Workplace Hazards and Safety: A Comprehensive Guide
Workplace Hazards and Safety
Noise Exposure
Exposure of workers to excessive noise can have a significant impact on various bodily systems:
- Auditory System
- Cardiovascular System
- Nervous System
- Muscular System
- Digestive System
Excessive noise can also lead to sleep disorders, fatigue, and irritability.
Vibration Exposure
We can divide exposure to vibration into two categories:
- Whole-Body Vibration
- Localized Vibration: Affecting only a specific part of the body.
Whole-Body Vibration
Whole-body vibration at low frequencies can lead to:
- Difficulties in controlling movements
- Increased fatigue
- Breathing difficulties
- Increased risk of pain, back pain, hernias, and pinched discs
Examples of daily whole-body vibration exposure:
- Traveling by car
- Traveling by plane
- Traveling by subway
- Traveling by bus
- Traveling by train
Radiation Exposure
Radiation, a form of electromagnetic energy transmission, can manifest in waves and subatomic particles. Its influence on the human body relates to three aspects:
- Type of radiation (wavelength and frequency)
- Exposure time
- Affected body area
Types of Radiation
There are two types of radiation:
- Ionizing Radiation: Irradiates matter, creating electrically charged particles (ions).
- Non-Ionizing Radiation: Emits energy that is not powerful enough to ionize atoms but can still have biological effects.
Non-Ionizing Radiation and Health Effects
Examples of non-ionizing radiation that can lead to adverse health effects:
- Infrared radiation from the sun (burns, eye injuries)
- Microwave antennas (burns)
- Ultraviolet radiation (eye and skin damage, cancer risk)
- Lasers (eye and skin lesions)
Workplace Lighting
Workplace lighting should adapt to the activities being performed, taking into account:
- Risks to workers’ safety and health
- Visual requirements of the tasks
Conditions for Adequate Lighting
- Appropriate illumination distribution
- Sufficient luminance contrast
- Avoidance of glare from sunlight
- Avoidance of indirect glare from reflective surfaces
Common Light Sources
- Natural light
- Incandescent lamps
- Fluorescent tube lamps
- Gas discharge lamps
Risks Associated with Lighting Systems
- Electrical risks
- Risk of explosion
- Fire hazards
Heat Exposure
Heat exchange between the body and the environment depends on:
- Air temperature
- Relative humidity
- Air speed
- Clothing
- Individual’s metabolic rate
Effects of Excessive Heat Exposure
- Heat Stress: Occurs when environmental heat and workload are high.
- Heat Exhaustion: Caused by circulatory deficiency of water, sweat, or salt.
- Skin Disorders: Itchy rashes and itching caused by sweat.
- Psychoneurotic Disorders: Affects emotional tone, motivation, and work performance.
Chemical Agents
Chemical agents can be naturally occurring or produced through industrial processes. They can enter the body through four main routes:
- Respiratory Tract: The most common route of entry.
- Skin Contact: Penetration through simple touch.
- Gastrointestinal Tract: Ingestion due to poor workplace practices (eating or drinking in contaminated areas).
- Parenteral Route: Entry through sores or wounds, leading to infection.
Biological Agents
Biological agents include organisms, genetically modified organisms, cell cultures, and human endoparasites.
Classification of Biological Agents
Biological agents are classified into four groups based on their risk to human health:
- Group 1: Unlikely to cause disease in humans.
- Group 2: Can cause disease in workers.
- Group 3: Can cause serious illness in workers.
- Group 4: Cause serious illness and pose a high risk of spreading without control measures.
Routes of Entry for Biological Agents
- Respiratory tract
- Skin
- Digestive tract
- Injection
Manual Handling
Safe Lifting Techniques
- Approach the load closely.
- Maintain a firm footing on the floor, feet separated by 50 cm.
- Lift the load with the palms of the hands.
- Keep the back straight and bend the knees to lift.
- Move the load in a way that does not obstruct vision.
Mental Load
are:
-Realization of various tasks simultaneamente.-Provision of a high level of concentracion.-Existence of a short response time.
Complexity in decision-taking, the tasks to be performed, and the information to treat.
-Level of job responsibility.
Workplaces are considered:
Areas where the farm worker habitually carries out his Labor: Areas where you can access on account of their work.
-Traffic areas (staircases, corridors, ramps) .- Toilets and changing rooms.
-Dining, local areas of rest and first aid.