Occupational diseases are health problems that occur in the workplace and adversely affect the health of employees. This article provides information on occupational diseases and their important causes, and focuses on preventive measures and existing laws. The article is supported by information obtained from various academic studies and current sources.
Occupational diseases are diseases that adversely affect the health of employees due to the hazards and risks they are exposed to in the workplace. In order to protect the health of employees and prevent occupational diseases, there are measures that employers must take and methods that must be applied. This article provides information on the causes of occupational diseases, preventive measures and existing laws.
Causes and Types
Occupational diseases can occur due to chemical, physical, biological and ergonomic risks in the workplace.
- Chemical risks: These are diseases caused by hazardous substances, gases and dusts used in the workplace (Rappaport and Smith, 2010). Examples include mesothelioma and lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure (Carbone et al., 2012).
- Physical risks: Diseases associated with factors such as extreme temperatures, noise, vibration and radiation (Nelson and Fingerhut, 2011). For example, hearing loss and Raynaud's disease are linked to such risks.
- Biological risks: Diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites found in the workplace (Meyer and Rosenstock, 2011). For example, infections such as tuberculosis and hepatitis B in health workers are related to such risks.
- Ergonomic risks: These are diseases caused by inappropriate design, inappropriate working postures and overload in the workplace (Bernard and Putz-Anderson, 2017). For example, musculoskeletal diseases such as low back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome are linked to such risks.
Preventive Measures and Laws
The measures that employers should take to prevent occupational diseases are as follows:
- Risk assessment: Employers must conduct a risk assessment to identify potential hazards and risks in the workplace (EU-OSHA, 2020). This assessment helps to determine the measures that need to be taken for the health and safety of workers.
- Training and information: Employers should provide regular training and information to their employees about occupational diseases and the measures that can be taken (Rodriguez-Garcia et al., 2017). In this way, employees become aware of the risks they are exposed to and take appropriate precautions.
- Engineering and management controls: Employers should implement engineering and management controls to reduce hazards and risks in the workplace (Hämäläinen et al., 2018). For example, hazardous materials can be replaced with safer alternatives, soundproofing can be installed to reduce noise levels, and ergonomic working conditions can be provided.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): Employers should provide and ensure that their employees use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (Gorman et al., 2021). This equipment may include products such as chemical protective gloves, hearing protectors and respirators.
There are existing laws to prevent occupational diseases and protect workers' health. Institutions such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) set standards and guidelines that employers and workers must comply with. In addition, countries create their own occupational health and safety legislation, regulating the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers.
Occupational diseases are an important public health problem caused by hazards and risks in the workplace. Employers and employees should be aware of the measures to be taken and the methods to be applied to prevent occupational diseases and protect the health of employees. In addition, a healthy and safe working environment should be ensured in the workplace by acting in line with existing laws and guidelines.
Sources
Bernard, B. P., & Putz-Anderson, V. (2017).