For example, lung cancer is common among asbestos workers and
miners. Many people who work with X-rays get skin cancer. Most coal
miners develop black lung disease after years of work in coal mines.
These people probably get these diseases because of their work. In
addition, accidents on the job may injure or kill workers. For instance,
farm machines sometimes injure farm workers. Construction workers
sometimes fall from buildings. These injuries can be fatal. People who
work with electricity may get electric shocks. Fires sometimes kill fire
fighters.
Many large companies employ both industrial doctors and safety
engineers to protect workers from accidents and illness on the job. Thev
do this in three ways. First, doctors study the workers and their
diseases. They know that certain groups of workers often have the
same diseases. At the same time, safety engineers study accidents and
their causes. Second, doctors and safety engineers work together to
change the machines or the job because they want to prevent accidents
or illnesses. Third, they educate workers about the dangers of their
jobs. They teach the workers about safety on the job. Education is
necessary for prevention.
There are many causes of accidents and illness at work. Chemicals,
noise, and radiation are a few. For example, gases in mines cause
accidents and poison miners. Toxic chemicals, such as lead (Pb),
mercury (Hg), and silica (SİO2), made people sick in the past, and they
make people sick today. In additon, there are new chemicals, and some
of them are toxic. Thev harm the skin, the lungs, and other internal
organs such as the heart, liver, or kidnev. Industrial noise sometimes
causes deafness. Many things in the workplace can cause illness or
injury.
Industrial physicians and safety engineers often prevent these
problems. After they find the causes, they plan and design new
machines to prevent accidents in the future. They design different ways
to store and transport toxic chemicals. They measure and control gases
in the air. They set standards for work in dangerous situations. For
example, airport workers must cover their ears near the airplanes
outside. Some workers must wear protective clothing, like eye goggles,
hard hats,and safety shoes.
After careful study, both doctors and safety engineers do many
things to decrease the danger of injury and illness on the job. They
make the work area a safe place.
