Safety First, To Prevent Work-Related Diseases!

What is occupational disease? Occupational diseases are any type of illness that arises or is exacerbated due to work or the work environment. This can include physical illnesses, such as respiratory or musculoskeletal disorders, to mental illnesses like stress or depression.

Common Causes of Work-Related Illnesses

1. Physical Factors: Noise, vibration, extreme temperatures, radiation, and poor posture.

2. Chemical Factors: Exposure to hazardous chemicals such as acids, bases, solvents, and dust. 3. Biological Factors: Exposure to bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

4. Ergonomic Factors: Monotonous work, excessive workload, and non-ergonomic work design.

5. Psychosocial Factors: Work pressure, intimidation, and lack of social support.

 

Types of Work-Related Diseases

- Respiratory Disorders: Asthma due to exposure to dust or chemicals, silicosis in miners.

- Musculoskeletal Disorders: Carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back pain due to lifting heavy loads.

- Skin Diseases: Contact dermatitis due to exposure to chemicals.

- Cancer: Lung cancer due to asbestos exposure, skin cancer due to ultraviolet exposure.

- Hearing Impairment: Deafness due to constant noise.

- Mental Disorders: Stress, depression, and anxiety disorders. Prevention of Work-Related Diseases - Source Control: Reducing or eliminating hazards at the source.

- Engineering Control: Using ventilation, isolation, and personal protective equipment.

- Administrative Control: Work rotation, training, and periodic health examinations.

- Medical Control: Initial and periodic health examinations, as well as early treatment.

 

Case Example

- Textile Factory Worker: Often experiences contact dermatitis due to exposure to dyeing chemicals.

- Construction Workers: At risk of silicosis due to inhaling silica dust.

- Office Workers: Prone to musculoskeletal disorders due to incorrect sitting positions and prolonged computer use. Impact of Work

- Related Illness

- For Workers: Decreased productivity, inability to work, and burden of medical expenses.

- For the company: increased healthcare costs, decreased employee morale, and legal risks.

- For Society: Burden on the healthcare system and the economy.

 

Work-related diseases are a serious issue that must be addressed by all parties. Prevention is the key to addressing this issue. By implementing the right preventive measures, we can create a healthy and safe work environment for all employees, which can be consulted on with your favourite occupational specialist at Hermina Hospital.

 

Reference:

Penyakit akibat kerja bisa sebabkan stress

hingga kecacatan, mengapa? Retrieved from Liputan 6: https://www.liputan6.com/health/read/3915829/penyakit-akibat-kerja-

bisa-sebabkan-stres-hingga-kecacatan-mengapa