Occupational Hazards

An occupational hazard is something that can cause harm in the work environment if not controlled. Occupational hazards include physical hazards such as exposure to ionizing radiation or noise; biological hazards such as exposure to bacteria or infectious diseases; chemical hazards such as exposure to asbestos or highly reactive fumes; mechanical hazards such as falls or collisions; and psychosocial hazards such as stress, overwork, or the threat of violence. Occupational illnesses and injuries are defined by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) as any abnormal condition or disorder caused by exposure to factors associated with employment. An occupational disease is typically [Page 331]identified when it is shown that it is more prevalent in a given body of workers than in the general population or in other worker populations. Subsequently, the goal of occupational safety and health is to promote a safe work environment by protecting the safety, health, and welfare of people engaged in work or employment by identifying opportunities for mitigating the effects of and preventing exposure to occupational hazards. The protection of workers is an important aspect of public health because occupational diseases and injuries are estimated to account for a large portion of the worldwide degradation, temporary or permanent, of the physical, mental, or social well-being of workers.

In the United States, the workforce is made up of 110 million people, with a gender distribution of 46 percent women and 54 percent men. Occupational hazards contribute to morbidity and mortality by causing approximately 900,000 illnesses and 60,000 deaths each year in the United States. The 10 most frequent work-related diseases and injuries in the United States are the following:

• Lung disease
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Cancers
• Severe trauma
• Cardiovascular disorders
• Disorders or reproduction
• Neurotoxic disorders
• Noise-related hearing loss
• Dermatologic conditions
• Psychological strain and boredom

Worldwide, it is estimated that each year there are 160 million new cases of work-related illnesses and 1.7 million work-related deaths (3 percent of all deaths). Various occupational hazards are estimated to be responsible worldwide for 37 percent of back pain, 16 percent of hearing loss, 13 percent of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, 11 percent of asthma, 8 percent of injuries, 9 percent of lung cancer, and 2 percent of leukemia. Workplace needle-stick injuries account for about 40 percent of hepatitis B and C infections and 4.4 percent of HIV infections in healthcare workers. In addition, studies in industrialized countries demonstrate that psychosocial hazards and work-related stress affect one-fifth of the working population. However, it should be noted that deaths and disease incidence from occupational illness for most diseases are hard to enumerate. For many diseases, such as those from chemical exposure, various occupational cancers, and other problems, individual deaths and diseases are difficult to recognize and document. Therefore, it is possible that the national and global estimates of the burden due to occupational hazards may be conservative.

Despite statistics that describe improvements in worker safety over time, in most countries, hazardous exposures that have adverse effects on the health of workers are still found in high numbers of workplaces. And in addition to the major traditional occupational health needs that still prevail among the global workforce, changes in economic structures and technologies also present new occupational health exposures and needs at a rapid pace. A subset of these new technologies and associated jobs are green, or part of an industry that creates products and processes to reduce environmental impact and improve use of resources such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and use of environmentally preferred materials. However, green jobs, which have been defined broadly as jobs that help improve the environment and enhance sustainability, offer opportunities as well as challenges for workers and for occupational health.

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