Impact of exposure to hazardous substances on occupational disease risk across industries

Occupational exposure to hazardous substances refers to the contact workers have with potentially harmful chemicals, biological agents, or physical hazards in their workplace, leading to various health effects and diseases. This review aimed to evaluate the impact of exposure to hazardous substances on occupational disease risks across various industries. A detailed literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, applying Boolean operators to refine search terms. The inclusion criteria for the study were articles published within 15 years, which had specific findings on the direct link between exposure to these occupational hazardous substances and the development of occupational diseases. 10 peer-reviewed articles were used for the study. The findings from the study present major occupational health risks across various industries, ranging from the manufacturing industry, the steel and power industry, the healthcare industry, and other industries analyzed. The highest occupational risks were observed in the steel and power industry, as their experiences at the workplace can lead to severe physical strain, high injury rates, heat stress, electric shocks, and exposure to airborne pollutants. However, the occupation with the least occupational risk from these findings would be the health care industry. While healthcare workers face chemical exposures, respiratory issues, and skin disorders, they generally work in controlled environments with better regulatory oversight and access to protective measures. Therefore, this review emphasizes the need for workplace interventions, occupational safety and health management systems workplace interventions, and stringent regulations to safeguard worker health and prevent disease.