Surgical smoke: an occupational (work-related) health risk
As the name suggests, surgical smoke is a gaseous byproduct emitted during a surgical operation when laser, electrocautery, loop electrosurgical excisional procedure (LEEP), high speed burrs, drills and saws, or any other device that generates heat is used. Surgical smoke contains almost 95% water or...
PFAS: an occupational risk that may require blood testing in future
PFAS (per – poly fluoro alkyl substances) are man-made chemicals, almost 15,000 of them, used in industry and consumer products since 1950s. PFOA (per fluoro octanoic acid) and PFOS (per fluoro octane sulfonate) are the two most common PFAS. In 2009, a study by ATSDR...
Active vs Static work desk
Most of us are leading a sedentary life, almost 13 hours; of which over half the time is sitting at work. Too much sitting is not good, making way for the saying, sitting is the new smoking. Before massive computerisation, most people had active...
The heat is back and is bad for outdoor workers and politicians
On Monday, 22nd April 2024, a UN research issued a warning that over 2.4 billion workers will be exposed to extreme heat at workplaces due to climate change which will affect more than 70% of world’s workers. Back home, in India, a prominent politician and...
Is the corner cabin cornering the CEO
Its lonely at the top is an old adage. In the world of social media coupled with advances in AI, its lonelier in the corner. The role of a CEO has been around for about a hundred years. The look and feel of a CEO...
Wellness programs fail if workplace is sick
Just as a common cold in any one person can potentially infect others, a workplace can get sick too and infect those occupying it. Making sure that the workplace is healthy before undertaking any wellness programs for workers is necessary for its success. In fact,...
Pigeon feeding and its municipal ban in Mumbai: a step to improve respiratory health
Finally, in December 2023, the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) imposed a ban on pigeon feeding in Mumbai city. What should have been done decades ago will eventually give solace to a lot of citizens. A ban, well in time would have prevented thousands of lungs...
Tunnel trapped workers: from Occupational Safety to Occupational Health
On Sunday, 12th November 2023, at around 5.30 AM IST, a portion of the Silkyara Bend - Barkot tunnel, under construction, collapsed in the Uttarkashi district of the state of Uttarakhand, India. 41 workers got trapped inside the tunnel. On Tuesday, 28th November, after 17 days,...
