Title: Environmental Factors in workplace
1Environmental Factors in Industry
2- Ergonomics researchers have found
- Identifying the effect that the environment has
on mans psychological and physiological process. - Ensuring that work patterns, equipment and
machine interfaces are designed in such a way to
minimize the individual variations in
performance. - Ensuring that all necessary protective systems
are designed to take an account of psychological
and physiological needs and variations in man.
3- The various factors affecting working performance
are - Temperature
- Illumination
- Noise
- Vibrations
- Housekeeping and maintenance
- Plant layout
- Color schemes and safety color code
- Humidity and Air-conditioning.
4Effect of environmental factors on human body and
mind
- Temperature
- Working in high or low temperature will induce
heat and cold stress. The effects of working in
high and low temperatures are explained below
5Working in Hot Temperature
- Heat is being constantly generated due to bodily
activity called metabolism. As the human body is
required to be maintained at a particular
temperature called normal body temperature. - When the body is unable to cool itself through
sweating, serious heat illnesses my occur.
6High Temperature High Humidity Physical Work
Heat Illness
- The major effects on human body of excess
temperature are
71. Heat Stroke
- Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related
illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable
to control its temperature the body's
temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism
fails, and the body is unable to cool down. - the skin becomes hot, dry and red. Victims may
act strangely, be weak, confused, have a fast
pulse rate, headache or be dizzy. In later
stages, victims may faint or have convulsions. - Heat stroke can kill. Anyone in this condition
must be taken to a hospital immediately. During
transport - Remove excess clothing from the victims
- Fan and spray their bodies with cool water
- Offer sips of cool, salted water.
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112. Heat Exhaustion
- Heat exhaustion is a condition whose symptoms may
include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse, a
result of your body overheating. If lost water
and salt are not replaced, the body dehydrated.
Signs of heat exhaustion include - Heavy sweating
- Cool, moist skin
- Muscle or abdominal cramps.
- Weak pulse
- Normal or low blood pressure.
- Victims may be tired, weak, clumsy, upset or
confused. They are usually very thirsty, panting
and may have blurred vision. Victims should be
moved to a cool area, given cool, salted water to
drink and have their clothing loosened.
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13Heat Exhaustion Treatment
- Get out of the heat. - Seek shade or get indoors
and preferably in air conditioning if you
can. - Hydrate. Sweating cools you down, but it causes
you to lose fluids and electrolytes, which are
minerals that help keep you hydrated. To treat
heat exhaustion, you need to replenish those
fluids by drinking water or a sports drink . - Use cool water. Help to bring your body
temperature down by taking a cool bath or shower. - Loosen your clothing. Remove any tight or
unnecessary clothing if you notice symptoms of
heat exhaustion
143. Heat Cramps.
- Painful cramps in the stomach, arms and legs can
result if heavy sweating drains a person of salt.
Cramps may occur suddenly- at work or after
hours. - When heat cramps occur, move the victims to a
cool area, loosen their clothing and have them
drink cool, salted water (mix at one teaspoon of
salt per gallon of water ). - If cramps continue, provide first aid and take
victims to a doctor.
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164. Heat Rash
- Heat rash is the most common problem in hot work
environments. Heat rash also known as prickly
heat . Heat rash develops when blocked pores
(sweat ducts) trap perspiration under your
skin. As sweating increases, these papules give
rise to a prickling sensation.
17treat or prevent heat rash- To keep your skin
cool- wear loose cotton clothing- use
lightweight clothes - take cool baths or
showers- drink plenty of fluid to avoid
dehydrationTo calm the itching or prickly
feeling- Apply something cold, such as a damp
cloth or ice pack (wrapped in a tea towel) for up
to 20 minutes- Tap or pat the rash instead of
scratching it- Do not use perfumed shower gels
or creams
- Symptoms
- The symptoms of heat rash are
- small, raised spots
- an itchy, prickly feeling
- mild swelling
- The symptoms of heat rash are often the same in
adults and children.
18Working in cold Temperature
- Working under cold conditions can lead to various
injuries or health effects, which are
collectively known as cold stress. Workers may
experience cold stress when working - Outdoors on a cold day.
- In a refrigerated room.
- In an unheated building.
- In cold water, rain , or snow.
- While handling clod objects or materials.
- People who work indoors can also be exposed to
cold such as freezer r cool room workers, meat
workers, mortuary workers, and florists.
19What is cold stress
- When the body is unable to warm itself, serious
cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur,
and permanent tissue damage and death may result.
- Working in cold, windy and wet conditions can
cause cold stress in workers. Cold stress refers
to cold-related illnesses that happen when the
body can no longer maintain its normal
temperature - Types of cold stress include trench foot,
frostbite, and hypothermia.
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21What is Hypothermia
- a medical emergency in which your body loses heat
faster than it can produce it, causing a
dangerous drop in the core body temperature.
Without rapid and decisive treatment, the heart,
lungs, and other organs can begin to shut down,
leading to organ failure and death.
22If medical care isnt immediately available,
follow the steps below. -- Move the victim
to a warm room or shelter. - Remove wet
clothing. - Warm the center of the body
first (chest, neck, head, and groin) using an dry
layers of blankets, clothing, or towels. -
If the victim is conscious, warm sugary beverages
may help increase the body temperature. -Do not
give alcohol or caffeine. - Monitor the
victims body temperature. Once body temperature
has risen, keep the victim dry and wrapped in a
warm blanket.
- Mild Hypothermia shivering, lack of
coordination, slurred speech, and pale, cold
skin. - Moderate Hypothermia cessation of shivering,
mental confusion, slow and shallow breathing,
slow and weak pulse, and an inability to walk or
stand. - Severe Hypothermia severe muscle
stiffness, sleepiness or unconsciousness,
extremely cold skin, and an irregular or
difficult to find pulse
23- Frostbite Symptoms
- As frostbite worsens, victims will no longer feel
the area, which is why it is essential to monitor
the color and look of the skin using the
guidelines below. - Early Stages Skin is pale yellow or white
and may itch, sting, burn, or feel like pins and
needles. - Intermediate Stages Skin becomes hard and
looks shiny or waxy. There may be little or no
feeling in the area. - Late Stages Skin is hard and cold to the
touch and darkens quickly. Skin may appear blue
and then black.
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25Illumination
Lightning or Illumination is one of the most
important environmental factor. Poor lightning
can include a range of problems such as
- Insufficient light-not enough light for need
- Glare-too much light for need
- Improper contrast
- Poorly distributed light
- Lightning is important in the work environment
for the following reasons - Efficient and acute performance of visual tasks
- Worker safety and health
- Productivity
26Poor lightning can adversely affect the safety
and health of workers by contributing to -
Eye/visual fatigue (vision diminishes with age)-
General stress and strain (headaches etc.) poor
psychological health increased possibility of
errorsincreased probability of accidents by
misjudging the position, shape of an object.
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29- Noise Noise is also a factor in relation to
efficiency of workers. It is a frequent cause of
fatigue, irritation and thus loss of output.
30- loud music- the use of heavy machinery-
workplace transportelectrical tools such as
circular saws and cutter headsproduction
linespneumatic tools such as drills, grinders
and riveting gunselectrical motors and generators
- Main sources of noise at work
- Noise is a common hazard and is present to some
extent in almost all workplaces. It is the most
common health hazard in industries such as
entertainment, manufacturing, agriculture,
ship-building, textiles, mining and quarrying,
food and drink, woodworking, metal working and
construction. Some common sources of noise are
31- Effects of NoiseNoise is a physical and social
problem with several undesirable effects. - It can cause hearing loss if of higher level (a
physical effect). - Causes annoyance (a psychological effect), which
can result in sleep disturbance, stress, tension,
and loss of performance.
32- Vibration
- Many workers are exposed to vibration daily while
using vibrating equipment or machinery. - Workers operating hand-held equipment, such as
chain saw or jackhammer, are exposed to hand-arm
vibration. - Workers sitting or standing on a vibrating floor
or seat are exposed to whole-body vibration
because the vibration affects almost their entire
body. - The risk of injury from exposure to either type
of vibration depends on the intensity and
frequency of the vibration, the duration of
exposure and the part (s) of the body affected.
33- Hand-arm Vibration
- Hand-arm vibration damages blood vessels in the
hands and fingers, reducing the flow of blood and
harming the skin, nerves and muscles. - This is called Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome
(HAVS) , also known as Vibration-induced White
Finger (VWF), dead-finger. - Major sources of vibration among hand tools are
grinders, sanders, drills, impact wrenches,
jackhammers, riveting and chipping hammers and
chain saws.
34- Whole-body vibration
- Whole body vibration can cause fatigue, insomnia,
headaches and shakiness during or shortly after
exposure. - Whole-body vibration can affect the entire body
and result in a number of health disorders.
35- Housekeeping
- Housekeeping is defined as a place for
everything and everything in its place. Good
housekeeping means having no unnecessary item
about and keeping all necessary items at their
proper places.
36- Signs of poor housekeeping
- There are many signs of poor housekeeping such
as - Cluttered and poorly arranged work areas
- Untidy or dangerous storage of materials (for
example, materials stuffed in corners
overcrowded shelves) - Dusty, dirty floors and work surfaces
- Items that are in excess or no longer needed
- Tools and equipment left in work areas instead of
being returned to proper storage places - Broken containers and damaged materials
- Overflowing waste bins and containers
- Spills and leaks.
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38- Colour
- In industry colors are used to
- To reduce rejections
- Improve lighting conditions.
- Decorate the environment.
- Increase efficiency and productivity.
- Reduce accidents and increase safety.
- Reduce 'rejects'.
39- Humidity and Air-conditioning
- Air-conditioning is applied for the following
purposes - To provide comfort to industrial workers.
- To provide proper conditions of temperature and
humidity for the manufacturing process. - To maintain ultra-clean atmosphere.
- For drying the products.
- To preserve food during storage and transport.