Risk factors, workplaces assessment factor

A second point needs to be made about the scope of this chapter the role of checklists. As will be seen, checldists have assumed importance as techniques for conducting human factors audits. They can also be used alone as evaluation devices, in applications as diverse as VDT workplaces (Ctikir et al. 1980), and risk factor assessment (Keyserfing et al. 1992). Hence, the structure tuid use of checklists will be covered in some detail independently of their use as an auditing technique. 

A risk assessment involves careful examination of the hazards in a workplace and the factors involved in them, such as the type of hazard, the type of equipment, training and number of operations and existing systems in place in relation to control of the risk. In the assessment, the degree of risk associated with each hazard is decided based on the use of standards where available. The control step involves developing measures to reduce that risk. 

This study aimed to assess the risk associated to the performance of two workplaces related to the dismantling of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) as well as to compare the results obtained by the three different assessment methods used in order to better understand the risk for the development of WRMSD and the importance of the investigated risk factors. 

This study aims to (i) determine the risk of WRMSD development, by applying the method RULA in 3 different tasks (ii) suggest possible prevention and/or correction measures (iii) with RULA action level results, rank priorities to implement these measures (iv) explore if the implemented rotation scheme at the 3 assessed tasks decreases the risk of developing WRMSD and (v) examine the association of the pain, discomfort and nuisance reported by workers, through Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire application, with the presence of WRMSD risk factors in the workplace. 

Ergonomics hazard identification and analysis are processes for pinpointing work-related hazards or causes of MSDs and involve examining the workplace conditions and individual elements or tasks of a job to identify and assess the ergonomic risk factors that are reasonably likely to be causing or contributing to the reported MSDs. They can also be preventive measures used to identify jobs and job tasks where MSDs and MSD hazards are reasonably likely to develop in the future. Job hazard analysis is an essential element in the effective control of MSD hazards. In many situations, the causes of MSD hazards are apparent after discussions with the employee and observation of the job, but in other jobs the causes may not be readily apparent. In part, this is because most MSD hazards involve exposure to a combination of risk factors (i.e., multifactorial hazard). For example, it may not be clear in a repetitive motion job whether exposure to repetition, force, or awkward postures is the risk factor that is causing the problem. 

In most workplaces where risk factors can be identified, the risk of assardt can be prevented or minimized if employers take appropriate precautions. One of the best protections employers can offer their workers is to estabhsh a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence. This pohcy should cover all workers, patients, chents, visitors, contractors, and anyone else who may come in contact with company personnel. By assessing their worksites, employers can identify methods for reducing the hkehhood of incidents occmring. 

This implies, for example, that measurements taken over a given period of time may give insufficient data to integrate workplace factors in the series of activities in the period under consideration in such a way as to permit assessment of the likely maximum risk to which the individual workers are exposed. 

The identification of chemical agents and the data on workplace factors leads to the assessment of exposure, which can be done in three different stages that depend on the risk level for the worker and the type and amount ot data required ... 

Studies of working women present the potential for additional bias, because some factors that influence employment status may also affect reproductive end-points. For example, because of child care responsibilities, women may terminate employment, as might women with a history of reproductive problems who wish to have children and are concerned about workplace exposures (Joffe, 1983 Lemasters Pinney, 1989). Thus, retrospective studies of female exposure that do not include terminated female workers may be of limited use in risk assessment, because the level of risk for some of the outcomes is likely to be overestimated (Lemasters Pinney, 1989). 

As a supplement to R2.2.1766-03, specific recommendations are planned on methods and criteria assessment (scales, models, etc) of workers health (morbidity, mortality, etc), workplace factors (noise, vibration, dust, chemicals, etc), work load (physical load nervous tension), and reproductive health risk assessment. Relevant data have been published in handbook on occupational risk (Izmerov Denisov, 2003). 

The need for off-gas treatment of Group I GMO fermentations is a debatable point. From the health and safety viewpoint, exhaust gas could be vented away from the workplace environment. If this were planned, then an environmental risk assessment would need to demonstrate the practice to be acceptable. Winkler and Parke " discuss some of the factors concerned with environmental risk assessment for GMO aerosols. 

Risk assessment should first identify any hazard and then enable an evaluation of the risks. Risks to health may arise from a combination of factors and are particularly likely to occur when the work, workplace and work environment do not take account of the workers needs. 

Protecting the Workforce. To have a healthy workforce that can fulfill job requirements, certain factors must be addressed by the business or organization. For example, the workplace must be assessed for risks and occupational hazards that pose threats to the health and safety of workers. Occupational hazards... 

There are a number of methods for evaluating risk. The method applied for any particular risk will depend on a number of factors, such as the complexity of the activities carried out and the type and nature of the workplace. For many of the day-to-day risks that people in the workplace are exposed to, including fire, a simple qualitative assessment will suffice, for more complex risks a quantitative or semi-quantitative assessment may be needed. 

The workplace risk assessment method was developed by ISSA s Section for Machine and Machinery Safety. When applying this method, it is necessary to take into consideration the elements of the analyzed system that can be ignored and the elements to which close attention must be paid. A system, within this method, is defined as a set of elements that contribute to a certain activity. Common systems in which human risks exist include a human factor (abilities) that functions in a certain... 

Experiments have shown that judgements of the potential of accidents made by safety experts are reasonably reliable. At the workplaces, the supervisors may be assigned the task to make such judgements. Experience shows that a number of subjective factors influence the supervisor s assessments. There are biases in the direction of lower-risk... 

Description of hazard. Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the worker. Effective and successful "fits" help ensure high productivity, reduce illness and injury risks, and increase satisfaction among the workforce. Although the scope of ergonomics is much broader, the term here refers to assessing those work-related factors that may pose a risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and recommendations to alleviate them. 

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