Element 5:- Physical and psychological hazards Flashcards
what’s Ergonomics?
study of the relationship between workers and their environment, work equipment and work task.
what’s WRULDs ?
Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
Causes of WRULDs
- Repetitive finger, hand or arm movements
- Twisting movements
- Squeezing
- Hammering
- Pushing, pulling or reaching movements
symptoms of WRULDs
- Numbness in fingers
- Pains in hands or arms
- Restriction of joint movement
- Soft tissue swelling
Factors to be considered during risk assessment
- Force exerted
- Frequency and duration of operation
- Repetition of movement without rest or recovery
- Posture
- Constraints on space
- Environment
Improve above plus:-
• Mechanise task
• Use correct tools and equipment
what’s (DSEs)
Display Screen Equipment
Health effects:
- Upper limb pains and discomfort
- Eye and eyesight effects
- Epilepsy
- Radiation effects on pregnant women
- Fatigue and stress
Workstation requirements:
- Adequate lighting
- Minimum noise
- Ample legroom
- Suitable screen at eye level
- Suitable softwear
- Keyboard
- Work surface
- Suitable work chair
- Footrest if necessary
Health effects of remaining seated for a long time:
- Vertebral and muscular damage
- High blood pressure
- Circulation problems
Suitable Seat for sedentary workers
- Good lumbar support
- Good width and depth
- Ability to adjust seat back and height
- Stable base
- Ability to swivel
- Provision of arm rests
Welfare and Environment issues:
-Welfare
- Sufficient toilets
- Washing facilities
- Eating and changing facilities
- Clothing storage
- Seating
- Rest areas
- Arrangements for non-smokers
Welfare and Environment issues:
- Working environment
- Temperature
- Ventilation
- Lighting
- Room dimensions
- Suitable work stations and seating
- Weather protection for outdoor workstations
Welfare and Environment issues:
-Health effects of poor lighting
- Eye strain
- Headaches
- Poor posture
- Tripping over unseen objects
- Increased likelihood of human error
- Increased time to vacate work area
Factors to consider when assessing adequacy of lighting:
- The tasks being undertaking
- The size and layout of the work area
- The equipment used
- Availability of natural light
- Shift times/work patterns
- Suitable number of artificial light
- Contrast levels
- Glare
- Areas in shadow
- Need for localised lighting
- Maintenance of lighting
- Adequate emergency lighting
Noise terminology- WHAT IS:
- FREQUENCY
- INTENSITY
- DECIBEL
- ‘A’ WEIGHTING
Frequency:- The number of wave fronts assign a point in one second measured in Hertz
Intensity:- The loudness of the noise
Decibel:- The sound pressure level
“A” Weighting:- A filter in the noise meter that equates the noise to how the human ear perceives the noise
ACUTE HEARING DAMAGE
Stress
Temporary threshold shift
Temporary tinnitus
Blast deafness
CHRONIC HEARING DAMAGE
Noise induced hearing loss
Permanent threshold shift
Permanent tinnitus
Prebyacusis
Noise Control:
-Source
- Design
- Damping
- Isolate
- Maintenance
Noise Control:
-Path
- Screens and barriers
- Enclosure
- Absorption
- Silencer
NOISE CONTROL:
-The Person
- Distance
• Time exposed
• Information and training
Limitations on Personal Hearing Protection
- Not worn correctly
- Not fitted correctly
- Not properly maintained
- Uncomfortable or inconvenient to wear
- Needs constant management commitment
- May introduce secondary risks
Hand-Arm Vibration:
-Health Effects
- Tingling in the hands and extremities
- Numbness and blanching of the fingers
- Swollen painful joints
- Reduction in manual dexterity
- Reduction in the sensation of touch
hand-arm vibration:
- Elimination
- Reduce the degree of vibration
- Select low vibration equipment
- Select ergonomically designed equipment
- Maintenance of equipment
- Reduce grip and push force with work equipment
- Reduce the time workers exposed
- Introduce health surveillance
- Gloves and heated pads
- Information and training on the nature of risks
Work in a Hot Environment: Health effects :
- Skin burns
- Cataracts
- Dehydration
- Heat cramps
- Headaches
- Fainting
