Section A Questions Deck 7 Flashcards
Workers have complained that the washing facilities in the workplace are inadequate and do not comply with the International Labour Standards.
Outline practical arrangements that need to be in place for washing facilities to be considered ‘suitable and sufficient. (10)
Suitable and sufficient washing facilities must be provided at readily accessible places in the Workplace. These facilities must include showers if required for health reasons by the nature of the work.
Locations
Whether or not they are also provided elsewhere, washing facilities must be provided:
- in the immediate vicinity of every toilet; and
- in the vicinity of any changing rooms provided for users of special work clothing.
Content of Facilities
Washing facilities must include:
- a supply of clean hot and cold water which must, so far as is reasonably practicable, be running water.
- soap or other suitable means of cleaning.
- towels or other suitable means of drying.
- At remote or temporary work sites without running water, sufficient water in containers for personal hygiene should be provided.
Condition of Facilities
- Rooms with washing facilities must be sufficiently ventilated and lit.
- Facilities should provide adequate protection from the weather.
- Washing facilities and the rooms containing them must be kept in a clean and orderly condition.
Personal Considerations
- Separate washing facilities must be provided for men and women except where:
- they are in a room intended for use by one person at a time which has a door that can be secured from the inside: or
- they are provided for washing the hand, forearms, and face only.
Number of Facilities
The minimum number of washing stations depends on the number of people at work:
one for up to 5;
two for up to 25;
three for up to 50;
four for up to 75;
five for up to 100.
Special provisions should be made for any workers with disabilities.
Shared Facilities
Where arrangements exist to use facilities provided by someone else, such as a landlord, the employer must ensure the requirements as regards facilities and numbers are met.
The most widely used and accepted index for the assessment of heat stress in industry is the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index.
(a) Identify the measurements that need to be taken to determine
the WBGT index. (3)
(b) Outline the principle of operation of the instruments that should
be used to make the measurements. (7)
(c) A manufacturing process produces high levels of heat and steam.
Outline control measures that could help reduce heat stress among workers in this environment. (7)
(d) Outline the purpose of a heat stress index when assessing the thermal environment. (3)
Workers are exposed to high levels of heat and steam from a manufacturing process.
(a) Identify TWO parameters that could be measured when making an assessment of the thermal environment. (2)
(b) Outline ways of reducing thermal stress among workers during the manufacturing process. (8)
(a) measurements that would need to be taken include:
- the wet bulb temperature,
- the air or dry bulb temperature
- and the radiant or globe temperature.
(b) for the wet bulb temperature, a thermometer with the bulb wrapped in a wetted cloth or sock is used. The water evaporates from the bulb causing it to cool. The bulb cools to below the ambient temperature giving a measured wet bulb temperature.
Air temperature is measured using an alcohol/mercury or digital thermometer. The liquid in the tube expands as the temperature rises and a reading obtained from a marked scale or digital display.
A black globe thermometer is used to measure radiant temperature. A mercury filled thermometer is encased in a black painted copper sphere and the radiant heat is absorbed without being influenced by air currents.
(c) The risk of heat-related illnesses can be reduced by:
Engineering Controls
Engineering controls are the most effective means of reducing excessive heat exposure. The examples which follow illustrate some engineering approaches to reducing heat exposure.
Reducing Metabolic Heat Production (heat produced by the body): Automation and mechanization of tasks minimize the need for heavy physical work and the resulting build-up of body heat.
Reducing the Radiant Heat Emission from Hot Surfaces: Covering hot surfaces with sheets of low emissivity material such as aluminum or paint that reduces the amount of heat radiated from this hot surface into the workplace.
Insulating Hot Surfaces: Insulation reduces the heat exchange between the source of heat and the work environment.
Shielding: Shields stop radiated heat from reaching workstations. Two types of shields can be used. Stainless steel, aluminium or other bright metal surfaces reflect heat back towards the source. Absorbent shields, such as a water-cooled jackets made of black-surfaced aluminium, can effectively absorb and carry away heat.
Ventilation and Air Conditioning: Ventilation, localized air conditioning, and cooled observation booths are commonly used to provide cool workstations. Cooled observation booths allow workers to cool down after brief periods of intense heat exposure while still allowing them to monitor equipment.
Reducing the Humidity: Air conditioning, dehumidification, and elimination of open hot water baths, drains, and leaky steam valves help reduce humidity.
Administrative controls
Acclimatization Allow sufficient acclimatization period before full workload.
Duration of work Shorten exposure time and use frequent rest breaks.
Rest area Provide cool (air-conditioned) rest-areas.
Water Provide cool drinking water.
Pace of Work If practical, allow workers to set their own pace of work.
First aid and medical care Define emergency procedures. Assign one person trained in first aid to each work shift. Train workers in recognition of symptoms of heat exposure.
Clothing
Wear loose clothing that permits sweat evaporation but stops radiant heat. Use cooled protective clothing for extreme conditions.
(d) Heat stress indices provide tools for assessing hot environments and predicting likely thermal strain on the body. Limit values based upon heat stress indices will indicate when that strain is likely to become unacceptable.
(a) air temperature: This is the temperature of the air surrounding the body. It is usually given in degrees Celsius (°C)
radiant temperature: Thermal radiation is the heat that radiates from a warm object.
air velocity: This describes the speed of air moving across the employee and may help cool them if the air is cooler than the environment
humidity: If water is heated and it evaporates to the surrounding environment, the resulting amount of water in the air will provide humidity
(b) Same as C
Outline how the human body may defend itself against harmful chemical
substances. (10)
The Respiratory System Defences:
- nasal hairs which filter out larger particles ( >10µm)
- Coughing and sneezing, which result in the forceful ejection of inhaled substances.
- The Mucociliary escalator – Particles are trapped my mucous secreted by goblet cells lining the conducting airways (particles between 7 - 10µm); the mucous traps the particles and these are propelled towards the nose and throat by the mucociliary escalator, forming sputum which is either swallowed or expectorated (spit out)
- Macrophages – Specialised attacking white blood cells in the alveoli, where smaller particles and aerosols pass into the raspatory units where they are deposited. Macrophages destroy foreign particles by phagocytosis, the cell ingests the foreign particle, secretes enzymes onto it and then absorbs the digested remain.
Inflammatory response:
Inflammation is the means by which white blood cells (leucocytes) are called to the site of infection or injury.
The skin is a protective barrier that helps keep foreign chemicals out of the body, a waterproof barrier that secretes oil with bacteria-killing properties.
Ingestion: the mucous lining contains antibodies, and the acid in the stomach can kill most microbes, the body will also induce vomiting/diarrhoea to eject toxins.
Eye Contact: tear formation to wash out substances from the eyes
The body has several systems, most importantly the liver, kidneys and lungs, that change chemicals to a less toxic form (detoxify) and eliminate them
A contractor has been hired to examine the quality of a weld repair to a
metal pipe on a chemical plant. It has been decided that on-site
radiography, using either gamma or X-ray sources, is the only practical
option in this case.
Outline suitable measures to control the radiological risks from the
examination work. (10)
- shielding,
- personal dosimetry (Wearing a film badge to check the dose limit.)
- restricting access to the area
- Pre and post-employment medical tests.
- need for competent operators,
- competent advice (RPA) Radiation Protection advisors and
- enforcement of local rules (RPS). Radiation protection supervisor (Appointment)
- Control of exposure time and distance.
Animal testing is sometimes needed for classification purposes.
(a) Outline possible arguments against vertebrate animal testing. (6)
(b) Outline the alternatives that could be used instead of vertebrate animal testing. (4)
a)
- Responses vary between species, so the application to humans may be questionable.
- doses and experimental conditions are not typical of human exposures.
- Testing on animals clearly raises ethical questions and should be avoided where possible.
- Additionally, diseases like cancer may have a number of contributing factors (e.g. lifestyle)
- These studies may take a long time and be expensive.
- animal testing to be minimised (in accordance with REACH);
- tends to focus on a single substance – does not take account of mixed exposures, lifestyle factors and synergistic effects.
(b) In-Vitro Studies
Toxicology tests that can be done in vitro (this means in a test tube, or on a petri dish) rather than in vivo (in a living animal) have the advantage of being relatively quick and cheap.
Predictive studies
One of the methods used to attempt to predict the possible toxic properties of a substance is to assume that chemically related substances will show similarities in toxic properties. This type of study – making use of known information about a related, similar chemical – where the way that the known chemical interacts with human metabolism, is well understood. The similarities are used to make predictions about the toxicity of the new substance. These predictions then have to be tested in vitro or in vivo to ensure they are correct. This can eliminate or significantly reduce the need for animal testing.
An alternative is to use a predictive method that models the structure of the chemical in question and attempts to predict molecular shape, bonds, activity, and how the chemical will interact with human biochemistry. This type of study method, known as QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship), makes use of computer-based modeling of the three-dimensional structure of the chemical to make predictions about the toxicity and the dose/response relationship.
QSAR is quicker and cheaper than most forms of vivo testing and epidemiological study.
A training organisation wants to introduce hand-held laser pointers for use by their trainers when presenting courses to students.
Recent media reports suggest that some hand-held laser pointers can contain Class 3B or Class 4 lasers.
(a) Identify potential eye damage that could result from exposure to lasers with these classifications. (3)
(b) Outline control measures that could help reduce the potential for eye damage to the trainers and students. (7)
(a)
- They can cause burns to the retina.
- Temporary loss of vision
- Permanent damage to the eyes
(b)
- training should be provided on the safe use of lasers, which should include but not be limited to the different classes of lasers and which are suitable for the task intended for, safety precautions such as not pointing the lasers directly at students, etc.
- Class 3B (and 4) lasers are too powerful to be used as pointers. Some Class 3B (and 4) lasers may look like pointers, but these should not be used for pointing. Use of Class 2 (less than 1 mW) or Class 3R (less than 5 mW) laser for pointing purposes.
- not pointing lasers directly at students, as damage to the eyes and in some cases, the skin can occur.
- avoidance of reflective surfaces such as mirrors, glass, and shiny surfaces can be just as hazardous as the direct beam
- and the importance of securing lasers from student use, by having a secure place to store the lasers when not in use.
(a) Give the meaning of ‘work-related stress’. (1)
(b) Identify potential signs that a worker could be stressed. (3)
(c) Outline control measures that could help manage work-related stress in an organisation. (6)
(a) Work-related stress is the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities and which challenge their ability to cope.
(b) Signs that could indicate that a worker could be stressed are:
- Regular absence and a higher sickness rate
- Poor timekeeping,
- Irritability or outbursts of anger
- mood swings
- decreased performance
(c) the six Management Standards should be addressed in order to control work-related stress though there are various legs to each of the management standards some of the controls would include:
Demands –
the organisation provides employees with adequate and achievable demands in relation to the agreed hours of work.
Control –
employees are encouraged to use their skills and initiative to do their work and where possible, employees are encouraged to develop new skills to help them undertake new and challenging pieces of work.
support –
the organisation has policies and procedures to adequately support employees with systems in place to enable and encourage managers to support their staff
relationships –
the organisation has agreed policies and procedures to prevent or resolve unacceptable behaviour.
role –
the organisation ensures that, as far as possible, the different requirements it places upon employees are compatible and the organisation provides information to enable employees to understand their role and responsibilities
change –
the organisation provides employees with timely information to enable them to understand the reasons for proposed changes
Glass blowers use furnaces to produce molten glass that they then blow into shapes to make glasses and vases. During their work they are exposed to different types of non-ionising optical radiation.
(a) Identify the possible ill-health effects to the glass blowers from exposure to the non-ionising optical radiation. (3)
(b) Describe the specific requirements of the personal protective equipment that would be required to protect the glass blowers from the non-ionising optical radiation. (3)
(c) Other than ill-health effects and control measures, outline what should be considered in a radiation risk assessment. (4)
(a)
- Prolonged exposure is known to cause skin cancers
- It also causes premature aging and can cause eye damage such as inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva as well as cataracts.
(b)
- signposting that long-sleeved clothing should be worn to protect against ultraviolet radiation
- leather gloves or gauntlets to protect the skin from infrared radiation
- goggles or face shields to protect the eyes.
(c)
A radiation risk assessment should include consideration of:
- the level of radiation to which the worker is going to be exposed,
- comparison with any applicable exposure limits or values,
- the duration of exposure
- and how to protect particularly vulnerable groups.
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identifies six stress Management Standards, one of which is Change. The requirement of this standard is that ‘Employees indicate that the organisation engages them frequently when undergoing an organisational change’.
(a) An organisation is about to undergo a significant change.
Outline steps the organisation could take to help reduce the risk of workers suffering from work-related stress as a result of this change. (6)
(b) Identify TWO other HSE stress Management Standards AND give the requirement for EACH. (4)
(a)
- the organisation provides employees with timely information to enable them to understand the reasons for proposed changes
- the organisation ensures adequate employee consultation on changes and provides opportunities for employees to influence proposals
- employees are aware of the probable impact of any changes to their jobs. If necessary, employees are given training to support any changes in their jobs
- employees are aware of timetables for changes
- employees have access to relevant support during changes
(b) Demands - employees indicate that they are able to cope with the demands of their jobs
Control - employees indicate that they are able to have a say about the way they do their work
Support – employees indicate that they receive adequate information and support from their colleagues and superiors
Relationships – employees indicate that they are not subjected to unacceptable behaviors, for example, bullying at work
Role - employees indicate that they understand their role and responsibilities
Workers are required to pick up small pasta pieces from a delivery conveyor and transfer them to foil trays on a separate conveyor during the production of pre-prepared pasta dishes. This work is carried out standing in front of the conveyors for an 8-hour shift. An ergonomic risk assessment is to be carried out.
(a) Outline the ergonomic risk factors to be considered in this assessment. (5)
(b) A number of workers have complained about pains in their arms, shoulders and back.
Other than automation outline control measures that could help reduce the ergonomic risks these workers are exposed to. (5)
(a)
- repetitiveness from picking up pasta and putting it in trays,
- duration of work over an 8-hour shift
- posture being static for long periods and
- involving stooping, bending, and twisting
- Standing for an 8 hour shift.
(b)
- conveyor speed control,
- re-positioning the conveyors
- the provision of suitable seating.
- suitable clothing for the hot or cold conditions
- the need for workers to change posture or carry out stretching on a regular basis.
