Health Risks and Diseases in New Zealand Chemical Industry: Analysis

This report delves into the occupational health risks prevalent in New Zealand's chemical industry, highlighting the significant impact of hazardous chemicals on worker health. It identifies key occupational risk factors, including injuries, carcinogens, noise, and ergonomic hazards, and emphasizes the contribution of these factors to the burden of disease. The report focuses on the specific dangers of chemical exposure, such as skin irritation, allergic reactions, and respiratory disorders caused by gases, vapors, and dusts. It also addresses diseases like asbestosis and the importance of protective measures, including protective clothing and respirators, to mitigate these risks. Furthermore, the report underscores the importance of adhering to health and safety regulations, such as the Employment Act 1992 and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, to improve working conditions. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for proactive measures to protect workers and improve health and safety within the chemical industry, referencing the significant number of occupational disease cases in New Zealand each year.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

MAIN BODY
As per the World Health Organization, the unhealthy working condition results in wide
degree of occupational risk factor. It contributes to around 1.6% of the burden of disease. The
key risk includes injuries (40%), carcinogens (18%), noise (22%), airborne particulate matter
(17%) and ergonomic hazards (3%). The occupational disease in turn is referred to as the specific
chronic ailment which eventually occurs as a key result for work and the occupational activity.
The chemical industry within the New Zealand tends to give rise to the several set of disease.
The hazardous chemicals within the industry tends to are directly impacted upon the skin and in
turn also results in allergic reaction and local irritation (Ngajilo and Jeebhay, 2019). The
engagement of the toxic chemical within the workplace results in accidental activity. Substances
that tends to occur as a vapours, aerosols, gases, and dusts are considered to be as the most
difficult to control and also referred to as the most hazardous chemicals which has been absorbed
within the respiratory tract. Gases like chlorine, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and phosgene
leads to deficiency of oxygen within the individual person. This in turn results in wide set of
respiratory and lung disorders. Regular contact with such harmful chemical substances in turn
also results in Asbestosis which in turn has been significantly caused because of the prolonged
inhaling of asbestos fibre. This in turn causes stiffness within the lungs and leads to the shortness
of breath. This is because of the inadequate level of the blood and oxygen within the body.
Exposure to the chemicals results in the wide set of health diseases (Denison and et.al., 2018).
Occupational disease is referred to as the relevant exposure which has been arising from the
relevant set of work activities. It tends to arise because of the range of activities related with
chemical.
It is very important for the workers and the employees of the organization to use protective
clothes and also wear respirators in order to protect themselves from such hazardous gases, dust
and chemicals within the industry. The chemical industry must effectively with the health and
safety within the Employment act, 1992 and the Hazardous substance and the new organism act,
1996 which is considered to be highly relevant in improving the working conditions of the
chemical industry within New Zealand. These legislative frameworks are useful in effectively
providing the performance based system and also prominently managing the hazards in the
workplace environment (Davoodi and et.al., 2017). As per the World Health Organization, the
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occupational disease targets the various set of organ system of the body and leads to numerous
set of disease within the person. The New Zealand has around 700 to 1000 every year because of
the occupational disease.
From the conducted study it has been summarized that, the occupational disease affects the
organs and health of the workers who has been working in the specific industry. The
management of the company must focus on using protective clothes and also wear respirators in
order to protect themselves from such hazardous gases and chemicals. Complying with the
health and safety laws and other programs to improve the functioning of the business. It is
important to take relevant set of action and take necessary precautionary measures to improve the
working of employees within the organization.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Davoodi, S and et.al., 2017. Occupational Disease Registries–Characteristics and
Experiences. Acta informatica medica. 25(2). p.136.
Denison, H.J and et.al., 2018. Inequities in exposure to occupational risk factors between Māori
and non-Māori workers in Aotearoa New Zealand. J Epidemiol Community Health. 72(9).
pp.809-816.
Ngajilo, D. and Jeebhay, M.F., 2019. Occupational injuries and diseases in aquaculture–A
review of literature. Aquaculture. 507. pp.40-55.
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