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
Work in a Hot Environment: -Control Measures / Precautions
- Medical pre-selection
- Acclimatisation
- Limit time of exposure
- Cold drinks
- PPE
Work in Cold Environment: Health effects & precautions
- Hypothermia
- Loss of concentration
- Shivering
- Frost bite
Precautions • Medical pre-selection • Acclimatisation • Limit time of exposure • Hot drinks • Insulated clothing
Radiation (Non-Ionising)
Type: Use in Industry:
- Infrared Heating and brazing
- Lasers Cutting, Bar code readers
- Microwaves Food preparation, Signal transmission
- Ultra-violet Welding
Health effects of Radiation (Non-Ionising):
- Burns
- Reddening of the skin
- Cataracts
- Arc eye
- Temporary sterility
Ionising Radiation: types + use
Type: Use in Industry:
- Alpha Smoke detectors
- Beta Thickness testing
- Gamma Non-Destructive testing
- X-Ray Medical
- Neutron By product nuclear fission
Ionising Radiation:
Acute effects from high dose: Chronic Effects:
-Reddening of the skin Cancers
-Radiation sickness, Nausea, Sterility
Vomiting, Diarrhoea
-Hair loss Hereditary defects
-Death Effects on unborn
children
radiation : Control Measures
- Time
- Distance
- Shielding
Others • PPE • Environmental and personal monitoring • Correct disposal of radiation materials • Good hygiene practices • Training and supervision
Violence at work:
Occupations at risk
- Taxi drivers
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Cash transactions
- Delivery/collection of money
Violence at work:
Control measures
- Training and information
- The environment
- Design of the job
- Communication
- Lone working
- Reporting and recording incidents
physical effects of stress
Headaches Dizziness Aching neck and shoulders Skin rashes Prone to infections Panic attacks Raised heart rate Increased blood pressure Heart disease Stomach ulcers
Psychological effects of stress:
Increased anxiety Reduced concentration Irritability Sudden mood changes Inability to cope Reduced work output Increased use of alcohol, etc Poor sleep patterns
Causes of Stress:
- Culture
- Demands
- Control
- Relationships
- Change
- Role
- Individual
- Environment
Control measures for stress:
- Selecting suitable employees
- Training
- Clearly defined roles
- Clearly work objectives
- Comfortable working environment
- Good lines of communication
- Realistic work schedules
- Employee involvement
- Grievance procedure
- Impartial investigation of stress
- Management support
