Infections
Workers handling cattle may be exposed to
undulant fever (brucellosis). Those handling hides may develop anthrax.
Slaughter- house workers, as well as farmers, have to guard against tetanus.
Dog- pound workers must be wary of rabies. Barbers and beauticians have to
guard against ringworm (fungus infection). These are just a few of many
infections that may be acquired in various occupations.
Frequent washing of
exposed body areas and the use of gloves provide valuable protection. Cuts,
even slight ones, should be washed immediately with soap and water, then
treated with the mild form of tincture of iodine or other safe antiseptics. If
your job involves the handling of living or dead animals, it is wise to get
your physician's advice on the best precautions against specific infections you
may face.
RADIATION HAZARDS
Devices and materials
that give off potentially harmful radiation are in increasing use. Fortunately,
increasingly effective controls have been developed so workers can be
protected. One type of irradiation, x-ray, has been used for years in medicine
for viewing internal body structures and more recently for treating cancer and
certain other problems. The same rays, however, if absorbed in excessive
dosage, can cause cancer. In industry and in scientific laboratories, where
x-rays may be used for quality control and other purposes, they must be
carefully monitored and controlled; so, too, other types of radiation which can
be harmful. It is possible for an individual to receive an excessive amount of
radiation, as from atomic fallout, without being aware of it for years.
Effect On Genes
The effects on his genes, which control
heredity, may not affect him at all but may seriously damage his children.
X-rays, radium, and other radioactive substances emit different types of
radiation which require different types of protection. These are some of the
ways you can be protected if your job requires working with or near radioactive
materials: Film badge: This widely used personal protective device measures the
amount of radiation to which you are exposed. It is developed regularly and the
type and energy of the radiating source can be determined. Dosimeter: Of the
many kinds of dosimeters, the most common is a pocket-type device about the
size and shape of a fountain pen. It can be held up to the light, and the user
at any time can determine whether he has received a sudden or heavy dose of
radiation or is getting close to his maximum allowable exposure.
