INDUSTRIAL HEALTH

Industrial health in relation with the conditions specially to the industrial conditions of the workers can be dealt with the worker,environments,the machinery,the materials used,and method and process of work,,.All buildings,temporary or permanent must be structurally safe and sound to with stand the strain and stress of machinery and single storey construction is the usual rule as it helps flexibility to lay out. It is easier to manage natural ventilation and natural light can be obtained in it by a combination of walls and roof lighting. By care full orientation,direct exposure to the tropical sun can be avoided. protection conducted heat can be achieved by a choice of suitable material. Spreading of  the surface area of walls and ceilings with asbestos reduces the noise of machines and also makes

building fireproof.Work-rooms must be provided with natural and/or artificial lighting.Recently,the fluorescent lamps/tubes in strip lighting is being increasingly used due to their efficiency is high and running costs are law.They give a uniformity of illumination and low heat formation with absent of shadows.But after some time it starts flicker effect,and it is danger,so immediately changed and voltage must be checked and the chock and starter of the tube should be renewed.

Efficient ventilation must be provided in work rooms by natural and artificial means to eliminate stagnation of air,excessive heat or cold and excessive humidity and dryness and objectionable ordours. Clean and fresh air should be supplied to all rooms/enclosed work places at an average rate of not less than 30 to 50 cum per hour per worker or a complete change of air at a rate varying from six per hour for sedentary workers to ten hour for active workers.If a good supply of fresh air could not be maintained by natural ventilation to the centre rooms mechanical ventilation should be provided,All dust,fumes,gases,vapours or mists generated and released during industrial process must be removed at their point of origin.Funnels,flues and vents should be used to extract dangerous fumes vapours,mists and smoke from the immediate vicinity of the workers,All employees should be protected from radiant heat and excessive temperature from heated machines and hot process by the heat insulation of the of the equipment or by suitable protective clothing.Suitable thermal comfort and working comfort should be maintained to all industrial/factory employees to achieve maximum productivity,Seats and work benches should be provided to all workers who can perform their work in sitting posture.Work tables also must be of convenient height with regard to that of the seats.

Sanitary conveniences like toilet rooms,latrines and urinals should be provided in sufficient number as per accommodation.For female workers separate sanitary convenience must be provided as per the strength of female workers.Washing places should be conveniently located.Sufficient washing facilities for maintaining personal cleanliness should be provided in all industrial establishments.For persons whose work  involves contact with any injurious and noxious substances there should be at least one tap for 15 persons.Mixing valves for shower baths,if provided should be a such a type and so installed and adjusted that water can not be supplied at a temperature exceeding 100 degree Fahrenheit.Shower baths and flooring should be thoroughly cleaned at least once in a day and disinfected to prevent fungal infections,All industrial establishments must have suitable and sufficient arrangements for accommodating clothes of workers and drying them,A separate working room should be provided for all employees whose working clothes are exposed to contamination with poisonous materials,infections and irritating or radio active substances.Benches or other suitable seating arrangements are necessary in dressing rooms.

A sufficient supply of cool and safe drinking water should be provided for in a readily available place in all work places.Closed electric water coolers are ideal and most hygienic.Proper care must be taken to prevent contamination in water tanks and other containers.if water cooler is not provided.Section 18 of factory act says a minimum scale of drinking water per day per worker.House-keeping implies general cleanliness and orderliness of the plants,the tools and the products.Cleaning and working must be done during none-working hours.For any technical reason,cleaning must be done during working hours.Wet mopping of floors after sweeping or vacuum cleaners are to be used as a routine method.Wet work process should be done in dusty industries and effective drainage has to be maintained.False floors,platforms,mats or other dry standing places with suitable foot wear for use must be provided. While at work on an oily or greasy working places floor constitutes the commonest slipping hazard.House-keeping means keep the working places neat and clean.Due to improper house-keeping is a another cause of accidents.Many a punctured wound is a result of stepping on the screws,nails and other sharp objects carelessly thrown on floors.Infestation of rodents,vermin and insects should be eliminated by control measures.Protective fencing around factory/industry should be installed to avoid hot pieces of iron coming out from the furnaces before cooling.

Accidental injury due to machinery is the most important industrial hazard.It is due to various causes,like bad house keeping,faulty and unguarded machines and carelessness,etc.Most of the accidents are preventable by the close collaboration of safety officer,engineer,welfare officer,chemist and hygienist and medical officer.There fore,workers must be educated and trained in various industrial processes and handling of various different types of machines.The materials handled and industry uses and makes wide range of materials/substances which are known or suspected to cause toxic effects in the employees working with them.Industrial toxicology deals itself with the study of various substances used in industry either as media for processing some materials or as raw materials or the finished product.Things used solids,liquids and gases-may produce dusts,fumes,gases and rays.which may be inhaled,swallowed,absorbed by skin or attack the skin and cause harmful effects like occupational hazards and diseases.Where ever practicable the use of offending substance should be prohibited.failing that,a harmless materiel should be substituted for the harmful one.For example,use of yellow phosphorus has been prohibited in match factory under international law;sand-blasting may be substituted by shot blasting.Gasoline derivatives may be used in place of benzol as solvents.

Total enclosure of plant.personal contact with harmful materials such as dusts,fibres,fumes,gases mists or vapours into the air of the work room would be prevented.Elimination of the dangerous products by suction hoods properly connected to efficient exhaust systems where an air tight apparatus can not be used.Where practicable the materials should be used in a moist or wet state to prevent the evolution of dust,for example.lead.Health education is the most important safety factor.The atmosphere of work rooms should be tested periodically to ensure that the concentration of toxic or irritating dusts,gases,fumes mists,etc are with in normal and safe limits.Disinfection of articles infected with bacteria should be carried out.Wearing of personal protective clothing and equipment such as respirators/breathing apparatus and also skin must be protected by use of protective creams.prohibition of taking or preparing meals and smoking in work rooms. Separate meals rooms should be provided in the case of lead and radio-active processes.Prohibition of the employment of persons in particular industries,for example,women and young persons below 15 years in lead processes.Occurrence of certain diseases like lead poisoning,phosphorus poisoning,Mercury poisoning,manganese poisoning,Arsenic poisoning,Anthrax,silicosis,Toxic anaemia and toxic jaundice due to poisonous materials,etc.should be notified.

Common occupational hazards are acute poisoning by benzol inhalation of very high concentrations of benzene vapours,may result in unconsciousness and respiratory failure.Due to chronic poisoning

degenerative changes are observed in kidneys and heart.Red blood cells are decreased and anaemia may develop.The ventilation of the of the rooms of workman should be improved by mechanical exhaust ventilation is one of the preventive measures.Carbon monoxide poisoning is an acute poisoning with a sudden on set of unconsciousness and rapidly developing bluish co-lour and death.

It is formed from incomplete combustion of materials containing carbon.It is coming from various industries like gasworks,foundries coke-ovens,blast furnaces and in automobile garages.The chemical

causes asphyxia/suffocation,if the exposure continues the victim become unconsciousness,resulting in death from respiratory failure.Chronic poisoning shows all these symptoms coming on gradually and then continuing for longer periods.Head ache,breathlessness,physical and mental weakness  are the common symptoms.Carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented by prevention of its production

in combustion,then give attention to all possible leakage in the exhaust system and ensuring good ventilation and finally by observing the rules of personal protection.A competent person must be made responsible for all circuit.

First aid and early treatment must be given to all poisoning cases immediately.The first object is to restore normal breathing and the to eliminate shock.The victim must be removed into  fresh air on a stretcher and should not be made to walk even though he is conscious.The oxygen carbon dioxide mixture should be given.if the breathing has stopped or is shallow artificial respiration should be continued till normal respiration returns.Complete bed rest and warmth are necessary,and give hot tea with plenty of sugar.Watch the patient for long time in all cases because of the tendency to relapse. If the breathing again become shallow,give artificial respiration and administration of 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide mixture should be given.Chronic ulceration,cutting oil dermatitis,caustic acids and alkalies,cyanide poisoning,lead poisoning,metal fume fever,mercury fulminate,nitroglycerin,nitrous fumes,physical hazards,welding hazards,silicosis,etc are the some common industrial hazards.

The worker is the most important component of the industrial set up.The workers remain in an optimal state of mental,physical and social health and it is necessary for industrial productivity.

To achieve this it is the main and prime importance to fit the skill of worker to the job and job his skill.Hence medical point of view,a pre-placement of medical examination must be carried out taking into the consideration the hazards which the factory life will impose on the employee.It should not mean,however,the factory job does not require highest physical standard of health.A disabled person can be accepted how much really he can do his job safely.For example,a totally full blind ex-soldiers

have been employed in an optical factory and it has been found that their out put has been more than

that of a normal man.The work through the sense of touch which they have developed in themselves to an extraordinary degree of proficiency and also some times, blindness in their case has actually helped greater concentration on work by excluding visual distraction.After selection and placement it is the duty of the management to provide sufficient safeguards to protect him from accidents,toxic and other industrial hazards.It is then essential to train him in work methods and self protection from all possible occupational hazards.Working clothes should protect him from or minimize the effects of hazards to which the wearer may be exposed and improve working efficiency and physical comfort.

Protection of head,eye and ear protection,hand and arm protection,foot and leg protection and respiratory protection with proper apparatus are essential during the process of work carried out by employees.Occupational psychology enables the study of psychological fitness for employment and investigation into the causes of psychological beak-down due to strain and stress in some industry occupations.This also include certain aptitude investigations/tests for different kind of work and into the causes of industrial fatigue.There are many psychological factors involved in industrial morbidity

by which work may be dull,monotonous,repetitive or other wise unsuited of some persons of certain

character or temperament.All persons must undergo a medical check up before entering industrial

employment for the first time or with in 15 days of employment.Medical services should collaborate

closely with technical services of industrial establishments to ensue as perfect selection of workers and also the skill of workers.Periodical medical examination should complete and thorough including special investigations.

Industry not only presents hazards to workers but also creates hazards and annoying conditions to the residents in the vicinity or in the township.Air pollution by smoke and poisonous gases and dusts are common in residential areas near to factory/industry.and water pollution due to industrial effluents.and also noise produced by machinery during work processes.disturbing calm of residential areas.Use or consumption of final hazardous products produced by industry.In recent years air pollution by smoke and poisonous gases,dusts and fumes has become an important public health problem.Most cokes,coals and heavier oils contains sulphur compounds when burnt,most of them emitted as sulphur dioxide and other chemicals such as gasoline produces carbon monoxide and Irritating hydrocarbon as Ole-fin.Other organic compounds found in polluted air in big cities are cresol,phenol,xylene,soot and tar compounds.Dust is a special hazard from cement manufacturing

industries and radio-active wastes from atomic reactors.

Ill effects are air polluted with sulfuric acid and sulfuric dioxide can cause respiratory distress and

acute respiratory irritation.This may show finally the persons suffering from respiratory/cardiac diseases and allergic disorders of the respiratory tract.to the aged ,and premature infants.Eye disorder

also may be increased in smoky atmosphere.Unpleasant or-dour may cause gastric troubles and vomiting sensations/anorexia.Silicosis occur due to pollution with dusts in lungs.The disposal of waste water from factories is another public health problem.Untreated liquid wastes are lead into a stream which makes the water unpotable,destroys fish and renters it unfit for bathing and recreational

facilities.Live stock and diary cattle may get poisoned by drinking contaminated with industrial wastes like insecticides and mineral oil trade or even unpleasant flavour to milk.Anthrax is known is to be transmitted by using the polluted water in slaughter houses.Waste water from ammunition and chemical factories remove waste products like arsenic cyanide,which are toxic to plant,animal and human life.Some effluents from industries are discharge to sewer with out correct treatment make the final treatment of sewage unsatisfactory.Trade wastes from gas works give an offensive tastes and smell to the water.The indiscriminate discharge of waste waters on land may cause water logging and

infertility and destruction of standing crops.It may produce foul smell and make the place ugly for any other purposes.

Control measures are effective legal provisions for control of waste water and soil pollution.A technical organization to assess nature of water pollution is necessary,and legislative procedures for control of smoke nuisance and rigid enforcement of these provisions.Standard for the sulphur content of coal and smoke in the air must be laid down.An administrative body to enforce legal provisions with representatives from the state health department and factory inspectorate and public health engineering should be established.Proper siting of residential areas and industrial areas by sound town planning is important to decrease the hazards of air pollution.Smoke nuisance from railway locomotives,ships and also from the industry can be eliminated by a change over to diesel or electric power.The active cooperation of industrialists who must recognize their responsibility in this matter

plays a vital roll in the control of air and water pollution.The education of the legislators,industrialists and workmen is important  to make them appreciate the problem and their respective roll in cut down the hazards to minimum.

pm kutty