4A Note on the Occupational Health Services at Godrej.

A GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHA GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH® FOR SAFETY

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Compiled By : A. K. Kulkarni

History :

The Occupational Health Centre in this organization was started on 2nd May 1946. A full timeMedical Officer, Dr. P. D. Engineer, was appointed.

A directive was given to the health centre by the then Managing Director of Godrej group ofcompanies, Shri P. B. Godrej - ‘The health of the person retiring from Godrej should bethe same as when he entered Godrej’ .

Dr. P. D. Engineer served for nineteen years in this direction.

Then Dr. G. D. Bhatia replaced Dr. Engineer in the year 1965. Dr. Bhatia was appointed to workon the curative aspect of the employees. However the directive he was given was, ‘Peopleshould be treated before they actually get occupational diseases.’

It was found that employees suffered mainly from silicosis in foundries, Byssinosis in the textileindustry and Dermatitis where the contact with lubricating and coolant oil was higher.

A survey was conducted to find more details. The percentage distribution of such patients wasas follows :

a) 10% of the patients were such that they required treatment from the doctor.

b) 60% of patients could be managed by counsellors. However 20% of these wouldrequire the assistance of the doctor.

c) 20% were chronic cases, with occupational diseases.

During the years 1961 to 1963 a detailed survey was carried out with a view to make a study ofoccupational diseases. A study of the environment illness was also done.

The survey was an eye opener. Remedial measures were immediately taken and the percentageof people suffering from tuberculosis, anaemia, cancer, eye problems, leprosy was drasticallyreduced.

This gave the team an impetus to extend the facilities to the families of the employees - a factor

welcomed by the employees.

A Note on the Occupational Health Services at GodrejA Note on the Occupational Health Services at Godrej

5A Note on the Occupational Health Services at Godrej.

A GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHA GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH® FOR SAFETY

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Present Scenario :

Occupational Health Services at the Factory dispensary & Colony dispensary

Following are the activities and services that are rendered by the Medical Center.

Check ups :

1. Entry level Health Check up of all the newly appointed employees.

2. Periodic Check up of employees working in hazardous areas (like dust, heat, welding,fumes, oil handlers), canteen workers, drivers, forklift and crane drivers & persons exposedto Industrial X Ray radiation. Eye check up for colour vision, distant vision, and the nearvision is carried out on employees handling coloured object, electric wires etc.

3. Post sickness examinations and advice to employees reporting for duty from illnessessuch as Heart Attack, Lung Disease, Abdominal Operations (Hernia, Ulcers, Gall Bladder,Perforations), Typhoid, Cancer, Hypertension, and Paralysis. Advice on properrehabilitation and care is also given.

Treatment :

4. Psychological and Psychiatric advice to mentally disturbed, depressed, employeesaddicted to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, Bhang, opium etc., and their families who havedifficulties in interpersonal family relationships, family disturbances, employee supervisorrelationships, emotional distress in children etc. is given. The plant level counsellors calledSahakari Mitras, and the colony level counsellors called Sahakari Maitrinis aid this process.

5. Management of Accident Cases: Immediate action and admission to hospitals, co-ordination with various hospitals and doctors for treatment, and support to the families.

6. Management of acute emergencies at work place such as heart attacks, unconsciousness,brain haemorrhage, epileptic fits, diabetic drug overdose, diarrhoea, dehydration andadmitting them to hospitals co-ordinating with the doctors treating the cases and supportto the families.

Other Services :

7. Co-ordination of work with various paramedical associates for the welfare of the employeesof the Safety Staff, Personnel Management Staff & Security Staff to get better managementfor employees in emergencies.

8. Proper education of employees through lecture, demonstrations, posters, audiovisualsat work place on various topics such as First Aid, Safety, Diabetes, High B.P, AIDS, etc.

9. Keeping proper records and analysing them at periodic intervals to improve healthstandards of employees.

6A Note on the Occupational Health Services at Godrej.

A GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHA GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH® FOR SAFETY

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Current Activities of the Dispensaries

As a part of the Occupation Health interventions at both the Factory & Colony dispensary

the following activities are undertaken :l Laboratory T ests conducted :-

a. Complete Haemogram

b. Lipid Profile

c. Kidney Functions

d. Blood Sugar – Diabetic Profile.

e. Liver Functions

f. HIV & Hbs Ag Tests

g. Urine & Stool tests.

h. Urine Pregnancy Tests

i. Semen Analysis.

j. Alcohol Breath Analyzer.

l X- Ray Facilities :-

i. Chest

ii. I.V.P

iii. Barium Meal

iv. General X rays of the limbs and spine.

l Nursing Care :-

1. Dressing

2. Injections

3. Force Expiratory Volume- Lung Function

4. Electro Cardio Gram- ECG

l Physiotheraphy :-

v Traction

v Short Wave Diathermy

v Wax bath

v Foot Bath

v Infra red rays

v Manipulation

v TNS & stimulator

7A Note on the Occupational Health Services at Godrej.

A GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHA GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH® FOR SAFETY

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v Thermo Pad

v Intermittent Current Therapy

v Ultra Sound Therapy

v Cycling

v Quadriceps Strengthening Excerises

v Rope Pulleys

v Shoulder Wheel

v Exercise Board & Shoulder / Wrist exerciser

l Well Baby Clinic

The following vaccinations are administered at the well baby clinic.

1. Triple antigen (DPT)

2. Oral polio

3. Measles

4. M.M.R.

5. Hepatitis B

6. Typhoid

7. Triple Booster

8. D.T booster

9. T.T.

The Colony dispensary conducts the following activities :

Mondays : Lectures are held on baby care and nutrition,

Thursdays : 1) Lectures are held on care and nutrition for mothers - to - be.

2) Antenatal cases are examined detailed tests are conducted for proper care

and advice.

Fridays : 1) Postnatal cases are examined alongwith their babies

2) All family planning measures are explained. Both parents are suitably

advised, Nirodh, Cut, Oral Pills are available.

Saturdays : Babies who have completed six months are examined and tested for

haemoglobin.

Students of Udayachal Schools (company - run - institutions) are also examined. A medical

record of each one of them is maintained. They are suitably advised on personal hygiene, eye

care, dental care and nutrition. Medical experts are invited to speak to the children on personal

growth, adolescence, puberty etc. Parents are also invited for interaction with the doctors.

Problem cases are referred to the concerned doctors at the clinic for guidance and treatment.

Occupational Health Team

Occupational Health Team Nos.

1. Industrial Physician 1

2. Industrial Physician - lady 1

3. Industrial Nurse Male 3

4. Industrial Nurse Female 3

5. Pharmacist 3

6. X - ray radiaologist 1

7. X - ray Technician 1

8. Psychiatrist 1

9. Psychologist 1

10. Worker Councilors

(Sahakari Mitra & Maitrinis) 360

11. Lab Technician 1

12. Physiotherapist 1

13. Dental Surgeon 2

9A Note on the Occupational Health Services at Godrej.

A GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHA GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH® FOR SAFETY

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Pressure, aching or burning-not necessarily pain-in the chest. Often it increases with activity andsubsides with rest.

Discomfort, tightness, squeezing or fullness inthe chest, usually lasting longer than twominutes. Mild discomfort that may come backsooner, last longer or feel more severe each time.

Discomfort in the teeth, jaw, inner arm (oftenthe left) or back.

Dizziness, fainting, sweating, nousea, shortnessof breath or weakness.

If you�re not sure whether discomfort is fromheartburn or a heart attack, ask these questions:is the discomfort located in the centre of thechest ? Does it recur ? Does it increase inintensity ? Does it become more intense withexertion, the go away with rest ?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes,take on aspirin, call your doctor or an ambulance,or have someone drive you to a hospital. Don�tdrive yourself.