Environmental Factors in workplace

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Environmental Factors in Industry
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• 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.

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• 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.

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Effect 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

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Working 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.

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High Temperature High Humidity Physical Work
Heat Illness

• The major effects on human body of excess
  temperature are

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1. 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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2. 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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Heat 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

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3. 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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4. 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.

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treat 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.

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Working 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.

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What 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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What 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.

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If 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

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• 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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Illumination
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

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Poor 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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• 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.

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- 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

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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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• 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'.

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• 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.