Employmentweb_low

employment relations and health inequalities: a conceptual and empirical overvieW
occupational diseases identified nearly 30,000 diseases (most of
them not serious and without sick leave), and only two deaths. Much
more detailed analyses, however, have estimated that annually there
are 80,000 cases of occupational diseases and 16,000 deaths (García,
Gadea, & lópez, 2007).
It is estimated that around one-fourth of the workforce in rich
countries and more than three-fourths in poor countries are
exposed to such physical factors, and in some high-risk sectors such
as mining, manufacturing and construction, all workers may be
affected (WHO, 1995). Physical and mechanical factors produced by
unshielded machinery and unsafe structures like noise, vibration,
ionising and non-ionising radiations and microclimatic conditions
are known to affect health (Hogstedt et al., 2007). For example,
noise-induced hearing loss has been found to be one of the most
prevalent occupational diseases. another example is exposure to
mineral dusts that cause fibrotic responses in the respiratory
system and are associated with an elevated risk of cancer.
Pneumoconioses have been found to occur in as many as half of
workers most heavily exposed to silica, coal dust or to asbestos
filaments (WHO, 1995).
Chemicals are increasingly used in virtually all types of work,
including non-industrial activities such as hospital and office work,
cleaning, cosmetic and beauty services and numerous other
services. Thousands of chemical products in use in today's
workplaces constitute an important threat to worker's health,
although the extent of exposure varies widely according to country,
occupation, and industry. Exposures are most prevalent in industries
processing chemicals and metals, in the manufacture of several
consumer goods (e.g., metal products and plastic boats), in the
production of textiles and artificial fibres, and in the construction
industry. Metal poisoning, solvent damage to the central nervous
system and liver, pesticide poisoning, dermal and respiratory
allergies, cancers and reproductive disorders are among the health
effects of such exposures. In some countries, more than half of the
workers in certain high-risk industries may show clinical signs of
occupational disease, which also has an adverse effect on working
capacity (WHO, 1995). nevertheless, only a few hundred hazards,
such as chemical (e.g. benzene, chromium, nitrosamines), physical
(e.g. ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation) and biological (e.g.
aflatoxins, tumor viruses) ones, have been identified as occupational
carcinogens. The most common cancers resulting from occupational
carcinogenic exposures are cancers of the lung, bladder, skin, liver,
haematopoietic tissue, bone and soft connective tissue. a particular
Child ragpicker looking for metal objects
in the city dump in the Srinivaspuri area of
delhi (india).
source: © ilo/m.crozet (2002)
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