In: Operations Management
Provide an example of a hazard in the workplace. What are the three components of this hazard? How would you eliminate the hazard or reduce the hazard level, list one engineering control and one administrative control you may implement?
Physical Hazard
A physical hazard in work-place refers to the factor, element or situation that is harmful to person or living being with or without direct contact. Example- Electricity lightening, effect of heat, etc.
Components of Physical Hazard
1. Noise Hazard
It means the stress or trouble caused by the abnormal noise in the work-place. Mostly the noise from the mechinery itself and may result in the physical and mental health of the employees. The company may not abide by the rules of regulatory authority to maintain the noise as per the limits prescribed. In case of continuous hearing of the noise may cause illhealth to the workers.
2. Heat and Cold stress
It refers to the heat or cold emitted by the machinery or plant in the work-place. The abnormal emission will cause illhealth to the workers. It should be contrilled by the company and must abide by the rules prescribed by the law.
3. Confined space
Confined Space refers to the conjested place where only having limited openings for entry and exit and lack of favourable ventilation to the workers. Such work place will cause both mental and physical illhealth to the workers. So, a modest work atmosphere should be given to the workers by the company.
Measures to Eliminate Hazards
a. Company should abide by the rules prescribed by the authority in maintaining the standards in work-place
b. The workers should provided with adequate facility such as water, rest rooms and leissure time to aviod illhealth caused by the work-place atmosphere.
c. The company should follow the standards while setting a plant or machinery to have a favourable condition for workers.
d. Company should take measures to minimise and avoid the circumstances which will result in the illhealth of workers.
e. Company should establish measures for immediate hazard such as fire extinguishers, lightening arresters, etc.
Engineering control: Design the plant and machinery to the company in a way which satisfy the standards prescribed by law as well as which should provide a favourable working condition to the workers and ensure it is not hazardous to the workers anymore.
Administrative control: The company should abide by the rules and regulations prescribed by the authority in maintaining standards in the workplace. The management should address the problems of workers in the workplace and establish accident control measures in the factory.