Conf.Dr. Brându ş a Constantin Introductory Course Occupational Medicine

THE WORK AN IMPORTANT SANOGENIC FACTOR GIVES VALUE } TO PEOPLE NOBILITY ENOBLESS THE PERSON (HEALTH)  AWARENESS OF HEALTHY LIFE IN HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Definition medical specialty that studies the interrelation between health and work medical branch = promoting a multidisciplinary system of occupational safety and health Occupational Medicine is one of the major disciplines that covers a broad spectrum of different activities to protect and promote health.

Occupational hazards (OH) Represents factors of working conditions that adversely affect the health of employees, causing or promoting the disease, decreasing work capacity and creating discomfort. Any work condition that exceeds the exposure limits (tolerable or acceptable, according to Occupational Medicine regulations) is an occupational hazards.

OH belonging to irrational work organization excessive duration of work (more than 7-8h/day) work pace: fast and long, non physiological regime of work and rest (work - physiological breaks) prolonged static effort, vicious positions, tense or prolonged work Inappropriate alternance of shifts (night shift).

High intensity effort generates occupational diseases (overload disease): musculoskeletal (arthritis, rheumatoid, epicondylitis, bursitis), neuropsychological (neurasthenia, neurosis coordination) or sensorial (accommodative asthenopia, nystagmus).

Occupational hazards belonging to the working environment Physical hazards: Noise causes hearing loss or professional deafness Industrial hot environment causes: heat syncope heat shock, occupational vibration vibration disease Raynaud's syndrome

Physical-chemical hazards: mineral dust causes collagen and non collagen pneumoconiosis textile dust causes: occupational asthma bisinosis

Chemical hazards: metals and their compounds causes acute or chronic poisoning: chronic poisoning with lead) poisoning with Cr, Cd, Mn irritating gases and vapors (Cl, F, S, NH 3, NO 3 ) causes airway irritation syndromes acute toxic pulmonary edema, chronic bronchiolitis, organic compounds (aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated, ketones, aldehydes), organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides etc.

Biological hazards: Infectious and parasitary diseases: leptospirosis, tetanus, HBV, brucellosis OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS BELONGING TO MAN- MACHINE RELATION The relationship between man and machine can lead to intense non physiological working positions, attention overload, exposure to noise, vibration, toxic agents. Human adaptation to the machine is very important (in ergonomics terms).

WORK RELATED DISEASESOCCUPATIONAL FACTORS High blood pressureNoise, vibration, temperature, high caloric radiation Chronic nonspecific respiratory diseases Dust, irritant gases Ischemic heart disease High physical and mental demands Musculoskeletal disorders (back pain, cervical and brahial pain) Unfavourabile environment, vibration, high physical effort, inadequate work positions Neurosis and other neuropsychiatric disorders Noise, vibrations, chemical agents, distress Digestive disordersHigh temperature, noise, chemicals