M10.1 Video

M10.1 Video

1) Consider your workplace or a workplace of one of your family members. Are there chemical, biological, radiological or ergonomic issues? Using the industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls, how might you address the issues? How are they being addressed in reality?

I currently work as a community health associate working on Hepatitis-C and HIV prevention. Consequently, I come into contact with various chemical, biological, and even ergonomic issues which can negatively impact my health. In terms of chemical exposures that can adversely impact my health, is cavicide. This is a very-strong disinfectant that is commonly used in hospital settings. It is carcinogenic, and can be inhaled through the lungs, or absorbed through the skin. I use cavicide very often, because I test several individuals for Hepatitis-C and HIV. Moreover, I come into contact with the biological hazards of blood and other bodily fluids, which can act as a vector for various diseases. Considering that I actively seek out those individuals I believe to be most at risk for Hep-C and HIV, I am at increased risk for contracting those diseases. Lastly, my work includes ergonomic risk related to the office work which I conduct. For instance, I have to spend several hours at a time, sitting at a desk staring at a computer, in order to input data. This often leads to back pain for me, as I have a tendency to lean forward in my desk chair. 

There are some hierarchy of controls that are utilized to reduce the risk of workers like me, from the various detriments to health we face as community health associates. Elimination and substitution are not utilized as controls, because our job entails seeking out those who are at risk for HIV and Hep-C, as well as testing them for such disease. There is no way to eliminate the risk, and currently there is no substitution to how we test and approach individuals. I believe there is a certain level of engineering controls, such as isolating our testing areas. For instance, we will typically use a confined, private space for testing. This not only ensures confidentiality, but can also act as a natural barrier to prevent the spread of any possible infection. However, this does not reduce the actual risk posed to the worker. There are definitely administrative controls, such as trainings, which are done regularly to reduce the health hazards imposed on staff and clients.  Primarily, we utilize the weakest approach, which is to use PPE. I ensure that I use gloves, masks, goggles, and any other PPE that will help ensure that my risk for some infection is reduced. 

Understanding this hierarchy of controls, it appears that there are instances in which the risk to health can only be minimized to a certain degree. Often times, the risk for exposure cannot be reduced substantially, such as in my case or in the case of a nurse. For instance, it is impossible for a nurse to eliminate the risk of being exposed to disease, because the very essence of their duties entails patient care and contact. However, I believe that substitutes to the exposures workers come into contact with can be utilized effectively to reduce risk to exposures. There should always be alternative methods to achieving work-related goals, because, even if there is currently no substitute, a substitute can be created through research and ingenuity. For instance, many common surgeries, such as gallstone removal, can be achieved through the use of surgical scopes, which minimize the opening required on the patient's body for the surgeon to perform their duties. Such a practice acts as a substitute to older, more invasive practices, and reduces the risk of biological exposure to both the patient and hospital staff present during surgery. 

2) What might be the barriers to workers exercising their rights to a healthy and safe workplace?

In many instances, businesses seek to maximize their savings through neglecting the health of their workers. Many times this does not work in  favor of these businesses, because it opens them up to lawsuits, and high turnover rates. Especially if the workers of such companies are from country's such as the United States, the businesses will be held to higher levels of scrutiny by various interests, such as worker's unions and policymakers, demanding better working conditions, higher pay, etc.. Consequently, many businesses will attempt to navigate around these barriers by illegally employing migrant workers that are taken advantage of. For instance, many slaughter houses, and farms will essentially use slave-labor, by employing several migrants who are underpaid, and cannot demand better working conditions, for fear of being arrested and deported.  Although there have been some recent efforts to attack this issue, this is one extreme example of a barrier to health, which many workers are left to face alone.