Question

Are there any occupational hazards faced by the silk textile industry?

Answer 1

just look heading only if point required below the headline s are exolanation

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
Hazard identification or assessment is an important step in the overall risk assessment and risk management process. It is where individual work hazards are identified, assessed and controlled/eliminated as close to source (location of the hazard) as reasonably as possible. As technology, resources, social expectation or regulatory requirements change, hazard analysis focuses controls more closely toward the source of the hazard. Thus hazard control is a dynamic program of prevention. Hazard-based programs also have the advantage of not assigning or implying there are "acceptable risks" in the workplace. A hazard-based program may not be able to eliminate all risks, but neither does it accept "satisfactory" – but still risky – outcomes. And as those who calculate and manage the risk are usually managers while those exposed to the risks are a different group, workers, a hazard-based approach can by-pass conflict inherent in a risk-based approach. 3.1 Physical And Mechanical Hazards Physical hazards are a common source of injuries in many industries. They are perhaps unavoidable in certain industries, such as construction and mining, but over time people have developed safety methods and procedures to manage the risks of physical danger in the workplace. Employment of children may pose special problems. Falls are a common cause of occupational injuries and fatalities, especially in construction, extraction, transportation, healthcare, and building cleaning and maintenance. Confined spaces also present a work hazard. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health defines "confined space" as having limited openings for entry and exit and unfavorable natural ventilation, and which is not intended for continuous employee occupancy. Spaces of this kind can include storage tanks, ship compartments, sewers, and pipelines. Confined spaces can pose a hazard not just to workers, but also to people who try to rescue them. Noise also presents a fairly common workplace hazard: occupational hearing loss is the most common work-related injury in the United States, with 22 million workers exposed to hazardous noise levels at work and an estimated $242 million spent annually on worker's compensation for hearing loss disability. Noise is not the only source of occupational hearing loss; exposure to chemicals such as aromatic solvents and metals including lead, arsenic, and mercury can also cause hearing loss. Temperature extremes can also pose a danger to workers. Heat stress can cause heat stroke, exhaustion, cramps, and rashes. Heat can also fog up safety glasses or cause sweaty palms or dizziness, all of which increase the risk of other injuries. Workers near hot surfaces or steam also are at risk for burns. Dehydration may also result from overexposure to heat. Cold stress also poses a danger to many workers. Overexposure to cold conditions or extreme cold can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot, or chilblains. Electricity poses a danger to many workers. Electrical injuries can be divided into four types: fatal electrocution, electric shock, burns, and falls caused by contact with electric energy.

3.2 OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE An occupational disease is any chronic ailment that occurs as a result of work or occupational activity. It is an aspect of occupational safety and health. An occupational disease is typically identified when it is shown that it is more prevalent in a given body of workers than in the general population, or in other worker populations. Occupational hazards that are of a traumatic nature (such as falls by roofers) are not considered to be occupational diseases.

3.2.1 Lung Diseases Occupational lung diseases include asbestosis among asbestos miners and those who work with friable asbestos insulation, as well as black lung (coalworker's pneumoconiosis) among coal miners, silicosis among miners and quarrying and tunnel operators and byssinosis among workers in parts of the cotton textile industry. Occupational asthma has a vast number of occupations at risk.Bad indoor air quality may predispose for diseases in the lungs as well as in other parts of the body.

3.2.2 Skin Diseases Occupational skin diseases and conditions are generally caused by chemicals and having wet hands for long periods while at work. Eczema is by far the most common, but urticaria, sunburn and skin cancer are also of concern.

3.3 Health Risk Factors During Silkworm Rearing 3.3.1 Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is known as a silent killer because it has no smell, colour or taste and can be produced by a faulty or poorly ventilated fuel-burning appliance such as partially burnt coal sigri used in Kashmir and other temperate areas to raise room temperature in cold condition. Symptoms of carbon monoxide toxicity consisting of headache, vertigo, nausea and vomiting. We lost a worker at Patnitop (J&K) in rearing room due to CO beyond tolerance level (100ppm). Cherry red lividity is seen in human body due to CO poisoning.

3.3.1.1 Causes Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully. Burning charcoal, running cars and the smoke from cigarettes also produce carbon monoxide gas. Gas, oil, coal and wood are sources of fuel used in many household appliances, including boilers , gas fires ,central heating , systems , water heaters , cookers ,open fires. The main cause of accidental exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) is household appliances, such as cooking and heating devices, which have been damaged, incorrectly installed or badly maintained. The risk of exposure to carbon monoxide from portable devices may also be higher in caravans, boats and mobile homes. Other possible causes of carbon monoxide poisoning include:  blocked flues and chimneys – this can stop carbon monoxide escaping, allowing it to reach dangerous levels  burning fuel in an enclosed or unventilated space – for example, running a car engine, petrol-powered generator or barbecue inside a garage, or a faulty boiler in an enclosed kitchen  faulty or blocked car exhausts – a leak or a blockage in the exhaust pipe, such as after heavy snowfall, could lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide  paint fumes – some cleaning fluids and paint removers contain methylene chloride (dichloromethane), which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if breathed in.  smoking shisha pipes indoors – shisha pipes burn charcoal and tobacco, which can lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide in enclosed or unventilated rooms

3.3.2 Illness Caused By Unhygienic Conditions Of Rearing Unhygienic conditions due to accumulation of unutilized leaves and silkworm excreta pose health risk. Any negligence of hygiene leads to silkworm mortality due to two main diseases Grasserie & Flacherie. The dead silkworms, if not removed immediately, putrify and cause illness among rearers. 3.4 Bed Disinfectant (Paraformaldehyde) Bed disinfectants employed during silkworm rearing mainly consist of slaked lime and paraformaldehyde. Human Skin contact with bed disinfectants result in sensitization, inflammation of the eye (redness, watering and itching). 3.4.1 Formalin FORMALIN is commonly used disinfectant in sericulture industry and the effectiveness of disinfectants depends on the concentration, duration of contact and ambient temperature and RH. Formalin is commercially available as 36-37% formaldehyde solution. Formalin is more effective at temperature above 25°C and 70% humidity and the efficacy of formalin increases when the temperature rises. For effective use of formalin the rearing space to be disinfected should be made air tight and mixed with 0.05% detergent solution. It has a strong irritant effect on the eyes and nasal mucous and the skin hardness on contact, hence utmost care is needed while it is used. It is advisable to wear gloves and gas mask whenever formalin spray is done