Section A Questions Deck 6 Flashcards
(a) Outline the meaning of the term ‘vocational rehabilitation’. (2)
(b) Outline the benefits to the employer of vocational rehabilitation. (5)
(c) Identify health care practitioners who may be involved in the vocational rehabilitation of a worker. (3)
(a) Vocational rehabilitation is the process of returning a worker back to meaningful work as a way of aiding their recovery and return to health following a period of physical or mental ill-health. It can also be a way of improving the health of an individual through getting them into work and keeping them in work.
(b) benefits include:
- reduced sickness absence costs,
- improved productivity,
- retention of skilled employees,
- improved staff morale
- compliance with the Equality Act 2010.
(c)
- health care practitioners involved in VR:
- occupational physicians and occupational nurses,
- counselors
- occupational therapists.
Personal dust monitoring has been carried out on five workers who all work in the same factory area where dust is released. The five workers were sampled at the same time and for an equal duration. Four of the results were similar but the fifth was significantly higher.
Outline the possible reasons for this difference. (10)
the working environment and the tasks being performed.
those resulting from possible failures with the monitoring equipment and those connected with the individual employee.
In considering the working environment, there could have been areas in the workplace that was not as well ventilated as others with possible problems with the local exhaust ventilation provided.
As for the monitoring equipment for the individual concerned, there could have been errors in the calibration of the pump flow, in the timing of the air measurement, in the selection of the filter, and in weighing the filter at the end of the exercise either because of a misreading or because different and possibly uncalibrated scales were used for the rogue sample.
The individual, too, could have had a part to play if they had been particularly involved in the more dusty operations, had taken fewer or shorter breaks than the other operators and had not taken sufficient care with personal hygiene, and had continued to wear dusty overalls for long periods.
Finally, the possibility of deliberate sabotage could not be discounted.
A catalogue distribution company employs drivers, warehouse staff, and office staff to process telephone and internet orders.
Identify the functions of the distribution company’s occupational health
department when:
(a) recruiting new workers; (5)
(b) a worker returns to work after ill-health. (5)
(a) When new employees commence employment the occupational health department would have an important part to play in carrying out the screening of the employees and reviewing their health history so that they might be able to advise management on their suitability for the work for which they have been chosen.
They would need to check the fitness and ability of potential warehouse staff to undertake manual handling tasks, check the eyesight of drivers whether on road or internal vehicles, and also screen them for evidence of the possible misuse of alcohol or other substances.
Additionally, it would be important to carry out eyesight tests on those who would be employed in the office to use display screen equipment.
(b) As for those employees preparing to return to work after a period of ill-health, an assessment of their current health condition would enable recommendations to be made to management on whether the return should be phased or whether the employee should be redeployed on other or lighter duties.
This would necessitate liaison with the employee’s GP and responding to the requirements of a fit note.
There would also be occasions when counseling would be necessary and making
arrangements for or even providing rehabilitation treatment in-house.
Outline the possible functions of an occupational health service within a large manufacturing organisation. (10)
The possible functions of an occupational health service that could have been outlined
include pre-employment health screening or other medical examinations (for example, of
employees returning to work following accidents or of those such as transport drivers whose work demands particular physical competencies), biological monitoring and health surveillance.
The service would also very likely have a role in contributing to health and safety policies, providing specialist input to risk assessments and health education and training programmes, carrying out sickness and absence monitoring and keeping health
records, managing first-aid provision, implementing rehabilitation programmes and liaising with other professionals such as local GPs and HSE/EMAS.
Other possible functions, depending on the organisation and its activities, might include immunisation, drug and alcohol screening and involvement with environmental monitoring programmes.
Workers driving vehicles on a large construction site have reported back pain caused by exposure to whole body vibration (WBV).
(a) Outline control measures that could minimise their exposure to WBV. (7)
(b) Outline other possible work-related causes of the back pain being experienced by these workers. (3)
(a)
- Vehicle selection (power, stability, suitability for terrain) so as to minimise levels of vibration and ensure compliance with requirements in CoVaWR 05 - ref to exposure action / limit values;
- provide designated routes avoiding rough / uneven surfaces where practical;
- maintenance, such as vehicle suspension or seat suspension.
- regular road / surface maintenance;
- ensure padded, spring mounted seat, adjustable for weight / size of driver and with adequate back support;
- job rotation / breaks / task variation, breaks from driving could minimise WBV.
- training / information on hazards / health effects / control measures required - eg speeds / driving style etc; supervision.
(b)
- Poor posture / driving position / badly adjusted seat position;
- ergonomic issues - poor design/layout of controls / obstructed visibility resulting in repeated stretching, bending, twisting etc;
- lifting heavy tools and equipment / attachments;
- repeated climbing into / jumping out of cab.
The use of hand-held power tools results in workers being exposed to hand-arm vibration (HAV).
Outline what should be considered when conducting a risk assessment for exposure to HAV. (10)
Technical control measures would start with the consideration of alternative work methods to eliminate the task, but if this was not practicable, to automating or mechanising the work;
avoiding tools that are too small and not powerful enough since these prolong the task and of course the exposure;
replacing the equipment with a lower vibration model and introducing a system of regular maintenance to ensure vibration was kept to its designed level.
Organisational control measures would include ensuring the organisation’s purchasing policy takes account of vibration emissions (as well as other requirements);
changing work station design to minimise loads on hands, wrists and arms, for instance by the use of jigs or suspension systems to grip heavy tools;
planning work schedules to limit time of exposure to vibration;
providing warm clothing and a warm environment to encourage good blood circulation;
referring those experiencing early symptoms to the occupational health department;
having a surveillance programme in place and
finally ensuring that employees receive adequate information and training on the risks associated with the process, the symptoms of the syndrome and the control measures that should be followed
A company has decided to close its offices and allow its 30 workers to
work from home. The company will provide each worker with their own
portable (laptop) computer for use at home and on their daily visits to
customers.
Outline factors to consider when selecting and using these laptops to
minimise ergonomic risks. (10)
When selecting a laptop for use on the move, major considerations are:
- The initial selection and purchase of the equipment is of prime importance if the computer is to be used on the move where consideration would need to be given to the provision of as
- large a screen as possible in order to prevent eye strain.
- To the weight of the equipment which should be as small as possible.
- To the provision of light weight carrying cases or trolleys and to the provision of friction pads to stop the computer slipping during use.
- During home use consideration would have to be given to the provision of a separate mouse and keyboard and a separate screen or docking station as well as the provision of other workstation equipment such as a chair and desk.
- Other factors which would have to be considered would be the involvement of the users in the selection of the equipment.
- revising the DSE and manual handling risk assessments to reflect the new mode of working
- and providing training on the use of the portable machines with reference to carrying out risk assessments on workstations created at home or on the move; on
- minimising the ergonomic risks associated with correct set-up and use, for example on the importance of taking regular breaks and on minimising the manual handling risks associated with carrying the laptop.
Outline what an employer should consider when carrying out an assessment to determine the first-aid provision needed in the workplace. (10)
(a)
- The nature of the work and workplace hazards and risks.
- The general risk assessment is useful in assessing first-aid needs.
- Understanding the nature of an accident or injury if preventive or control measures fail can help in determining the necessary first-aid provision.
- The size of the organization. A larger workforce generally has a greater the need for first-aid provision.
- The actual provision should be determined by the risk assessment and assessment of needs.
- The nature of the workforce.
- Consideration should be given to the needs of young workers, trainees, pregnant workers and employees with disabilities or particular health problems.
- The organisation’s history of accidents. In large or multi-site organisations historical accident data may be useful in determining where first-aiders should be located, what area they should be responsible for and what first-aid equipment is necessary
- The needs of travelling, remote and lone workers. The assessment should determine the need for the following:
- Personal first-aid kit.
- Personal communicators or mobile phone to call for assistance.
- Additional training.
- Work patterns.
- Sufficient provision should always be available when employees are at work.
- Separate arrangements may be required for each shift, and for ‘out of hours’ working.
- The distribution of the workforce. On a site with more than one building, if the travel distance between buildings is unreasonable, separate first- aid provision may be required in each building.
- Numbers and locations of first-aiders or appointed persons in a multi-storey building should give adequate provision to employees on each floor.
- The remoteness of the site from emergency medical services. Where a site is remote from emergency medical services, special transport arrangements may be required.
- The emergency services should be informed in writing of the location of remote sites and any circumstances, including specific hazards.
- Employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites.
- On a shared or multi-occupied site, employers can arrange for one employee to take responsibility for providing first-aid cover for all the workers.
- Annual leave and other absences of first-aiders and appointed persons.
- Adequate arrangements for covering both planned absences (for example: annual leave) and unplanned absences (for example: sickness) of first-aiders and appointed person should be made.
- First-aid provision for non-employees.
- There is no requirement for employers to provide first-aid for anyone other than their own employees. However, it is strongly recommended that employers include non-employees in their assessment of first aid needs and make provision for them.
Assembling components on a production line can cause workers to
develop work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs).
(a) Identify the ill-health conditions associated with WRULDs. (2)
(b) Outline control measures that could reduce the risk of workers
developing WRULDs. (8)
(a) Work-related neck and upper limb disorders (WRULDs) are the commonest occupational diseases in Europe. They affect the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, and fingers, causing pain, discomfort, numbness, and tingling sensations.
Ill-health conditions such as tenosynovitis, tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are associated with WRULDs.
(b)
The most effective ways to avoid or reduce the risks are:
consider the risks when designing new workstations or planning new tasks so that the risks can be planned out - it is cheaper than changing them later
eliminate part or all the task using, for example, automation or powered tools
If you cannot eliminate the risk:
focus first on reducing the risk of the higher-risk activities or those that affect most workers
make sure tools and equipment fit the workers’ hands and are suitable for the task
make sure workstations are at a suitable height for comfortable working (and that suitable chairs and footrests are provided). Consider adjustable workstations
change the workstation layout to improve the posture of the workers, particularly when they are applying force
reduce the amount of force, vibration, repetition and prolonged fixed postures
reduce the length of time that operators do the same task, allowing regular changes in posture
improve the working environment (cold temperatures and draughts can contribute to discomfort)
Test any changes on one or two workers before making changes for everyone and monitor regularly to make sure your controls are working.
If a task is causing or contributing to a ULD, the worker may need to stop doing that task for a while. Temporary modified duties could help them recover.
