Prevention of Occupational Health (OH) Hazards - OH Management Practices in a Petrochemical Industry

Introduction
Reliance Industries Limited Jamnagar is a petrochemical plant. It is equipped to refine various types of crude oil (sour crude, sweet crude or a mixture of both) and manufactures various grades of fuel from motor gasoline to Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Occupational Health management practices are useful for understanding the relation between workplace and health of employees. The Occupational Health care services primarily concerned with maintaining the health of people at work or injury management or exposure to occupational health hazards at workplace. Occupational Health Management practices has been developed to focus for better healthy workplace, injuries reduction and to identify occupational illness at workplace.

Methods
A study on Occupational Health Surveillance was carried out to identify the occupational health Hazards on records of 32.plants at RIL Jamnagar from April 2010 to March 2011.Reasons for OH hazards were identified .Data were analyzed using STATA.

Results
The OH hazards mainly Ergonomic (100), Chemical (53), Dust (26), Noise (23), Heat Stress (27), Illumination (11) Hazards at locations of 32 plants. The successful completion of 75 % projects with the benefit of Healthy employees for healthy employers is achieved.

Discussion
The Occupational health surveillance at RIL is being carried out every year. The structured plan of Occupational Health management program at all plants of RIL is the key parameter for effective management of Occupational Health Hazards exposure at work place .The findings of this surveillance indicate the need for occupational Health management program which involves a team headed by occupational Physician along with plant person, safety officer and Industrial Hygienist