Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

40 Preventive Medicine
state laws mandate appropriate protective measures
for workers in high-risk occupations. Occupational
and industry standards often result in
further measures to protect people from the hazards
of their jobs. Individuals are responsible for
following appropriate safety procedures.
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS account for about 25
percent of workplace deaths. VIOLENCE also claims
a significant number of deaths, particularly among
retail cashiers and cab drivers who are at risk for
death by homicide during robberies. Other occupations
with high risk for injury and death are
logging, commercial fishing, roofing, construction,
and mining.
KEY INDIVIDUAL MEASURES
FOR PREVENTING WORKPLACE INJURIES
• Obtain proper training for operating devices and
equipment.
• Integrate ergonomic standards and practices into work
stations and job tasks.
• Use appropriate protective devices, clothing, and gear.
• Follow employer risk-management policies and procedures.
• Remain DRUG-free and ALCOHOL-free in the workplace.
See also ACCIDENTAL
INJURIES; BUILDING-RELATED
ILLNESS; OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY; REPETITIVE
MOTION INJURIES; SICK BUILDING SYNDROME; TRAUMA
PREVENTION; WORKPLACE STRESS.
personal health history An ongoing record of an
individual’s health conditions including vaccinations,
illnesses, injuries, operations, pregnancies
and births, medications, and other information
that might be relevant in the context of providing
health-care services. A personal health history also
helps determine future health risks and appropriate
treatment options.
A personal health history might include these
events (including dates)
• vaccinations, routine medical examinations,
and routine diagnostic procedures such as MAM-
MOGRAM, PAP TEST, blood cholesterol test, tuberculin
SKIN test, COLONOSCOPY
• common childhood diseases such as MEASLES,
MUMPS, RUBELLA, CHICKENPOX
• uncommon childhood diseases such as SCARLET
FEVER, rheumatic FEVER
• congenital anomalies, BIRTH DEFECTS, and congenital
disorders (such as CEREBRAL PALSY), or
GENETIC DISORDERS (such as SICKLE CELL ANEMIA or
HEMOPHILIA)
• serious injuries such as BONE FRACTURE, CONCUS-
SION, major trauma
• serious illnesses such as ENCEPHALITIS, MENINGITIS,
ENDOCARDITIS, HEPATITIS, PANCREATITIS
• surgeries (including TUBAL LIGATION or
VASECTOMY)
• pregnancies, miscarriages, abortions, deliveries
• CONTRACEPTION, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
(STDS)
• DIABETES
• CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD)
• HEART ATTACK or STROKE
• HYPERTENSION (high BLOOD PRESSURE)
• ANGINA PECTORIS
• ARRHYTHMIA
• PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE (PVD), CORO-
NARY ARTERY DISEASE (CAD), or CORONARY
ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT (CABG)
• HEART FAILURE or CARDIOMYOPATHY
• VALVULAR HEART DISEASE or valve replacement
• pulmonary disease such as CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE
PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD) or EMPHYSEMA
• gastrointestinal disorders such as INFLAMMATORY
BOWEL DISEASE (IBD), GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX
DISORDER (GERD), PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
• CANCER (including SKIN CANCER)
• neurologic conditions such as PARKINSON’S DIS-
EASE or psychiatric conditions such as SCHIZO-
PHRENIA or BIPOLAR DISORDER
• chronic health conditions
• infections such as OTITIS media, SINUSITIS,
BRONCHITIS, CYSTITIS
• OSTEOARTHRITIS, ANKYLOSING
SPONDYLITIS,
GOUT
• thyroid disease such as HYPOTHYROIDISM,
GOITER, or HYPERTHYROIDISM
• DEPRESSION or GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISOR-
DER (GAD)
• medications (including OVER-THE-COUNTER [OTC]
DRUGS and herbal remedies)