Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Practice Test

Which disease is commonly associated with divers and tunnel workers?

1. Legionnaire's Disease

2. Caisson Disease

3. Silicosis

4. Asbestosis

The correct answer is: Caisson Disease

The correct choice is associated with the specific conditions experienced by divers and tunnel workers due to the high-pressure environments in which they operate. Caisson disease, also known as decompression sickness, occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in the bloodstream and tissues due to rapid decompression after being exposed to high pressure. Divers and tunnel workers are often subjected to significant changes in pressure, especially when they work underwater or in deep excavations, which makes them vulnerable to this condition. Proper decompression protocols are crucial to prevent caisson disease, making it a key concern in the health and safety management of these workers. While Legionnaire's disease is linked to exposure to contaminated water, silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust, and asbestosis is a result of asbestos exposure, these conditions are not specifically associated with the unique hazards faced by divers and tunnel workers in the same way that caisson disease is. Each of the other diseases has distinct causative factors and prevalent environments that do not overlap with the typical exposures encountered in diving and tunnelling operations.