Page 50 - Occupational Health & Safety, May 2019

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
What chronic stresses could affect our employees? They could be something as simple as the day-to-day hassles of being a super- intendent or project manager, being stuck in traffic, too much work for an eight-hour day, underbidding contracts, projects nearing the end of their life cycles, etc. If left unchecked, stress will suppress the immune system and could ultimately manifest as an illness.
Many psychologists have discussed the relationship of stressful situations and triggering of chronic diseases. Medd (2018) discuss- es research studies that indicate the following chronic illnesses can be attributed to stressful events:
■ Diabetes
■ Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, multiple chemical sensitivi- ties, and related illnesses
■ Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
■ Multiple sclerosis
■ Parkinson’s disease
■ Rheumatoid arthritis
As industrial hygienists, it is incumbent upon us to protect our
employers and employees. This entails providing information and methodologies that keep the employees safe, which in turn protects the employers.
Columbia Southern University Adjunct Professor Ralph Blessing has more than 27 years of occupational safety and health experience encompassing general industry, construction, training, and public
speaking. He became certified as an afloat safety manager and re- ceived his Safety Management Certificate from the Naval Safety Cen- ter during this tour of duty in the U.S. Navy. Blessing holds a master’s degree in occupational safety and health.
REFERENCES
1. Centers for Disease Control (2017). Stress at work. Retrieved March 2, 2019, from CDC Web site: https://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/tools- templates/entertainmented/tips/StressWork.html
2. Cohen, S., Kessler, R.C., Gordon, L.U., (1995). Strategies for measuring stress in studies of psychiatric and physical disorders. Measuring Stress: A guide for Health and Social Scientists. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1995
3. Dombeck, Mark, Mills, Harry, Reiss, Natalie. Retrieved March 11,2019 from MentalHelp.net website: https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/types-of- stressors-eustress-vs-distress/
4. Hafen, B.Q., Frandsen, K.J., Karren, K., Hooker, K.R., (1991). The health ef- fects of attitudes, emotions and relationship. Provo, UT: EMS Associates
5. Lazarus, R.S., (1966). Psychological stress and the coping process. New York: McGraw-Hill., 1966
6. Medd, V., (2018). Can trauma or stress trigger onset of chronic illness? Retrieved March 1, 2019 from www.chronicillnesstraumastudies.com
7. OSHA (2019). Industrial hygiene. Retrieved February 28, 2019 from OSHA website: https://www.osha.gov/dte/library/industrial_hygiene/industrial_hy- giene.html
8. Pelletier, K.R., (1977) Mind as healer, mind as slayer. New York: Dell Publishing Co., 1977
Noise Management Software
Compatible with dBadge2
• Easily configure data and select the required parameters
• Quickly generate professional reports
• Setup dBadge2 units quickly and easily
• Playback recorded audio to identify spurious
noise exposure
• Easily analyse time history data to determine
where exposure has occured
• Remove spurious noise exposure with the
‘exclusion zone’ feature
415 Lawrence Bell Drive, Unit 4, Buffalo, NY, 14221
T: (800) 366 2966
E: info-us@casellasolutions.com
Come and see us at Booth 1508 @ AIHce event 05/20/2019 casellasolutions.com
46 Occupational Health & Safety | MAY 2019 Untitled-1 1
www.ohsonline.com
Circle 6 on card.
4/1/19 10:42 AM