Environmental Hazards and Toxicity-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Environmental Hazards and Toxicity. Answer: Introduction Weather is becoming warmer and warmer, throughout the world, because of the increasing ambient temperature and the resultant global warming. The condition of the workers in the weather that is humid and hotter increases the heat stress risk, especially, for those, who are working in open and no shaded surfaces. Hence, additional care has to be taken care for the open place working workers, to ensure safe working conditions and hazardless environment. The risk assessment for the heat stress is developed for ensuring safe working conditions, by ensuring them to prevent the workers from any possibilities of developing the heat stress. Heat Stress Heat is generated, basically within the body itself and also gets acquired from the environment, externally. The extra heat generated in the body is lost from the body, by the attempts of sweat evaporation from the surface of the skin. If the body is cold, excess heat is generated through shivering. Heat stress is the result of heat accumulation exceeding the bodys ability for removing this excess heat. Core temperature is maintained by a human body and it is done in a range that is very narrow. When this limit is exceeded, failure of the vital organs will be resulted and eventually, the human may die after becoming unconscious. The mechanism of the main human body is losing the heat that is in excess, through sweat evaporation. The sweat evaporation causes to lose only water, so that much heat is not lost, from the body (WSH, 2010). Sweat evaporation involves the process of changes of sweat from the state of liquid to gas. More sweat evaporation is done for the lower moisture content of the air, relatively and when the moisture content is high, less evaporation gets occurred, in high relative humidity. When the physical work is intense, more than one litre of sweat or liquid can be lost, in an hour, in the form of sweating. In case, the loss of this body fluid is in larger amounts, through the sweating process, the result would be dehydration and it results in blood circulation impairment and also the body temperature regulation. So, replacement of water should be done through frequent drinking of water for maintaining adequate hydration, so that the mechanism of sweating of human functions optimally. Risks Though continuous intake of water is done, in the heat, there is a possibility of the heat stress, since the body continuously tries to remove the heat that is excess. The syndromes of the heat stress are heat cramps, heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Heat Cramps This earliest sign is the muscle tonic contraction symptom of cramping in the legs. It is usually, because of the electrolyte and fluid losses from huge sweating and happens after heavy physical work. The treatment for this is replacing electrolytes and fluid and taking rest. Heat Stroke Heat stoke occurs, when extra heat was unable to remove, because of increase of core temperature. It results in inability to talk, become unconscious and lose functions of bowel and bladder and may fail the seating mechanism. It may damage the vital body organs, like kidney, brain, liver. If it not treated in time, it may result in death. The treatment is to alert the workers and first aiders. Immediate attention must be sought by the worker, if he or she feels dizzy, unwell, painful cramps, headache or if anyone collapses. The body has to be cooled, preferably in an air conditioned area, sponge with water, after, removing cloths and then fanning. Circulation has to be restored and legs are to be elevated one foot above the ground. Then ambulance has to be called for sending to the hospital. Heat Exhaustion It occurs, when the electrolytes and water are lost from the body, as it effects the flow of blood to the vital organs. The symptoms are dizziness, feeling weak or even fainting, vision blurring, headaches and abdominal pain. Sweat is continued and body temperature is higher. The treatment would be electrolytes and fluids replacement, cooling the body and physical activity cessation (WSH, 2010). Then move the person to the area of air-condition or cooler place, sponge down after removing cloths, wet with cloth or towel and fan. Elevate the legs to above one foot above teh ground. Risks Associated The heat stress, if increased to an extent of uncontrollable condition could result into the heat stroke development. And the consequences of the heat stress would be serious. WSH Factors of Heat Stress in the Workplace There are three important factors that contribute the heat stress in the site, of the company (WSH, 2012). Factors, related to the personal workers, such as acclimatisation, hydration, general health condition, age, alcohol consumption, diabetes, immune suppression, obesity and other medical conditions Nature or type of work, such as rate of work, work load, cloths worn, type of work Environment of work, such as humidity, temperature, ventilation Companys Responsibility Heat stress and the resulting heat stroke would have serious conditions and hence, the management and other stakeholders have to take important measurements of minimizing the risk of the heat stress, as they are responsible to act under (Workplace Safety and Health) Act. Regulations of WSH, Singapore, risk management need conducting the risk assessment by the workplaces, so that measures are taken for reducing and eliminating the risks. It demands acclimatization of the workers in the local conditions of weather, before the operations begin (WSH, 2010). Since, the workers are planned to arrive two weeks prior to the operations, the two weeks time has to be utilized in such a way that they get acclimatized to the conditions of the local weather. (Stephan Constantin, 2012) Risk Assessment Specifics Against the heat stress Against the open working Against work load According to WSH, Singapore Recommendations Preventive Actions and Measures It is important that the risk assessment includes the following measurements to be taken, so that maximum risk of the heat stress can be prevented (Hale Ytehus, 2004). Provide polyolefine coveralls to all the workers and set its wet bulb global temperature to 29,50 Temporary shelters have to be arranged within the site, so resting is possible, during shorter and regular periods. All the workers have to go through Construction Safety Orientation Course to be aware of the heat stress issues. Change the timings of total 8 or 10 hours of working, in such a way that the first 4 or 5 hours are allocated from early in the morning and finish the first half, earlier. And second half should be started just four hours before the light fails (WSH, 2013). So, lunch break should be given between 11AM to 3PM. It is possible, since all the workers are accommodated by the company. The accommodation is recommended to be maintained closer to the site, so that they can have enough time to sleep, during the night, without wasting time much in travel. It should ensure that the temperature should not be exceeding 290C and the relative humidity to 85%, according to the WSH Act (WSH, 2010). Breaks to be given after every 1 hour of working for fluid intake. Lemon water can improve the stamina to work in the hotter weather, with less exhaustive nature. Conduct outdoor activities for the workers during the two weeks prior to the beginning of work, towards acclimatisation. Maintain an AC room near the workplace. Make the cool drinking and sports drinking water closer to the workers and also ensure that the workers have 500 ml water, every hour. First aid equipment and necessary materials. First aider and doctor to be present always in the site, during The companys park construction comes under Heat Stress 2, since the workers work under sun. Initially, the workload has to be 2 days and should be gradually increased. Requisites The company is requested to provide the following equipment, infrastructure and the necessary budget. Equipment, infrastructure, Material and Others Sports drinking water, supplied closer to every part of the operational site. One air conditioned room to accommodate the workers to rest for a while, before and after the shift and in case of any heat strokes. Temporary Shades WBGT Monitor First aid First aider Doctor close to the site Contact numbers of ambulance, hospital Risk supervisor Other facilities Budget Request The budget required - S.No. Facility Budget in USD 1 Sports drinking water 500 2 One air conditioned room 1000 3 WBGT Monitor 100 4 Temporary Shades 100 5 First aid 50 6 First aider 1000 7 Doctor close to the site 1500 8 Risk Supervisor 1500 9 Polyolefine Coveralls 1000 10 Other facilities 250 The total budget required is = 7000 USD Evaluation Measures Ensure personal fitness enough to work in construction of the park, before appointment of the worker. Conduct medical test after one week of the initiation of the work, to ensure the acclimatisation of the workers. Ensure checklist of the risk assessment factors to be verified, every day, before the shift begins. Report to Company The parking construction project is carried in the open sun, with no shade and so the risk assessment, risk factors and recommendations, along with the budget are provided in the report. It is requested to provide the recommended facilities, according to the WSH Act. Conclusion Risk assessment has been performed after a detailed exploration of heat stress, its causes, factors and treatments. Risk assessment is performed to prevent the accidents and hazards and the recommendations are provided in the report. References WSH Council, 2010, Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines: Managing Heat Stress in the Workplace, Workplace Safety and Health Council. WSH Council, 2012, Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management Workplace Safety and Health Council. WSH Council, 2013, Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines Statutory Medical Examination Workplace Safety and Health Council. WSH Council, 2008, Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines Healthcare Workplace Safety and Health Council. WSHC, 2008, Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines - Hotels, Food and Beverage, Workplace Safety and Health Council. 2006, Occupational Safety and Health Management System, Fanning, F. E., 2003, Basic Safety Administration A Handbook for the New Safety Specialist, American Society of Safety Engineers, Chicago Ladou, Joseph, 2006,Current Occupational Environmental Medicine,4th ed. McGraw-Hill Professional.. Roughton, James, 2002,Developing an Effective Safety Culture: A Leadership Approach, 1st ed. Butterworth-Heinemann Stephan, Constantin, 2012, Industrial Health, Safety and Environmental Management, 3rd edition, epubli, Berlin. Hale A, Ytehus I, 2004, Changing requirements for the safety profession: roles and tasks, Journal of Occupational Health Safety, Australia and New Zealand Della, Giustina, Daniel, E. 2000, Developing a Safety and Health Program, Lewis Publishers, New York