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Module 5: physical and psychological safety

Welcome to our educational video on Managing Safely. This video, based on IOSH Managing Safely Module 5, Part 1, focuses on the crucial aspects of physical and psychological safety in the workplace. We will explore the hazards associated with noise, vibration, display screen equipment, manual handling, radiation, asbestos, chemicals and substances, stress, workplace violence, and substance misuse. Each of these topics is essential for maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. By understanding the risks, who might be affected, the health effects, risk factors, and control measures for each hazard, you can better manage safety within your organization.

Noise Hazards
Overview: Noise is a common hazard in many workplace environments, and it is essential to manage it effectively to prevent hearing damage and other health issues. The decibel scale, a logarithmic measure of sound intensity, is used to quantify noise levels. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss, making noise control a priority.

Definition and Examples: Noise is defined as any sound that is loud, unpleasant, or undesired, which can cause discomfort or harm to individuals. Examples of noise sources include jet planes (140 dB), industrial noise (110 dB), stereo music (90 dB), and even seemingly innocuous sounds like a whisper (30 dB) in quieter environments.

Who Might Be Affected: Workers in noisy environments such as construction sites, factories, and offices near loud machinery are most at risk. The general public, especially those in high-traffic or industrial areas, can also be affected.

Health Effects: Health effects of noise exposure include temporary deafness, which often occurs after leaving a noisy environment but typically resolves within a few hours. More concerning is permanent hearing damage, which can result from sudden loud noises or prolonged exposure to high noise levels, leading to conditions such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Risk Factors: The primary risk factors include prolonged exposure to high decibel levels, sudden exposure to extremely loud noises, and age-related hearing loss, which can exacerbate the effects of noise exposure.

Control Measures: To mitigate noise hazards, control measures such as implementing hearing protection programs, using engineering controls to reduce noise at the source, and regularly monitoring noise levels to ensure they remain below action levels (e.g., 80 dB for lower action levels, 85 dB for upper action levels) are crucial. These measures help protect individuals from the harmful effects of noise.

Vibration Hazards
Overview: Vibration hazards in the workplace are particularly relevant to those using hand-held power tools and off-road machinery. There are two main types of vibration hazards: hand-arm vibration (HAV) and whole-body vibration (WBV), each with distinct health implications.

Definition and Examples: Vibration occurs when a body moves rhythmically back and forth around a fixed point. Hand-arm vibration is often caused by tools like concrete breakers, sanders, and grinders, while whole-body vibration is experienced by drivers of off-road machinery or vehicles operating on uneven surfaces.

Who Might Be Affected: Those who regularly operate hand-held power tools or off-road machinery in industries like construction, mining, and agriculture are at risk. Additionally, workers in any industry involving vibration from machinery can be affected.

Health Effects: Hand-arm vibration can lead to hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), which affects blood vessels, muscles, and joints, potentially causing conditions like white finger (WF) that severely impair circulation in the fingers. Whole-body vibration can cause motion sickness and exacerbate back problems, particularly when combined with other physical activities.

Risk Factors: The severity of vibration-related health issues depends on factors such as the frequency of vibration, the magnitude of energy (measured in meters per second squared, or m/s²), and the duration of exposure. Higher frequencies and longer exposure times increase the risk.

Control Measures: To reduce vibration hazards, it’s important to select tools and machinery with appropriate vibration levels, maintain equipment to minimize vibration, and ensure work surfaces are well-maintained. Training operators to adjust their work positions and settings to minimize exposure is also essential. Legislation specifies exposure action values (EAVs) and exposure limit values (ELVs) to guide safe exposure levels.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Hazards
Overview: Display Screen Equipment (DSE), such as computers and monitors, are commonplace in modern workplaces. While these tools are essential for productivity, they can pose significant ergonomic hazards if not managed properly.

Definition and Examples: DSE refers to any device with a screen that displays information, including computers, monitors, tablets, and mobile phones. Poor posture while using a computer, repetitive keyboard use leading to strain, and extended periods of screen time without breaks are common examples of DSE hazards.

Who Might Be Affected: Office workers who use computers for extended periods, employees in roles requiring frequent DSE use (e.g., data entry, graphic design), and anyone regularly using screens, including students and remote workers, are at risk.

Health Effects: Prolonged use of DSE can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as back pain and upper limb discomfort, visual fatigue from extended screen exposure, and mental stress due to poor ergonomics and work demands.

Risk Factors: Risk factors include inadequate workstation setup, insufficient breaks, poor planning of work activities, and individual factors like pre-existing conditions or disabilities.

Control Measures: Effective control measures include conducting thorough workstation analyses to identify and address ergonomic issues, ensuring that workstations meet minimum requirements (e.g., adequate lighting, adjustable screens, ergonomic furniture), planning work activities to encourage regular breaks, providing eyesight tests, and offering information and training on proper posture and workstation setup.

Manual Handling Hazards
Overview: Manual handling, which involves transporting or supporting loads by hand or bodily force, is a common workplace activity that can lead to injuries if not managed properly. Assessing risks associated with manual handling tasks and implementing control measures are critical for reducing injury risks.

Definition and Examples: Manual handling hazards arise from lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling loads, which can lead to injuries. Examples include lifting heavy boxes without proper technique, twisting while carrying a load, or pushing a cart on an uneven surface.

Who Might Be Affected: Workers in various sectors, including warehouses, healthcare, construction, and even office environments, may be required to perform manual handling tasks and are therefore at risk.

Health Effects: Improper manual handling can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as back pain and strains, acute injuries from sudden movements or falls, and chronic conditions resulting from repetitive strain or poor posture.

Risk Factors: Risk factors include the nature of the task (e.g., holding loads away from the body, twisting, repetitive movements), individual capabilities (e.g., strength or agility limitations, lack of training), the characteristics of the load (e.g., heavy, bulky, unstable), and environmental factors (e.g., poor lighting, slippery surfaces).

Control Measures: Control measures for manual handling include using lifting aids, improving workplace layout to minimize manual handling tasks, providing training to ensure proper handling techniques, and ensuring that work environments are conducive to safe manual handling, with obstacles removed and appropriate lighting and flooring in place.

Radiation Hazards
Overview: Radiation hazards are present in various industries, and understanding the types, risks, and control measures is essential for ensuring safety. Radiation can be categorized as ionizing or non-ionizing, each with specific risks.

Definition and Examples: Radiation is energy transmitted in waves or particles, which can be harmful depending on its type and exposure level. Ionizing radiation includes X-rays and gamma rays, while non-ionizing radiation includes visible light, microwaves, and radio waves.

Who Might Be Affected: Workers in medical fields (e.g., radiologists, dental technicians), employees in industries using electromagnetic fields (e.g., telecommunications), and outdoor workers exposed to solar radiation (e.g., construction workers, farmers) are at risk.

Health Effects: Exposure to ionizing radiation can increase the risk of cancer and cause damage to living tissues, while non-ionizing radiation can lead to skin burns, heat stress, and other thermal effects.

Risk Factors: Prolonged exposure, lack of protective measures or equipment, and inadequate training on radiation safety protocols are significant risk factors.

Control Measures: Control measures include implementing shielding and distance measures to minimize exposure, conducting regular risk assessments, providing training on health effects and safety measures, and ensuring the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.

Asbestos Hazards
Overview: Asbestos, historically used in construction for its insulation properties, poses serious health risks when its fibers are inhaled. Despite being banned in many countries, asbestos remains a significant hazard in older buildings.

Definition and Examples: Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can cause severe health risks, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, when its fibers are inhaled. Examples of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) include insulation, roofing, flooring, and wallboard in older buildings.

Who Might Be Affected: Construction workers involved in renovation or demolition, maintenance personnel who may disturb ACMs, and occupants of buildings where asbestos is present are at risk.

Health Effects: Health effects include asbestosis, a chronic lung disease, lung cancer, particularly among smokers, and mesothelioma, a rare cancer primarily associated with asbestos exposure.

Risk Factors: Risk factors include the duration and intensity of exposure to asbestos fibers, smoking history, and age or pre-existing lung conditions.

Control Measures: Control measures involve conducting thorough assessments to identify ACMs, implementing management plans to monitor and maintain asbestos materials, and providing training and information to workers about the risks and safe handling practices.

Chemicals and Substances Hazards
Overview: Hazardous substances in the workplace, such as chemicals, fumes, dust, and biological agents, are regulated under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (CoSHH). These regulations emphasize the need to manage these risks effectively.

Definition and Examples: A hazardous substance is any material that can cause harm to health. Examples include cleaning agents, solvents, pesticides, bacteria, viruses, and particulate matter from industrial processes.

Who Might Be Affected: Workers in industrial settings handling chemicals, maintenance staff, and laboratory technicians working with biological agents or chemicals are at risk.

Health Effects: Exposure can lead to respiratory issues, skin conditions, and long-term diseases like cancer or organ damage.

Risk Factors: The duration of exposure, concentration of the substance, and lack of protective measures are key risk factors.

Control Measures: Control measures include eliminating hazardous substances where possible, substituting safer alternatives, using engineering controls like ventilation, and providing PPE.

Stress Hazards
Overview: Workplace stress, defined by the HSE as the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or demands, can have significant effects on employee well-being. Managing stress effectively is essential to creating a supportive work environment.

Definition and Examples: Workplace stress arises when job demands exceed an employee's capacity to cope. Examples include high workloads leading to burnout, poor work-life balance causing emotional distress, and lack of support from management resulting in feelings of isolation.

Who Might Be Affected: Employees across all levels, managers with high responsibilities, new employees, and teams experiencing conflict or poor communication are at risk.

Health Effects: Stress can lead to physiological effects like heart disease, emotional effects like anxiety and depression, and behavioral effects like increased absenteeism.

Risk Factors: Excessive workload, lack of control over work, poor relationships with colleagues or management, inadequate support, and unclear job roles contribute to workplace stress.

Control Measures: Control measures include establishing clear communication channels, providing training and resources to manage workloads, fostering a supportive environment, regularly assessing workloads, and encouraging breaks to promote a healthy work-life balance.

Workplace Violence Hazards
Overview: Workplace violence, defined as any incident where a person is abused, threatened, or assaulted in connection with their work, is a serious concern for organizations. Addressing workplace violence involves understanding the environments where such incidents are likely to occur and implementing strategies to prevent them.

Definition and Examples: Workplace violence includes behaviors that can lead to physical or psychological harm, such as verbal abuse from customers, threats of physical harm, and, in more extreme cases, physical attacks.

Who Might Be Affected: Employees interacting with clients or customers, managers facing aggressive behavior from subordinates, and support staff in vulnerable positions during confrontations are at risk.

Health Effects: The health effects include physical injuries, psychological effects like insomnia and anxiety, and organizational effects like poor morale and a negative corporate image.

Risk Factors: High-stress environments, jobs involving cash handling, lack of training on handling aggressive behavior, and poor communication contribute to the risk of workplace violence.

Control Measures: Control measures include providing training on conflict resolution, establishing clear policies on workplace violence, improving workplace layout for safety, and fostering an environment where employees feel comfortable reporting incidents.

Substance Misuse Hazards
Overview: Substance misuse, particularly concerning drugs and alcohol, can significantly impact workplace safety and productivity. Addressing substance misuse involves understanding the factors that contribute to it and implementing strategies to manage it effectively.

Definition and Examples: Substance misuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs, which impair an employee's ability to perform their job safely. Examples include alcohol consumption during work hours and the use of illegal drugs leading to decreased productivity and increased accident risk.

Who Might Be Affected: Employees who misuse substances, their colleagues, and management and HR personnel responsible for addressing substance misuse issues are affected.

Health Effects: Health effects include chronic diseases, mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and a higher likelihood of work-related injuries due to impaired judgment.

Risk Factors: High-stress jobs, lack of support systems, and a workplace culture that inadvertently encourages substance use are risk factors for substance misuse.

Control Measures: Control measures include developing a clear policy on substance use, providing screening programs, offering support and rehabilitation programs, and ensuring a non-punitive approach to treatment.

In conclusion, managing physical and psychological safety hazards in the workplace is essential for creating a safe and productive environment. By understanding the risks associated with noise, vibration, DSE, manual handling, radiation, asbestos, chemicals and substances, stress, workplace violence, and substance misuse, organizations can implement effective control measures to protect their employees. Thank you for watching this video on Managing Safely. We hope you found it informative and helpful. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more educational content on health and safety management. Stay safe!