DUW10012 Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

WORKPLACE
ENVIRONMENT AND
ERGONOMICS

DUW10012 – OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

149

COURSE CONTENT

Here’s what you’ll learn on this chapter:
1. Know the requirement of workplace and
ergonomics
2. Understand workplace environment
3. Understand workplace ergonomics

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TOPIC 6.1
KNOW THE
REQUIREMENT OF
WORKPLACE AND
ERGONOMICS

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LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF
WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT
AND ERGONOMICS

NO. LEGAL DETAILS RELEVENT TO WORKPLACE
ASPECT STATED IN ENVIRONMENT AND
ERGONOMICS
LEGAL

1 Objective of Sec. 4 OSHA 1994 The 3RD objective of OSH :
OSHA - To promote an occupational
environment for persons at work
which is adapted to their
physiological and psychological
needs.

2 Safety and Sec. 16 OSHA ………to prepare …. a written
health 1994 statement of general policy with
(S&H) Policy respect to the safety and health at
work.

Sec. 15 OSHA ..duty extends include in particular :
1994
a) Provision and maintenance of
plant…
b) Making arrangement…

3 Functions of ... to investigate new miss ... to
SHO collect,
analyse and maintain statistics on
Reg. (18) Safety any
and Health Officer accident
under OSHA 1994

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01 ◉ 01 ◉ 01 ◉ 01 ◉ 01
◉

TOPIC 6.2
UNDERSTAND
WORKPLACE
ENVIRONMENT

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND
RESPIRATORY LEVEL

New phenomenon related to occupancy of in a modern building

Diseases arising from occupancy in a
building with poor indoor air quality:

Sick building syndrome
Tight building syndrome

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND
RESPIRATORY LEVEL

Extremely cold/hot Low/high humidity
temperature

Existence of Causes Of Existence of
dirt and Poor Indoor toxic
organisms chemicals
Quality

Lack of ventilation Uncomfortable odors

Existence of spores,
pollen etc.

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND
RESPIRATORY LEVEL

CRITERIA OF GOOD
INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND
RESPIRATORY LEVEL:

Free from Enabling work or Oxygen Air
disturbances recreational
supply : 20 – temperature :
activities without
physical or mental 21 % 23 – 25OC

discomfort

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND
RESPIRATORY LEVEL

CONTINUE…
CRITERIA OF GOOD INDOOR
AIR QUALITY AND
RESPIRATORY LEVEL:

Relative
humidity : 30 –

70%

Micro- Vibration and
organisms noise

Lighting etc

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND
RESPIRATORY LEVEL

CONTINUE…
CRITERIA OF GOOD
INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND
RESPIRATORY LEVEL:

Air flow : 150 Physical Smell
mm/sec or activities
30 Feet/Min

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LIGHTING AND SIGHTEDNESS

Proper Workplace Lighting Is Essential To Any
Good Business:

it makes work easier it allows employees to
and more productive comfortably see what
they’re doing, without
straining their eyes or their

bodies

it helps prevent it draws attention to
costly errors and hazardous operations and

accidents equipment

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LIGHTING AND SIGHTEDNESS

Several Aspects Of
Lighting And The
Workplace Need To Be

Considered.

Lighting Design Type of Work The Work
Environment

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LIGHTING AND SIGHTEDNESS

whether it is its suitability
safe for use for use

TYPE OF
LIGHTING
INSTALLATIO
N CHOSEN
DEPENDS ON

the size of area the purpose
to be covered for which it
will be used

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LIGHTING AND SIGHTEDNESS

Table Below Shows The Recommended Lighting Levels by Task
and Area

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TEMPERATURE AND
HUMIDITY

Six(6) Main Factors That
Influence How Hot Or Cold

We Feel.

air humidity
temperature air speed
clothing
radiant heat

physical
activity

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AIR TEMPERATURE

The temperature of the air around us refers to how hot or cold it is. It's
taken with a regular thermometer. Although it is the simplest to measure
of all the elements, it is the least essential in hot situations. It's difficult
to forecast how the temperature will effect people if air temperature is
the sole measurement taken.

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HUMIDITY

Humidity is the moisture content of the air. In hot situations, high humidity
makes people feel hotter than low humidity. If the air already has a high moisture
content, sweat will not quickly evaporate to cool us. Cold air will always have a
lower moisture content, and so humidity is not important in cold.

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RADIANT HEAT

Radiant heat is emitted from anything
that's hot, such as sunlight, a furnace or a
heater. In time it will heat the air, but it will
heat people and solid surfaces such as
furniture or machinery more quickly.
Radiant heat will affect people anywhere
there is direct sunlight, or when they are
close to any work process that emits heat.

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AIR SPEED

Wind speed or air speed will, in most
situations, cool a person. This will provide
relief to people in a hot situation, but extra
chill to people in a cold situation.

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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Our bodies generate heat, and as our level of physical
activity increases, so does our heat production. In a cool
situation, physical activity can help to warm a person. In
a warm or hot situation, physical activity can increase
the effect of heat on a person.

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CLOTHING

Clothing insulates us from our environment to a greater
or lesser degree. It can shield us from radiant heat,
prevent heat escaping, prevent sweat from evaporating,
or aid heat transfer. This will make a person feel cold,
warm or hot, depending on the situation, and the clothing.
Of particular concern is where a employee needs to wear
protective clothing, and the clothing is not appropriate for
the thermal situation.

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NOISE AND HEARING

DECIBEL LEVEL OF COMMON SOUND

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NOISE AND HEARING

PERMISSIBLE NOISE
EXPOSURES

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CONTROL NOISE
HAZARD

I.

Eliminate the source of noise as far as reasonably
practicable

II.

Substitute quieter plant or processes: use quieter
plant or processes; modify the plant or process to
reduce noise.

III.

Isolate the source of noise from people by using
distance.

IV.

Engineering control with install barriers, enclosures,
and sound-absorbing surfaces.

V.

Administrative control measures: organize schedules
so that noisy work is done when few workers are
present; provide quiet areas for rest breaks; limit time
workers spend in noisy areas.

VI.

PPE (hearing protector) provided among workers.

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DUW10012

TOPIC 6.3
UNDERSTAND

WORKPLACE
ERGONOMICS

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PRINCIPLES OF ERGONOMICS

“Ergon” Derived from two Greek words “Nomoi”
meaning meaning
natural
work
laws

Ergonomics literally means “the
natural laws of work”

Is a scientific field concerned with the study
of human-system interactions, as well as a
profession that uses theory, concepts, data,

and methodologies to design in order to
improve human well-being and total system

performance.

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TWO ELEMENTS
AT WORK

Static Work

physical effort required to maintain a particular position,
even if it is comfortable. Sitting and working at
computers, for example, necessitates little or large
quantities of static effort, depending on the efficiency of
the body positions we choose.

Force

the amount of stress that our muscles produce When you
tilt your head forward or backward from a neutral, vertical
position, the force pushing on your lower neck vertebrae
is quadrupled.

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF
SEATING WORKSTATION

5 Ways You're Sitting Wrong at Your Desk -

Computer Desk Setup Ergonomics
Credit : David Zhang

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF
SEATING WORKSTATION

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COMPARE DESIGN
OF SEATING

RIGHT WRONG

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BASIS SELECTION OF
WORKSTATION FURNITURE

Ergonomic furniture should be designed to the
user's body size, strength, and range of motion
in order to improve task performance, reduce
tiredness, and prevent injury.

The selection of workstation
furniture should be basis
specifically to eliminate:

static or poor access controls that
awkward or inadequate are confusing
posture clearance and to operate or
excessive require too
reach
much force.
display that
repetitive are difficult
motion to read and
understand

Examples Of Ergonomic Furnitures
Credit : Uncaged Ergonomics

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SEATING IN USE

Characteristics that should be applied
in every ergonomic chairs

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SEATING AND
WORKSTATION LAYOUT

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ERGONOMIC WORKPLACE
RISKS

Segmental vibration (Hand-arm
vibration (HAV) )

Is typically associated with operating power tools.
Exposure occurs when the tool vibrations are
transmitted to the hand and arm.

Heat Stress

Workers who are exposed to extreme heat or
work in hot environments may be at risk of heat
stress. Exposure to extreme heat can result in
occupational illnesses and injuries. Heat stress
can result in heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

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ERGONOMIC WORKPLACE
RISKS

Cold Stress

Is a highly hazardous condition that happens when the body's
temperature cannot be maintained at a normal level. Serious
cold-related diseases and injuries, as well as permanent tissue
. damage or death, might follow. Low temperatures, high wind
speeds, dampness, and/or contact with cold water or surfaces
are all considered cold settings.

Whole body vibration (WBV)

is typically associated with standing or sitting on a vibrating
surface. WBV exposure occurs when vibrations are
transmitted usually through the feet if standing, or the legs
and hips if seated. WBV can affect the entire body,
including internal organs.

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QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS

1. Ergonomics is the science of

a) designing computers
b) designing equipment and workplace for a comfortable and safe environment
c) designing desks
d) designing chairs

2. You should rest your wrist and not the palm of your hand
for correct position of your hands during keyboarding

a) True
b) False
c) Sometimes

3. Light is measured in units of

a) Lux
b) light bulbs
c) Candles
d) candlea

4. Ergo means

a) Task
b) Job
c) Work
d) Law

5. Which of the following is an example of an ergonomic risk
factor?
a) NEUTRAL POSTURE
b) REST
c) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
d) REPETITION

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ANSWERS for
QUESTION
CHAPTER 6:

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