Occupational disease is a health disorder experienced by a person due to routine or exposure to certain substances in the workplace. There are various types of occupational diseases, and each has a different trigger or cause.
Occupational diseases are important to know, because many people are not aware that the complaints they experience are the impact of their daily work. To find out more about occupational diseases, see the following reviews.
Various Occupational Diseases
Complaints caused by occupational diseases can be avoided if you understand the causes and change your habits at work. The following are examples of occupational diseases and their explanations:
1. Asthma
Workers who are often exposed to chemical fumes, gases, and dust are prone to this condition. Complaints will usually arise more quickly if workers do not wear protective equipment such as masks. Workers at risk of developing asthma include workers in textile factories, hairdressers, carpenters, and welders.
Asthma triggered by work has the same symptoms as asthma in general, namely wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. However, asthma symptoms that appear will usually get worse while working and will improve when you are on vacation.
The severity of occupational asthma depends on how long you have been exposed to the trigger. The longer and more often you are exposed, the more severe your asthma symptoms will be. However, this also means symptoms will be easier to treat if the sufferer is diagnosed sooner.
2. Syndrome carpal tunnel (CTS)
CTS is prone to be experienced by workers who often use their hands for the same and repeated movements. Workers who are vulnerable to this condition include office workers who often type, packers, tailors, and construction workers.
CTS is characterized by symptoms such as tingling sensations, numbness, and weakness in the hands. This complaint can be relieved by resting the hands for a moment while working, compressing the hands with ice, and taking pain relievers.
If these methods are not able to relieve the complaints or symptoms that you feel, consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
3. Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis can occur in workers who often come into contact with chemicals, pesticides, preservatives, nickel, perfumes, hair dyes, to jewelry that may irritate the skin or cause allergic reactions.
Contact dermatitis is characterized by a red rash that is itchy, dry, and scaly. The skin can also harden, crack, and be painful to the touch. Workers at risk can avoid this complaint by using protective equipment while working, such as rubber gloves.
4. Chronic lung disease
Someone who works in places such as coal mines, stone factories, clay factories, building materials factories, and even roads are at risk for this disease. One example of a disease is asbestosis. Complaints can include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, to changes in breathing patterns.
In contrast to asthma, sufferers will still experience complaints even though they are no longer exposed to triggers. This is because air particles at these locations can settle permanently in the lungs.
In addition to the diseases above, there are many other diseases that can be caused by work, such as hearing loss, tetanus, vitiligo, to cancer. Generally, these diseases originate from a lack of awareness of the importance of using personal protective equipment during work.
Every job has its own health risks. So that you do not experience occupational diseases, always use appropriate personal protective equipment and rest if you feel tired. Do it too medical check-up for employees regularly according to the risks of your job and the rules of the company you work for.