Occupational Disease and Illness Prevention Michael Boileau, M.Sc., - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Occupational Disease and Illness Prevention Michael Boileau, M.Sc., C.Chem., CRSP June 07, 2017

What is an Occupational Disease? • Occupational diseases and illnesses are chronic health conditions that are caused by overexposure to physical and chemical hazards at work. – Silicosis – Asbestosis – Cancer

Why do we need an Occupational Disease and Illness Prevention strategy? Manitoba’s Five -Year Plan for Injury and Illness Prevention • Blueprint for change • Ten action areas

Why do we need a strategy? • Most severe of all reported WCB injuries • 224 deaths from 2000 to 2015

How was this strategy developed? • Research completed • Jurisdictional review • Inventory of MB resources • Data overview • Advisory Panel input • Draft copy completed in April, 2017 • Final approval by Prevention Committee

Jurisdictional Review • All provinces address OD issues • Some provinces do not have defined OD prevention policies • Prevention activities and enforcement • Training and resources

Inventory of MB Resources • Review existing resources and avoid duplication • Opportunity to partner • Opportunity to update existing guidelines and bulletins • Opportunity to promote RWIP

Research • Large field (many different diseases) • New chemicals are introduced everyday • Long latency periods • Employers are not certain that they are protecting their workers

Occupational Disease - Gender Gender by Accepted Occupational Disease (No MSI or Psyc) Female Male 1400 1144 1200 1045 1042 955 1000 895 Number of Diseases 834 800 600 343 400 329 314 308 308 291 200 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Diseases by Age Group Diseases by Age Group (No MSIs or Psyc) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 800 700 600 Number fo Diseases 500 400 300 200 100 0 15-24 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55+ years

Industry Sector Occupational Disease (No MSI or Psyc) by Sector (2010- 2015) Construction, Transportation, 1114, 851, 11% 14% Healthcare, 1148, Trade, 629, 8% 15% Service, 689, 9% Manufacturing, 1447, 19% Public Administration, 1399, 18% Natural Resources, 505, 6%

Benefits • Reduce costs • Develop economically viable solutions • Benefit to industry as a whole

Monitoring • Worker participation • One day, bi-weekly • Minimal disruption to productivity • Confidentiality

Who are we trying to reach? • Employers • Workers • Public

Summary • Limited worker exposure data • Limited awareness of OD • Finite tools and resources • Lack of centralized source of info • Disconnect between OD and worker exposures

Questions