Lecture 6: Occupational Health Flashcards
What is the main focus of occupational health?
Primary prevention of hazards
What is the mission of OSHA?
- Settling and enforcing standards
- Providing training, outreach, education, and assistance
- Adapt the work to the workers and each worker to his or her job
When are fit-to-work exams performed?
- Starting a new position
- Regularly scheduled followups
- Excusing an employee from their job
- Employee away from work
- Employee returning to work
- Patient request
Under what circumstances can a job applicant be refused in regards to fit-to-work?
- Applicant health is not compatible with conditions
- Conditions ALSO cannot be reasonably altered
What are the 4 basic steps of a fit-to-work exam?
- Determining work conditions
- Determining health standards
- Determining employee health
- Final Decision
What are the 6 fit-to-work determinations?
- Fit to work
- Temporarily fit
- Fit, subject to work modification
- Temporarily fit, subject to work modifications
- Temporarily unfit
- Permanently unfit
No permanently fit designation
Who gives DOT physicals and who needs them?
- Mandated by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Any commerical drivers: buses, trucks, UPS, etc.
What are the 4 major categories of workplace hazards?
- Physical hazards
- Ergonomic hazards
- Chemical hazards
- Biological hazards
What is mesoamerican nephropathy?
CKD in young, agricultural wokers that is associated with repeated episodes of heat stress, hypovolemia, and loss of minerals
How can we reduce risk of workplace hazards?
- Education/training
- Fit-testing and PPE
- Compliances with routine medical exams
What two forms are helpful in getting occupational disease history?
- St Louis University Occupational Health Program Form
- Veterans Administration Occupational and Environmental Exposure History
What are the goals of respiratory safety?
- First: prevent general atmospheric contamination
- Secondary: Use of appropriate PPE
What are the goals of hearing protection?
- First: Minimize exposure to and prevalence of harmful noise levels
- Use of appropriate PPE
What industry is the #1 cause of hearing loss?
Manufacturing
At what decibel level do OSHA regulations begin?
85
