Pracovné lekárstvo

Pracovné lekárstvo, predtým nazývané priemyselné lekárstvo, odvetvie medicíny, ktoré sa zaoberá udržiavaním zdravia a prevenciou a liečbou chorôb a náhodných zranení pracujúcich obyvateľov na pracovisku. Historicky bolo lekárstvo z povolania obmedzené na liečenie úrazov a chorôb, ktoré sa vyskytli výrobným pracovníkom počas práce. V priebehu rokov sa to zmenilo, keď sa zamestnanci v rastlinách, továrňach a úradoch stali oprávnenými na lekárske služby. Vysokoškolské alebo školské zdravotné programy sa môžu považovať za rozšírenie pracovného lekárstva.

choroba z povolania: priemyselná éra

štúdium pracovného lekárstva v Británii ďalej pokročilo vďaka jeho účinkom na hlavné umelecké diela, živnosti a profesie

Choroby priamo súvisiace s povolaním boli uznané ranými egyptskými a rímskymi lekármi. Možno povedať, že moderné lekárstvo z povolania začalo s Bernardinom Ramazzinim, talianskym lekárom 17. storočia, ktorý dôrazne odporučil, aby lekár, ktorý sa chcel dozvedieť o príčinách sťažnosti pacienta, mal vyšetriť povolania pacienta. S priemyselnou revolúciou sa počet osôb vystavených potenciálnym rizikám pri práci rýchlo zvýšil. Traumatické zranenia sa stali častými a choroby spôsobené vdýchnutým prachom a škodlivými plynmi a parami boli často rozpoznávané nelekárskymi osobami.

Pracovné lekárske programy boli spočiatku zamerané na liečbu zranení alebo chorôb, ktoré vznikli v dôsledku práce alebo počas práce. Čoskoro bolo zrejmé, že prevencia bola ekonomickejšia ako liečba. Ochranné zariadenia boli vyvinuté a umiestnené okolo pohyblivých častí strojového zariadenia. Kontrolné programy boli vyvinuté inžiniermi na odstránenie škodlivého prachu a pár správnym vetraním pracovných priestorov alebo nahradením menej toxických materiálov. Keď inžinieri nemohli kontrolovať životné prostredie, proces bol zastavený, aby sa zabránilo alebo aspoň minimalizovalo vystavenie pracovníkov. Ako poslednú možnosť pracovníci nosili ochranné pomôcky, ako sú masky a špeciálne odevy.

With the development of preventive controls, the amount of occupational disease decreased. The development of new processes and new materials, however, produced new hazards at an ever-increasing rate, and constant vigilance was necessary. For example, the recognition that a pulmonary disease can result from exposure to beryllium demonstrated the need for a continued awareness of potentially toxic materials. It also demonstrated that a material once thought to be nontoxic may actually be toxic; this shift may be caused by a change in the physical or chemical characteristics of the material, an alteration in the method by which the material is used, a change in the amount of exposure of individuals to the material, and possible synergism with other materials.

The concern with diseases due to occupation led to concern with the general health of workers, not only because of an interest in their welfare but also because it was good business. A good occupational medical program improved labour-management relations and reduced absenteeism; labour turnover decreased and productivity increased. In many instances, the savings produced by the reduction in premiums paid for workers’ compensation insurance paid for the occupational medical program. Depending on the country and the occupation, the types of health programs vary greatly; large businesses, for example, tend to offer broad coverage, while small plants may have limited medical programs. The comprehensive programs, in addition to providing treatment of diseases and injuries, might include pre-employment examinations and periodic examinations during employment.

Throughout the world there is inadequate knowledge and reporting of occupational disease, and the data are suspect. Published figures for occupational illnesses, for instance, are smaller than for injuries because occurrence of job-related illness is less spectacular than, for example, an explosion of a mine causing a number of deaths. It may take a number of years of observation and research to discover that some particular dust, chemical, or type of physical energy is harmful.

In addition, physicians may have difficulty in deciding that an illness is attributable to the job. Many occupational diseases mimic sickness from other causes, and little is known of the ill effects and signs of continued small exposures to toxic chemicals. Another difficulty arises from the fact that although job-related disease may be suspected, doctors often lack tests to identify such disease as specific. As a result, against every diagnosed case of occupational disease, there may be many incipient or unrecognized cases from the same causes. Introduction of materials of unknown toxicity, as well as changes in industrial operations, may create unrecognized problems in preventing harmful effects until after workers have been affected.