Occupational health services for workers in the heat

Summer outdoor health hazards

This is the time of year when occupational health services are essential; because outdoor workers are exposed to various types of hazards that depend on their type of work, geographic region, and length of time that they are outside. Outdoor workers hold numerous occupations such as farmers, foresters, landscapers, groundskeepers, painters, roofers, pavers, construction workers, mechanics; lot attendants or any worker who spends time outside. It is important that employers train outdoor workers about workplace hazards, and that they provide health services that will help workers to prevent and control their exposures.

Physical hazards of outdoor workers

Outdoor workers are constantly exposed to the elements that may include:

• extreme heat
• extreme cold
• lightning
• ultraviolet (UV) rays

Outdoor heat conditions can cause heat stroke, cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rash, and other problems. Workers in extreme cold face threats from hypothermia and frostbite. Extended exposure to loud noise can cause gradual hearing loss, a change in hearing, or tinnitus. Lightning kills close to 100 workers in the United States each year, and leaves hundreds more with temporary or permanent injuries. It is well documented how UV radiation can cause problems such as sunburn and skin cancer.

Maintain a healthy workforce with Occupational Health Services

With more than 27years of experience and expert clinicians in occupational health, Medical Access is focused on helping keep your workforce healthy and productive. In addition, we provide services through our highly convenient, walk-in location in Germantown, MD. From drug screenings to wellness programs, Medical Access offers a wide range of occupational health services to support employers in maintaining a healthy, safe workforce, while reducing the costs of health care for your company and your employees.

The causes of workplace asthma

Occupational asthma

Occupational health clinics are on the front line of detecting and treating occupational asthma. One of the most common examples of occupational asthma would be when health care workers develop an allergy to latex gloves after inhaling the powdered proteins from the inner lining of the gloves. Workers in the petro chemical or paper mill industries frequently develop symptoms of asthma after continual exposure to chemical emissions in the workplace or plant. There are countless substances that are used in numerous industries that can cause occupational asthma including:

• Chemicals
• Adhesives
• Paints and lacquers
• plastics
•  carpeting
• Insulation
• dyes
• Animal hair and dander
• Grains
• Cotton, flax, and hemp dust
• Metals such as platinum, nickel sulfate, and welding fumes

Diagnosing occupational asthma

Your doctor will focus on identifying the specific workplace irritant(s) that causes your symptoms.

An asthma diagnosis will be ruled out or confirmed by tests that may include a pulmonary function test and an allergy skin prick test. He or she may order blood tests, chest X-rays, spirometry, Nitric oxide test, or other tests to determine if you have occupational asthma.

Occupational medicine for Germantown, MD

Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care for occupational health services. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs. Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. In addition to these qualifications, she is also a Civil Surgeon and Medical Review Officer. This designation is granted by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, making Medical Access one of the select facilities for immigration physicals. Call them today or simply drop in, as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for any occupational health issues.

The benefits of occupational health services for your business

Occupational medicine for any size business

The Occupational Health Services provided by Medical Access Urgent Care provides comprehensive occupational medical services to employers and businesses of every size throughout the Germantown area.

Occupational medicine that keeps employees productive

Medical Access urgent care clinics offer a full range of occupational medicine services for your business. The primary focus is on keeping your employees healthy, and when they are sick or injured, providing the treatment that they need to get back to full productivity as soon as possible. We can establish or assist with the workman’s compensation process should they experience a work-related injury. Consider the many services and procedures available through our occupational health services:

• On site drug screens
• Breath and blood alcohol testing
• Hearing loss evaluations
• Respiratory fitness evaluations
• Pre-employment exams
• DOT certification exams
• Strong return to work philosophy
• Fit for duty examinations
• Designated worker’s comp program

Convenient, occupational medicine for Germantown, MD

We all want the best for our employees, especially when it comes to healthcare and preventive medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff is trained to carefully and quickly assess patient needs and provide the appropriate services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. In addition to these qualifications, she is also a Civil Surgeon and Medical Review Officer. This designation is granted by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, making Medical Access one of the select facilities for immigration physicals. Call them today or simply drop in, as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for occupational health services or any non life-threatening health issues.

Occupational health services can reduce stress on the job

Occupational medicine and stress

One of the functions of occupational health services is to help employees manage and deal with stress on the job. It has been well documented that:

1. Work related stress can make you sick and even take years off your life. 

2. Chronic and unresolved stress can wreak havoc on your heart and body.

A widespread misperception is that stress is always associated with a specific job or task, but the situation is typically much deeper than the job itself. Much of the stress on the job and in our lives comes from our reaction to particular situations or relationships. In other words, stress can be the result of:

1. your interaction with co-workers

2. the amount or lack of control you possess

3. conflict between your job and your personal life

Job stress can affect your heart

Job stress can be extreme because our job performance and outcomes are tied so closely with our financial survival. Stress can be caused by something as simple as our reaction to equipment failure, or it can be chronic and looming like the fear of being laid off. Different levels of stress affect your mind and body in different ways. For most people, stress does not stay at the home or office when you leave. Workplace stress can lead to long-term health issues.

Maintain a healthy workforce with Occupational Health Services

With more than 27years of experience and expert clinicians in occupational health, Medical Access is focused on helping keep your workforce healthy and productive. In addition, we provide services through our highly convenient, walk-in location in Germantown, MD. From drug screenings to wellness programs, Medical Access offers a wide range of occupational health services to support employers in maintaining a healthy, safe workforce, while reducing the costs of health care for your company and your employees.