Professional Documents
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In Section 15, OSHA 1994 stated that so far as is practicable every employer and self
employed person shall ensure the safety, health and welfare of his/her employees
Those duties included to, Provide and maintain safe plant and safe system of work,
Make arrangements for safe use, operation, handling, storage and transportation of
substances and plant, Provide information, instruction, training and supervision, Provide
and maintain safe place of work and safe access and aggress; and Provide and maintain
working environment that is safe and without health risk and with adequate welfare
facilities.
Work environment include:Workplace i.e building, structure and vehicles
Physical work environment i.e lighting, ventilation, heat, ergonomic,
noise etc.
Psychological environment i.e mental problem, stress
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Purpose of Ventilation
To supply fresh air (O2) to human
To preserved air movement
To control pollution
Causes of Poor IAQ.
Temperature
Too hot / too cold
Problems due to bad HVAC handling system (hearing,
ventilation, conditioning)
Moisture
Dried air can caused pneumonia and effects the respiratory
system, and also eye irritation
Highly moisture content can produces microorganism and bad
smell
Ventilation
Poor ventilation system from the HVAC or openings
Can cause a few places in the building received different air
quality
Humidity
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Legionnaires Disease This is the most widely recognized form of BRI infectious
disease. It is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and causes
pneumonia-like symptoms such as headaches, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhoea,
weight loss, fever, dry cough, recurrent chills and myalgia. It has a 15% fatality
rate. Legionella pneumophilia has been identified as the cause of Pontiac fever,
which is a relatively mild clinical form of Legionnaires disease, however, is a
non-pneumatic disease.
2. Lower Productivity
The symptoms and diseases previously mentioned in a commercial setting may
cause
absenteeism amongst employees or workers. As a result, companies may suffer
a decrease in productivity. In the case where one room or area can no longer be
occupied or cannot be occupied for long periods, the result is again lowered
productivity. If occupants experience the symptoms or illnesses mentioned in
the previous sections, yet still report to work, the productivity of the individual
and hence the company collectively may be reduced. Continued poor indoor air
quality can result in low worker morale, which can again lower productivity of
the workforce.
3. Loss in Revenue
Absenteeism leading to lower productivity in a commercial setting immediately
results in loss in revenue. Revenue is lost in the repair and / or replacement of
air conditioning systems rather than in the periodic maintenance. This is seen in
cases where microbial contamination has entered the system via rodents or
pigeons, resulting in the entire system being condemned. Poor indoor air quality
may also have legal implications. Revenue may be lost as a result of
compensation to affected occupants, or, if compensation is not required, in the
payment of legal fees.
Presently in Trinidad and Tobago, with the advent of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act, once proclaimed, employees have legal grounds in which to base
complaints of illnesses related to time spent at work. The Act also states
implicitly employees and occupiers duty to safeguard employees health and
safety while at work. The Act mentions the provision of adequate ventilation
(Part VI - Health, 36), removal of dust and fumes (Part IV - Safety, 24) and
General Duties of employers to their employees (Part II - General Duties 6),
General Duties of Occupiers (Part II - 6) and General duty of occupiers to protect
safety and health of public (Part IV - 9). Litigation can be a costly and timeconsuming exercise which drain the resources and revenues of a company.
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Cold Weather.
Cold is not just uncomfortable it may affect health and judgement. Although
not a serious problem in tropical climates, it may nevertheless be experienced at
high altitudes and in the early morning at sites which are well inland.
Some of the hazards of cold weather are as follows:- There are more likely to be accidents if the temperature of the hands falls
below 15 Celsius: there is loss of concentration and coordination.
- Workers repeatedly using vibratory tools such as rock drills may suffer
white finger syndrome involving sensory loss as a consequence of cold.
- Prolonged exposure to temperatures around freezing may cause frostbite
or hypothermia.
- Wind can affect temperature. When the air temperature is 10 Celsius
and the wind speed is 32 km per hour, the temperature, so far as the
body is concerned, falls to freezing. This is called the chill factor.
- Even where the temperature is above freezing point, a condition called
immersion foot can occur in wet conditions if the feet are not kept dry.
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Psychosocial effect.
Noise can be a source of annoyance, irritation and increased
stress.
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4.5 Appreciate the proper and safe methods of ergonomics in the workplace
4.5.1 Practice the proper and safe methods of ergonomics in the
workplace including working position, workplace design, standing bench
and computer arrangement.
Sitting position
The best way to reduce pressure in the back is to be in a standing position. However,
there are times when you need to sit. When sitting, the main part of the body weight is
transferred to the seat. Some weight is also transferred to the floor, back rest, and
armrests. Where the weight is transferred is the key to a good seat design. When the
proper areas are not supported, sitting in a seat all day can put unwanted pressure on
the back causing pain.
The lumbar (bottom five vertebrate in the spine) needs to be supported to decrease disc
pressure. Providing both a seat back that inclines backwards and has a lumbar support is
critical to prevent excessive low back pressures. The combination which minimizes
pressure on the lower back is having a backrest inclination of 120 degrees and
a lumbar support of 5 cm. The 120 degrees inclination means the angle between the
seat and the backrest should be 120 degrees. The lumbar support of 5 cm means the
chair backrest supports the lumbar by sticking out 5 cm in the lower back area. One
drawback to creating an open body angle by moving the backrest backwards is that it
takes ones body away from the tasking position, which typically involves leaning inward
towards a desk or table. One solution to this problem can be found in the kneeling chair.
A proper kneeling chair creates the open body angle by lowering the angle of the lower
body, keeping the spine in alignment and the sitter properly positioned to task. The
benefit of this position is that if one leans inward, the body angle remains 90 degrees or
wider. One mis-perception regarding kneeling chairs is that the body's weight bears on
the knees, and thus users with poor knees cannot use the chair. This misperception has
led to a generation of kneeling chairs that attempt to correct this by providing a
horizontal seating surface with an ancillary knee pad. This design wholly defeats the
purpose of the chair. In a proper kneeling chair, some of the weight bears on the shins,
not the knees, but the primary function of the shin rests (knee rests) are to keep one
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SECTION A :OBJECTIVE
1. Every dieses has its own symptoms, for MSD symptoms are as follows EXCEPT:a.
Numbness or a burning sensation in the hand
b.
Swelling or stiffness in the joints
c.
Aching or tingling
d.
Pale in face
2. MSD can be caused by any of the following factors EXCEPT:a.
If the lower back support is inadequate for the user
b.
If the user continues to sit in the same position for an extended period of
time
c.
If the set up of the workstation is ergonomically poor
d.
If the user seat at the ergonomically designed chair.
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Health effects
Lower Productivity
Loss In Revenue
Negative Corporate Image
Poor IAQ
Poor Temperature & Humidity
Noise and Hearing Quality
Poor Lighting & Sightedness
7. There are three (3) major types of noise at the workplace which is
a.
Short term, continuous and impose
b.
Short term, intermitted and impose
c.
Continuous, intermitted and impulse
d.
Continuous, short term and impulse
8.
Auditory Effects
Non- Auditory Effects
Psychosocial Effects
Poor IAQ
Poor Temperature & Humidity
Noise and Hearing Quality
Poor Lighting & Sightedness
I, ii, iii
Iii, ii, i
Ii, iii, i
Ii, I, iii
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To keep cool
To keep warm
To keep healthy
To keep ergonomics
SECTION B: TRUE/FALSE
a. The term ergonomics is derived from the Greek words ergon [work] and nomos [natural
laws] (TRUE/FALSE)
b. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can affect the body's muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments
and nerves (TRUE/FALSE)
c. General precautions to avoid MSD is Avoiding gripping your mouse too tightly it is
always recommended to hold the mouse lightly and click gently (TRUE/FALSE)
d. Sick Building Syndrome - Sick building syndrome (SBS) not confined to local buildings and
has been a problem for years globally (TRUE/FALSE)
e. Artificial lighting should be placed to avoid deep shadow-these may conceal hazards
which would be obvious in good light. (TRUE/FALSE)
f. Cold is not just uncomfortable it may affect health and judgement. Although not a
serious problem in tropical climates, it may nevertheless be experienced at high
altitudes and in the early morning at sites which are well inland. (TRUE/FALSE)
g. To keep warm Avoid wearing tight clothes or those which prevent evaporation of
perspiration such as some plastic materials. (TRUE/FALSE)
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Sound level meter Measure sound dose received by workers that collected along
measurement.. (TRUE/FALSE)
j.
Dosimeter Noise ( to measure sound and noise directly) Using disable A or dB(A) as a unit
(TRUE/FALSE)
SECTION C : SUBJECTIVE
Health effects
Lower productivity
Lose in revenue
Negative corporate image