Occupational Health for

Health Care Workers (HCWs)

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

PHYSICAL, MENTAL & SOCIAL WELL BEING IN RELATION TO

WORK AND WORK ENVIRONMENT.

Occupational Diseases

Occupational diseases have a long latent period.

Most occupational diseases cannot be treated.

All occupational diseases can be prevented.

“ What the mind does not know,

the eyes do not see”

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

Physical Hazards

Chemical Hazards

Biological Hazards

Mechanical Hazards

Psychosocial Hazards

Pre-employment Medical ExaminationTo determine the physical and

emotional capacity of the individual to perform the job.

To provide base line health data for epidemiological and legal purposes.

To counsel the person for correction of diseases / habits which may harm later.

Periodic Medical ExaminationEvaluation of general health status.

Earliest detection and prevention of work related disorders.

Early detection, control and prevention of any health disorder which may affect the ability to perform the job.

To detect deviation in health status from base line data.

Detection of infectious / communicable diseases which may affect others.

Who is a Health Care Worker?

Doctor

Dentist

Nurse

Lab technician

Radiology technician

Physiotherapist

Pharmacist

Laundry worker

Maintenance staff ………..

Occupational Risks in Various Areas

Clinical

Surgical

Laboratory

Radiology

Physiotherapy

CSSD

Maintenance

Housekeeping

Laundry

Food Handlers

Others

Common Concerns

Shift Work

Emotional Stress

Ergonomic

Slips, trips, falls

Violence

Preventive Measures

Universal Precautions

Training & Education

Medical Surveillance

Immunization

Identify, Monitor & Control exposures

Stress Management

Violence Prevention Program