Physical Factors of Occupational Environment

OHS Hazards and Their Control

University of Politeknik Negeri Batam
Study guide, definitions & notes

1. Physical Factors
Physical factors are Physical factors are factors that can affect labor activities that
are physical in nature. Caused by the use of machinery, equipment, materials and
environmental conditions around the Workplace that can cause Occupational Disorders
and Diseases in the Workforce.
o Scope of Physical Factors
a. work climate (hot/cold)
b. Noise
c. Shaking (HAV & WBV)
d. Radiation of Radio Waves or Microwaves
e. Ultra-purple (Ultra Violet) radiation
f. Static Magnetic Field Radiation
g. Air pressure
h. Lighting

2. Risk/Hazard Control Hierarchy

 Elimination Eliminate the source of Hazard (replace tools/machines with new ones)
 Substitution Replace Tools/Machines/Materials with safer ones (replace
parts/spareparts with safe ones)
 Technical Control Modifying/Designing Tools/Machines (isolating dangerous
machines/tools from human contact)
 Administration Making SOPs, Rules, Training, Work Duration, Work Shift,
Installation of Danger Signs, Signs, Posters, etc.
 PPE Personal Protection Equipment (masks, gloves, safety googles, safety shoes)
3. Hot Working Climate
Is a condition of hot working environment air temperature, caused by high air
temperature. ISBB; A combination of natural wet temperature, dry temperature, and
spherical temperature (radiation temperature) whose unit is oC.

4. Body Heat Balance

a. The human body has a relatively constant body defense mechanism at 37oC.
Excessive body heat by the body mechanism will be cooled by the release of
sweat.
b. Heat exchange between the body and the environment occurs through: - conduction
(through body contact with surrounding objects), - convection (body with ambient air),
and - radiation (body with radiant heat of the environment). Meanwhile, metabolic heat
depends on body activity and ambient temperature.
c. Excessive heat exposure accompanied by metabolic heat as a result of work
activities will cause heat stress. This heat stress is caused by climatic (air
temperature, humidity, air movement speed and radiant heat) and non-climatic
factors (metabolic heat, work clothes and acclimatization level).

5. Effect of Work Climate Exposure

a. Work disturbance, discomfort - Heat  profuse sweating (Loss NaCl)  Dehydration
b. Health problems - Headache - Stomach nausea - Rapid fatigue - Firefly eyes

6. How to Heat Assessment

a. Wet Bulb and Globe Temperature Index (WBGT)
b. Index of Wetness and Ball Temperature

7. Parameter WBGT
- Parameter-Tools:
a. Natural wet temperature-Termometer Wet temperature
b. Dry Air Temperature-Dry Temperature Thermometer
c. Temperature Radiation-Termometer Temperature Globe
 d. Air Movement Speed-Anemometer

8. Heat Stress Measurement Tools

- Wet Bulb Globe Temperature
- Personal Heat Stress Monitor

9. Heat Stress Control

a. Eliminating heat sources
b. Replace tools, materials, and work processes that generate heat sources
c. Isolate or limit exposure to heat sources
d. Provide ventilation system (window, fan, blower, exhaust fan)
e. Provide drinking water
f. Regulate or limit exposure time to heat sources
g. Use of appropriate work clothes
h. Use of appropriate PPE
i. Perform other controls in accordance with technological developments

10. Noise

Subjective Noise is a sound that is unwanted by human hearing or unpleasant to

hear (any disturbing sound) that occurs unnaturally due to unnatural or repeated
collisions.

Objectively noise consists of complex vibrations of various frequencies and

amplitudes, both periodic and non-periodic.

Sound Bulls are vibrations that propagate through an elastic medium (e.g. air)
received by the ear and interpreted by the brain.

11. Hearing Loss by Noise

a. Accustic Trauma: - Noise level  140 dB - Can damage the tympanic membrane -
Immediate pain, loss of hearing - Decreased speech ability
 b. Temporary Threshold Shift: - Low noise level - itching inside the ear - ringing - can
recover, if exposure is stopped.
Permanent Threshold Shift: - When exposure continues, TTS - - -> PTS - Called
Noise Induced Sensorineural Hearing Loss

12. Noise Measurement Performed by THDP

a. Source
b. Spread
c. Recipients

13. Noise Measurement Method

Noise levels can be measured using a sound level meter. The sound level meter
provides a response that is more or less the same as the response of the human ear. After
that, the sound level meter can provide measurement results with noise units, namely
deciBel (dB).
Sound level meters usually have several units of sound pressure divided into A, B
and C scales. Noise level measurement uses A scale sound pressure (db(A)), because it
matches the characteristics of the normal human ear. Before taking noise measurements,
the sound level meter needs to be calibrated first.

14. Noise Control

a. Eliminate noise sources
b. Replace tools, materials, and work processes that create noise sources
c. Installing barriers, silencers, partial or complete closure of devices
d. Limiting exposure (working time arrangement)
e. Wear appropriate PPE (earmuffs, earplugs)
f. Controlling in accordance with technological developments

15. Vibration
Vibration is the regular or irregular movement of an object in an alternating
direction from its equilibrium position.
16. Vibration Types
a. Hand Arm Vibration
b. Whole Body Vibration

17. Vibration Monitoring and Standards

Vibration monitoring is divided into two areas:
Getaran lingkungan Nasional : Mengacu kepada Keputusan Menteri Negara Lingkungan
Hidup No. Kep-49/MENLH/11/1996
a. Getaran di tempat kerja Nasional : Mengacu kepada PERMENAKER No. 5 Tahun
2018 Tentang Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja Lingkungan Kerja
b. Internasional :
- Hand Arm Vibration ISO 5349, part 1 dan 2
- Whole body vibration ISO 2631

18. Vibration Control

a. Elimate vibration source
b. Replace tools, materials, and work processes that cause vibration source
c. Reducing vibration exposure by adding/inserting damping/pads/dampers between
tools and body parts in contact with work tools
d. Limiting vibration exposure (working time settings)
e. Wearing appropriate PPE (special vibration gloves)
f. Performing other controls in accordance with the development of

19. Lighting
Lighting intensity is the amount of light flux or lumens falling on a given area
per unit area..
Lux is a unit of lighting intensity that falls on a given area per square meter

20. Kind of Lighting

a. Natural Light
b. Artificial light
21. Lighting Souces
a. Natural lighting: Sunlight
b. Artificial light:
- Incandescent lamp, +15 lux/watt
- Halogen lamp, +18 lux/watt
- Fluorescent Lamp, +60 lux/watt
- LED light, +100 lux/watt

22. Lighting Type

1. General Lighting
2. Localized Lighting
3. Supplementary Lighting

23. Things that Can Lower Lighting Intensity

• Dust or dirt on the bulb
• The lamp is old
• Frosted (dirty) window glass
• Location of items that may block the entry of light

24. Lighting Measurement

a. Tools for measuring illumination : Lux Meter
b. Local illumination: Placement of photocells in the fall of light on objects seen by
workers in doing work.
c. General illumination: Measurement point at the intersection of the horizontal lines
of the length and width of the room, with a photocell at a height of 1 meter from the
floor, based on the area of the room.
25. Lux Meter Meaurement Method
a. Turn on the lux meter.
b. Ensure that the measurement scale range on the lux meter matches the measured
lighting intensity.
b. Open the sensor cover.
c. Perform an intermediate check, making sure that the reading that appears on the
screen shows zero when the sensor is closed tightly.
d. Take the device to the designated measurement point, either for general lighting
intensity measurement or local lighting.
e. Take measurements with the sensor height of the device 0.8 m from the floor for
general lighting intensity measurements.
f. Read the measurement results on the screen after waiting for a while so that a
stable numerical value is obtained.
g. Take measurements at the same point 3 times.
h. Record the measurement results on the field form
i. Turn off the lux meter after completing the lighting intensity measurement.

26. Impact of Lack of Lighting

a. Affects the source of the hazard (potential hazards in the vicinity are not visible)
b. Affects fatigue and eye disorders
c. Affects work posture/attitude (work attitude is not ergonomic)

27. Light Control

a. Maximize the use of natural light (transparent roofs, glass walls, open doors,
windows, etc.)
b. Replace all lamps with adequate light intensity (LED lamps)
c. If still less than standard, add local lighting.
28. Ultra Purple (Ultra Violet) Radiation
a. Ultra violet radiation is electromagnetic radiation (180-400 nm).
b. (180-400 nm)
c. Example: Sunlight, Welding

29. Impact of Ultra Purple Light on humans

a. burns,
b. skin damage
b. Eye damage (arc-eye, welder's flash).

30. UV Radiation Control

a. Eliminate UV sources
b. Isolate or limit UV exposure
c. Designing the workplace using radiation protection equipment
d. Provide a safe distance (>10 m)
e. Limiting exposure (working time arrangement)
f. Use of appropriate PPE
g. Performing other controls according to technological developments