Environmental and occupational influences on health (1) Flashcards
Give some direct pathological effects of health on the environment
- Physical eg radiation
- Chemical eg pesticides
- Biological eg infectious agents
Give some indirect effects of health on the environment
- Housing eg overcrowding
- Transport eg encouraging walking or car use
- Town planning eg access to amenities
- Income/welfare/wealth distribution
Define hazard
Something with the potential to cause harm
Define risk
The likelihood of harm occurring
Define risk factor
Something that increases the risk of harm
Define protective factor
Something that decreases the risk of harm
Define susceptibility
Influences the likelihood that something will cause harm
Give some broad categories of hazard
- Physical
- Chemical
- Mechanical
- Biological
- Psychosocial
Give some routes of environmental exposure
Skin/blood/sexual /inhalation/ingestion
What 3 principles govern the perception of risk?
- Feeling in control
- Size of possible harm
- Familiarity with the risk
Give some individual variables in risk perception
- Previous experience
- Attitudes towards risk
- Values, beliefs
- Personality
- Socioeconomic and demographic factors
Give some examples of occupational conditions
- MSK issues eg back pain
- Occupational dermatitis
- Psychological illness eg stress
- Asthma
- Mesothelioma
- Trauma
What is a fit note
Deciding if a patient is fit to work or whether they need signed off by a doctor - is not binding to the employer and does not affect statutory sick pay
