INTRODUCTION TO

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
BY
NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF
SAFETY PROFESSIONALS

INTRODUCTION
Health is wealth. Everybody enjoys good

health. Good health should be maintained and

promoted. It is our duty to ensure that we
enjoy optimum health. Health should be given
high priority.
We work to earn a living. It is observed that
many people either get injured or die due to
work-related health hazards.
We should be provided with adequate
protection against work-related hazards.
Health should not be sacrificed at the alter of
work.

INTRODUCTION CONTD.
It is important for workers to know

their responsibilities and that of their

management in achieving good
health for efficiency and productivity.
Thus, good health should be the
target of both individuals and
corporate bodies.

DEFINITIONS
Occupation: Any legal activity engaged-in

by an individual to earn a living.

Health: World Health Organization (WHO)
defines health as a state of complete
wellbeing of an individual not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.
Occupational Health: It concerns the
protection and promotion of the health of all
persons at work including staff and workers.

AIMS OF OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH
The main aim is to reduce

occupational health problems to As

Low As Reasonably Practicable.
(ALARP)
1. The promotion and maintenance of the highest
degree of wellbeing of workers in all
occupation.
2. The prevention among workers of departure
from health caused by their working
conditions.

CONTD

3. The protection of workers in their

employment from risks resulting
from factors adverse to health.
4. The adaptation of work to man and
each man to his job.

OBJECTIVES OF OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH

1. To protect employees against health

and safety hazards in the work

situations.
2. To facilitate the placement of workers
according to their physical, mental, and
emotional abilities/capabilities in work.
3. To ensure adequate medical care and
rehabilitation of the worker from
occupational illnesses and injuries.

OBJECTVES CONTD.
4. To protect the general environment
of the community.
5. To encourage and assist in measures
for personal health maintenance.

DEFINITION OF HEALTH
HAZARDS
Hazard: This is any object, condition
or situation that has potential to
cause harm when released.
Health Hazard: Any hazard that can
cause harm to health.

TYPES OF OCCUPATIONAL
HAZARDS

Physical Hazards: e.g. noise, vibration,

heat, cold, light radiation etc.

Chemical Hazards: e.g. dust, vapors,
gases. There are 3 main routes of
entry of chemicals into the body; they
are: inhalation, ingestion & absorption.
Biological Hazards: e.g. bacteria,
viruses, parasites, fungi etc.

TYPES OF OCCUPATIONAL
HAZARDS CONTD.

Ergonomical Hazards: e.g. poor

equipment design, discomfort while

using equipment that can lead to
musculo-skeletal problems.
Psychosocial Hazards: e.g. work
overload, job insecurity, stress,
inferiority complex etc.

HIERARCHY OF CONTROL OF HAZARDS

Elimination: i.e. removal of hazard.

Substitution: i.e. change if hazardous

e.g. if method A is hazardous, change

to method B (or Equipment B).
Engineering: i.e. remedy e.g. if an
office is hot , cool it with an air
conditioner or fan.

HIERARCHY OF CONTROL OF HAZARDS

CONTD

Procedural: i.e. provision of

information through training,

workshop, and seminar to improve or
change method of operation.
The use of personal protective
equipment.

The Relationship Between Health And

Work
WORKERS HEALTH

PROMOTION OF WORKERS

WELLBEING
PROVISION OF ADEQUATE REST
AND RELAXATION
UNDERSTAND ING AND
COOPERATION AMONG EMPLOYEES;
MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
PROMOTION OF PERSONAL
HYGIENE
PRE-EMPLOYMENT AND PERIODIC
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
PROVISION OF ACCOMMODATION
ANDTRANSPORT TO WORK

WORKING
ENVIRONMENT
IMPROVEMWNT OF WORKING
CONDITIONS AND OPERATIONS
SATISFACTORY DESIGN AND
MAINTENANCE OF MECHINERY
PROVISION OF VENTILATION,
LIGHTING AND ATMOSOHERIC
PURITY
PROVISION OF SAFETY
EQUIPMENT.
BETTER RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN MAN AND MACHINE.
PROVISION OF ADEQUATE

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

HEALTH AND WORK CONTD.
Low sickness

HEALTHY WORK FORCE

SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS

Low accident

Enhancement of efficiency
High productivity