9.5 Physical Environment Flashcards
how can noise have negative effects?
-it can be annoying
-can interfere with communications
-mask warnings
-damage hearing
what can noise be thought of as?
any unwanted sound, especially loud, unpleasant and annoying
how can fumes create problems?
-cause breathing problems if inhaled
-eye irritation
what steps should be taken if noxious fumes are detected?
inform colleagues and supervisor so the area can be evacuated and steps taken to investigate the source and remove it
why is good illumination important?
as the cones of the retina requires good light to resolve fine detail and colour vision
increased mistakes or an increase in time taken to carry out task
what is the expectation of an engineer regarding climate and temperature?
that maintenance can be carried out without undue distraction
what happens if the climate and temperature deteriorate to an unacceptable level?
then maintenance should be suspended until conditions are satisfactory
how can environmental conditions affect physical performance?
affect fine motor skills, numb fingers, distraction through wind, working at height.
fatiguing both physically and mentally
how may motion impact an engineer?
motion may cause a distraction, by concentrating on the motion rather than the task
which frequency of vibration is the most problematic?
why?
0.5 to 20 hertz
as the body absorbs most of the vibratory energy
how is white finger syndrome induced?
vibration in the range of 50-150hz
what factors can affect an engineer’s physical environment? (3)
-cleanliness and layout of workplace
-proper provision and use of safety equipment
-storage and use of chemicals and fluids
what 3 components interact with each other in the working environment?
- engineers trained to perform tasks
- successful task execution requires a suitable physical environment
- unsuitable or unpleasant environment likely to be demotivating
