Discuss about the Principles of Environmental Health.
Workplace safety is one of the vital components for both the employees and employers in an organization. Becklake, Bagatin & Neder (2007) commented that employers should take necessary steps in protecting employees from the harmful impacts of any chemicals and materials causing damage to inside air quality. Due to the usage of asbestos in buildings, it may result in adverse health risks. The risks come from inhaling asbestos fibers that easily penetrates into body tissues and causing fatal diseases among people. The employees get exposed to asbestos through eating, drinking or coming into contact with asbestos emitted things. Several steps should be taken necessarily for analyzing the extent of harm caused by asbestos and diverse ways to rectify it (Bernstein et al. 2008).
This assignment will be dealing with the adverse health hazards those impacts on human health and the potential sources of asbestos exposure. Moreover, it also discusses monitoring and controlling principles used for scheming health hazards in society. The health promotional programs and nature of health hazards are also discussed in this context.
In recent times, both industrialization and development in several sectors have increased immensely that has elevated the chances of health-related hazards. According to Burge (2004), IOHA (International Occupational Hygiene Association) primary goal is in developing and promoting occupational hygiene across the globe. It is necessary to the organizations to be a certified member of it for preventing employees to suffer from several health hazards from asbestos (McFalls, 1998). At when continuous exposure to asbestos causes inflammation as well as scarring that adversely effects on breathing and may also lead to solemn health issues. The factors that determine the extent of harmfulness caused by asbestos to individuals are exposure duration, concentration, and frequency. As stated by Chen et al. (2007), the diseases that are caused due to the breathing of asbestos are shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain, appetite loss, and weight loss, swelling of face or neck and fatigue. Moreover, constant exposure to asbestos also enhances the chances of lung cancer, pleural disorders, non-malignant lung, mesothelioma and even long-term ailments. The period between the exposure to asbestos and that of the appearance of its symptoms is nearly 10-50 years.
Davies (2007) commented that medical researchers have shown that employees those exposed to asbestos for prolonged duration have increased the chances of suffering from lung, gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers. Even more, the other health hazards those caused due to asbestos are acute effects, chronic effects, and reproductive effects. The Government has made laws related to usage of products those made from asbestos. It is said to have products well protected, shielded and insulated from emitting harmful fibers and chemicals. The products those contain asbestos are floor tiles, wall panels, asbestos, cement, electrical insulation, ceiling tiles, boiler insulation and attic insulation. As opined by Dong et al. (2010), generally individuals and workers are exposed to asbestos due to occupational settings like home renovations, construction works, and other related works. There are several sources of asbestos exposure such as car manufacturing industries and asbestos-using industries. Even within the organizations, asbestos can be detected that may also cause to employees; if exposed for a longer period (Schmitt, Diepgen & Bauer, 2009).
According to Foley et al. (2005), asbestos fibers irrespective of any types are dangerous and adversely impacts on human health. When asbestos is on the loose, it combines with air particles very easily causing harmful diseases. The factors those contribute to amplify asbestos exposure, and adverse health impacts are the amount of exposure, for how long people are exposed to it and other chemicals they are exposed to. Moreover, people smoking cigarettes and are exposed to asbestos-related work and products have higher chances of getting cancer (Mergler et al. 2007). The breathing and in-taking of asbestos may increase the chances of getting infected with several hazardous diseases. It has been scientifically proven that the products those contain more than 1% of asbestos minerals can be considered to be hazardous. Forbes et al. (2009) commented that both respiratory system and lungs get infected from asbestos. It is because the tiny fibers of asbestos get settled inside the lugs and thereby cause major harm to the chest. The organizations need to be environmentally conscious in emitting asbestos into the environment and causing major diseases to people.
Gehrt (1996) stated that statistical studies have shown that besides negative affecting the human body, asbestos also adversely affects the environment. Air and water can easily bear asbestos particles without even dissolving it. It can easily get settled on soil and get absorbed by the surface. Moreover, it also gets easily blown away by the wind and enters the human body through inhaling that poisonous air. The people working at mines, factory and asbestos manufacturing organizations suffer the most from this material; if not preventive clothes are worn properly. As opined by Jarup (2003), the potentiality of getting infected from prolonged exposure to asbestos varies from manageable to severe levels. It is also seen that apart from the workers, their family members are also infected from asbestos causing diseases. It is bechause the asbestos particulates get attached to the clothing’s, hair and skin and are hence carried to home (Scheuhammer et al. 2007).
As stated by Jha (2009), ILO or International Labour Organization passed certain laws and regulations regarding the protection of workers against occupational health hazards. There are certain conventions those are to be followed by workers exposed to asbestos-related work. Proper clothing should be provided to employees; periodic medical treatment should be provided to workers and double changing room to prevent dust from gong outside the room and to pollute the environment. Moreover, employers should monitor the work environment in certain time periods and fix meetings for any improvements in it for making the workplace well suitable and protective to the employees. Jones et al. (2008) mentioned that international organizations like WHO (World Health Organization), ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) had provided manuals to individual organizations related to asbestos manufacturing and product development. Hence, about these rules and regulations lay down by these organizations; companies need to standardize the exposure of employees and workers to asbestos (Must et al. 1999).
According to Khan et al. (2008), organizations related to asbestos production and usage needs to monitor the health of the workers periodically under the scheduled medical practitioners. Even, the organizations are bound to pay all the expenses required for monitoring health, obtaining records and keeping those records for future relevance. Moreover, organizations should ensure to provide all kind of training, instruction, and information to workers for best use of asbestos and preventing them from getting fatal diseases from it. Kinney (2008) commented that the employees are also taught to safely handle asbestos products under certain controlled measures like wearing appropriate clothing for handling it. As per WHS (Workplace Health and Safety), the organizations should ensure that asbestos-related workshops should be totally separated from other working areas to prevent the spread of it among their employees. Along with this, organizations should take preventive measures like monitoring the air inside the workplace after certain time periods so that it doesn’t exceed its level of contamination. Therefore, a well-written plan of asbestos management is primed, maintained as well as reviewed at periodic time intervals (Lax et al. 1998).
As per the opinion of Oftedal et al. (2008), asbestos-related diseases are not only restricted to workers dealing with asbestos materials; but also extend to their family members and other people in the community. So, environmental educational is necessary that helps in connecting the world and its citizens to adopt sustainable approaches for raising awareness of occupational health. It also helps in understanding the awful impacts of asbestos to human health. It also conducts interactive sessions that also explain organizations’ adoption of several methods to prevent workers from getting infected from asbestos-related illness. According to Ottesn et al. (2008), the workers and owners are trained and encouraged to lead a healthy life by adopting several means of preventions of asbestos attacks. It helps employees and workers to explore several links in understanding as well as tackling real-life environment along with sustainable issues. Moreover, the interdisciplinary fields also help in understanding the traditional boundaries that help in separating diverse disciplines such as geology, policies as well as geography. The asbestos-related problem is a global issue, and hence methods should be adopted across any part of the world for protecting workers from its harmful effects. Different perspectives and interactive sessions are conducted and are discussed to find out best ways of preventing environmental health problems among the people (Oberg et al. 2011).
As mentioned by Leigh et al. (1999), asbestos control and promotional programs are held that helps in the proper handling of asbestos-related products and materials. The control plans addresses methods of controlling the release of asbestos fibers as well as repression of operations related to usage of asbestos. Moreover, it also contains several engineering controls, hygiene practices, work practices and facilities those necessary to adopt for controlling exposure to asbestos. The several methods of decontaminating workers’ clothing’s and removal or cleaning up asbestos waste are also promoted for the well-being of workers. According to Maio et al. (2009), in these promotional activities, work instructions related to hazards as well as necessary controls is also provided to workers and employers. A regulatory framework is set for determining the provision of licensing as well as permitting the authorities to use asbestos materials. Along with this, the health promotional programs also acknowledge workers in adopting several methods and measures for constant monitoring the level of airborne asbestos in the workplace to which, the employees are exposed to (Norby et al. 2010).
Margni et al. (2002) stated that promotional programs organized by international and national organizations WHO, NHS, etc. had obtained copies from organizations handling with asbestos-related work. A meeting between employers and workers are held and supervised by these regulatory companies to ensure that workers are provided with plentiful safety measures while handling asbestos materials. Both the employers and employees are given advice related to the cause of different diseases due to prolonged exposure to asbestos. The workers are trained with the importance of safety measures and equipment necessary for workplace safety. Matson et al. (1997) mentioned that promotional programs also contain the usage of different work-related signs that the workers and employees should put in the places where asbestos-related work is carried. It also states the importance of restricting certain areas of entry by the unauthorized people to ensure the protection of people from asbestos. The programs also suggest workers and employers to use vacuum outfitted HEPA filter for damping and mopping the areas of asbestos materials to ensure maximum safety of workers (Morens, Folkers & Fauci, 2004).
Conclusion
The overall assignment discusses the several health hazards those related to prolonged asbestos exposure. Due to this, several chronic, as well as serious diseases, may occur to workers and employees in the workplace. Diseases like Cancer, lungs infection, respiratory problems and other prolonged ailments may cause to workers depending on nature, time and kind of asbestos exposure. In this context, several potential sources associated with related asbestos exposure along with its adverse effects and impact on the environment and the human body are discussed. Several sources and diseases caused due to asbestos are discussed related to this topic. Moreover, certain principles about monitoring, assessing and controlling environmental hazards are also discussed. The health promotional plans and rules and regulation set by international organizations are discussed. It is necessary for the organizations to adhere to these written rules and regulations for ensuring the safety of employees and workers within organizations.
The entire report has discussed the asbestos-related harmful health risks that employees and workers are facing during their work. It is important to increase awareness among the people regarding prolonged exposure to asbestos. It has discussed several practices that are necessary to be followed for minimizing the risks. International and national organizations have set up several standards, rules, and regulations to protect workers from asbestos exposure. At the same time, it is equally necessary for the employers to adhere to these rules and ethics for their workers’ safety. Moreover, the report also discusses the role of ILO and WHO in predicting and creates awareness among both employers and workers regarding the harmful effects of asbestos as well as ways to prevent it. It also discusses the different ways the asbestos gets spread from workers to general people and the methods that can be adopted to prevent such mishap. Proper clothing and masks are needed to be provided to the workers and employers to prevent asbestos fibers to get attached to clothing. Double changing room can also be provided to the employees for their self-security and prevent carrying off the asbestos particles to their respective homes. Different promotional activities are set-up that informed employees and workers regarding asbestos-related risks and sickness.
As commented by Jones et al. (2008), organizations dealing with asbestos-containing materials and its production should investigate the performance of the employees and workers involved in it. It is done to establish an efficient monitoring as well as maintenance program required for dealing asbestos in an effective way. Several preventive and precautionary steps are adopted that helps in monitoring of the overall asbestos-related activities within the organization. It is the duty and responsibility of the managers and employers to measure and adopt certain precautions to ascertain workers from exposure to asbestos. Wang et al. (2008) had an opinion that several international organizations have already set rules and standards to which, the asbestos-producing and using companies are bound to adhere to. In this context, several recommendations will be discussed evaluation as well as monitoring of exposure to asbestos at the workplace. Along with this, the problems due to asbestos exposure and certain preventive measures will also be discussed.
Every organization dealing with asbestos-containing materials should nominate a dependable and responsible person for overall maintenance as well as monitor the proper handling of asbestos. As stated by Wang et al. (2008), organizations should hire a qualified professional for investigating and auditing the inside air and environment of asbestos producing companies. Several responsive actions are taken such as encapsulation, enclosure, encasement and repair of asbestos-containing products. These steps are taken to prevent the release of asbestos microfibers to get attached to worker’s skin, clothes and hair. The actions include placement of air-tight blockades around the materials containing asbestos as well as covering these materials with hard sealing materials. Vorosmarty et al. (2000) suggested that organizations need to have a well-written and certified monitoring and maintenance program to which, they have to adhere to for the safety of workers. These should be elements such as notification, surveillance, controls, work practices, record keeping as well as training. Even more, evaluation checklist should also be present for periodic checking of both condition and conservation of asbestos containing materials (Jarup, 2003).
According to Taubes (2008), in the notification, the programme is set-up for all the infected people that contain asbestos and its location. Methods are, therefore, discussed that helps in avoiding certain disturbances caused due to these asbestos related products. In surveillance, regular scrutiny and observation are done for noting down and documenting changes that take place within the organization related to any asbestos containing products. Smith & Schindler (2009) also commented that it is equally important to control all the systems those are engaged in monitoring as well as maintenance of the asbestos related products. Moreover, several work practices are also to be adopted such as protection programs, basic operations, maintenance procedures and clean-up techniques of asbestos fibers are also monitored and evaluated on a daily basis. It is done to minimize and nominalise the spread of asbestos fibers outside the workplace or within the workplace environment. Vadas et al. (2009) also suggested that in record keeping, the management documents related to asbestos are stored permanently. The health records, medical records as well as air sampling records are kept for future references and check whether organizations are operating while complying with such rules and regulations.
Shih et al. (2009) commented that training sessions are held for providing adequate training to workers regarding their maintenance of personal health. The levels of training vary from activities that involve accidental disturbance of asbestos containing materials. This level, therefore, trains personnel to handle the asbestos related products in a proper way. Moreover, the training sessions also contain special operations and guidance for maintaining as well as repairing the tasks those involve asbestos (Pope III & Dockery, 2006). Along with this, workers are also trained properly to wear proper insulated clothing’s, masks and helmets’ to prevent sticking of asbestos fibers to the human body and their clothes. Good quality insulation and coatings should be provided to the exterior of the asbestos materials to prevent any such radiation and spread of fibers (Pruss-Ustun & Corvalan, 2007).
Conclusion
The entire part of this report deals with the several maintenance and monitoring programs that employers should adopt within organizations for the health benefit of their workers. The different work practices, surveillance, control and training sessions are provided to workers and employers to prevent them from getting infected by asbestos fibers. They are also made aware of several chronic diseases that can cause due to asbestos exposure without taking any preventive measures. Training and guidance are also given appropriately to the workers for handling asbestos-related products in an effective and efficient way. To impart the employees with knowledge, qualified and educated contractors are hired for guidance. In this section, proper handling of inventory storage and assessment of asbestos-containing materials are also discussed.
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