Environmental Factors in industry

1. Environmental Factors in Industry

2. Ergonomics researchers have found: • Identifying the effect that the environment has on man’s psychological and physiological process. • Ensuring that work patterns, equipment and machine interfaces are designed in such a way to minimize the individual variations in performance. • Ensuring that all necessary protective systems are designed to take an account of psychological and physiological needs and variations in man.

3. The various factors affecting working performance are: • Temperature • Illumination • Noise • Vibrations • Housekeeping and maintenance • Plant layout • Color schemes and safety color code • Humidity and Air-conditioning.

4. Effect of environmental factors on human body and mind • Temperature Working in high or low temperature will induce heat and cold stress. The effects of working in high and low temperatures are explained below:

5. Working in Hot Temperature Heat is being constantly generated due to bodily activity called metabolism. As the human body is required to be maintained at a particular temperature called normal body temperature. When the body is unable to cool itself through sweating, serious heat illnesses my occur.

6. High Temperature + High Humidity + Physical Work = Heat Illness The major effects on human body of excess temperature are:

7. 1. Heat Stroke: Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. the skin becomes hot, dry and red. Victims may act strangely, be weak, confused, have a fast pulse rate, headache or be dizzy. In later stages, victims may faint or have convulsions. Heat stroke can kill. Anyone in this condition must be taken to a hospital immediately. During transport: • Remove excess clothing from the victims • Fan and spray their bodies with cool water • Offer sips of cool, salted water.

11. 2. Heat Exhaustion: Heat exhaustion is a condition whose symptoms may include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse, a result of your body overheating. If lost water and salt are not replaced, the body dehydrated. Signs of heat exhaustion include: • Heavy sweating • Cool, moist skin • Muscle or abdominal cramps. • Weak pulse • Normal or low blood pressure. Victims may be tired, weak, clumsy, upset or confused. They are usually very thirsty, panting and may have blurred vision. Victims should be moved to a cool area, given cool, salted water to drink and have their clothing loosened.

13. Heat Exhaustion Treatment • Get out of the heat. - Seek shade or get indoors — and preferably in air conditioning — if you can. • Hydrate. Sweating cools you down, but it causes you to lose fluids and electrolytes, which are minerals that help keep you hydrated. To treat heat exhaustion, you need to replenish those fluids by drinking water or a sports drink. • Use cool water. Help to bring your body temperature down by taking a cool bath or shower. • Loosen your clothing. Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing if you notice symptoms of heat exhaustion

14. 3. Heat Cramps. Painful cramps in the stomach, arms and legs can result if heavy sweating drains a person of salt. Cramps may occur suddenly- at work or after hours. When heat cramps occur, move the victims to a cool area, loosen their clothing and have them drink cool, salted water (mix at one teaspoon of salt per gallon of water ). If cramps continue, provide first aid and take victims to a doctor.

16. 4. Heat Rash Heat rash is the most common problem in hot work environments. Heat rash — also known as prickly heat. Heat rash develops when blocked pores (sweat ducts) trap perspiration under your skin. As sweating increases, these papules give rise to a prickling sensation.

17. treat or prevent heat rash- To keep your skin cool- wear loose cotton clothing- use lightweight clothes - take cool baths or showers- drink plenty of fluid to avoid dehydrationTo calm the itching or prickly feeling- Apply something cold, such as a damp cloth or ice pack (wrapped in a tea towel) for up to 20 minutes- Tap or pat the rash instead of scratching it- Do not use perfumed shower gels or creams • Symptoms • The symptoms of heat rash are: • small, raised spots • an itchy, prickly feeling • mild swelling The symptoms of heat rash are often the same in adults and children.

18. Working in cold Temperature Working under cold conditions can lead to various injuries or health effects, which are collectively known as cold stress. Workers may experience cold stress when working: • Outdoors on a cold day. • In a refrigerated room. • In an unheated building. • In cold water, rain , or snow. • While handling clod objects or materials. People who work indoors can also be exposed to cold such as freezer r cool room workers, meat workers, mortuary workers, and florists.

19. What is cold stress • When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur, and permanent tissue damage and death may result. • Working in cold, windy and wet conditions can cause cold stress in workers. Cold stress refers to cold-related illnesses that happen when the body can no longer maintain its normal temperature • Types of cold stress include: trench foot, frostbite, and hypothermia.

21. What is Hypothermia • a medical emergency in which your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing a dangerous drop in the core body temperature. Without rapid and decisive treatment, the heart, lungs, and other organs can begin to shut down, leading to organ failure and death.

22. If medical care isn’t immediately available, follow the steps below.-- Move the victim to a warm room or shelter.- Remove wet clothing.- Warm the center of the body first (chest, neck, head, and groin) using an dry layers of blankets, clothing, or towels.- If the victim is conscious, warm sugary beverages may help increase the body temperature. -Do not give alcohol or caffeine.- Monitor the victim’s body temperature. Once body temperature has risen, keep the victim dry and wrapped in a warm blanket. • Mild Hypothermia: shivering, lack of coordination, slurred speech, and pale, cold skin. • Moderate Hypothermia: cessation of shivering, mental confusion, slow and shallow breathing, slow and weak pulse, and an inability to walk or stand. • Severe Hypothermia: severe muscle stiffness, sleepiness or unconsciousness, extremely cold skin, and an irregular or difficult to find pulse

23. Frostbite Symptoms • As frostbite worsens, victims will no longer feel the area, which is why it is essential to monitor the color and look of the skin using the guidelines below. • Early Stages: Skin is pale yellow or white and may itch, sting, burn, or feel like “pins and needles.” • Intermediate Stages: Skin becomes hard and looks shiny or waxy. There may be little or no feeling in the area. • Late Stages: Skin is hard and cold to the touch and darkens quickly. Skin may appear blue and then black.

25. Lightning or Illumination is one of the most important environmental factor. Poor lightning can include a range of problems such as : Illumination • Insufficient light-not enough light for need • Glare-too much light for need • Improper contrast • Poorly distributed light Lightning is important in the work environment for the following reasons: • Efficient and acute performance of visual tasks • Worker safety and health • Productivity

26. Poor lightning can adversely affect the safety and health of workers by contributing to :- Eye/visual fatigue (vision diminishes with age)- General stress and strain (headaches etc.) poor psychological health increased possibility of errorsincreased probability of accidents by misjudging the position, shape of an object.

29. NoiseNoise is also a factor in relation to efficiency of workers. It is a frequent cause of fatigue, irritation and thus loss of output.

30. - loud music- the use of heavy machinery- workplace transportelectrical tools such as circular saws and cutter headsproduction linespneumatic tools such as drills, grinders and riveting gunselectrical motors and generators • Main sources of noise at work • Noise is a common hazard and is present to some extent in almost all workplaces. It is the most common health hazard in industries such as entertainment, manufacturing, agriculture, ship-building, textiles, mining and quarrying, food and drink, woodworking, metal working and construction. Some common sources of noise are:

31. Effects of NoiseNoise is a physical and social problem with several undesirable effects. • It can cause hearing loss if of higher level (a physical effect). • Causes annoyance (a psychological effect), which can result in sleep disturbance, stress, tension, and loss of performance.

32. Vibration Many workers are exposed to vibration daily while using vibrating equipment or machinery. Workers operating hand-held equipment, such as chain saw or jackhammer, are exposed to hand-arm vibration. Workers sitting or standing on a vibrating floor or seat are exposed to whole-body vibration because the vibration affects almost their entire body. The risk of injury from exposure to either type of vibration depends on the intensity and frequency of the vibration, the duration of exposure and the part (s) of the body affected.

33. Hand-arm Vibration Hand-arm vibration damages blood vessels in the hands and fingers, reducing the flow of blood and harming the skin, nerves and muscles. This is called Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) , also known as “ Vibration-induced White Finger (VWF)”, dead-finger”. Major sources of vibration among hand tools are grinders, sanders, drills, impact wrenches, jackhammers, riveting and chipping hammers and chain saws.

34. Whole-body vibration Whole body vibration can cause fatigue, insomnia, headaches and “shakiness” during or shortly after exposure. Whole-body vibration can affect the entire body and result in a number of health disorders.

35. Housekeeping Housekeeping is defined as “a place for everything and everything in its place”. Good housekeeping means having no unnecessary item about and keeping all necessary items at their proper places.

36. Signs of poor housekeeping There are many signs of poor housekeeping such as: • Cluttered and poorly arranged work areas; • Untidy or dangerous storage of materials (for example, materials stuffed in corners; overcrowded shelves); • Dusty, dirty floors and work surfaces; • Items that are in excess or no longer needed; • Tools and equipment left in work areas instead of being returned to proper storage places; • Broken containers and damaged materials; • Overflowing waste bins and containers; • Spills and leaks.

38. Colour In industry colors are used to : • To reduce rejections • Improve lighting conditions. • Decorate the environment. • Increase efficiency and productivity. • Reduce accidents and increase safety. • Reduce 'rejects'.

39. Humidity and Air-conditioning Air-conditioning is applied for the following purposes: • To provide comfort to industrial workers. • To provide proper conditions of temperature and humidity for the manufacturing process. • To maintain ultra-clean atmosphere. • For drying the products. • To preserve food during storage and transport.