Your Health and Safety at Work: A Collection of Modules - Your Body at Work (ILO, 1996, 40 p.): Exercise: Hazards and your health

Your Health and Safety at Work: A Collection of Modules - Your Body at Work (ILO, 1996, 40 p.)

		(introduction...)
		Preface
		Goal of the Module
		Objectives
		I. Introduction
		II. Routes of entry
		III. Effects of toxic substances
		IV. Role of the health and safety representative
		V. Summary
		Exercise: Hazards and your health
		Manuals already published
		Back cover

Exercise: Hazards and your health

Note to the instructor

For this exercise, you will need to have enough copies of the pictures so that each trainee or group of trainees can see them. If the class is small, you can hold up the pictures in front of the class and show to everyone at once. You will also need a flipchart (or some large sheets of paper taped to the walls) and markers or a chalkboard and chalks.

Use this exercise to get the class participants involved in identifying problems and suggesting solutions related to the topics discussed in this Module. These pictures and the discussions you stimulate will reinforce what you have taught in this Module.

Instructions

Show each picture to the whole class and ask the questions in the text or questions of your own. When you ask questions, wait several seconds for a response from the trainees. If no one responds, then you can prompt with the responses given below.

Write the trainees' responses on the flipchart or chalkboard. Mark a line down the middle with “problems” written on one side and “solutions” on the other. Write the trainees' responses in the appropriate columns.

1. Picture with an X through it shows a worker working around open containers of liquid chemicals. His hands are in the liquid, he is not wearing gloves. There is liquid spilled on the floor nearby and he is wearing open sandals. The workplace is clearly very hot.

Question:	What is wrong with this picture? Can the chemicals the worker is working with affect his health? How can they get into his body?
Answer:	The worker is being exposed to hazards by working around chemicals with no protection. Also, the workplace is obviously very hot and workers can suffer from fatigue and possible adverse health effects from the heat. The worker can inhale the chemicals through the nose or mouth, they can be absorbed through his skin, and he can ingest them if he eats, drinks, or smokes with the chemicals in his hands. Chemicals can also damage the external surfaces (e.g. skin, eyes) by causing burns. Even when not absorbed, contact with them may lead to severe skin reactions.
Question:	What is the most common route of entry?
Answer:	Inhalation.
Question:	If he inhales the chemicals, what effects can result?
Answer:	There can be local effects on the lungs, but the chemicals could also be absorbed into the bloodstream and possibly have damaging effects on various target organs.
Question:	What are some of the possible target organs?
Answer:	Examples are the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), heart, lungs, kidneys and liver.
Question:	If the chemical reaches target organs and causes problems (for example anaemia), what type of effect is that called?
Answer:	Systemic effect.
Question:	Are there any other types of effects that could result from exposure to hazardous substances?
Answer:	Acute effects and chronic effects. Local, systemic, acute and chronic health effects can all result from exposure to one substance.

2. Picture shows a worker sneezing. There is some fine dust in the workplace.

Question:

If you often see your co-worker sneezing at work, what might you suspect? What steps might you take to follow up on your questions? What actions could you take?

Answer:

You might suspect she has a cold or allergy or that there is an irritant at work that she is reacting to. You can ask your co-worker if she has a cold or allergy. Then ask if sneezing only occurs when she comes to work and if she has any other symptoms, e.g. skin rash, trouble breathing, etc. If the problem only occurs at work, then you could follow through together to investigate what she is working with, what control measures and precautions are indicated (look at hazard data sheets, chemical labels, ask the employer, health and safety representative, chemical manufacturer, etc. for information for the particular substances), what levels the worker is exposed to, and what are the “safe levels” of those substances.

3. Picture of a worker whose hands show signs of dermatitis - the skin is red, blistered and he is scratching his hands.

Question:	You see your co-worker's hands look like this. You suspect that it is dermatitis from the chemicals he works with. You ask him about it but he says he is fine. What can you do?
Answer:	You could suggest that together you get information about the materials he is working with and that perhaps he should wear protective gloves in the meantime. The best method of prevention would be engineering controls that would prevent him from having contact with the materials while he is doing his job. You can work with the employer and the union to make sure the worker gets protected.

4. Picture of a worker working around animals and chemicals. Worker is in personal protective equipment.

Question:	This worker handles animals and pesticides in his job. What types of hazards does he face?
Answer:	He can be exposed to biological hazards, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites from the animals, as well as the chemical hazards from the pesticides. Because of these hazards, he is wearing personal protective clothing. He should be trained in the use of the protective clothing and the pesticides and in the safe handling of animals.

5. Picture of a worker at work with severe stomach pains.

Question:

Your co-worker has severe stomach cramps and feels very nauseous. You noticed him eating lunch at his work area today and you know he works around solvents. What are the possible causes of the cramping you might think of?

Answer:

First, he should receive medical attention. Tell the medical professional that you think he could have ingested some chemicals. When your friend is better, talk to him about the hazards of eating in the work area and the importance of washing his hands and face before eating, drinking or smoking. You may also want to investigate control methods to prevent the worker from coming into contact with chemicals while doing his job.

6. Picture of an acid burn on an arm.

Question:	What type of effect is an acid burn?
Answer:	A local effect.

7. (No picture)

Question:	What is the reason that some hazardous substances only cause chronic health problems a long time after the exposure occurred?
Answer:	Because of latency periods. This is the period of time between the exposure and the first sign of disease. For example, many occupational cancers take 20 or 30 years to develop.