Course:SPPH381B/Essays/Hazards in the Modern Workplace - Michael

While significant efforts have been made to protect workers from the most obvious dangers of their jobs, there are still many hazards that exist in the modern workplace. Advancements in science and scientific equipment are also allowing us to become aware of new hazards that need to be addressed as well. In this article we introduce some of the most significant modern issues, giving examples of chemical, physical, infection, and safety hazards such as; silicosis, the negative effects of sedentary office occupation, communicable diseases, and workplace accidents and violence, respectively.

Hazardous Chemicals

Contaminants and hazardous chemicals can cause significant harm to workers. Deaths from various work-related illness and injury have been estimated to be approximately 2.3 million . The three main vectors of danger are liquids (acids, solvents, or others), vapors and fumes, and flammable materials. In order to sample chemical hazards, chemically absorbent tubes can be used. Air from the workplace passes over these tubes for anywhere from 4 to 24 hours following exposure, with the tubes then checked for hazardous chemicals. If a dangerous level of a chemical is found, there are multiple methods for reducing harm to workers. If the dangerous chemical can be eliminated, this is achieved first. If elimination is not possible, safer substitutes for the chemical are explored. Otherwise attempts to reduce worker interaction with the chemical occur. As a last resort, personal protective equipment is employed.

Asbestos

One important example of a hazardous chemical that is still affecting the modern workplace is asbestos. Excessive inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis . Asbestos fibres are easily inhaled and carried into the lower regions of the lung where they can cause asbestosis which further results in changing of the lining of the chest cavity (pleura). These diseases can be fatal. By the 1980s, the negative effects of asbestos were well known and most uses had been banned. Regardless, many old buildings still contain asbestos and workers must take extreme care when removing and recycling the asbestos.

Silicosis

Silicosis is a chemical hazard caused by the inhalation of silica dust into the lungs . These dust particles embed themselves into alveolar sacs and ducts in the lungs causing inflammation and scarring, typically in the upper lobes . Common symptoms can include shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, chest pain, fever, respiratory insufficiency, or other serious issues . Silicosis has become a significant hazard in the modern workplace especially due to the industrialization of the mining process along with new construction techniques. Workers can be exposed to silica dust when cutting, drilling, or grinding rock containing silica. The dangers and effects of silicosis can by tracked by surveillance of morbidity and mortality rates from the disease. In 2013, 46,000 people died globally from silicosis. The best preventative measures attempt to control the silica dust, either by using water or dry air filtering.

Sedentary Diseases

As many new occupations are in an office setting and increasingly sedentary in nature, workers are now at a higher risk for various health-related hazards, such as fatigue, obesity, diabetes, circulatory disease, cancer, and heart disease. Increases in these hazards are associated with lower physical activity. Sitting at a desk looking at a computer places workers at risk for other issues, such as dry eyes from staring at a screen, strain from repetitive motions such as typing, and muscle pain from bad posture. The occurrences of these issues can be tracked by the number of reported incidences or other surveying methods. Some suggested preventative measures for these risks include standing desks, promotion of staircase use, or frequent breaks, but unfortunately as these are relatively new hazards, there is little evidence for the long term benefit of these measures.

Biological Hazards

Communicable diseases and other biological hazards continue to be a concern in the modern workplace. For instance, almost all workers are at risk of contracting an airborne pathogen such as those that cause tuberculosis, SARS, or the common flu. Healthcare workers are additionally at risk of becoming infected via injection (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B). People who work around animals are at risk of contracting zoonotic diseases, such as the avian flu or hantavirus . In addition, people in the service industry can pass diseases on to customers through the food they handle. These are all examples of infectious diseases. In order to prevent transmission of these diseases, workers should be encouraged to wash their hands frequently, use hand disinfectants, receive regular immunizations against diseases thought to be locally present, wear a respirator, and limit the time they are exposed to the risk.

Accidents and Violence

Accidents and violence, types of physical hazards, are also concerns in the modern workplace. In 2006, 41% of fatal accidents at the workplace were caused by a transportation incident, 17% were caused by a worker coming into contact with an object, 15% were caused as a result of a fall, and 15% were caused by workplace violence or aggression. Clearly accidents are still a large hazard that needs to be addressed in the modern workplace. In order to prevent these types of dangers, we must assess the risks associated with accidents and try to eliminate them. Additionally, we must alter the 'safety culture' within workplaces, to reduce the pressure on employees to do things that are unsafe.