Old IB11 & Jan 2011 adapted 2.0 Flashcards
A catalogue distribution company employs 300 employees as drivers, warehouse operatives and office staff, processing telephone and internet orders.
Identify the possible functions of this company’s occupational health department:
(a) When recruiting new employees. (5)
1) Pre-employment screening
2) Warehouse staff - manual handling
3) Drivers - fit to drive - eye-sight assessed
4) Forklift truck drivers - fit to drive
5) Office work - eyesight checks
6) Drugs/alcohol testing - drivers
7) Initial DSE workstation assessment for DSE users
A catalogue distribution company employs 300 employees as drivers, warehouse operatives and office staff, processing telephone and internet orders.
Identify the possible functions of this company’s occupational health department:
(b) When an employee returns to work after ill health. (5)
1) Return-to-work health assessments
2) Initial return-to-work (RTW) interviews
3) Suitable light duties for workers
4) Provision of support such as rehabilitation services to aid the RTW of employees (eg physiotherapy)
5) Provision of counselling to people whose absence was associated with stress or psychological trauma
A food manufacturer employs 450 people undertaking various tasks, including production, warehousing, delivery and administration. There are significant risks to workers from noise, manual handling, ergonomic issues and pressure of work. There are also high levels of sickness absence.
(a) Outline the possible benefits, composition, role and functions of an occupational health service for this organisation. (12)
PT1
Benefits
1) legal compliance (where health surveillance is required)
2) better management of sickness absence (potential financial savings - reduce absence, improve health, increase productivity, reduce claims)
3) expert contributing to risk assessments
4) Access to specialist (and perceived as independent) occupational health advice
(a) Outline the possible benefits, composition, role and functions of an occupational health service for this organisation. (12)
PT2
Composition
1) Depend on available resources
2) part time occupational health physician
3) full time OH nurse (first aiders).
4) access to a physiotherapist
5) part time or access to occupational hygienist
6) access to trained counsellors
7) access to an ergonomist (could be OH nurse)
(a) Outline the possible benefits, composition, role and functions of an occupational health service for this organisation. (12)
PT3
Role
1) minimise impact
2) maximise efficiency
(a) Outline the possible benefits, composition, role and functions of an occupational health service for this organisation. (12)
PT4
Functions
1) development 2) pre-employment 3) specialist 4) managing 5) management 6) biological 7) health 8) sickness 9) liaising 10) return-to-work 11) surveillance 12) counselling 13) keeping
(b) Explain the contribution that an occupational health specialist might make in addressing the issues of stress, manual handling, ergonomics and noise. (8)
PT1
Stress
1) rehabilitation of workers after stress related absence
2) counselling for staff undergoing psychological stress or trauma
3) risk assessments of high risk occupations or high risk individuals
4) assessing the adequacy of controls
(b) Explain the contribution that an occupational health specialist might make in addressing the issues of stress, manual handling, ergonomics and noise. (8)
PT2
Manual handling/Ergonomics
1) risk assessment of MH tasks, Erg (DSE)
2) identifying appropriate control
3) assessment of physical ability
4) eyesight screening
5) rehabilitation following physical injury or ill-health
(b) Explain the contribution that an occupational health specialist might make in addressing the issues of stress, manual handling, ergonomics and noise. (8)
PT3
Noise
1) noise risk assessment
2) noise surveys
3) identification of suitable controls
4) audiometry of at-risk staff
5) training for staff on use of controls (PPE)
A small engineering company operates a number of noisy machines which are located in an open plan workshop. Following a noise survey the company discovers that their employees are being exposed to noise levels above the Upper Exposure Action Value of 85dB(A) LEP,d.
Describe the range of technical control measures that could be introduced to reduce the employees’ exposure to noise. (10)
PT1
Source
1) replacing older and noisier equipment with machines that emitted lower levels of noise
2) reducing the speed of the machines
3) mounting the noisy equipment on rubber strips or dampers
4) applying damping to metal panels on machines;
5) fitting silencers on exhausts and metal ducting and ensuring the machinery was maintained on a regular basis
Describe the range of technical control measures that could be introduced to reduce the employees’ exposure to noise. (10)
PT2
Transmission
1) provision of a noise enclosure of suitable noise
attenuating material around the main sources of noise
2) placing acoustic screens around noisy equipment
3) lining the walls and floor of the workshop with acoustically absorbing material
Describe the range of technical control measures that could be introduced to reduce the employees’ exposure to noise. (10)
PT3
Receiver
1) reduced by isolating the more noisy equipment in another area of the workshop and introducing automation and creating a noise haven for the employees
2) As a very last resort, the additional use of hearing protection might have to be considered.
(a) Identify the hazard classification system for lasers (2)
lasers are defined in BS EN standard – BS EN 60825-1:2014. The classifications are based on accessible emission levels with the power of the lasers measured in milliwatts (mW). There are seven different classifications – 1, 1M, 2, 2M, 3B, 3R, and 4
Class 1 - safe in foreseeable use (lowest hazard level)
Class 4 - high powered devices (greatest hazard level)
(b) Low power lasers are widely used to read bar-code labelled products at checkouts in retail premises.
Outline:
(i) the design features; (4)
that should be in place for the safe operation and maintenance of this equipment.
Design features
1) the laser having no greater power than Class 1
2) the use of embedded or enclosed systems
3) the fitting of a protective housing
4) trigger operation on hand held versions
5) incorporating a key control with interlock to the power source
6) the use of suitable signage
7) the appropriate positioning of the laser, including hand-held equipment, to avoid eye-level exposure
(b) Low power lasers are widely used to read bar-code labelled products at checkouts in retail premises.
Outline:
(ii) the procedural controls (4)
that should be in place for the safe operation and maintenance of this equipment.
Procedural controls
1) strict observance of the manufacturer’s guidance
2) training workers in the safe use of the equipment for example warning them that they should not look directly into the beam
3) a safe system of work for the maintenance and repair of the equipment
4) ensuring that if the case is to be removed, it requires a special key or tool and that the beam is properly controlled
5) procedure for reporting defects
6) ensuring that any maintenance and repair of the equipment is carried out by a competent person.
WEL
TWA
APF
RPE
Workplace Exposure Limit Time-Weighted Average Assigned Protection Factor (is the concentration of contaminant in the air divided by the maximum allowed concentration in the face piece) Respiratory Protective Equipment