PHYSICAL WORK SETTING

Process Technology, Safety, Health, and Environment

Process Technology, Safety, Health, and Environment

Introduction

The technological advancement in the work place has brought blessings for the companies but at the same time, they have affected the work environment and created health/safety issues for employees. This paper discusses the physical work setting of a company and safety and health issues related to the work setting.

Physical Work Setting and Employee Health

Some of the factors associated with the physical setting are mentioned as follows.

Thermo hygrometer Conditions

They are physical environmental conditions of temperature, humidity and ventilation, in which an employee develops work. All kinds of physical work in the body generates heat, so the human has a self-regulating system to maintain a steady temperature around 37 ° C. Thermal comfort depends on the heat produced by the body and exchanges between it and the environment. Is determined by discrete variables to be considered globally (Walters, 2009):

Air temperature.

Humidity.

Temperature walls and objects.

Air velocity.

Physical activity (Walters, 2009).

The temperature and humidity conditions are environmental physical conditions of temperature, humidity and ventilation, in which we develop our work. Bad temperature and humidity can cause adverse health effects, which vary according to individual characteristics and their ability to acclimatize. Thus it is found that cold, dehydration, heat stroke is the direct effects, but also behavioral changes increase fatigue, which may influence the occurrence of an accident (Petersen, 1999).

Noise

Noise, as defined by WHO, is "unwanted sound whose consequences are a nuisance to the public, risking their physical and mental health." The characteristics of sound, which will make unusual noises, are:

Frequency is the one in which an oscillation noise is repeated, i.e. the number of times a sound wave vibrates per unit of time. It is measured in hertz (Hz) and set the tone. High frequencies are more harmful or acute health that serious.

Intensity: is the power of sound vibration. It is measured in decibels (dB.) and determines the degree of energy or sound pressure. Allows us to classify the sounds into strong or weak

The governmental and organizational regulations are intended to protect workers against risks arising from exposure to noise at work. It is the basic reference that lets the workers develop their union activity monitoring and enforcement of measures to protect the health of workers exposed to noise (Petersen, 1999).

The possible effects that noise can have on health can be psychological (irritability, aggression, sleep disturbances and physiological, deafness, occupational deafness, increased heart rate, blood pressure, digestive disorders. The most common physical contaminants in the workplace, regardless of the activity in question are the noise.

Vibrations

The vibrations are oscillations of particles about a point in a balanced either physical (air, water, etc. ..) and can produce the effect of the actual operation of the machine or equipment, unbalanced machine parts in motion, shock, turbulent motions of fluids (Petersen, 1999)

The effects produced by frequency vibrations are:

Very low frequency (below 2 Hz): Alterations in the sense of balance, causing dizziness, nausea and vomiting (rocking cars, boats, trains) (Loughran, ...