenteeism, stress, productivity loss, and other economic consequences. They posted an example wherein between August 18 and December 25, 1987, a case of mumps caused a loss of more than 700 days of production, total medical costs of more than $56,000, and other serious complications between the 21 infected employees. The fact that technology has allowed us to travel faster, farther, and come in contact with more people has increased risk and the speed of infectious diseases spreading. The workplace is one of those places wherein a lot of people are in a confined space for a large amount of time; an infectious individual in the workplace can infect a lot of people this way. Imagine an office of 100 people. One person comes to work with an infectious disease. Over the course of the day, he will be touching door handles, passing objects to his workmates such as files and office supplies. He would be talking within 2 feet of other people; he would be physically in contact with a few of them through handshakes, bumps and getting crowded into the elevator. All these people are at risk for an infection. This can lead to all these people being absent from work, which can greatly affect the productivity of the business. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2012a), there are many situations in the workplace that can lead to injury or illness. There are physical hazards such as wires across paths, falling objects, and others; task-related hazards such as repetitive motion, prolonged work, and tasks requiring the worker to be fast; environmental hazards such as chemical exposure, outdoor exposure, and biological exposure; and design-related hazards like uncomfortable furniture or equipment and cramped working spaces, which can stress and injure the workers, while exposing them to sickness. These are all things that can be prevented. Why should these be prevented? Illness and injury in the workplace constitute an economic loss for the company. An epidemic might seem to be more costly in the short run, but in the long run, even the collective absences and work hours lost from random injuries and illnesses can accumulate and affect the company. It also affects the employees’ community and family. The employees’ family relies on him for nourishment; if he cannot work, they will have difficulty. The community likewise feels the ripple through a change in buying and selling habits brought about by sickness, to a more direct impact of an infectious disease spreading from work to the community. Aside from this, employers are also legally obligated to protect and provide a safe working environment. Not only do they have to provide them with safety equipment, they also have to design the workplace in such a way that injury is prevented. They also have to plan ahead to prevent overworking their workers, and preventing diseases from occurring. They have to provide trainings, as well as create action plans to handle any incidence of injury or outbreak in the workplace. These are required or placed as guidelines by multiple agencies such as the OSHA or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (OSHA, n.d.). Prevention For such a costly set risks, the best solution is prevention. Preventive measures for various hazards can be costly, but it cannot be more expensive than the damages if an incident will occur. Preventing and mitigating illnesses and injuries can save a lot of money and can improve the quality of life of the workers, thus, improving their productivity (AON, 2008). Non-communicable diseases are multifactorial diseases that are difficult to prevent, but with some effort, the chances to get them can be reduced. Many studies show that eating right and having a good exercise regularly can really help prevent these diseases. According to the WHO (2008), 80% of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancers can be prevented through affordable interventions that focus on managing the risk factors of these diseases. Risk factors: 1. Heart disease - hypertension, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight, sedentary lifestyle, family history of heart disease, age (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 2012). 2. Stroke - hypertension, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight, sedentary lifestyle, family history, medications, age (Sommers, Johnson, & Beery, 2007). 3. Cancer - depends on what cancer, but generally involves lifestyle. 4. Chronic respiratory disease - smoking, air pollution, allergens, increased blood pressure, increased cholesterol, being overweight and sedentary lifestyle (WHO, n.d.). 5. Diabetes - age, excess body weight, family history of diabetes, hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, metabolic abnormality, diabetes during pregnancy (Mayo CLinic staff, 2012). As you can see, there are many common risk factors that are controllable. Having a well-balanced diet and engaging in exercise can help reduce high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, being overweight, and blood sugar levels in diabetes. The exercise can also help get rid of sedentary lifestyle. Smoking is another risk factor that can be managed and stopped. Secondhand smoke can be avoided. Air pollution can be avoided, as well. These changes to lifestyle are the keys to preventing these non-communicable diseases, helping adults stay healthy. Communicable diseases can be prevented by being hygienic. Some hygienic practices to control infections would be: 1. Hand washing - this is the most important. People should wash their hands before and after using the washroom, after coughing or sneezing, after handling animals, after touching biological matter, after cleaning, and before eating. 2. Protective equipment- using gloves is recommended when handling biological materials. Face masks can further protect you from infection, especially with airborne pathogens 3. Cleaning and disinfecting - pathogens can be found on many surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting regularly can reduce the risk of infection 4. Proper disposal of waste - properly disposing waste material will prevent the proliferation of infectious pathogens. 5. Proper ventilation - diseases spread in poorly ventilated spaces. 6. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth or sneeze away from people. Wash hands after. 7. When sick with an infectious disease, reduce contact with other people to prevent the spread. (Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012) In preventing injury, designing your workplace properly can help a lot in keeping workers safe. The NIOSH has an initiative called Prevention through design which promotes design concepts that make workplace environments safer. Simple things like making the workplace uncluttered, or providing wider walkways, or using more stable materials can go a long way in preventing accidents. Ergonomic design uses designs in workplace equipment that reduces strain and stress on the workers (NIOSH, 2012b). For workers in manufacturing, construction, or mining, wherein there is exposure to heavy equipment and hazardous materials or environments, personal protective equipment is necessary. According to the NIOSH (2012c), personal protective equipment protects workers from fatal and disabling injuries and illnesses while saving them from the exposure to airborne particles, harmful chemicals, splashes, noise, falls, head hazards, and fires. It is part of the employers’ responsibility to provide these equipments and to train their workers on how to use them. Some common protective equipments are: 1. Hard hats/helmets - hard hats and helmets protect the head of the workers. Those prevent concussions and impact injuries to the head from falling objects and from falls. Commonly, hardhats are made of durable plastic, making it light while still providing protection. 2. Goggles and face shield - Goggles protect the eyes from splash, sharp objects and flashes of light that can damage the eyes such as that from arc welding. Eye protection depends on the job, the existing eye hazard, the kind of exposure, other equipment to be used, and personal needs of the worker. It should be adjustable and comfortable, allowing the individual protection while not limiting his vision. 3. Ear muffs, Ear plugs, or hearing protection - occupational hearing loss is the most common injury that can be found at work in the United States. Ear muffs, ear plugs and other forms of noise and hearing loss prevention are available for workers. 4. Face mask or respirator - inhalation of hazardous gases, or airborne biological hazards found in the workplace could have various harmful effects on the workers health. Respirators protect them in two ways: they filter out dangerous particles while the user breathes. This method can be found in most face masks and particulate respirators; they can also provide clean air from a different source. These respirators are called airline respirators and use compressed air from a distant source. Self-contained breathing apparatuses are another example, sporting a portable air supply. 5. Protective clothing - these devices protect the skin of the overall body from exposure; they are made of various materials, protecting people from various hazards from biological, chemical, thermal, or even environmental sources. Jumpsuits and hazardous material (Haz-mat) suits are examples. 6. Gloves - gloves protect the hands of workers from touching harmful materials. Just like the protective clothing, it is made of various materials to protect from chemical, thermal, electrical, biological, and environmental hazards. 7. Boots - Boots are sturdy and watertight and can protect the worker from hazards that they could step on or in. Rubber boots keep liquid chemicals from touching the feet while steel toed boots protect the workers’ feet from impact. The soles of these boots are usually sturdy and have traction to prevent objects from piercing it, and to prevent slips. (Source: NIOSH, 2012c) Conclusion The workplace is where most adults spend a third or more of their day. In this time, they are exposed to various forms of biological, chemical, physical, and environmental hazards. Protection from these hazards keeps the well being of these workers and their families, as well as the economy. Using these simple and accessible strategies, the workplace can be a safe and secure space that can only lead to higher productivity and better work satisfaction and quality of life. References AON. (2008). Infectious disease in the workplace. Retrieved from http://www.aon.com/about-aon/intellectual-capital/attachments/ risk-services/infectious_disease_in_the_workplace.pdf Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012). Workplace Injury and Illness Summary. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/osh.nr0.htm Department of Health & Human Services. (2012). Preventing communicable diseases: Key concepts, background information. Retrieved from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/health/Health/Health%20and%20Wellness/Health%20and%20Wellness%20Program%20Staff/health_lea_00221_070605.html#univ Mayo Clinic Staff. (2012). Type 2 diabetes: Risk factors. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes/DS00585/ DSECTION=risk-factors National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2012). What are the risk factors for heart disease? Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/ lower-risk/risk-factors.htm National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2012a). Office environment & worker safety & health. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/officeenvironment/ NIOSH (2012b). Prevention through design. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ptd/ NIOSH (2012c). Personal protective equipment. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/ Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.) OSHA: We can help. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/workers.html#6 Sommers, M., Johnson, S., & Beery, T. (2007). Diseases and disorders. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (n.d.) Injury fact sheets - seven common injuries. Retrieved from http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/AtoZ/InjuryFS/default.asp World Health Organization (2008). Preventing noncommunicable disease in the workplace through diet and physical activity. Retrieved from https://members.weforum.org/pdf/Wellness/WHOWEF_report.pdf WHO (n.d.). Risk factors for chronic respiratory diseases. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/gard/publications/Risk%20factors.pdf Read More