Recognizing Occupational Diseases in an Effort to Implement an Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS)

Occupational diseases are diseases caused by work, work tools, materials, processes and the work environment. Thus, Occupational Disease is an artificial disease or manmade disease. In doing any work, we are actually at risk of getting health problems or diseases caused by the disease. Therefore, occupational diseases are diseases caused by work, work tools, materials, processes and the work environment.

WHO distinguishes the categories of Occupational Diseases, namely:

1. Diseases caused only by work, for example Pneumoconiosis.
2. Diseases whose cause is occupational, for example Bronchogenic Carcinoma
3. Occupational disease is one cause among other causative factors, for example Bronchitis chronist.
4. A disease where work aggravates a pre-existing condition, such as asthma.

There are several examples of occupational diseases, including:

Diseases of the respiratory tract: Occupational diseases in the respiratory tract can be acute or chronic. Acute, for example, occupational asthma. Often diagnosed as acute or viral tracheobronchitis. Chronic, missal: asbestosis. Such as symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Acute pulmonary edema. Can be caused by chemicals such as nitrogen oxides.

Skin disease: It is generally nonspecific, troublesome, not life threatening, sometimes self-healing. It is important the work history in identifying irritants that are causative, sensitized or due to other factors.

Hearing Damage: Many cases of hearing loss show due to prolonged exposure to noise, there are some cases not due to work. A detailed employment history should be obtained from each person with hearing loss. Recommendations are made on the prevention of hearing loss.

Symptoms of the Back and Joints: There is no test or procedure that can distinguish work-related diseases of the back from non-work-related ones. The determination of likelihood depends on employment history. Arthritis and tenosynovitis are caused by unnaturally repetitive movements.

Cancer: There is a significant percentage showing cases of cancer caused by exposure at work. Evidence that ingredients in the workplace are carcinogens is often obtained from individual clinical reports rather than epidemiological studies. In cancer, exposure to carcinogens begins >20 years before diagnosis.

Coronary Artery Disease: Due to stress or Carbon Monoxide and other chemicals at work.

Liver Disease: Often diagnosed as liver disease due to viral hepatitis or cirrhosis due to alcohol. Important history about the work, as well as existing toxic materials.

Neuropsychiatric Problems: Neuropsychiatry is often associated with diabetes, alcohol use or unknown causes, depression due to substance abuse or psychiatric problems. Misbehavior may be an early symptom of work-related stress. More than 100 chemicals (a.I solvents) can cause depression. Several neurotoxins (including arsenic, lead, mercury, methyl, butyl ketone) can cause peripheral neuropathy. Carbon disulfide can cause symptoms such as psychosis.

By recognizing Occupational Diseases organizations can also find out the right K3 actions and programs in following up on hazards that exist in the organization so that there is no Occupational Disease and will make employee productivity better, the implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) in the organization will be better, so that the company's targets will be achieved optimally.