Traumatic Injuries: A Case Study

Lungs – Mucus plugging, chronic bacterial infections, pronounced inflammatory response, damaged airways leading to respiratory insufficiency, progressive decline in pulmonary function.

It includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and in some cases asthma (NIH.NHLBI, 2012). Emphysema as stated by American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is an abnormal enlargement of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles and does occur in the lung parenchyma in COPD patients (AARC, 2011; Rosdahl & Kowalski, 2003).

5. for each of the following occupations, identify at least one possible hazard and a least one action employers could take to minimize the risk of an injury or illness related to that hazard.

Could you imagine living life trying to be successful and making a living to make sure you have food on the table? Now can you also imagine having that same occupation be the same thing that is danger to yourself and the life that you’ve built? Black Lung Disease. A disease that has pledged many working families around the world. Most commonly known as “Lung Disease “or Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, black lung disease was first discovered long ago but not much was known about the disease until the 1950s. This disease is caused by the inhalation of coal dust and usually results in the lungs turning black instead of being its normal pink. The disease is most commonly found among miners of hard coal, but it also occurs in soft-coal miners and graphite workers. The beginning of the disease is gradual; the symptoms usually appear only after 10–20 years of exposure to coal dust, and the extent of disease is clearly related to the total dust exposure. It is not clear whether coal itself is solely responsible for the disease, as coal dust often is contaminated with silica, which causes similar symptoms. There is strong evidence that tobacco smoking aggravates the condition. The early stages of the disease (when it is called anthracnosis) usually have no symptoms, but in its more advanced form it frequently is associated with pulmonary emphysema or chronic bronchitis and can be disabling; tuberculosis is also more common in victims of black lung. In 2013 CWP resulted in 25,000 deaths down from 29,000 deaths in 1990. The inhalation and accumulation of coal dust into the lungs increases the risk of developing chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The disease gets its name from a distinctive blue-black marbling of the lung caused by accumulation of the dust. Georgius Agricola, a German mineralogist, first described lung disease in coal miners in the 16th century, and it is now widely recognized. It may be the best known occupational illness in the United States.

4. Noise, dust and fumes are hazards whish commonly found in the work place for one of these hazards outline the risk associated with the exposure to this hazard and control measures which might be used in the workplace. Identify at least three hazards which are commonly encountered in your workplace and briefly describe how these are controlled.

abnormal condition of fibrous tissue in an organ. This disease affects the lungs and the ability to

|highly preventable, they are often viewed as an acceptable occupational hazard. As for the instruments must likely to cause sharps injuries |

To lower chance of inhaling dust particles, workers that work with minerals known to cause pneumoconiosis should be given a proper fitting breathing mask. The irreversible damage caused by the embedded particles causes the lungs to deteriorate, this can lead to other problems such as mesothelioma, bronchogenic carcinoma, and lung failure. There are steps that can be taken to limit further damage and decrease symptoms. The most important step is to avoid further exposure. In order to keep lungs from declining more rapidly, quitting smoking and breathing clean air is strongly advised for patients. In severe cases, some patients are prescribed to wear an oxygen device all the time. In extreme cases, lung transplants are considered, if the patient is deemed healthy enough for a transplant and if would increase their lifespan (Lung Health & Diseases,

Etiology – Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs are scarred throughout their surfaces. It is often caused by chronic inflammatory diseases, infections or environmental agents, exposure to radiation, or chronic conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis(Pulmonary Fibrosis, 2014). Additionally, in this very young patient the cause may be idiopathic in that there really is no known reason why it occurs.

1 or I ? Early fibrosis involving at least one bronchiole; inflammation similar to that caused by cigarette smoking

The ventro-cranial area of the right lung lobes has a poorly demarcated mottling of black, green and yellow discolouration. The caudal area of the lung lobes is also discoloured with a disseminating mottling of black, green and yellow. The surrounding pleura has also been discoloured in a similar way. The lungs have multifocal, well demarcated, green discoloured circular areas.

Etiology – Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs are scarred throughout their surfaces. It is often caused by chronic inflammatory diseases, infections or environmental agents, exposure to radiation, or chronic conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis(Pulmonary Fibrosis, 2014). Additionally, in this very young patient the cause may be idiopathic in that there really is no known reason why it occurs.

Silicosis is a chronic lung disease where silica particles have been inhaled and invaded lung tissue, causing the development of fibrous tissue. For silicosis to be caused it is necessary for silica dust to be inhaled for a long time, usually several years and this can be through hard rock and coal mining, quarrying and production of quartz (Dart, 1946). Symptoms of silicosis include chest pain, cough, respiratory problems, fever, weight loss and tiredness (Pneumoconiosis.org, 2015). This lung disease is incurable because the damage to the lungs that has taken place is irreversible so the main aims are to maintain quality of life and slow the deterioration. Bronchodilator medicines can be prescribed to relax lung muscles and help breathing and also oxygen therapy may be obtainable if there are very low oxygen levels in the body due to breathing difficulties. In severe cases a lung transplant may be available (NHSChoices, 2013). Prognosis depends on how serious the silicosis is, because the symptoms are progressive a person may live for a few months after diagnosis or could live for up to several years (Nall, 2013).

Airborne contaminants can be mild in hazards to extremely dangerous, and are used quite often within the construction and general industries. Sometimes workers are even exposed to these airborne contaminants on a daily basis. The most common types of airborne contaminants are dusts, fumes, smoke, aerosols, mists, gases and vapors. All of these airborne contaminants are important to be aware of, you must know what their causes are and how to protect your workers from them. As each of these contaminants have a permissible exposure limit (PEL), and it is important to be aware of what each of them is, so you can make sure these levels are not reached or protective equipment is available and accurate for each exposure should your workers have to

- Child workers are exposed to hazardous conditions that expose them to chemical and biological hazards.