OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE

Is your company immune?

The 3 W’s

As a staffing company representative, you will need to know…

− What are the most common work-related diseases?

− Which jobs have the highest risk?

− What are the job tasks or conditions that put the workers at risk?

Types Of Occupational Diseases

Occupational Hearing Loss

Skin Diseases

Occupational Lung Diseases

Occupational Blood Disorders and Diseases

Occupational Hearing Loss

Definition − Total or partial

inability to hear sound in one or both ears as a result of one’s occupation.

Who is at Risk?

Construction

5000’s codes

Hazard

Jackhammers

Cranes

Hand tools

Generators

Occupational Hearing Loss

Agribusiness

00’s Codes

Hazard

Irrigation pumps

Tractors

Hay bailers

Combines

Food Services

2000-2688 Codes

Hazard

Machines used in the

mass production of

product

Occupational Hearing Loss

Plastics 4000 - 4493 codes − Hazards: Machines

Pharmaceuticals 4825 - 4829 codes− Hazards: Various machines

Printing 4299 code− Hazards: Printing presses, copiers

Food and Clothing Manufacturing 2000 - 2268− Hazards: Various machines

Permissible Noise Exposure

Normal conversation in a quiet room has a noise level of approximately 70 dBA.

OSHA mandates that a monitoring program must be in place if employees are exposed to sound levels that meet or exceed an eight hour time weighted average of 85 dBA.

Prevention

Education of employees

Assessment of noise exposure

Engineering and administrative controls for noise exposures

Worksite Evaluation - Hearing Loss

Occupational Skin Disease

Definition:

− A skin disorder that arises out of contact with either an irritant or sensitizing agent encountered in the work environment.

Who is at Risk?

Construction 5000’s codes− Hazard: Epoxy, glue solvents, various other

chemicals

Healthcare 8800’s code− Hazard: Gloves, soaps, communicable

diseases, various other chemicals

Occupational Skin Diseases

Agribusiness 00’s codes− Hazard: Cutaneous anthrax, ringworm, herbicides, pesticides,

infected animals

Food Service 2000 - 2688 codes− Hazard: Extreme temperatures, various chemicals,

wet shoes and socks, soaps

Plastics 4000 - 4493 codes− Hazard: Various chemicals, glue solvents

Pharmaceuticals 4825 - 4829 codes− Hazard: Various chemicals

Printing 4299 code− Hazard: Various chemicals (chromium, epoxy resins), inks

Prevention

Education

Engineering controls

Good housekeeping

Proper equipment guards

Proper use of PPE

Worksite Evaluation - Skin Disease

Occupational Lung Disease

Definition:− Repeated exposure to

airborne particles, chemicals, vapors, or gases that result in various diseases involving the lungs

Examples:− Pneumoconiosis,

asbestosis, silicosis

Who is at Risk?

Construction 5000’s codes

− Hazards: Wood dust, metallic dust, asbestos, sand blasting, various gasses, fumes, and cutting oils

Who is at Risk?

Healthcare 8800’s codes− Hazards: Various

chemicals and gases mainly utilized in laboratory work, drilling, and surgical procedures

Agribusiness 00’s codes− Hazards: Animal waste,

plant fertilizer, moldy hay spores, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides

Who is at Risk?

Plastics 4000 - 4493 codes− Hazards: Various chemicals and acids used in

plastics manufacturing, vapors and dust produced when grinding

Pharmaceuticals 4825 - 4829 codes− Hazards: Airborne dust, various chemicals, vapors

from production processes

Printing 4299 code− Hazards: Inhalation of vapors and dust from paper

products

Evaluating a Facility

Is there proper ventilation?

Are respirators in use or other required PPE?

Do the employees receive appropriate breaks to remove them from the environment?

What is the age of the facility (asbestos)?

Prevention

Proper respirator fit testing as well as respirator physical. A respirator physical can alert you to a possible pre-existing condition and determine fitness for duty.

Employee must always wear proper PPE. Effective ventilation by dilution or local exhaust. Proper hand washing and personal hygiene.

Worksite Evaluation - Lung Disease

Occupational Blood Disorders and Disease

Definition: − Repeated exposure to

harmful chemicals or bloodborne diseases that result in a chronic blood disorder or disease

Examples: − Hepatitis, HIV, heavy metal

poisoning, aplastic anemia, lead poisoning, and mercury poisoning

Who is at Risk?

Construction 5000’s codes

− Hazards: Copper (preservative treated wood)

Chromium (painting, sandblasting, welding)

Lead (painting, sandblasting, welding)

Benzene (painting)

Cadmium (painting, medal soldering, welding)

Arsenic (preservative treated wood)

Who is at Risk?

Healthcare 8800’s code− Hazard: Mercury (dental fillings

and thermometers)

Agribusiness 00’s codes− Hazard: Arsenic (pesticides)

Food Service 2000 - 2688 codes− Hazard: Fish (mercury)

Who is at Risk?

Plastics 4000 - 4493 codes− Hazard: Cadmium (pigments and plastic production)

Pharmaceuticals 4825 - 4829 codes− Hazard: Contact with different metals

when manufacturing drugs

Printing 4299 code− Hazard: Cadmium (pigments)

Lead (printing)

Prevention

Proper respirator fit testing as well as respirator physical.

Employee must always wear PPE.

Effective safety program that monitors exposure levels and hazards.

Effective ventilation.

Proper hand washing as well as personal hygiene.

Work Site Evaluation - Healthcare

Things to Consider about OD Claims

They are normally filed at the “onset of symptoms.”

The employer of record at this time will almost always be charged with the claim.

Many of these claims are chronic in nature and can result in significant disability awards.

Not all jurisdictions apply “second injury funds” or similar tools to lessen the impact of these claims.

Exposures

Hiring Considerations− Experience of the

applicant Work history Job type Job market

Worksite Considerations− Do you work in the

exposures that we have discussed?

− Have you verified the recommended controls?

Boosting Your Immunity

Train your hiring staff to closely review work history.− Where did the applicant work?− What did they do?− For how long?− Is the previous employer out of business?

Did the applicant complete a post-offer medical questionnaire?

Pre-employment Physicals

They may be beneficial, but there are some potential problems:

− Cost

− EEOC issues

− Reliability

Are “older workers” a bad risk?

Certainly not!

Studies show that mature workers are more likely to be:− Dependable

− Receptive to rules

− Have fewer accidents

It must be noted that injuries to older workers commonly result in longer recovery times and more days away from work.

It’s all about matching workers to assignments.

Summary

Occupational diseases and disorders can be prevented with proper monitoring, proper PPE, and most of all a thorough safety orientation for your employees.

An ounce of loss prevention may be worth a pound of claims management.

Your immunity to occupational diseases depends on your level of control in the hiring process as well as at the work site.