Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

state laws mandate appropriate protective mea-
sures for workers in high-risk occupations. Occu-
pational and industry standards often result in
further measures to protect people from the haz-
ards of their jobs. Individuals are responsible for
following appropriate safety procedures.
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTSaccount for about 25
percent of workplace deaths. VIOLENCEalso claims
a significant number of deaths, particularly among
retail cashiers and cab drivers who are at risk for
death by homicide during robberies. Other occu-
pations with high risk for injury and death are
logging, commercial fishing, roofing, construction,
and mining.

KEY INDIVIDUAL MEASURES

FOR PREVENTING WORKPLACE INJURIES

• Obtain proper training for operating devices and
  equipment.


• Integrate ergonomic standards and practices into work
  stations and job tasks.


• Use appropriate protective devices, clothing, and gear.


• Follow employer risk-management policies and procedures.


• Remain DRUG-free and ALCOHOL-free in the workplace.

See also ACCIDENTAL INJURIES; BUILDING-RELATED
ILLNESS; OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY; REPETITIVE
MOTION INJURIES; SICK BUILDING SYNDROME; TRAUMA
PREVENTION; WORKPLACE STRESS.

personal health history An ongoing record of an
individual’s health conditions including vaccina-
tions, illnesses, injuries, operations, pregnancies
and births, medications, and other information
that might be relevant in the context of providing
health-care services. A personal health history also
helps determine future health risks and appropri-
ate treatment options.
A personal health history might include these
events (including dates)

• vaccinations, routine medical examinations,
  and routine diagnostic procedures such as MAM-
  MOGRAM, PAP TEST, blood cholesterol test, tuber-
  culin SKINtest, COLONOSCOPY


• common childhood diseases such as MEASLES,
  MUMPS, RUBELLA, CHICKENPOX


• uncommon childhood diseases such as SCARLET
  FEVER, rheumatic FEVER
  
  
  • congenital anomalies,BIRTH DEFECTS, and con-
    genital disorders (such asCEREBRAL PALSY), or
    GENETIC DISORDERS(such asSICKLE CELL ANEMIAor
    HEMOPHILIA)
  
  
  • serious injuries such as BONE FRACTURE, CONCUS-
    SION, major trauma
  
  
  
  


• serious illnesses such as ENCEPHALITIS, MENINGITIS,
  ENDOCARDITIS, HEPATITIS, PANCREATITIS
  
  
  • surgeries (including TUBAL LIGATION or
    VASECTOMY)
  
  
  
  


• pregnancies, miscarriages, abortions, deliveries


• CONTRACEPTION, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
  (STDS)
  
  
  • DIABETES
  
  
  • CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE(CVD)
    
    
    • HEART ATTACKor STROKE
    
    
    • HYPERTENSION(high BLOOD PRESSURE)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• ANGINA PECTORIS


• ARRHYTHMIA


• PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE(PVD), CORO-
  NARY ARTERY DISEASE(CAD), or CORONARY
  ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT(CABG)


• HEART FAILUREor CARDIOMYOPATHY


• VALVULAR HEART DISEASEor valve replace-
  ment
  
  
  • pulmonary disease such as CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE
    PULMONARY DISEASE(COPD) or EMPHYSEMA
  
  
  • gastrointestinal disorders such as INFLAMMATORY
    BOWEL DISEASE(IBD), GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX
    DISORDER(GERD), PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
  
  
  • CANCER(including SKIN CANCER)
  
  
  
  


• neurologic conditions such as PARKINSON’S DIS-
  EASEor psychiatric conditions such as SCHIZO-
  PHRENIAor BIPOLAR DISORDER
  
  
  • chronic health conditions
    
    
    • infections such as OTITISmedia, SINUSITIS,
      BRONCHITIS, CYSTITIS
    
    
    • OSTEOARTHRITIS, ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS,
      GOUT
    
    
    • thyroid disease such asHYPOTHYROIDISM,
      GOITER, or HYPERTHYROIDISM
    
    
    • DEPRESSIONor GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISOR-
      DER(GAD)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• medications (including OVER-THE-COUNTER[OTC]
  DRUGSand herbal remedies)

40 Preventive Medicine