Long Term Health Depends on Prevention of Occupational Illness
For Canada’s manufacturing sector, occupational health is a top priority. In addition to preventing incidents, minimizing exposure to hazards that can cause occupational illnesses is a critical concern. Exposure to harmful substances or environments was the leading cause of lost time claims in Canada in 2022.
How does occupational illness differ from occupational disease? While definitions may vary by jurisdiction, occupational diseases are typically chronic conditions caused by long-term exposure to workplace hazards. Occupational illness is a broader term that includes any health issue linked to workplace exposure, environment, or activities. Unlike workplace injuries, which result from a specific event, occupational illnesses often arise from prolonged or repeated exposure to hazards.
Ongoing occupational hazard exposure can contribute to serious health issues, such as:
- Respiratory conditions: asthma, lung disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be caused by exposure to irritants and particles
- Cancers: lung cancer can be caused by exposure to diesel exhaust and welding fumes
- Hearing loss: Noise-induced hearing loss can result from exposure to noisy workplace environments
- Musculoskeletal disorders: conditions like carpal tunnel can be caused by repetitive motion, overexertion, and awkward postures
Identifying hazards in manufacturing environments that may contribute to occupational illness
Knowing what hazards exist is a critical step in preventing occupational illness. Specific hazards will vary depending on the industry and environment, and can include the following:
- Chemicals such as solvents, metals, acids, cleaning agents and plastics used in a variety of manufacturing activities such as metalworking
- Dust present in environments such as cement, concrete, glass, pottery, and brick manufacturing
- Ergonomic hazards such as repetitive motions, awkward positions, and heavy lifting
- Noise and vibration in sectors such as heavy machinery and equipment manufacturing, metal fabrication
Hazards and best preventive practices change, so the procedure of identifying and assessing hazards needs to be an ongoing process to keep safety protocols current.
Minimizing exposure to occupational hazards
To minimize occupational illness risk, employers must consider the hierarchy of hazard controls including:
- Elimination or substitution
- Engineered controls at the source or along the path
- Reduction of frequency, duration and severity of exposure through administrative practices
- Proper selection, use and care of Personal Protective Equipment
By implementing engineering and environmental controls where possible, manufacturers can significantly reduce worker exposure to hazards:
- Replace hazardous substances with safer alternatives
- Verify that ventilation meets requirements
- Keep systems and equipment well maintained
- Use automation and robotics in hazardous areas
- Provide training
- Limit exposure by monitoring and measuring exposure levels
- Ensure that workers use personal protective equipment
Implementing best practices and ensuring compliance with occupational safety standards
According to the CCOHS, recognizing and preventing work-related diseases can be more challenging than trying to prevent injuries.
The best strategy for minimizing risk will vary depending on the industry, environment, and activity.
By implementing best practices, manufacturers have an opportunity to make their workplaces safer, with less risk of occupational illness. Making occupational illness prevention a key part of a robust safety program not only ensures regulatory compliance, but improves worker morale, increases productivity, and helps attract talent.
https://awcbc.org/en/statistics/#injuries https://www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2019/11/ezine.html