Module 6. OH Hazards

Module 6

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS

Types of OH Hazards

w Physical Hazards
w Chemical Hazards
w Biological Hazards
w Ergonomic Hazards

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Physical Hazards
w Noise
w Vibration
w Hot & Cold Temperature
w Illumination
w Pressure

Chemical Hazards
w Liquids
w Solids
w Gas

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Routes of entry
w Inhalation
w Ingestion
w Absorption
w Injection

Biological Hazards
w Bacteria
w Viruses
w Fungi
w Insects/Parasites

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Ergonomic Hazards
w Improper Tools & Equipment Design
w Unnecessary/ Unusual Lifting or Reaching
w Repetitive Motions
w Stress at Work

Mismatch between the worker and his work

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Noise
w Frequency - measured in
(Hertz) cycles per second
w Loudness or intensity -
Decibel (dB)
w Duration

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Adverse Effects of Noise

Short term:
w Acous&c  Trauma  (explosion,  Gunshot)  
w Temporary Threshold shift
w Poor communication
w Increase in blood pressure
& stress

Adverse Effects of Noise

Long Term:
§  Noise induced hearing loss
§  Permanent Deafness
§  Increase in blood pressure &
stress

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Control of Noise
w Engineering methods
Purchase new equipment
Preventive maintenance
Isolation
w Administrative Control
Job rotation / breaks
w PPE
Ear plugs / ear muffs

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Heat Stress
Exposure settings:
w High temperature
w High humidity
w Poor ventilation
w Multiple heat sources

Mechanisms  of    
Heat  Removal  
• ConducKon    
• ConvecKon  
• RadiaKon  
• EvaporaKon  

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

30  C   26.7    C   25    C  
30.6    C   28    C   25.9    C  

31.4    C   29.4    C   27.9    C  

32.2  C   31.1    C   30  C  

Control of Heat Problems

w Engineering control
Ventilation
Water sources (fountains/showers)
w Administrative control
Job rotation/breaks
w PPE
Cotton clothes, multiple changes

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

PHYSICAL HAZARD

Cold Stress
Exposure setting

w Ice plants
w Food processing plants
w Deep sea diving

Acute Health Effects of Cold

w Hypothermia
w Frostbite
w Chills

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Control Methods
§ Engineering Control
Isolation / enclosure / insulation
§ Administrative Control
Shift work, rest periods
Warm food and drinks / medical exams
§ PPE
Thermal clothing / electric blanket
Gloves / cap / jacket / wool lined shoes

Vibration
w  continuous low frequency oscillation that is more
likely felt than heard
w  affects the body through direct contact
w  exposure settings:
– hand held grinding tools
– jack hammer, chain saw
– transportation

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Health Effects of Vibration

w Inflammation (wrist, elbow, shoulder)
w Carpal tunnel syndrome
w Tenosynovitis
w Fatigue

Prevention & Treatment

Engineering
w Tool re-design
w Isolation
Administrative
w shifting
PPE
w gloves, dampers

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Illumination
w Visibility of a workplace
- as a result of light
- (natural or artificial)
w lumens or lux

Importance of
Illumination
OSHA standards
w active storage - 50 lux
w production line - 300 lux
w clerical work - 500 lux
w fine movement work - 1000 lux

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Acute effects

w eye strain
w dizziness
w headache
w neck pains
w teary eyes

Control Methods
§ Improve illumination by adding:
• artificial light sources
• natural light sources
§ Administrative:
• Isolation or enclosure
• Eye examination

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Pressure
Atmospheric force that is constantly applied
on the body, as a result of changes in
altitude or artificially induced conditions.

Control methods
w  Pre-employment screening
w  Training (Pre-event)
w  Scheduled work duration
w  Exercise (During event)
w  Medical monitoring
w  Medications
w  Pressure vessels / chamber
w  Rehabilitation (Post-event)
w  Pressurized suits

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Chemical
Hazards

Exposure settings
w Oil and fuel
w Solvents
w Metal welding fumes
w Acids and Alkalis
w Lead (organic & inorganic)
w Dust (Silica, asbestos)

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Routes of Entry

Control of Chemical Hazards

w Engineering
Initial selection / substitution
Chemical hood
Redesign the process
w Administrative
APE / SOP / shiftwork /
Housekeeping / MSDS review
Environmental monitoring
w PPE

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

Biological Hazards – common problem

among health workers and laboratory personnel
handling biologic specimen..

w Tuberculosis
w HIV - AIDS
w Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E
w Chicken pox
w URTI
w Sore eyes
w STD

ERGONOMICS  
•  Study  of  WORK  with  GOALS  of  PROTECTING  
WORKERS  from  SERIOUS  MENTAL  or  PHYSICAL  
HARM,  MAXIMIZING  PRODUCTIVITY  and  
WORKER’S  WELL-­‐BEING,  INCREASING  USER  
ACCEPTANCE.  

•  InteracKon  or  fit  between  the  workers  and  

their  total  workplace  environment.  

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

ERGONOMIC  HAZARDS  
•  Includes  improper  designed  tools  or  
work  areas.  
•  Improper  libing  or  reaching  
•  Poor  visual  condiKons  
•  RepeKKve  moKons  
•  Awkward  posiKons    

STATISTICS  
•  WORK  RELATED  MUSCULO-­‐SKELETAL  
DISORDERS  
 Offices  :  Neck  pain  
 Manufacturing/Construc&on  :  Lower  back    
             pain  
Perceived  causes:  ConKnuous  typing,  prolonged  
sidng,  prolonged  use  of  mouse,  poor  posture,  
libing  of  heavy  object.  
 

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

MUSCULO-­‐SKELETAL  DISORDER  
•  Also  called  CUMULATIVE  TRAUMA  
DISORDER  
•  Brought  about  by  stresses  sustained  
by  the  body  for  long  periods  of  Kme.  
– Bend  Oben  
– Sit  longer  
– Type  more  

Prac&cal  Office  
Ergonomic  Solu&ons  
•  Work  at  Appropriate  heights  
•  Good  Working  postures  
•  Use  Document  Holder  
•  Raise  your  monitor  if  needed  
•  Use  footrest  if  needed  
 

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              Module 6. OH Hazards
Prac&cal  Office  Ergonomic  
Solu&ons  
•  Keep  the  wrist  straight  
– Keyboard  
– Mouse  
•  Do  not  cradle  the  phone  
•  Keep  tools  within  reach  
•  Reduce  faKgue  and  stress  

PRACTICAL  INDUSTRIAL  
ERGONOMIC  SOLUTIONS  
• Set  up  your  workstaKon  
• Redesign  and  Innovate  
• Use  technology  

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              Module 6. OH Hazards

CONCLUSION  
•  Office  work  can  be  hazardous  just  like  the  
factory  
•  The  lack  of  knowledge  on  ergonomics  exposes  
workers  to  unknown  hazards  brought  about  
by  the  workplace  
•  Ergonomics  soluKons  need  not  to  be  
expensive  –  some  are  pracKcal  

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