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Occupational Health Engineering

ENGR 3126
Lecture 01c Introduction
(Adapted from: Philip Dirige, LU, 2015)

Eugene Ben-Awuah, PhD

Bharti School of Engineering
Laurentian University
Office: F211
Tel: 705-675-1151 ext. 2195
Email: ebenawuah@laurentian.ca

Occupational Health Engineering

Cross-Disciplinary Area Concerned with Protecting
the Health and Welfare of People Engaged in
Work
International Labour Organization (ILO) and the
World Health Organization (WHO) in 1950 and
Subsequently in 1995:

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Occupational Health (OH)

Thestateofcompletephysical,mentalandsocialwellbeing
andnotmerelytheabsenceofdiseaseandinfirmity(1946
WorldHealthOrganization(WHO)).
Thepromotionandmaintenanceofthehighestdegreeof
physical,mentalandsocialwellbeingofworkersinall
occupationsbypreventingdeparturesfromhealth,
controllingrisksandtheadaptationofworktopeople,and
peopletotheirjobs(1950InternationalLabour Organization
(ILO)/WHO).
healthandsafetyisrelatedonlytophysicalconditionsand
risksintheworkplaceandsocouldnotbeconcernedwith
thelengthofaworkingday.

Occupational Health (OH)

In1998,theOccupationalHealthAdvisoryCommittee(OHAC),
whichispartoftheHealthandSafetyExecutive(HSE)produceda
reportthatdescribedOHas:
Theworkeffectonhealth,whetherthroughsuddeninjuryor
longtermexposuretoagentswithlatenteffectsonhealth,and
thepreventionofoccupationaldiseasethroughtechniqueswhich
includehealthsurveillance,ergonomicsandeffectivehuman
resourcemanagementsystems.
Goodoccupationalhealthpracticeshouldaddressthefitnessof
thetaskfortheworker,notthefitnessoftheworkerforthetask
alone.
Rehabilitationandrecoveryprograms.
Helpingthedisabledtosecureandretainwork.
Managingworkrelatedaspectsofillnessandhelpingworkers
tomakeinformedchoicesregardinglifestyleissues.

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Occupational Health Engineering

OccupationalHealthshouldaimat:
Thepromotionandmaintenanceofthehighestdegreeof
physical,mental,andsocialwellbeingofworkersinall
occupations;
Thepreventionamongstworkersfromdeparturesfromhealth
causedbytheirworkingconditions;
Theprotectionofworkersintheiremploymentfromrisks
resultingfromfactorsadversetohealth;
Theplacementandmaintenanceoftheworkerinan
occupationalenvironmentadaptedtohisphysiologicaland
psychologicalcapabilities;and,
Summarizingtheadaptationofworktomanandeachmanto
hisjob.

In Canada
Workers Covered by Federal or Provincial Labour
Codes
Federal Legislation (Canada Labour Code)
Mining, Transportation, and Federal Workers

All Others Are Covered by Provincial Legislation

In 1978, the Canadian Centre for Occupational
Health and Safety (www.ccohs.ca) was Created by
Parliament

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Ontario Mining Industry

Fatal and Critical Injuries 2006 - July 2011
40

Top 7 incident categories

35

35

Criticalinjuries
Fatalinjuries

31
NumberofReportedInjuries

30
25

19

20

18
14

15

10

6
5

SlipsandFallsof Unconsciousness/ PowerHaulage/

Person
MedicalCondition Transp.offsite

FallsofGround Falling,Rollingor
SlidingRockor
Material

Machinery

HandlingMaterial
Manually

Sources: Ontario Ministry of Labour, MIS, 2006- July 31, 2011.

Workplace Safety North, Mining Group Fatality Database, as of July 31, 2011.

Traumatic Fatal Injury Rates per 100,000 FTE Workers by Industrial Sector

Industrial Sector

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2006 to
2010

Construction

11.4

6.8

4.6

8.6

8.3

7.9

Education

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.7

0.0

0.1
4.8

Electrical

2.5

9.4

5.7

3.4

3.2

Farm Safety

12.3

12.2

5.9

7.9

5.8

8.8

Forestry

17.7

0.0

25.2

0.0

21.8

12.9

Health Care

0.5

0.7

0.2

0.4

0.2

0.4

Industrial

1.0

1.4

0.7

0.5

0.6

0.9

Mining

17.9

20.5

9.3

5.7

0.0

10.6

Municipal

3.0

5.7

5.5

0.0

2.5

3.3

Pulp & Paper

1.4

1.4

0.0

0.0

1.8

0.9

Services

0.4

0.8

0.4

0.5

0.5

0.5

Transportation

8.0

9.6

9.3

7.9

7.0

8.4

Total

2.0

2.2

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.8

Source: WSIB EIW, as of August 31, 2011.

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Ontario Mining, Steel, Other Smelting & Refining Industries

WSIB Allowed Lost-time Injuries 2006 to 2010
CSA Incident Type
Contact with objects and equipment
Falls
Bodily reaction and exertion
Exposures to harmful substances or environments
Transportation incidents
Fires and explosions
Other events or exposures/NA
Total

# claims

640 25.2%
329 12.9%
1,128 44.4%
229
9.0%
127
5.0%
23
0.9%
67
2.6%
2,543 100.0%

Source: WSIB EIW, as of August 31, 2011.

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International Mining and Quarrying Industry

2007 Fatal Injury Rates
80.0

Fatalinjuriesper100,000workers

70.0

70.6

60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
27.0

26.8

25.0

20.0
14.4

10.0
0.0

11.0
4.7
Argentia Australia

7.8

12.8

5.1

Canada

India

Italy

Norway

Poland

Sweden

Turkey

USA

Source: International Labour Organization Statistics, 2011

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Mining and Occupational Health:

The Beginnings Ancient Times
The history of occupational health
can be traced into antiquity.
Observations of increased rates of
illnesses and mortality among
miners date back to Greek and
Roman times. In the 4th century
BC, Hippocrates noted lead
toxicity in the mining industry. In
the second century AD, the Greek
physician, Galen, recognized the
hazardous exposures of copper
miners to acid mists.
3

Occupational Health:
George Bauer

1556
Georg Bauer (Agricola) publishes De re
metallica (On the Nature of Metals), a
discussion of the methods of mining, and the
dangers and diseases of miners. The book
included suggestions for mine ventilation and
worker protection, discussed mining
accidents, and described diseases associated
with mining occupations such as silicosis. 4

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HISTORYOFWORKPLACEHEALTH
&SAFETYLEGISLATIONAND
INITIATIVESINONTARIO

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Occupational Health:
Ramazzini and Ellenborg
1700
Bernardini Ramazzini publishes
first edition of Diseases of
Workers
1743
Ulrich Ellenborg publishes a
pamphlet on occupational
diseases and injuries among
gold miners

Top10ReasonsWhyYouNeedtoKnowHowto
ManageOccupationalHealthandSafety
1. Itismandatedbylaw
2. IgnoranceofOH&Sregulationsandmanagementcanbothhurtyou
andkillyou
3. ItmakesgoodbusinesssensetomanageworkersinOH&S
effectively
4. Asamanageryoumustmaintaincertainrightsandresponsibilities
5. Itisajobrequirementformanagers
6. Avoidanceoflitigation/lawsuits
7. Itisconnectedtoallhumanresourcesaspectsoftheworkplace
(recruitment/retention/internal
responsibility/productivity/employeeengagement)
8. Toprotectacompanysreputation
9. Tohelpavoidindustrialrelationsdisputes/grievances/work
stoppages
10. Youaremorallyobligatedtoprotectyourworkers

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WhyOccupationalHealthandSafetyisnecessary:

Canada
1100workrelatedfatalities
1millionworkplaceinjuries
$6.7billionindirectcosts
$40billionestimatedtotal
costs(directandindirect)

Ontario
230workrelatedfatalities
355,000workplaceinjuries
$2.9billionindirectcosts
$17billionestimatedtotal
costs(directandindirect)

Source: 2007HumanResourcesandSocialDevelopmentCanadaReport(Historical
SummaryofOccupationalAccidents&TheirCostsinCanada19962005)

GeneralOverviewofOccupationalHealthand
SafetyManagementinCanada
FEDERAL
(CanadaLabour Code)

PROVINCIAL/TERRITORIAL
(OHSA)

InterprovincialTrucking

Construction

Railways

Industrial

Airports&Airlines

Mining

BankingInstitutions

Allothernonfederalsectors
(90%oftotalworkplaces)

RadioandTelevision
Telecommunications
FederalPublicService
(10%oftotal workplaces)

14TotalJurisdictionsforOH&S
inCanada:
10Provinces
3Territories
1Federal

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3ComponentsofWorkplaceSafety
Management
Systems

Regulatory
Systems

Technical
Systems

InternalResponsibilitySystem
Theinternalresponsibilitysystemoutlinedinthe
OccupationalHealthandSafetyActestablishesclear
rolesandaccountabilityforworkplacepartieswith
directandcontributoryresponsibilityforhealthand
safety.

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InternalResponsibilitySystem
CONTRIBUTORY
RESPONSIBILITY
INTERNAL
JOINTHEALTH&
SAFETYCOMMITTEES

DIRECT
RESPONSIBILITY

CONTRIBUTORY
RESPONSIBILITY
EXTERNAL

PRESIDENT

UNIONS

SAFETY
DEPARTMENTS

MANAGER

SAFETY
ASSOCIATIONS

ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENTS

SUPERVISOR

SUPPLIERS

PURCHASING
DEPARTMENTS

WORKER

WSIB

MinistryofLabour

ResponsibilitiesUndertheOccupationalHealthandSafetyAct
(WorkSmart Campus,Module#2(SafetyRules)(p.22)) (www.worksmartcampus.ca)

EMPLOYER
Createandposta
workplaceHealthand
SafetyPolicy

SUPERVISOR
Makesurethatworkers
obey alllawsand
regulations

WORKER
Obeythelaw

Providenecessarytraining Provideinstructionand
Worksafelyanddontfool
forworkers/supervisors
ensurethatworkersfollow
around.Follow
allrules
instructionsgivenduring
training
Providesafeequipment
andprotectivedevices

Ensurethatworkerswear
andusePPEeffectively

Useandwearanyrequired
safetyequipment

Providecompetent
supervision

Makesurethatworkers
worksafelyatalltimes

Usemachinesand
equipmentsafely

Informworkersand
supervisorsabout
workplace hazards

Informworkersaboutall
hazardsassociatedwith
theirjobs

Reportworkhazardsto
thesupervisor

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WORKERSRIGHTSUNDEROCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH&SAFETYLEGISLATION
Therighttoknow(jobtraining,safetytraining)
Therighttoparticipate(WorkerHealthandSafety
Representatives,)
Therighttorefusetopartakeindangerouswork

Therighttorefusetopartakeindangerousworkrequires
knowledgeofprimaryhealthandsafetyissuesforvarious
worksectors:
1.

Forestry

2.

HealthCare..

3.

Police/Fire/Security.

4.

PublicInstitutions

5.

Automotive..

6.

Education.

7.

Service/Retail..

8.

Manufacturing

9.

Construction

10. Mining
11. Petrochemical.

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Weneedtounderstandbasichumansystems

andhowsomehazardoussubstancespresentin
workingenvironmentsmayaffectthem.
Depression of
System

Brain Poisoning

Oxygen
Depravation to
Brain

Nerve Function
Disorders

Acetates

Carbon Disulphide

Asphyxiating Gases
(CO2)

Organo-Phosphate
Pesticides

Alcohols

Hydrogen Cyanide

CO

Heavy Metals

Bromated Chemicals

Hydrogen Sulphide

Aresenic

Chlorinated
Chemicals

Stibine

Hg

Ethers

Pb

Ketones

Mn

TheBrainisPartoftheCentralNervousSystem

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Thehazardsaremanyandvaried

andknowledgeofprovenwaysinwhich
engineeringcanmitigatetherisksneedstobe
gained

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Theacceptableexposurelevelstosuchhazardsmust
beunderstood
Threshold Limit Values (TLVs):

American Conference of Governmental Industrial

Hygienists (ACGIH)
TLV-TWA, TLV-STEL, TLV-C
Updated Annually by the ACGIH and Should Only be
Considered Recommendations
Includes Chemical and Physical Agents
Chemical Agents
Dust or Gas
Physical Agents
Heat, Noise, and Radiation

theconceptsandterminologyofrisk
managementmustbecomprehended

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andhazardandriskmanagementsystems
shouldbevalued,toreduceriskofaccidentsand
chronichealthissuesforworkers.

ENGR 3126EL
Occupational
Health
Engineering

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