Course:SPPH381B/Essays/Why is it important to study occupational health? - Shirley

Why is it important to study occupational health?

Introduction

The average American worker works 34.4 hours a week and approximately 50,000 people die each year from illnesses caused by exposure to workplace hazards, according to United States Department of Labour , and we can assume this estimate is much lower that the actual number. The system makes it hard to claim/prove the accident was work related, therefore report rates are low and many accidents go undocumented. Industrial countries do a better job at recording occupational incidents and injuries but are bad at tracking occupational diseases and deaths. People don’t come forward and lots of people get affected but they might be uneducated and unaware of their benefits. Occupational hazards can be found in any workplace; more knowledge on the consequences of exposure and prevention of such should be taught before students go into the work force. As today’s students are the future generation, the future managers, and the future decision makers, they should be made aware of the human and social costs resulting from hazards in the workplace.

What is occupational health?

Occupational health is a field of public health concentrated on preventing diseases in the workplace. It is multidisciplinary and involves several academic disciplines in an approach to explore and understand the problem of hazards that cause illnesses in the workplace. Illnesses from the workplace affect not just the worker and their family, but also the company. There are hidden costs associated with sick workers leaving work. An injured worker might not be able to work, therefore he/she would not be able to provide for their family. That worker might need to look for a new job, possibly one in a different career field due to the injury, this would take time and might require additional education. Hidden costs (not all measurable) to the employer like the cost of hiring a new employee, the cost of retention, turnover, quality, happiness of employees, the productivity and the company’s reputation would be faced in such situations.

What happens when we get injured at work?

Sometimes injuries/diseases are the worker’s fault; most of the time it is the work place itself. What happens when we get injured at work? In BC, according to the BC Workers compensation Act, the employer has no fault; the government pays the injured worker from an insurance fund; the employer and must pay the insurance premiums. In the United States (that uses the same philosophy of no-fault) there are many problems with employees right to compensation after workplace injuries. The compensation system is in favor of the industry and in at least two states there are full “opt-out” plans that make it harder for workers to get compensation, but still the company can’t be sued for workplace accidents. Also, chronic occupational diseases are widely under-compensated, due to relatively immature evidence-based research. From unsafe mining practices to dangerous noise level exposures to child chimney sweepers – we have come a long way to prevent dangerous situations through education and research. With more research, scientists have been able to re-evaluate the threshold of exposure (“it’s the dose that makes the poison”) and make new suggestions regarding safety procedures and preventions. Work conditions in the western world have improved in the last century, yet we still face many hazards at work. Many times even with the knowledge of the importance of prevention of workplaces diseases, people are unaware and are not being taught how to stay safe.

Occupational hygiene

Occupational hygiene is about the prevention of work related illnesses through recognition (what is the disease, what is causing it), evaluation (measurements) and control (reduce the risk). The study of occupational hygiene involves topics like toxicology, occupational epidemiology, and etiology. Laws and regulation deal with the prevention side of occupational health. For example in BC, we have the right to “refuse unsafe work”, something I wish I knew in the past. The idea of education vs. enforcement is an interesting topic of discussion when it comes to policing the safety of employees. Occupational hygiene is best dealt by education with the presence of enforcement. It is hard to enforce people to watch out for their health, but it is possible to enforce the companies to. The responsibility lies on both the employer and the employee; the employer to enforce the rules through training and controls and the employee to follow the rules . By educating the working class on the consequences of long hours in the sun, dust, and lead for example, and being cautious of when those situations arise in their daily life, they can be more confident speaking up when such situations arise. From construction sites to offices, hazards to health can be found. Silicosis is found among construction workers when dust particles find their way into the lungs. Some construction workers use masks but they may not prevent complete exposure. Researchers say that to prevent such dust participles from coming into the lungs oxygen masks are a better option if they are worn properly and maintained in good conditions. Companies, just like construction sites, want to save money by cutting down costs – why should they spend money on items to “indirectly” save their employees health? Such protection equipment costs money and time. In business when they say time costs money they mean that spraying water to keep floors damp costs them time. The opportunity cost of that employee’s time could be used to completing the construction project. One of the best prevention of many of the respiratory diseases is cleanliness of the workplace.

Who should study occupational health?

Most highly dangerous work industries require a safety and health coordinator. General knowledge of hazards in occupation for both working class and managers is very useful. From a business point of view, if you have less people getting sick and leaving their work place due to diseases/injuries – you reduce your costs by reducing turnover, training costs, insurance costs, and healthcare costs. Having a satisfied workforce that feels safe where they work also increases overall health and well-being for the worker and productivity. Workplace hazards can come in many forms like chemical (gases and particles), physical (noise and vibration), biological (viruses), ergonomics (posture – sitting in front of a computer), psychological (stress – not compensated, bullying, and violence), and safety (falls, burns, and collisions). Therefore, industries should instruct how to prevent such work hazards and illnesses that relate to the specific job a person has as a part of the training.

Conclusion

When I worked over the summer for a wholesale company in an office, which was above a warehouse, I did not feel safe. It did not feel like my safety was anywhere close to a priority to the company. I was uneducated about the hazards that surrounded me and I was exposed to hazards/chemicals. From weeks of crazy-driving tar smell from the roof to a gas leak to the uncleanliness of the office and dangerous boxes placed in the warehouse, there were many times were my logic decided this is unsafe. Yet, I continued to work and go on with my duties as I was unaware of my rights. This is the main reason I decided to take this course. As a business student, and one studying operations and logistic, I see the cost savings that come with cutting down safety equipment and training. Yet, from an employee point of view, as well as a student of today, I can see why it is important for people who are the working class to know their rights in the work place and unsafe conditions. This is an ethics issue as well as a safety concern. The best way too protect a generation is through education as occupational health should be taught in post secondary specifically directed to the industry to which an individual is specializing in or be implemented into certain courses under the safety sections.

References

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