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Major workplace health

hazards: Problems and


Remedies
1. Chemicals and industrial hygiene
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Air Quality
Alcoholism and substance abuse
The problems of job stress and burnout
Asbestos exposure at work
Computer monitor health problems and
how to avoid them
7. Repetitive motion orders
8. Infectious diseases
9. Workplace Smoking

Chemicals and industrial hygiene

Air Quality
Problems:
Downsides of org opting for environmentally
green office buildings is that sealed
buildings can produce illnesses such as
itchy eyes and trouble breathing.
Emissions from printer and photocopiers
and other chemical pollutants can reduce
air quality
Remedies:
Institute continuous monitoring system

Alcoholism and substance abuse

The problems of job stress and burnout


Problems
Variety of external factors trigger stress:
work schedule, pace of work, job security,
route to and from work, workplace noise
and number and nature of customers.
Workaholics, who feel driven to always be
on time and meet deadlines normally put
themselves under more stress than do
others

The problems of job stress and burnout


Remedies
1. Build pleasant, cooperative relationships with as many of your
colleagues as you can
2. Work to resolve conflicts with other peioke
3. Find time everyday for detachment and relaxation
4. Get away from your office from time to time for a change of scene
and a change of mind
5. Write down the problems that concern you and what you are going
to do about each
6. Participate in something you dont find stressful such as sports,
social events or hobbies
7. Create realistic goals and deadlines for yourself and set regular
progress reviews
8. Prepare a list of tasks and rank them in order of priority. Throughout
the day, review the list and work on tasks in priority order
9. Ask for help from a parent, friend, counselor, doctor or pastor. Talk
with them about the stress you feel and problems you face.
10. Take care of yourself

Asbestos exposure at work

Problems
There are 4 major sources of occupational
respiratory diseases: asbestos, silica, lead
and carbon dioxide. Asbestos is the major
concern, due to publicity surrounding huge
lawsuits alleging asbestos-related diseases
Remedies:
Companies to monitor the air whenever an
employer expects the level of asbestos to rise
to one half the allowable limit.
Engineering controls- walls, special filters and
so forth- are required to maintain an asbestos
level that complies with OSHA standards
Respirators can be used only if they are then
still required to achieve compliance

Computer monitor health problems and how to avoid


them

Problems
Problems include short-term eye
burning, itching and tearing as well as
eyestrain and eye soreness.
Backaches and neck aches are also
widespread
Carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by
repetitive use of hands and arms at
uncomfortable angles

Computer monitor health problems


and how to avoid them
Remedies
1. Have employees take a 3-5 minute break from working at the
computer every 20-40 minutes and use the time for other tasks
like making copies
2. Design maximum flexibility into the work station so it can be
adapted to the individual operator and so that he or she doesnt
stay in one position for long
3. Reduce glare with devices such as recessed or indirect lighting
4. Give workers a preplacement vision exam to ensure properly
corrected vision
5. Allow users to position their wrists at the same level as the
elbow
6. Put the screen at or just below the users eye level at a
distance of 18-30 inches from the eyes
7. Instruct users to let the wrists rest lightly on a pad for support
8. Instruct users to put the feet flat on the floor or provide a
footrest

Repetitive motion orders


Problems
Include disorders such as carpal tunnel
syndrome, bursitis and tendonitis
Result from excessive repetitions of an
activity or motion or from unnatural
motions like twisting the arms or wrist or
incorrect posture
Assembly-line work or computer work
Remedies:
Employers can reduce the problem with
programs to help workers adjust their pace
of work.

Infectious diseases
Problems
With many employees traveling to
and from international destinations,
monitoring and controlling infectious
diseases has become an important
safety issue

Infectious Disease
Remedies
1. Closely monitor the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention travel alerts
2. Provide daily medical screenings for employees
returning from infected areas
3.Deny access for 10 days to employees or visitors
who have had contact with suspected infected
individuals
4. Tell employees to stay home if they have a fever or
respiratory system symptoms
5. Clean work areas and surfaces regularly. Make
sanitizers containing alcohol easily available
6. Stagger breaks. Offer several lunch periods to
reduce overcrowding

Workplace Smoking
Problems
States include Delaware, Connecticut,
California and New York have barred
smoking in most workplaces. Yet smoking
continues to be a problem for employees
and employers
Cost derive from higher health and fire
insurance, increased absenteeism and
reduced productivity. (Eg. smoker takes
10min break to smoke a cigarette outside)

Workplace smoking
Remedies
Deny a job to a smoker as long as you dont
use smoking as a surrogate for prohibited
discrimination
Adopt no-smokers-hired policy
Ban indoor smoking, design small outdoor
areas for smoker
Smoke-cessation policies (First to give
15months warning and offered smokingsecession-assistance then began firing or
forcing out all its workers who still smoked)

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