UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

FACULTY OF EDUCATION & LIBERAL STUDIES

SCHOOL OF TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL EDUCATION INDUSTRIAUL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME

OCCUPATIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Unit 1:Impacts of industry and trade on occupaFonal/ environmental health and safety

Impacts of industry and trade on occupaFonal/ environmental health and safety Week One: Environmental impacts Sources and impacts of air pollu2on Sources and impacts of soil contamina2on Sources and impacts of ground and surface water pollu2on Sources and impacts of noise and radia2on

RISK
WORKER

IntroducFon
Human ac2vi2es, especially those in the industrial sector, are associated with risks for: Workers Surrounding neighbourhood Environment in general. Thus the need for: Health and safety precau2ons/programmes Environmental protec2on regula2ons and techniques.

Accidents

Injuries

PrecauFons against

Over- exposure to noise and radiaFon

ContaminaFon by toxic substances

The surrounding populaFon and the environment need protecFon

Air

Noise

ProtecFon against

Soil and water polluFon

RadiaFon

Policy issues Dierent countries have dierent policies concerning: legisla2on & regula2ons of the natural environment workplace safety and health.

IntroducFon

 IntroducFon
Policy issues What is the situaFon in Jamaica? Which Ministry is responsible for: Occupa2onal Safety and Health? Company work environment, plant and facili2es?. What is the role of Na2onal Environmental and Planning Agency (NEPA)?

 IntroducFon
Generally two types of environments are at risk: The natural environment and The environment at the work-place See gure 1 and describe the ac2vi2es and risks no2ced.

Environmental hazards at workplace

Moisture Noise Gases Temperature

Dust

Workplace hazard

RadiaFon

Hazardous impacts on natural environment

Noise
Wate r po lluFo n

RadiaFon

Natural environment

 Environmental and workplace hazards:

Who is responsible for this human made problems which: Aect the health of individual workers in specic workplaces Put the en2re popula2ons at risk Threaten local ecosystems Threaten the world climate etc. Hazards for Development? Wealth for Health?

 Environmental and workplace hazards:

Who is responsible for stopping it? Companies/Industries Employers and The Government:

All should be responsible for minimising the nega2ve impacts on both the work- place and the natural environment.

 Group AcFvity 1: Break out into ve groups of ve each and discuss the major negaFve impacts of industry and trade on: The natural environment in Jamaica Human health in Jamaica

environment and human health

Impacts of industry on natural

Major negaFve impacts:

Resul2ng from produc2on and trade include: Air polluFon energy produc2on industrial opera2on transport)

environment and human health

ContaminaFon of soil acid rain resul2ng from air pollu2on waste disposal sewage PolluFon of ground and surface water Sewage leach ate from waste disposal spillage of chemicals and oil

Impacts of industry on natural

environment and human health

Sources of noise and radiaFon industrial produc2on Transport energy genera2on telecommunica2on Impact on the local environment: Noise Radia2on contamina2on of soil etc.

Impacts of industry on natural

environment and human health

Impact on global environment: Air Water pollu2on

Impacts of industry on natural

environment and human health

Impacts of industry on natural

What are some of the environmental eects on Jamaica and the Caribbean CommuniFes?

Environmental impacts on Jamaica and the Caribbean:

Pollu2on of soil, water and atmosphere Deforesta2on, erosion and destruc2on of coral reefs Natural disasters resul2ng from the change of climate Environmental related impacts on human health Environmental related impacts on na2onal economy

Group Project
1. Measures to protect the natural environment from negaFve impacts caused by industry and trade
Environmental legislaFon Major environmental treaFes and convenFons Jamaicas environmental policy and legislaFon Jamaicas eorts to meet internaFonal environmental convenFons.

Group Project
2. Emission control measures
Change of behaviour Use of alternaFve processes Technical soluFons

3. Waste water treatment

SelecFon of wastewater free processes Waste water treatment technologies

Group Project
4. Waste management
Waste management hierarchy MinimisaFon of waste generaFon Recycling and reuse Proper waste handling Waste disposal

Group Project
5. ProtecFon measures against the emission of noise and radiaFon
Noise reducFon measures ProtecFon measures against ionising radiaFon Noise reducFon measures ProtecFon measures against ionising radiaFon ProtecFon measures against electromagneFc elds

Group Project
6. Awareness creaFon and training Theories of accident causaFon Safety and health training 7. AdministraFve and management measures to improve OSH
Company safety policy, rules and regulaFons Safety analysis and prevenFon Preparing for emergencies Accident invesFgaFon and reporFng

Group Project
8. Technical measures to improve workplace safety and health
Measures to prevent ergonomic hazards and repeFFve strain injuries Measures to prevent stress and resulFng human reacFon Measures to prevent mechanical hazards and injuries

Group Project
9. Technical measures to improve workplace safety and health
Measures to prevent falling, impact, acceleraFon and lieing hazards Measures to prevent re, heat and temperature hazards Measures to prevent pressure hazards Measures to prevent electrical hazards

Group Project
10. Technical measures to improve workplace safety and health
Measures to prevent hazards resulFng from toxic and explosive substances Measures to prevent noise and vibraFon hazards Measures to prevent pressure hazards Measures to prevent radiaFon and EMF hazards

Sources and impacts of air polluFon

The atmosphere of the earth is a mixture of gases mainly made up of: Nitrogen (78.08%) Oxygen (20.95%) Argon (0.94%) Carbon dioxide (0.03%).

Sources and impacts of air polluFon

Human beings and animals need oxygen for breathing and produce carbon dioxide Plants need carbon dioxide and generate oxygen. Large quan2ty of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is very essen2al to our climate. The average temperature on earth depends on the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere

Major sources of air polluFon

The genera2on and consump2on of energy in industries private homes the transport sector. Incomplete combus2on processes in private homes produce air pollutants (CO, CXHY, soot) Industries and power plants contribute by emicng pollutants (SO2 and NOX)

Major sources of air polluFon

Indiscriminate waste burning pollutes the atmosphere with products of incomplete combus2on and with halogen compounds like dioxins and furans. The car trac is primarily responsible for the emission of soot, CXHY, CO If leaded fuel is used, it produces Pb.

SO2, NOX, soot, flue dust, COX

SO2, NOX flue dust

incomplete combustion products: CO, CXHY, soot, little SO2, NOX

electricity, oil,gas coal,wood

oil,electricity gas,coal

coal,gas,oil

Domestic heating industrial power and heat generation

power plants

Figure 2: Fuel and air pollutants of different combustion systems

 Major sources of air polluFon Depending on the type of opera2on, industrial plants may emit dust e.g. in the case of mines lime kilns cement plants glass factories metallurgical plants, etc.) and a number of gaseous compounds.

 Major sources of air polluFon All combus2on processes which are based on the burning of carbon or hydrocarbon fuel contribute to the world-wide genera2on of CO2 which is responsible for the global climate change. Other emissions with a nega2ve impact on the climate and the earth's ozone layer are refrigerants and solvents known as CFCs.

 Summary of the major sources of

threats to the atmosphere

The main threats to the atmosphere result from: Use of fossil energy Intensive agriculture Industrial produc2on Growing transport sector Insucient o-gas cleaning Use of CFCs Destruc2on of intact ecosystems

 Group AcFvity 2: Break out into ve groups of ve each and discuss the major threats to the Jamaican and global environment and suggest the way forward

SUMMARY- HEALTH RISK AND AIR POLLUTION POLLUTANT 1. ParFcles-smoke, e.g. Soot and asbestos ORIGIN DAMAGE PREVENTION DomesFc res, Lung damage silicosis, Smokeless fuel, Clean industrial block plant stomata, Air, Acts/Rules, beger combusFon, mining, bronchiFs chimneys brake linings Fuel combusFon e.g. Coal, oil, petrol reducing smog lung damage, bronchiFs, forms acid rain Remove sulphur from fuels and ue gases

2. Sulphur dioxide

3. Carbon monoxide

4. Carbon dioxide 5. Hydrocarbons

Car exhaust, cigarege Forms smoking carboxyhaemoglobin prevenFng oxygen uptake by blood, loss of consciousness and death All forms of combusFon greenhouse eect of overheaFng Car exhaust, industrial waste Photochemical smog damages plants,

Catalysts or heat reactors in car exhausts

Find other sources of energy Catalysts or heat reactors in car exhausts, modify car-

SUMMARY- HEALTH RISK AND AIR POLLUTION POLLUTANT 6. Oxides of nitrogen ORIGIN DAMAGE PREVENTION Catalysts or heat reactors in car exhausts, modify car- engines Car exhaust, industrial Photochemical smog combusFon damages plants, rubber, clothing

7. Ozone

CombinaFons of hydrocarbons with nitrogen dioxide Petrol-car exhaust

Eye irritaFon, reduces Catalysts or heat visibility reactors in car exhausts, modify car- engines Toxic to the nervous system Death-lung cancer, bronchiFs, coronary disease etc. Respiratory system, inuenza-mucus membrane Lead-free petrol and modify engines no smoking

8. Lead

9. Tar and smoke

Cigarege smoking

10. Pathogens e.g. Virus, bacteria

Infected person sneeze droplets

Good venFlaFon

Sources and impacts of soil contaminaFon

Soil contamina2on results from two major causes: Acidica2on of soil through air pollu2on Pollu2on of soil through waste and wastewater disposal

AcidicaFon of soil
Acidica2on of soil occurs when the acidity of the rain increases due to air pollu2on. If gases like sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) and ammonia (NH3) get into contact with water molecules, they form acids. When it rains in areas where the air is polluted with sulphur dioxide etc., these acids are formed and fall down as acidic rain.

AcidicaFon of soil
The acids permeate the soil and mix with the water from the: Lakes Ponds Rivers etc., This changes their composi2on and poses danger to plants and animals.

AcidicaFon of soil

AcidicaFon of soil
Acid rain harms a wide range of non-organic materials as well, including : Stone Cement Paint Varnish Paper and tex2les.

AcidicaFon of soil
The most important sources of gases responsible for acidica2on are: Power plants Industries The transport sector (through exhaust fumes) Intensive agriculture.

PolluFon of soil through waste disposal

PolluFon of soil through waste disposal

Industries and private households produce waste such as: resi-dues from industrial manufacturing intensive agriculture animal and human excreta dilapidated consumer goods worn-out vehicles and packaging material

PolluFon of soil through waste disposal

wastewater from kitchens, bathrooms and industrial plants. Nearly every ar2cle we use or u2lise turns into waste at the end of its life. Proper treatment and disposal of waste and wastewater are essen2al to protect the soil from contamina2on and pollu2on.

PolluFon of soil through waste disposal

While organic waste decomposes naturally, other forms of waste like plas2c will stay almost forever. Heavy metals, radioac2ve elements and other organic or inorganic poisons accumulate in the soil and enter the food chain via plants, animals and water.

?
What are the sources and impacts of ground and surface water pollu7on?

Sources of surface water polluFon

Sources of surface water polluFon

Private households and many industrial processes produce wastewater which form the major source for surface and groundwater pollu2on. Wastewater comes in four dierent forms which must be collected, treated and or disposed of to avoid contamina2on of our ground and surface water resources.

 Four forms of waste water Rain and = surface water aeer rains storm water Grey water = wastewater from bathing, laundry and kitchen

Brown or = wastewater from toilets black water Industrial = heavily polluted wastewater wastewater from industrial processes

Impacts of ground water polluFon

Untreated wastewater from: Industrial produc2on Fer2liser Pes2cides from agriculture, Leakage and spillage from oil and chemical storage tanks Leach ate from waste dumps as well as minerals leached by acidic rains etc.

 Impacts of ground water polluFon

All end up in Streams Rivers Lakes and groundwater reservoirs Finally they ow into the ocean where the pollutants aect coastal and marine animal and plant life.

 Impacts of ground and surface water polluFon

Figure 7:AcidicaFon of surface water

 Sources and impacts of noise and

radiaFon

What is the dierence between sound and noise?

 Sources and impacts of noise and

radiaFon

Sound is caused by vibra2on in the air (or some other medium) that reaches the ears and s2mulates a sensa2on of hearing. Noise polluFon emerges when sound becomes loud or disagreeable, par2cularly when it results in physiological or psychological harm.

 Sources and impacts of noise and

radiaFon

Origins of assaulted atmospheric (human- made)noises: Trac noise Power lawn mowers Jets ying overhead Chain saws Jackhammers or Disco/dance hall/vehicle music

 Sources and impacts of noise and

radiaFon

In industry and produc2on sectors: the processing of metals grinding cucng hammering are very loud but also other types of machines and engines fans and blowers add to the noise pollu2on.

 Sources and impacts of noise and

radiaFon

The intensity (loudness) of sound is measured rela2ve to a reference sound that is so low that it is almost inaudible to the human ear. Rela2ve loudness is expressed numerically using the decibel (db) scale or a modied decibel scale called decibel-A (dbA) scale.

radiaFon dbA scale takes into account high- pitched sounds to which the human ear is more sensi2ve.
Prolonged exposure to noise leads to a loss of hearing ability, because the hair cells in the cochlea are damaged.

Sources and impacts of noise and

THE DECIBLE-A SCALE (dbA)

dbA 0 10 20 40 50 70 80 90 100 110 120 150 Example Rustling leaves, breathing Whisper Library Quiet neighbourhood (dayFme) Vacuum cleaner, television Washing machine, typical factory Motorcycle at 8 m Jet yover at 300 m Rock band, boom box held close to ear Chain saw Jet at takeo PercepFon/General Eects Hearing threshold Very quiet Very quiet Quiet Quiet moderately loud Moderately loud Very loud, intrusive Very loud; impaired hearing with prolonged exposure Very loud-uncomfortably loud Uncomfortably loud Uncomfortably loud-painfully loud Painfully loud- ruptured eardrum

 Sources and impacts of noise and

radiaFon

Prolonged exposure to loud noise results in permanent hearing impairment. Other physiological eects of noise on the body include: Increased heart rate Causes dila2on in children Causes muscle contrac2on.

 Sources and impacts of noise and

radiaFon

Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise increases blood pressure and can cause heart disease Noise pollu2on can also cause: Migraine - Dizziness Gastric ulcers - Headaches Psychological stress - Nausea

 Ionising radiaFon

What is Ionising radiaFon?

 Ionising radiaFon

Low level radia2on which humans and other organisms are exposed to from several natural sources such as: cosmic rays from outer space and radioac2ve elements in the earth crust is ooen referred to as ionising radiaFon.

 Ionising radiaFon

In the US alone about 82% of the average radia2on people are exposed are from these natural sources. Ionising radiaFon contains enough energy to eject electrons from atoms, which results in the forma2on of posi2vely charged atoms, called ions.

 Ionising radiaFon

Eects of ionising radiaFon

One of the dangerous eects of ionising radia2on is the damage it does to the gene2c material of an organism. DNA provides a blueprint of all characteris2cs of an organism and directs the ac2vity of cells. Thus, damage to the DNA is always harmful to the organism.

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Changes in DNA are known as mutaFons. When muta2on occurs in reproduc2ve cells (egg or sperm), they are passed on to the next genera2on.
Figure 10:The impact of radioactive radiation on human health

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Muta2on can result in: birth defects mental retarda2on or gene2c diseases etc. Studies have shown that in Britain in 1997, alone 100,000 male workers exposed to occupa2onal radia2on before they conceived children had increased incidence of leukemia among their ospring.

Eects of ionising radiaFon

If muta2ons occur in non-reproduc2ve cells of the body, they may alter the func2oning of those cells. This can contribute to health problems during an individuals life2me, including an increased likelihood of cancer.

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Muta2on can convert normal genes that control growth and development of humans into oncogenes Oncogenes are genes that cause cancer e.g.: Leukaemia and cancer of the bone Thyroid Skin Lung Breast etc.

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Lower levels of radia2on exposure may cause serious medical problems such as: burns on the skin an increased chance of developing cataracts temporary male sterility. Exposure to very high levels of ionising radia2on may result in death.

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Whether low-level ionising radiaFon such as that around nuclear power plants causes higher incidence of cancer in people who live and work nearby or not is s2ll being discussed. Some studies have indicated increased cancer risk from exposure to low levels of ionising radia2on Others are yet to conrm these ndings.

Eects of ionising radiaFon

What is an EMF?

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Inves2ga2ons are s2ll ongoing on the possible links between health problems and invisible electric and magneFc elds (EMFs) in the atmosphere. We are subjected to EMFs both outdoors, and Indoors (when electricity is used in the household or at work-place).

Eects of ionising radiaFon

EMFs are associated with: High voltage transmission lines Mobile phones transmissions Other telecommunica2on devices Electric blankets Video displays Microwave ovens etc.

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Figure 11:Natural and man-made sources of electric and magnetic fields

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Studies suggest that children who live near power lines have an increased risk of leukaemia. Other studies on people who died from brain tumours found that most of them had careers in which they had received higher-than- normal exposures to EMFs

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Most of them were TVET workers: Electricians Telephone workers Electric Engineers etc. Some laboratory research indicates that exposure to weak EMFs can alter human cells.

Eects of ionising radiaFon

Eects of ionising radiaFon

The discussion about the harmful eects of EMFs is s2ll ongoing and controversial. However, health experts stress, that the risk of cancer from exposure to EMFs is very low when compared to other cancer-causing exposures, such as smoking.