PHYSICAL HAZARDS

Physical Hazards
 Noise

 Vibration

 Extreme Temperature

 Illumination

 Radiation
Ear Anatomy
NOISE
Types of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

 Temporary Threshold Shift (auditory fatigue)

 temporary loss of hearing acuity after exposure to
loud noise
 recovery within 16-48 hrs

 Permanent Threshold Shift

 irreversible loss of hearing
NOISE
Early Signs of Hearing Loss
• Difficulty in understanding spoken words in a
noisy environment
• Need to be near or look at the person
speaking to help understand words
• Familiar sounds are muffled
• Complaints that people do not speak clearly
• Ringing noises in the ears (tinnitus)
NOISE
Other Harmful Effects of
Noise

• Hypertension
• Hyperacidity
• Palpitations
• Disturbs relaxation and sleep
 NOISE
Occupational Deafness is a kind of sensor neural
hearing loss. It is caused by prolonged exposure to nois
at work which results in the damage of the nerve cells of
the inner ear.
Who are at risk?

Farmers, civil engineers, construction workers, factory

workers, mining engineers, musicians and music

teachers,
airline workers, police, soldiers, pilots
VIBRATION
 Physical factor which affects man by
transmission of mechanical energy from
oscillating sources

 Types
 Segmental vibration

 Whole body vibration

BOSH Training 2009 OSHC

 VIBRATION
Continuous work with such machines affects hands
and arms. The blood vessels of fingers may become
increasingly sensitive to spasm
Who are at risk?
Hammer drill operators, chain saw

operators,

Bulldozer drivers, loader drivers,

people working with pumps,

compressors and generators

Segmental Vibration:
• Health Effects:
— Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

— tingling, numbness, blanching of fingers

— pain
Whole Body Vibration:
 Health effects:
 Fatigue

 Irritability

 Headache

 Disorders of the spine

EXTREME TEMPERATURE

 Sources of heat stress:

 Natural Conditions
 Hot work processes related to furnaces, kilns,
boilers and smelting
 Health Effects of Heat Stress
Disorders Clinical features

Prickly Heat (Miliaria rubra) Pruritic rash

Heat cramps Cramps in the body,

usually legs

Heat exhaustion Dizziness, fainting attack,

blurring of vision, cold,
clammy and sweaty skin
Heat stroke Cyanosis, muscle
twitchings, disorientation,
delirium, convulsions
EXTREME TEMPERATURE

 Sources of Cold Environment:

 Ice plants and freezers in the food industry

Health Effects of Cold Temperature

 Frostbite: reddening of skin,

localized burning pain and
numbness. Fingers, toes, cheeks,
nose, ears are most susceptible.

 trench foot or immersion foot:

numbness, pain, cramps,
ulceration and gangrene.
Inadequate Illumination
Health Effects
 Visual Fatigue

 Double Vision

 Headaches

 Painful irritation

 Lacrimation

 Conjunctivitis
 Who are at risk?

Those working in manufacturing factories ,

researchers/scientists,
nuclear power industry,
Nuclear engineers,
physicians and some health workers.

BOSH Training 2009 OSHC

 RADIATION
Types Sources Health Effects
Ionizing X-rays Cancer, congenital
Gamma rays defects, death

Non-ionizing Ultraviolet skin redness, premature

skin ageing, and skin
cancer
corneal and conjunctival
Infrared
burns, retinal injury,
cataract
Laser Skin and eye problem