Health Effects
Hazards can affect health in different ways.
Acute effects
Some hazards affect workers right away or soon after they are exposed. Symptoms that show up quickly are called acute effects.
Acute effects of a chemical exposure, such as a headache, may go away when you get some fresh air. You may not be aware of the chronic effects for years
Never let an employer get away with telling you not to worry about a chemical or other type of agent just because you can't see, smell or feel anything. Never let anyone get away with telling you that you will feel fine after getting some fresh air. It may do permanent damage that will affect you years from now.
| Examples of ACUTE Health Effects | |||
| Chemical | Biological | Physical | Stress (psychological) |
| skin burn from being splashed with acid |
vomiting or cramps from food poisoning |
fainting due to working outside in the heat |
fatigue from shift work |
| losing consciousness from exhaust fumes |
staphylococcal disease |
frostbite from working outdoors |
headache from pressure on the job |
Chronic effects
Many health problems are long lasting but do not show up right after an exposure. The symptoms or disease happen long after exposure or from being exposed to small amounts of an agent for a long time. These delayed or long lasting problems are called chronic effects.
| Examples of CHRONIC Health Effects | |||
| Chemical | Biological | Physical | Stress (psychological) |
| lung cancer from breathing asbestos |
infection with HIV from a needlestick |
hearing loss from working in a noisy facility |
high blood pressure from job stress |
| leukemia from breathing or skin contact with benzene |
liver disease from Hepatitis B |
skin cancer from too much sun while working outdoors |
sleep disorders |
Local effects
A health effect is local when it only affects the part of the body exposed. A broken toe, a cut finger, and a burn are examples of local effects.
Systemic effects
A health effect is systemic when an agent enters the body and causes damage to other parts of the body. A cut that gets infected and causes fever and other symptoms is systemic. Breathing a chemical that makes you feel “high” or dizzy may cause liver or kidney damage if you are exposed over a long time, even if you have never had any acute or local effects.
