What occupational health assessments should be conducted for patients at risk of developing silicosis?

For patients at risk of developing silicosis, occupational health assessments should primarily involve pre-placement screening and ongoing worker surveillance (Vearrier and Greenberg, 2011).

Pre-placement screening is crucial to identify individuals who may be at increased risk due to pre-existing conditions before they begin work in environments with potential silica exposure (Vearrier and Greenberg, 2011). This type of assessment helps to ensure that workers are medically fit for the specific demands and hazards of their role (Vearrier and Greenberg, 2011).

Following initial screening, continuous worker surveillance is essential to monitor the health of individuals exposed to silica dust over time (Vearrier and Greenberg, 2011). This ongoing monitoring helps to detect early signs of health effects related to exposure and allows for timely intervention (Vearrier and Greenberg, 2011).