Occupational health hazards

PRESENTED BY ;SANDIP KARANJKARFINAL BDS GDC,MUMBAI

As in any other working environment, dental practice can be associated with harmful effects to dentists, referred to as occupational hazards. These hazards vary from mild and easily or self curable, as influenza and mental fatigue, to more serious and

incurable as AIDS .

DEFINITION:

According to WHO

“The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of

physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all

occupations – total health of all at work”

HAZARD- any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work.

Potential sources for occupational hazards to dentists

-Working for long periods of time in physiologically improper positions.

Contact with patients. Contact with certain chemicals and materials

used in dental practice. Contact with X-ray. dental equipments and accessories produce

sound noise at different sound levels. Dealing with different personalities.

Golden role“All patients should be treated as if they are infectious and routine

cross-infection control is necessary when dealing with everypatient”.

Universal cross Infection Control routines :

Sterilization; Barriers; Chemical Disinfectants ; Disposable of Wastes Barriers: barriers mean gloves; masks; goggles; protective clothing. These serve as protective barriers against the transmission of diseases. Gloves are disposed of after each patient.

Personal protective equipments

Medicalgloves(different types)

Eye wears

Masks

Protective clothing(medical and lead aprons)

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDSPhysical HazardsChemical HazardsBiological HazardsMechanical HazardsPsychosocial Hazards

PHYSICAL FACTORS

HEAT COLD LIGHT NOISE VIBRATION RADIATION

HEAT causes heat stroke,cramps,burns,increased fatigue,decreased efficiency

:

COLD :

frost bite,immersion foot,cutaneous vasoconstricion,erythroc yanosis & hypothermia

LIGHT:

Poor illumination leads to eye strain, headache,congesion around cornea & minor’s nystagmus.

Excessive brightness leads to blurring of vision & visual fatigue.

NOISE:

Auditory effects:

Temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Non-auditory effects:

Nervousness , fatigue & decreased efficiency of the worker.

VIBRATION:Causes white fingers(spasm of fine blood vessels of the hand),injuries of joints.

RADIATION:UV radiation exposure causes welder’s flash(intense keratoconjuctivitis),eye pain and lachrymation.

Ionising radiation causes skin cancers , genetic changes and sterility .

Protection from radiation hazards

principles and means of radiation protection should be applied and used during radiation exposure.- Dentist should not hold the film in patient’s mouth. -Dentist should avoid direct exposure to X-ray beam. - proper position of the dentist in relation to either the X-ray machine or the patients should be strictly applied. -Regular checking of leakage from X-ray machine should always be performed.- Radiation monitoring.

MECHANICAL HAZARDS Machines and moving

parts leads to accidents in the industries.

Sometimes due to own careless.

PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARDSStress , aggressiveness , lack of job satisfaction , insecurity , poor human relations undermines both physical and mental health of the workers,emotionalTension,frustation

The health effects cause due to psychosocial hazards are:

Psychological and behavioural changes

Psychosomatic ill health

Psychological and behavioural changes: It includes:

Hostility Anxiety Depression Tiredness Aggressivness Drug abuse

Psychosomatic ill health:

It includes: Fatigue Pain in shoulder Prone to peptic ulcer Hypertension Heart disease Rapid aging

MANAGEMENT

-Stress management :deep breathing exercises; progressive effective relaxation of areas of the body; listening to audiotapes of oral instructions on how to relax; meditation; information on the topics of practice and business management, time management, communication.

-Physical exercise, such as regular walking or working out.