International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations

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International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
An example of an application
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In some jobs, the danger is obvious .
International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
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In others, the danger may not be quite so obvious
International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
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Background

• Certain jobs are more dangerous than others. The
  risk of serious injury or illness is far greater
  in certain occupations.

• World-wide, there is a lack of handbooks,
  manuals and other single sources of information
  related to specific tasks and occupations.

• There is a need for an informational datasheet
  on hazardous occupations that can serve as a
  first step towards the development of practical
  action to assure the safety and health of the
  worker carrying out this occupation.

• Actions may include but not necessarily be
  limited to informational datasheets on specific
  occupations, directed educational activities and
  bipartite discussion on procedures and techniques
  to limit exposures.

International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
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A Joint Project
The International Hazard Datasheets on
Occupations project is an undertaking of the
International Labour Office (ILO), which was
initiated by the Israel Institute for
Occupational Safety and Hygiene (IIOSH). It is
being developed in cooperation with National
ILO/CIS Occupational Safety and Health
Information Centres throughout the world.
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Objective
To provide a broad, professional audience with
information on hazards relating to a specific,
dangerous occupation. This information will
include the most important hazards the worker may
be exposed to during the routine performance of
tasks within the scope of this occupation. The
datasheet will also provide a sample of basic
prevention and protection measures associated
with the hazards.
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These datasheets are a basic informational tool
designed to...

• Describe the danger

• Discuss whos at risk

• Describe the most important hazards

• Provide basic notions of protection and
  prevention

International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
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The first page is relevant for almost anyone. It
describes the datasheet itself, a general
description of the target occupation and some
notions of what is dangerous about this
occupation.
International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
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• The second page is for the safety and health
  professional or the health care worker. It lists
  different hazards associated with the occupation.

• Included are general accident hazards, physical
  hazards, chemical hazards, biological hazards as
  well as ergonomic, psychosocial and
  organizational factors.

• Next to the hazard is a shield with a number.
  The number is linked to prevention measure listed
  on the third page.

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• The third page is dedicated to measures of
  prevention, linked to the hazards mentioned on
  the second page.

• Each page on the Web-based version has
  navigational tools that will bring the user to
  other pages of the datasheet or the index.

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The fourth page is also for the safety and health
professional but provides more details about the
occupation. Included are synonyms for the
occupation, a definition and/or description,
related occupations, tasks, equipment used and
workplaces where the occupation is common.
There is also a place for notes and references.
Where possible Web-based references will be
included.
On the bottom of each page, a place is designated
for a Web link to the authoring and / or the
sponsoring institution.
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In summary, the format of these datasheets
provides for

• Information on the most relevant hazards related
  to the occupation.
• Suggestions for preventive and protective
  measures for selected hazards.
• Specialized information such as a brief job
  description, a list of tasks, notes and
  references.
• For the Web-based datasheets, links to other
  relevant information.

International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
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An example
In Thailand, a small group of indigenous people
harvest products from the sea for a living using
surface-supplied compressed air.
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Outcomes due to exposures at work include ...

• Death due to gas embolism

• Death due to drowning

• Death due to the complications of decompression
  sickness

• Paralysis due to decompression
  sickness

• Impotency

International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
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Public health officials at the Ministry of Public
Health as well as those at the provincial,
district and community level were aware of the
outcomes through their normal work, however
prevention of decompression sickness, as a result
of diving, was difficult.
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In this example, the International Datasheet on
Hazardous Occupations on the Indigenous Diver was
provided to health care workers with a view to
explain the hazards the divers face and some
basic notions for prevention.
International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
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The datasheet as a basis to develop further
information
Using Job Safety Analysis, a tool developed by
the National Safety Council of the United States,
the local health care workers carried out
interviews with a small group of divers.
The International Datasheet on Hazardous
Occupations for the Indigenous Divers provided
sufficient background to facilitate this task.
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Based on the Job Safety Analysis, ten rules were
developed, by consensus, that would reduce the
risk of decompression sickness,

• Make the deepest dive of the day first and each
  succeeding dive shallower.
• Stay on the surface at least one hour between
  dives.
• Always continue to breathe normally, never hold
  your breath.
• Make the deepest part of every dive first and
  work your way to shallower water.
• Come up slowly from every dive.
• Make a safety stop at five meters for three to
  five minutes after every dive. Make decompression
  stops when necessary.
• Display the international diver down flag every
  time a diver is in the water.
• Drink lots of water before, between and after
  dives.
• Bring fresh air into the compressors air intake
  away from exhaust gases.
• While diving, remain in sight of another diver.

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An information sheet was developed for each rule.
Each information sheet contains ...

• The rule
• Points the diver should remember, describing
  both the problem and solutions.
• An illustration (as the target audience are
  visual learners)
• Additional notes if needed

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The village health care workers are using the ten
rules and information sheets

• To provide training for the divers in small
  groups.

• As a tool promote a change in working procedures
  by fostering discussions with village leaders and
  boat owners.

• To raise awareness by preparing posters.

• As a basis for discussion in families and schools.

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The International Hazard Datasheets on
Occupations therefore can be used as a vehicle to
raise the awareness of safety and health
professionals, government officials, and
employers and workers representatives,
affording them the possibility to subsequently
develop interventions to reduce the exposures to
the hazards related to the job.
International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations
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Produced by David Gold, Occupational Safety and
Health Branch, ILO 14/04/99
International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations