ASSIGNMENT EOH3202 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2013/2014

Topics for Individual Assignment 3 [9%]

Instruction: Answer all questions below. Submit your answers by the end of week 13.
1. Identify the impact of sickness absence to the employee and employer.
i. Reduce productivity
ii. Reduce the ability for workers to develop their career in the long
run
iii. Increase cost to the company and will reduce profit in the long
run
iv. Companys reputation in the long run is
2. Explain the mechanism by which organophosphate poisoning occurs. Include 2
diagrams to describe normal muscle function and muscle function with neurotoxic
agent.

Normal reaction of enzyme cholinesterase

(1) Nerve signals cause the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into a
cholinergic nerve terminal.
(2) Acetylcholine travels across the terminal and binds to a cholinergic receptor on
the end organ: either smooth or voluntary muscle, or an exocrine gland.
(3) This causes the end organ to perform its normal function: muscle contraction or
gland secretion.
(4) The end organ activity ceases when acetylcholine leaves the receptor and is
broken down by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, located on the surface of the
organ.
(5) The broken-down acetyl and choline are taken up by the cholinergic nerve and
are recycled for the next activity.

Reaction of enzyme cholinesterase with nerve agent

(1)

Nerve signals cause acetylcholine release and

(2)

The neurotransmitter binds to receptors on end organs

(3)

The end organ activates, but because

(4) The cholinesterase-inhibiting compound (in this case an organophosphate, OP)
binds to acetylcholinesterase; the acetylcholine does not break down, and
causes excessive activity of the end organ.

3. Give the steps in control and management of pesticide exposure in a paddy farming
agricultural setting.
Hierarchy of control

a. Elimination Integrated Pest Management

b. Substitution use less hazardous pesticides
c. Isolation Isolate places of storage or use agricultural vehicles with close
compartment for driver
d. Engineering controls change nozzle size or use Local Exhaust Ventilation
system
e. Administrative controls and work practices less worker exposed or exposed
to shorter duration of time
f.

Personal protective equipment use respirator with good filter such as

carbon

4. Pesticides are categorised into different groups. Explain the classification of

pesticides.
i. Uses
ii. Toxicity lethal dose and colour coding
iii. Chemical property
5. Use and Standard of Exposure to Chemicals Hazardous to Health Regulations 2000
requires workers being exposed to pesticides to undergo medical surveillance at
regular intervals. True/False
6. Using the hierarchy of control concept, explain how a safety and health manager
could manage psychosocial hazard related at the workplace.
Must elaborate on each hierarchy if available. 1 markah untuk 1 point
I. Elimination of hazards hierarchy of control
II. Substitution
III. Isolation

IV.
V.
VI.

Engineering controls
Administrative controls
Personal protective equipment

7. Give examples of personal protective equipment suitable to protect workers from

exposure to chemicals in a chemical manufacturing factory.
Goggle, gloves, aprons, chemical masksetc please elaborate
8. Why personal protective equipment is considered as a last resort for use in the
hierarchy of control to protect workers from hazardous substances?
Protect only the wearer / Melindungi hanya pemakainya
Only works when worn correctly / Hanya berkesan bila dipakai dengan betul
Restrict movement or visibility / Menyekat pergerakan atau penglihatan
Conflict with the correct use of other PPE / Konflik dengan penggunaan PPE lain
9. List the effects of chronic pesticide poisoning. Describe briefly each type of effect.
Page 154 answrs
Carcinogenicity
Reproductive and developmental toxicity
Endoctrine disruption
Neurotoxicity
10. Define occupational stress and list common occupational stressors. List the diseases
associated with occupational stress and as a manager of human resource, please
describe the management of occupational stress.
Page 189
I. Elimination of hazards hierarchy of control
II. Substitution
III. Isolation
IV. Engineering controls
V. Administrative controls
VI. Personal protective equipment
Elaborate on each point
11. Describe the group of workers at risk for biological hazard exposure. Elaborate on the
classification of infective microorganism by risk group.
Lab workers, doctors, veterinarian etc.

12. Describe 2 models to explain the cause of occupational stress.

Karasek Job Strain Model or Job Demand Control Support model and Effort- Reward
Balance model page 194 and 195
13. Define and describe Material Safety Data Sheet or Chemical Safety Data Sheet.
Page 204 Information about properties of the substance such as:

a. The chemical product itself including the trade or common name of the
chemical and the company identification with details of the supplier ;
b. The composition of the ingredients that clearly identifies the hazardous
chemical for the purpose of conducting a hazard evaluation;
c. Hazard identification;
d. First-aid measures;
e. Fire-fighting measures;
f. Accidental release measures
g. Emergency contact number
h. Handling and storage;
i. Exposure controls and personal protection (including possible methods
of monitoring workplace exposure);
j. Stability and reactivity;
k. Physical and chemical properties;
14. Describe the different work compensation scheme available in Malaysia for private
employees, civil servants and foreign workers.
Private are Socso
Employment injury scheme

Coverage for
Work-related accidents
Commuting accident
From home to workplace and return
Accident during emergency (while helping others)
Work-related diseases such as noise-induced hearing noise

Invalidity pension scheme

Provides twenty four (24) hours coverage for workers from invalidity

or dies irrespective of the cause of death.

Invalidity = a serious disablement or morbid condition of a
permanent nature that is either incurable or not likely to be cured,
as a result of which an employee is unable to earn at least 1/3 of
what a normal able person could earn.

Page 213 and 214

Civil servants Ex gratia

Foreign workers - Workmens Compensation Act 1952 applicable for foreign workers and
local workers whose salaries RM 500

15. Define biological monitoring. Describe the role of biological monitoring and describe
how biological monitoring is done.
Biological monitoring is the measurement of a substance or its metabolite in
biological material in order to provide a quantitative estimate of its uptake into
the body by all routes of exposures.
The role is to ensure that current or past exposure of worker is not harmful to his/her
health by detecting potential excessive exposure before overt adverse health effects
occur.

How it is done
Biological Monitoring of Exposure
Biological Monitoring of Effective Dose
Biological Effects Monitoring
Biological Monitoring of Susceptibility

16. Please define what sexual harassment is and please describe the different forms of
sexual harassment that might occur at the workplace.
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17. What are the potential hazards of working underwater?
Decompression sickness, hypoxia, inert gas narcosis etc
18. What should be included in Medical Emergency Response Plan? What are the
elements of Emergency Response Plan?
a. Procedures
b. Resources
c. Emergency medical equipment
d. Internal and external contact and support
e. Management of injury & triage
f. Evacuation plan

g. Training for those who would be involved or affected , including

simulated & desktop drills
h. Teams which include damage control team and first-aider
i. Local facilities like fire bridge , police and emergency medical services
j. Provides knowledge to everyone affected so that they react and
respond quickly and safety

19. What is the required number of first aider in a workplace? What is the content of a
First Aid Box?

Number
- >20 workers
1 First aider
- 20-400
Low risk : 2 first aider for tp 150 employees
High risk: 1 first aider for every 20 employees
- >400 workers
2 First Aiders for every 150 workers
State registered nurse (SRN) or Medical Assistant (MA) on site

20. What is the definition of risk communication and what are the 3 goals of risk
communication?
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