Occupational Health Principles Research Articles

Principles of Occupational Health and Hygiene: An introduction (3rd Edition)

Principles of Occupational Health and Hygiene: An introduction (3rd Edition)

Let’s get back to work: Preventive biological cycle management of COVID-19 in the workplace

The primary response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been to minimize social contact through lockdown measures. The closure of non-essential businesses to tackle the spread of the coronavirus has had negative consequences for the global economy, production, and employment. To outline how known occupational health principles can be used for preventative management of the coronavirus in workplaces to support resumption of work. A discussion of current knowledge of COVID-19, the cost of the lockdown strategy, and preventative biological cycle management. The evidence-based literature indicates that biological cycle management can control the risk of coronavirus infection, provide a suitable and sufficient exit strategy from lockdown, and support getting employees back to work. Adherence to personal protective equipment standards has been insufficient, indicating a need for workplace investment and education. Imposed restrictions on workplace operations can be lifted without compromising worker health and safety when a workplace commits to practicing the three principles of biological cycle management.

Biosafety, Occupational Health and Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology promises to improve the quality of human life, but it has also provoked concerns about potential adverse health effects on workers, the environment and consumers. Effective risk assessment and risk management of nanotechnology requires: 1) knowing how engineered nanoscale particles (NPs) can gain entry into the human body (routes of exposure); 2) knowing whether engineered NPs can migrate from their point of entry to other locations in the body (translocation); 3) determining what adverse biological effects may occur in response to engineered NP exposure (toxicity); 4) knowing which measurement of exposure and dose correlates best to toxicity (exposure and dose metrics); and 5) knowing how best to monitor exposed populations to detect the occurrence of any adverse health effects (health surveillance). This article reviews what is currently known about potential health risks to workers from exposure to engineered NPs, as well as the best methods to control those risks, in order to ensure that their use in the laboratory and industry conforms to the best principles of occupational health and biosafety.

Fundamental principles of occupational health and safety

Fundamental principles of occupational health and safety

Factors Influencing the Assessment and Control of Occupational Hazards in Developing Countries

The principles of occupational health may be the same in the developed and developing countries. However, there can be a wide diversity in practice. The exposure to chemicals at the workplace in developing countries is usually of a different nature, and the level of exposure is generally of a higher magnitude. The leading occupational diseases in developing countries are also very different to those reported in industrialized nations. For hazard evaluation in developing countries, more factors need to be considered. Problems are usually more complicated as most workplaces are subjected to many factors which typify small-scale industries. Low capital investment often culminates in cutbacks on necessary expenses, especially on occupational or environmental health activities. Thus the health, safety, and welfare of the workers are usually overlooked. This situation helps only to promote greater risks to the workers. Furthermore, many workers in the developing countries suffer from poor nutrition, endemic diseases, and other debilitating conditions. For these reasons, it is possible that currently recommended occupational exposure limits could allow injury to workers in the developing nations. When carrying out health assessment, careful attention must be paid to cultural practices, genetic components, working conditions, and other predisposing factors. This paper reviews some of the current techniques commonly used for the monitoring of toxic substances and an in-depth discussion on various problems facing the developing countries concerning the usage of these techniques.