Question

Why do EOH practitioners (The Environmental and Occupational Health) need a firm grasp of basic epidemiological principles in their daily work? Integrate specific examples and supportive backing for your response

Answer 1

Epidemiology is the study of factors that causes health issues and applying this knowledge to control health problems. iIt is the EOH practiioners who reqiure a firm understanding in epidemiological principles,because their role in a society as EOH is very crucial. It is the EOH practitioners who needs to ensure heath and safety in work places. They are always needed to find solutions to stressful conditions,hygiene,occupation related diseases to the workers and they are required to prevent or atleast reduce the effects of such problems. They have to look for early signs and symptoms of occupational diseases in workers, they should also posess skills in doing simple tests like collecting of biological samples,should discuss the workers with personal hygeine, good sanitaion practices etc.

Since all these are the duties of an EOH practitioner he needs a firm grasp of basic epidemiological principles.

There are many examples which support this. A few of them include,

• In many of the work places like Engineering industries, powerplants, aeroplane manufacturings, there will be a high noise to which workers are exposed. This can cause problems even in their endocrine(hormonal) or in gastrointestinal system. So, an EOH practitioner who is well known about this conditions can take necessary actions like reducing the work period in which the workers are exposed to high noise, make them wear safety instruments like ear plugs and helmets, rotation of workers etc.
• Similarly in industries where there is a chance of liberating radiation, serious diseases can results. Long term exposure to these radiations can even result in death or can cause serious issues like skin cancer. Here EOH practioner can take necessary steps like reducing the time of exposure of workers to radiations or proper sheilding etc.
• Workers in health care industries or in hospitals can also get disease by handling contaminated objects or from patients. So, an EOH prctiosioner should be able to make arrangments and safety meaures to aviod this transmission and also sholud be able to recognise early signs and symptoms in workers by methods like bacteriological examinination of sputum etc. which is common in lung infections ( as in workers in a tberculosis hospital).