Women and occupational health

BYSHAHEENA MASOODI

Introduction:The number of women joining the workforce

has steadily increased all over the world. Throughout history, women in developing countries have always worked hard, not only as wives and mothers but also as workers in different sectors. Often encumbered with many children and weakened by excessive and frequent pregnancies, working women are subjective to numerous risks e.g., fatigue, malnutrition, undue mental stress and exposure to various hazards at their workplaces.

Occupational Hazards

Domestic work exposes women to many hazards which may undermine their health, e.g., accidents, burns, backache from bending and chemical exposure from detergents, resulting in skin problems such as dermatitis.

Female workers differ from male workers in that they are generally physically smaller and are subject to specific stressful conditions peculiar to them e.g., menstruation, pregnancy and lactation. There is a possible effect of the work environment on the health of the women at these times, e.g. there is a progressive increase in respiratory ventilation during pregnancy which may lead to increased uptake of inhaled chemicals from the air.

Psychological problems: Stress related issues are encountered in nearly all jobs held by working women. The majority of women are employed in low paying jobs. Stress may come from other sources, e.g., office workers and assembly line workers in factories. Nurses often experiences stress because their work is physically heavy and hectic.

Chemical agents: Due to higher content of body fat in women than in men, toxic substances such as organic salts are retained more easily by women that may cause menstrual disturbances.

Some metals such as lead can cause spontaneous abortions. Chemicals used in hospitals e.g., ethylene oxide is known to cause abortions. Many of the women working in agriculture may be exposed to fertilizers and pesticides. Some of the pesticides are suspected to cause reproductive damage in women. Women working in textile mills are exposed to organic dusts, e.g. cotton which may cause Byssinosis.

Physical agents: Women working in textile industry are exposed to

noise, vibration and heat stress, particularly in the spinning and weaving sections. Noise causes vasoconstriction which may lead to low birth weight babies. Studies have shown that women are more susceptible to whole body vibration and heat stress. Whole body vibration may damage the reproductive system.

Biological agents: Women employed in agriculture are exposed to snake bites, schistosoma, worm infestation, tetanus, etc.

 

Ergonomic problems: Many industrial and agricultural processes and machinery are designed for male workers making many machines difficult for female worker to operate.

Occupational health services for working women

Occupational health services

should be established at all workplaces to ensure that the total health and safety needs of working women are met.

a. Special Health education: Health and safety inspectors, occupational health inspectors, employers and health policy makers should receive special training in health education for female workers. Education concerning health risk including reproductive risks for men and women as well as potential effects on the fetus and training in the safe use of chemicals, must be prioritized.

b. Regulation to Safeguard Working Women: Regulation and standards applying to the entire labor force should be reviewed continuously for their relevance and adequacy to female workers. It is for special importance that safe working conditions are ensured for female workers and pregnant workers in particular. It is important to prevent occupational hazards that are particularly harmful to women.

c. Environmental Monitoring: Environmental monitoring should be carried out regularly to identify problems which could affect the health of working women. Occupational hygiene standards should be recommended for various types of exposure, e.g., lead, solvents, pesticides, etc.

d. Pre-placement medical examination: These should be used to help in the proper placement of women in the jobs appropriate to their physical, physiological and psychological capabilities.

e. Periodical Medical

Examination: Working women should undergo regular medical examination, especially those at particular risk.

g. Emphasis on underserved working women: Focus should be on underserved working women especially those employed in agriculture and small scale industries. In addition, MCH services should be available to such women.

h. Research and surveys: Should be carried out on the effects on female workers for specific hazards associated with a wide variety of exposure conditions.

i. Women’s rights: In addition to receiving information on occupational health and safety, working women should also be informed of their rights in connection with health, maternity and child care. It should also be ensured that women have sufficient rest in the last trimester of the pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Types of Protection available for women workers

Expectant mothers are given maternity leave for 12 weeks, of which 6 weeks precede the expected date of confinement; during this period they are allowed ‘maternity benefit’, which is a cash payment, under the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948.

2) provision of free antenatal, natal and postnatal services,

3) the Factories Act (section66) prohibits night work between 7p.m. and 6a.m.; section 34 prohibits carrying of excessive weights beyond a certain schedule which has been laid down

4) the Indian mines Act (1923) prohibits work underground.

5) the Factories Act, 1976 provides for crèches in factories where more than 30 women workers are employed, and also prohibits the employment of women and children in in certain dangerous occupations.

Working Exposure and Pregnancy

The potential for reproductive hazards induced by working place exposure is widely recognized. These include:

Infertility Spontaneous abortion Malformation Perinatal mortalityLow birth weight Developmental impairmentChildhood cancer Of these spontaneous abortion and malformation

in the offspring have attracted most attention in the occupational setting.

Risk Factors identified in certain Occupations and Industries

Health care occupations may involve exposure to many kinds of reproductive toxins. Occupational factors which may carry a risk of spontaneous abortion include:

Anesthetic gasEthylene oxideAnti neoplastic agentsOrganic solventsMethylene chloride Tetrachloroethylene Aliphatic hydrocarbonsContact with fur bearing animalsLifting heavy burdensX- rays.

Occupational factors appearing to carry a risk of malformations or functional defects:

a. Malformation Organic solvents Anti neoplastic agentsIonizing radiationsb. Functional defectLead (decreased cognitive capacity)Noise (hearing loss)

Other occupational factors which should especially be controlled for during pregnancy include:

Heavy metals PCBs ( polychlorinated biphenyls)Pesticides Carbon monoxide Carcinogens

The Roles and Responsibilities of Occupational Health Nurse

The occupational health nurse has her primary responsibility towards workers to promote, protect and preserve their health.

She functions as one of the members of the health team.

She needs to know the goals and objectives of the team work, roles and responsibility of each and every member of the team.

She must co-operate with other health members of the team and carry on with her share of responsibilities in fulfilling team goals and objectives.

As a profession nurse, she has her independent role and functions for which she is accountable.

She identifies health and nursing needs of workers following health assessment, plans and implement nursing care within her capabilities, limitations, means and facilities.

Functions of Nursing Personnel as Stated by WHO Technical Report series 24

Carry out the therapeutic program designed by physicians for sick patients including personal services aimed at hygiene and comfort.

Maintenance of the physical and psychological environment conducive to recovery and health. Engaging the patient and his family in his recovery and rehabilitation.

Carrying out measures for the prevention of diseases.

Instructing people sick or well, in measures promoting total health in a positive sense.

Coordinating nursing efforts with other members of community groups.

Functions as Stated by joint ILO/ WHO committee in 1952

Assistance in general administration, maintenance and arrangement of health facilities in the plant.

Emergency and primary treatment of accidents and illnesses based on standing order from physicians.

Assistance with pre- placement and other medical examinations.

Arranging follow up treatment, where indicated, including health supervision of employees returning to work after illness.

Assistance in general preventive health measures in the plant.

Health education and counseling

Assistance in supervision of factory hygiene and accident prevention.

Advice on specific health question to workers.

Maintenance of records and statistics.

Cooperation with and referral of workers to general community agencies for help as and when necessary.

Conclusion

Regulation and standards applying to the entire labor force should be reviewed continuously for their relevance and adequacy to female workers. It is for special importance that safe working conditions are ensured for female workers and pregnant workers in particular. It is important to prevent occupational hazards that are particularly harmful to women.

Thank you