Accessibility and Safety for Disabled Workers: Workplace Ergonomics

Posted on Mar 10, 2025 in Architecture

Accessibility for Disabled People in the Workplace

Workplaces, including doors, passageways, toilets, and workstations, should be designed for easy access and safe operation for disabled employees.

Essential Services and Resting Areas

  1. Potable water must be readily available.
  2. Sufficient changing rooms should be provided.
  3. Adequate numbers of showers, toilets, and washbasins with hot and cold water should be available.
  4. Rest rooms with tables and seating should be provided.
  5. Pregnant women should have access to a table for resting during outdoor work.
  6. Easy access to the workplace and equipment must be ensured.

Machine Safety: Preventing Accidents

Actions to prevent accidents include:

  1. Modifying processes to eliminate or reduce risks.
  2. Installing guards on machines and providing safety devices.
  3. Equipping workers with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Dangers Posed by Machines

Potential hazards include:

  1. Entrapment: Between gears and belts, leading to tearing injuries.
  2. Crushing and Abrasion: Caused by sanding, grinding, or other abrasive processes, potentially damaging tissues and causing burns.
  3. Cutting: From blades, resulting in amputations or clean wounds.
  4. Stabbing: From drills or pneumatic guns, potentially warping tissues.
  5. Crushing: Leading to crushing injuries of body parts.
  6. Projectiles: Uncontrolled ejection of elements.

Security Measures: Prevention and Protection

Security measures should include:

  1. Preventive measures to avoid hazards.
  2. Means of protection against unavoidable dangers.
  3. Providing information to users.
  4. Supplementary warnings.

Preventive Measures: Reducing Hazards

To reduce hazards in machines:

  • Avoid sharp edges or projections.
  • Use secure mechanisms with small openings.
  • Prevent overexertion and fatigue of materials.
  • Use safe power sources.
  • Ensure good design and setup of protective equipment.

Guards and Safety Devices

Equip machines with guards and safety devices. Guards should:

  • Act as a barrier between moving parts and the operator.
  • Protect the operator.
  • Be difficult to remove or bypass.
  • Not interfere with the worker.
  • Not interfere with the production process.
  • Not create new hazards.

Ergonomics in the Workplace

Guards and safety devices should not bother the worker and should not interfere in the production process.

Information and Training

  1. Provide clear instructions.
  2. Use signage, markings, and diverse signs.
  3. Promote the use of personal protective equipment.
  4. Offer training and instruction on safe work methods and maintenance.

Safety Regulations

  1. Implement static emergency stop or rescue mechanisms.
  2. Ensure the machine cannot operate during maintenance or repair.
  3. Control access to work areas.

Basic Repair and Maintenance Measures

  1. Cleaning and maintenance must be performed with the machine stopped.
  2. Use tools specified by the manufacturer.
  3. Follow the rules specific to each machine.
  4. Ensure staff are adequately trained.
  5. Replace protections after repairing the fault.
  6. Verify the behavior of the machine and safety devices.

Manual Tools: Preventing Injuries

Improper use of manual tools can cause damage, cuts, or torsion injuries. Preventive measures include:

  1. Using quality tools suited to each task.
  2. Wearing gloves when handling cutting tools.
  3. Maintaining handles and coatings periodically.
  4. Inspecting tools regularly.
  5. Storing tools in an organized manner.

Motorized Tools: Electrical and Mechanical Hazards

Motorized tools can present electrical dangers, bruises, cuts, eye injuries, and sprains. Preventive measures:

Follow the same precautions as with manual tools, adding prevention of risks arising from the energy source employed.

Risk of Cargo Handling

The entire production process requires moving materials, involving lifting, transportation, and unloading.

Manual Handling: Preventing Overexertion

Loads over 3kg are considered heavy. The most frequent injuries are due to overexertion, leading to back injuries. Causes include:

  1. Incorrect posture.
  2. Lifting heavy objects.
  3. Contusions and fractures.