1. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING
INTRODUCTION

2. WHAT IS WORK & HEALTH WORK / OCCUPATION
An essential human activity that occupy a considerable part of a person’s waking hours
Can be stimulating & rewarding
Can contribute to stress
HEALTH
NOT merely the absence of disease BUT a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being
(Wellers, 2000)

3. What is Occupational Health?
WHO defined Occupational Health as;
‘the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations’
(Harrington & Gill,1992)

4. Cont...... Concerned with two-way relationship of WORK and HEALTH
Related to the effects of working condition and/or environment on health of worker – influence on ability to perform tasks in the workplace
Prevention is better than cure –ensuring work & working condition DO NOT affect the health of people

5. What is Occupational Health Nursing?
Application of nursing principles in conserving the health of workers at the workplace.
Based on principles of recognition, prevention and treatment of illness, injuries.
Formally known as ‘Industrial Nursing’

6. Pioneers of OHN Services
Florence Nightingle (UK 1820)
Phillipa Flowerday (UK 1878)
Betty Moulder (US 1888)
Ada Mayo Stewart (US 1895)

7. Aims of OHN
Promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical,mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations ;
by preventing- departures from health caused
by their working conditions,
protecting the workers in their employment -
from risks resulting from factors adverse to
health
and adaptation of work to the workers and
workers to their jobs

8. Objectives Maintenance and promotion of workers’
health and working capacity(Health
monitoring)
Improvement of working environment and
work to become conducive to safety and
health(Worksite visits)
Development of work organisations and
working cultures in a direction, which supports
health and safety at work(Health Education )

9. Relevant Legislations on Occupational Health & Safety
Employment Order 2009( pre-employment medical examinations ,first aid & medical treatment, worker housing ,night work ,child labour)-Previously Brunei Labour Laws 1954
Workmen Compensation Act 1957 (workplace accidents & occupational diseases)
Workplace Safety & Health Order 2009  

10. The Scope of OHN practice
Prevention of occupational injuries
Prevention of occupational illness
Reducing work place hazards
Promotion of worker’s health
Restoration of worker’s health (maintenance of worker’s health)

11. Occupational injuries
such as a cut, fracture, sprain, amputation, etc, that may results from a single instantaneous exposure or incident in the work department or during the course of work.

12. Occupational illness
any abnormal condition or disorder, other than one resulting from an occupational injury caused by exposure to environmental factors associated with employment.
It can be acute or chronic illnesses, following exposure to the hazards through inhalation, absorption, ingestion, or direct contact.

13. Work and Health
Exposure to health hazards in the workplace may cause adverse health effects
Disease development depends on;
host factors, non-occupational exposure (lifestyles & hobbies), environmental factors, inherent properties of the agent, exposure level, exposure length & other workplace stressors.

14. Factors influencing our Health
Genes
Determine who you are
Likelihood of contracting disease
Environment
Workplace
Leisure
Domestic/living Environment
Health
Lifestyles
Smoking
Diet
Alcohol
Stress
Exercise

15. Musculo-skeletal disorders
Cause and effects
Lung cancer
Cause is
hard to see
Fume fevers
Stress
Leukaemia
Dermatitis
Musculo-skeletal disorders
Solvent
effects
NIHL
Welder’s Flash
Cause is
Mesothelioma
Accidents
easy to see
Minutes
Days
Months
Years
Decades

16. Basic Principles of Disease Prevention
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
Higher level
of surveillance
Treatment / Referral
Lung Function Test
Personal Protective
Equipment
Health Screening
Early detection
Health education
Base-line health
assessment
Elimination of
substances
Lower level
of surveillance

17. Workplace Hazards Physical hazards Chemical hazards Biological hazards
Mechanical hazards
Psychosocial hazards
Ergonomic Hazards
Safety

18. Workplace Health & Safety
Who are legally responsible for identifying
and correcting health and safety hazards?
Authorised personnels
Employers
Contractors
Owners
Workers
Supervisors
Self-employers persons
Suppliers

19. Protected workers fundamental rights
To know about hazards in the workplace, how to identify them and how to protect themselves
To participate in health and safety decisions through management’s consultation with occupational health committees and workers
To refuse unusually dangerous work

20. According to The Occupational Health and Safety Act - OSHA (1993),
“…..everyone in the workplace is required
to work together to identify and control
health and safety hazards”

21. Who are the Occupational Health Team?
Occupational health physician
Occupational health nurse
Occupational health epidemiologist
Occupational hygienist
Industrial toxicologist
Industrial psychologist
Ergonomist
Occupational therapist
Physiotherapist
Health educator
Safety engineer

22. THANK YOU !

23. Ergonomist design the workplace and the job to fit the worker.
It deals with designing and changing the workplace to ensure employees are not injured or made unusually uncomfortable when working.

24. Ergonomics Lifting and handling loads
Work that involves standing for long periods of time, antifatigue mats and footrests
Situations where it is appropriate for workers to be permitted to sit while working, seating requirements and footrest
Musculoskeletal injuries which include muscle injuries or disorders of tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, bones, etc

25. Epidemiologist
studies the incidence and distribution of diseases in large populations, and the conditions influencing the spread and severity of disease.

26. Hygienist
responsible for recognizing, evaluating and controlling health hazards in the workplace.
to do this an occupational hygienist will examine the work environment and work activities.