Occupational Health and Wellbeing Flashcards

The HSE defines work-related stress as arising when demands of the job exceed a person's ability to cope. Which of the following is NOT one of the HSE Management Standards key work factors?

Answer: Salary and financial reward

The six HSE Management Standards are: Demands, Control, Support, Relationships, Role, and Change — salary and financial reward are not among them.

What is occupational asthma and what distinguishes it from pre-existing asthma?

Answer: A new onset of asthma or worsening of existing asthma caused by sensitisation to a substance encountered at work

Occupational asthma is caused by workplace sensitisers (such as isocyanates, flour dust, or latex) and is characterised by symptoms that improve away from work, distinguishing it from pre-existing asthma.

What is Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and under which regulations is it specifically controlled?

Answer: A neurological and vascular condition caused by vibrating tools, controlled under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

HAVS is a painful and disabling condition affecting nerves, blood vessels, and joints in the hands and arms caused by prolonged use of vibrating tools, governed by the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

What is musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) in an occupational health context?

Answer: Injuries and conditions affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, or spinal discs, often caused or aggravated by work activities

MSDs include a broad range of conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system — such as back pain, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome — which can be caused or worsened by work-related factors like manual handling and repetitive movements.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is preventable if exposure is controlled. At what daily personal noise exposure level (LEP,d) must UK employers provide hearing protection under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005?

Answer: At or above 80 dB(A) (lower exposure action value) and must ensure it is used at or above 85 dB(A)

The Regulations set a lower action value of 80 dB(A) where protection must be made available, and an upper action value of 85 dB(A) where hearing protection use is mandatory and hearing surveillance required.

What is the purpose of biological monitoring in an occupational health surveillance programme?

Answer: To measure the amount of a hazardous substance or its metabolites in biological samples (e.g. blood or urine) to assess actual body uptake

Biological monitoring measures the internal dose of a substance that has actually been absorbed into the body, providing a more direct assessment of exposure than air monitoring alone.

Which of the following is a recognised early symptom that should trigger removal from exposure and immediate occupational health referral in cases of suspected occupational asthma?

Answer: A mild persistent cough that only occurs during the working day and clears at weekends

Work-related respiratory symptoms that improve away from the workplace — such as a cough that clears at weekends — are classic warning signs of occupational asthma requiring urgent investigation and possible removal from exposure.