EHS Module 1

CE455 ENVIRONMENTAL Module 1

HEALTH AND SAFETY

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 • Explain the Toxicology and
Course Occupational Health associated with
Objectives industries
• Identify chemical and microbial agents
that originate in the environment and
can impact human health
• Describe various measures to ensure
safety in Construction industry
• Explain the effect of air and water
pollution on environment
• Describe the safety measures against
various environmental hazards
 ➢ Introduction to Occupational Health
And Toxicology: Safety at work –
Socio – Economic reasons.
➢ Introduction to health and safety at
various industries. occupational
related diseases,Musculoskeletal
Module 1 disorders, hearing impairment,
carcinogens, silicosis, asbestosis,
Syllabus pneumoconiosis
➢ Toxic materials and substances used
in work, exposure limits,
toxicological investigation
➢ Industrial Hygiene, Arrangements by
organisations to protect the workers.
EHS Module 1

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND

SAFETY

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EHS Module 1

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND

SAFETY

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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND

SAFETY

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TOXICOLOGY
Toxicology is a field of science that helps us understand the harmful
effects that chemicals, substances, or situations, can have on people,
animals, and the environment.
Also known as Science of Safety because, as a field it has evolved from a
science focused on studying poisons and adverse effects of chemical
exposures, to a science devoted to studying safety.

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RISK AND HAZARD

Risk:
The chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an
adverse health effect if exposed to a hazard.

Hazard:
Any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on
something or someone under certain conditions at work.

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TOXIN AND TOXICITY

Toxin
Any of a group of poisonous, usually unstable compounds generated by
microorganisms, plants or animals. Certain toxins are produced by specific
pathogenic microorganisms and are the causative agents in various
diseases, such as tetanus, diphtheria, etc.
Toxicity
The effect a specific quantity or dosage of a specific toxin has on a living
microorganism.

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 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND TOXICOLOGY

• Occupational health – should aim at the maintenance of the highest

degree of physical, mental and social well being of workers in all
occupations.
• Toxicology - field of science that helps us understand the harmful
effects that chemicals, substances, or situations can have on living
things and environment.
• Occupational toxicology - application of the principles and
methodology of toxicology toward chemical and biologic hazards
encountered at work.
• Objective of the occupational toxicologist - to prevent adverse
health effects in workers that result from their work environment.

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 Occupational Related Diseases

An “occupational disease” is any disease occurred primarily as

a result of an exposure to risk factors arising from work
activity. “Work-related diseases” have multiple causes, where
factors in the work environment may play a role, together
with other risk factors, in the development of such diseases.
Musculoskeletal disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders are defined as injuries or impairments to

the musculoskeletal system of the human body like muscles, nerves,
tendons, ligaments, spinal discs, and blood vessels. In short, they are
the diseases of the joints and muscles.
Hearing Impairment
Occupational hearing loss includes acoustic
traumatic injury and noise-induced hearing
loss (NIHL), and can be defined as a partial or
complete hearing loss in one or both ears as the
result of ones employment. Exposure to
excessive noise is the major avoidable cause of
permanent hearing impairment worldwide.
Carcinogens

➢ A carcinogen also known as cancerogen is any

substance, radionuclide, or radiation that
promotes carcinogenesis, the formation of cancer. This may
be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the
disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Several radioactive
substances are considered carcinogens, but their
carcinogenic activity is attributed to the radiation.

➢ A few well-known carcinogens are asbestos, nickel,

cadmium, radon, vinyl chloride, benzidene, and benzene.
These carcinogens may act alone or with another carcinogen
to increase your risk.
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OCCUPATIONAL RELATED DISEASES:

Some of the diseases discussed in this module are:
❖ PNEUMOCONIOSIS
❖ SILICOSIS
❖ ASBESTOSIS

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Pneumoconiosis
• Pneumoconiosis is referred to as occupational lung disease.
• One of a group of interstitial lung disease caused by breathing in
certain kinds of dust particles that damage your lungs.
• Pneumoconiosis is any lung disease caused by dust particles
that can damage the lungs. The type of disease varies
according to the kind of dust inhaled, although symptoms are
usually similar regardless of the cause
• Usually take years to develop.

[Link] 4
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PNEUMOCONIOSIS
Types of dust that may cause pneumoconiosis include:
❖ Coal dust from drilling into rock when mining
❖ Asbestos fibers, often from insulation or roofing
❖ Cotton dust, usually from textile manufacturing
❖ Silica, often from sand and rock at a foundry
❖ Beryllium, a lightweight metal used in electronics and aerospace
industries
❖ Aluminum oxide, cobalt, and talc

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SILICOSIS

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OCCUPATIONAL RELATED DISEASES

SILICOSIS
Silicosis is a lung disease. It usually happens in jobs where you breathe in
dust that contains silica. That’s a tiny crystal found in sand, rock, or mineral
ores like quartz. Over time, silica can build up in your lungs and breathing
passages. This leads to scarring that makes it hard to breathe.
There are three types:
Acute: Symptoms happen a few weeks up to 2 years after exposure to a large
amount of silica.
Chronic: Problems may not show up until decades after you’re exposed to
low or moderate amounts of silica.
Accelerated: You’ll notice signs about 5 to 10 years after heavy exposure to
silica. They’ll worsen quickly.

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OCCUPATIONAL RELATED DISEASES

PREVENTION OF SILICOSIS/ PNEUMOCONIOSIS
❖ Keeping levels of dust down
❖ Ventilating a workspace properly
❖ Providing regular medical examinations
❖ Making sure workers wear a face mask and protective clothing
❖ Washing hands and face before eating or drinking
❖ Being not exposed to high levels of dust or not working in unsafe
conditions for a long time will reduce the risk of pneumoconiosis.
❖ Smoking can also make someone more vulnerable to developing the
condition.

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OCCUPATIONAL RELATED DISEASES

ASBESTOSIS
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.
Prolonged exposure to these fibers can cause lung tissue scarring and
shortness of breath.
Asbestos is a natural mineral product that's resistant to heat and
corrosion. It was used extensively in the past in products such as
insulation, cement and some floor tiles.

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[Link]
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OCCUPATIONAL RELATED DISEASES

ASBESTOSIS SYMPTOMS
❖ Shortness of breath
❖ A persistent, dry cough
❖ Chest tightness or pain
❖ Dry and crackling sounds in your lungs when you inhale
❖ Fingertips and toes that appear wider and rounder than usual
(clubbing)

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OCCUPATIONAL RELATED DISEASES

ASBESTOSIS CAUSES
If you are exposed to high levels of
asbestos dust over a long period of
time, some of the airborne fibers
can become lodged within your
alveoli — the tiny sacs inside your
lungs where oxygen is exchanged
for carbon dioxide in your blood.
The asbestos fibers irritate and scar
lung tissue, causing the lungs to
become stiff. This makes it difficult
to breathe.

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ELIMINATION OF ASBESTOS RELATED DISEASES

❖ The most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop the use of
all types of asbestos;
❖ Replacing asbestos with safer substitutes and developing economic and
technological mechanisms to stimulate its replacement;
❖ Taking measures to prevent exposure to asbestos in place and during asbestos
removal (abatement), and;
❖ Improving early diagnosis, treatment, social and medical rehabilitation of
asbestos-related diseases and establishing registries of people with past and/or
current exposures to asbestos.

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Toxic materials and substances used in work

➢ Toxic substances are dangerous materials that can harm an

individual’s health. These substances can be found on worksites
and in hazardous workplaces but are also found in products such
as household cleaners.

➢ Toxic substances pose a special kind of risk for workers If left

unchecked, these substances can create immediate and
secondary health issues, with the potential to cause severe
illness, injury or even death

➢ These dangerous components can be common in certain work

environments. Some examples of toxic substances include
flammable liquids, gases, powders and dust (ammonia, acid,
bleach, chlorine, and carbon monoxide).
HEAVY METAL
TOXICITY

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HEAVY METALS -EFFECTS

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HEAVY METALS –SOURCES

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HEAVY METALS –SOURCES

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 LEAD TOXICITY
• Even small amounts -serious health problems.

• Children younger than 6 years - especially vulnerable to lead

poisoning
• severely affect mental and physical development.

• At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.

[Link]

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LEAD POISONING

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LEAD TOXICITY
LEAD TOXICITY
MANGANESE TOXICITY
MANGANESE TOXICITY
CHROMIUM TOXICITY

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SOURCES OF CHROMIUM

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CHROMIUM TOXICITY

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CHROMIUM TOXICITY

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INDUSTRIAL TOXICOLOGY EFFECTS
REVERSIBLE AND IRREVERSIBLE EFFECTS

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INDUSTRIAL TOXICOLOGY EFFECTS

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Heavy metal removal from industrial ww
Heavy metal removal from ww by biochar
based sorbents
 Heavy metals removal from soil
by phytoremediation

Phytoremediation is a plant-based approach, which involves the use of plants to

extract and remove elemental pollutants or lower their bioavailability in soil (Berti
and Cunningham, 2000). Plants have the abilities to absorb ionic compounds in the soil
even at low concentrations through their root system.
 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
• Industrial hygiene is the science of protecting the health and
safety of people in the workplace.
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INDUSTRIAL TOXICOLOGY
Industrial toxicology is the study of the harmful effects on humans by chemicals
used in the workplace, the products produced by companies, and the wastes created
in manufacturing.
Workers can be exposed to harmful chemicals through four different routes
❖ Inhalation: Harmful substances are absorbed into the blood stream via lungs by
breathing
❖ Ingestion: Accidental swallowing of substances that enter stomach and intestine and is
absorbed into blood
❖ Absorption: Substance may enter the body through the skin and is absorbed into the
blood stream.
❖ Injection: Occurs when substances are forced through the skin. This can occur by means
of compressed air, or by having the skin abraded by a penetrating object.

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FORMS OF TOXICITY
Industrial chemicals that cause most harm to the body are classified into

IRRITANT ASPHYXIANTS SYSTEMATIC

POISONS

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FORMS OF TOXICITY
IRRITANTS
❖ Cause inflammation, rashes or corrosion of skin
❖ They also irritate lining of lungs and digestive system
❖ They cause corrosive effects on epithelial (skin)cells within these organs
❖ They include gases such as chlorine, ammonia, formaldehyde which can
cause coughing, fluid build up in the lungs, and pain.
❖ Particulate irritants composed of minute bits of material produced in
the work [Link]; silicosis, asbestosis etc.

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FORMS OF TOXICITY
ASPHYXIANTS
❖ Aerosols or airborne chemicals that are inhaled through mouth and nose.
❖ These chemicals displace oxygen within the lungs, thus inhibiting the
amount of oxygen transported throughout the body to nourish cells.
❖ Chemical create harm when inhaled because they create a chemical
reaction within the body.
❖ eg carbon monoxide robs the body of oxygen by binding to hemoglobin
and prevents oxygen being transported to the tissues of body.
❖ Hydrogen Sulphide paralyzes the muscles in the lung and throat and
prevents oxygen from entering the body.

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FORMS OF TOXICITY
SYSTEMIC POISONS
❖ These are chemicals that are ingested and absorbed by digestive tract
❖ Narcotics and anesthetics reduce central nervous system function eg:
diethyl ether
❖ Neurotoxic agents such as alcohols, mercury, tin may cause irreversible
damage to the central or peripheral nervous system.
❖ Metals, organic solvents may target the kidneys and liver
❖ Carcinogens are chemicals that have been shown to be linked with an
increased rate of cancer among workers exposed to them eg: benzene,
asbestos, vinyl chloride.

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EFFECTS OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES

Toxic substances can cause four types effects on the body local, systemic, acute and
chronic
❖ Local effects
Substances have only a localized effect on one part of the body, where the
hazardous agents come into contact with or enters the body, eg: acid burns or in
the digestive tract when a hazardous agent is ingested.
❖ Systemic effects
Hazardous agents may target a particular system of the body such as circulatory
system (benzene, carbon monoxide, lead), brain and nervous system (pesticides,
lead, manganese, arsenic), liver (vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene), kidneys and
bladder (mercury, coke oven emissions, benzidine dyes), bone(lead).

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EFFECTS OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES

❖ Acute /temporary effects
❖ Exposure to many occupational hazards causes body to produce immediate response called an
acute effect
❖ They often disappear soon after the exposure stops
❖ eg: nausea or headache when a worker is exposed to certain solvents.
❖ Chronic effects
❖ These are effects that appear a long time after the exposure has occurred
❖ Chronic conditions such as many occupational cancers may take 20 to 30 years to develop
❖ Some chronic conditions occur just after a short exposure, whereas other chronic conditions
develop after repeated contact with a substance or work process.
❖ Sometimes systemic or chronic conditions may develop only after continuous exposure to
hazardous substances. This due to the continuous accumulation of the substance in the body. This
is known as cumulative effect.

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 Toxicological Investigations

Toxicology testing is the set of methods used to determine

what levels of harmful substances (toxins) are currently
present in a sample. This includes collecting samples, testing
the samples using methods such as immunoassays and
chromatography, and analyzing the results.

n the case of toxicology testing, the samples are blood, saliva,

tissue, or urine, thus they are typically called specimens. For
many jobs, prior to starting, you may need to have a drug
test performed.
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INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
It is the identification, recognition, evaluation, control and confirmation of protection from
hazards at work that may result in injury, illness or affect the well being of workers.
The key components of industrial hygiene are:
❖ Ergonomics: (study of people at work) improper postures, overuse of muscles, and repeated
tasks may result in muscle, lower back injuries. The primary goal is to reduce stress,
eliminate injuries associated with bad posture, overuse of muscles and repeated tasks.
❖ Noise: long term exposure to wanted or unwanted noise may lead to hearing loss for
workers
❖ Temperature: both high and low temperatures can cause problems for workers
❖ Air quality: poor air quality can cause issues such as coughs, nausea, headaches etc.
❖ Chemicals: exposure to chemicals may cause various systemic and chronic effects
❖ Radiation: exposure to ionising and non ionising radiations are harmful
❖ Biological hazards: fungi, bacteria and other germs may enter the body and cause acute and
chronic conditions

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INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
Eliminating or controlling hazards
❖ Once hazardous conditions are identified there is a systematic approach
to eliminating or minimizing potential hazard.
❖ It starts with designing the hazard out of the process or operation,
providing exhaust or ventilation, proper work practices, personal
protective equipment, and other measures.

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