Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 79-88
PDF size: 87.13 Kb.

ABSTRACT

The employment is one of the main promoters of the health of populations and the communities where productive industries are located. Occupational risks are as diverse as economic activities, especially where regulatory and security measures to protect workers from health hazards are not strictly implemented. Occupational risks are not easily identified due to unrecognized exposures by the worker, or the physician, or to the identification of a health risk as an answer to factors outside the occupational setting. Health consequences of occupational hazards go beyond the inmediate health impact because many cases end in permanent discapacities, severe injuries, and even the death of the workers. Accidents illustrate the insecure conditions that prevail in certain working environments that threaten the health of the productive population. Occupational diseases on the other hand illustrate the chronic effect of dangerous exposures. The data presented highlight the importance of these health problems in the last decade during which a total of 5 million health problems related to the working conditions were registered by the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). This means half a million per year, 43 000 a month, and 3600 health events every day. Occupational security and protective measures are a priority but the identification of health hazards in the working environment is necessary to improve the preventive and control measures.