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HWS Midterm, 5_6

Chapter 5 discusses physical agents like radiation, noise, vibration, and thermal stress, highlighting their sources, health effects, and control measures. Chapter 6 focuses on biological and chemical agents, detailing biohazards, chemical toxicity, routes of exposure, and protective measures such as PPE and WHMIS. Both chapters emphasize the importance of monitoring and controlling exposure to prevent injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

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10 views

HWS Midterm, 5_6

Chapter 5 discusses physical agents like radiation, noise, vibration, and thermal stress, highlighting their sources, health effects, and control measures. Chapter 6 focuses on biological and chemical agents, detailing biohazards, chemical toxicity, routes of exposure, and protective measures such as PPE and WHMIS. Both chapters emphasize the importance of monitoring and controlling exposure to prevent injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

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sameen
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 5: Physical Agents

Physical Agents: sources of energy that may cause injury or diseases ex. radiation, noise, vibrations
○​ Ambient: all-encompassing condition around us ex. ventilation system
○​ Acute: result from a single exposure
●​ 1. Radiation: day-to-day exposure. i.e LED, foods, phones
○​ Ionizing Radiation: any form of electromagnetic energy capable of producing ions
through interaction with matter
■​ X rays gamma rays, alpha/beta particles, neurons, higher energy, UVC rays
○​ Control includes: monitoring, shielding, protective equipment
○​ Measured in REMS
○​ Non Ionizing Radiation: does not have energy great enough to turn matter into ions
■​ UV, Microwave, Radio, Visible. SUN can be source of all
■​ Control includes: isolation and seperation
○​ Electronic Personal Meters: allows workers to measure the levels of ionizing radiation
they are exposed to
●​ 2. Noise: any unwanted sound and is the most common workplace hazard (i.e construction
workers, farmers, cafeteria)
■​ Threshold of hearing: Range of sound you can hear.
■​ 3 characteristics: frequency, duration, loudness
Types of hearing loss (Physiological):
■​ Conductive Hearing loss: retsricts transmission of sound to cohlea
■​ Sensorineural Hearing: irreversible, affects cochlea
■​ TTS: Temporary reduction in hearing sensitivity
■​ PTS: permanent hearing disability
○​ Tinnitus
○​ Early Warning Change: deterioration in hearing in upper frequency
○​ Vasoconstriction: The process of causing a constriction of the blood
○​ Vessels Hyperreflexia: The condition of rapid, quick reaction, by the nerves to some
external stimulus
○​ Attenuated: Reduction of noise at one location compared to another farther from the
source
●​ Noise Control
○​ Sound Pressure Level Meter (Decibel Meter): Measures gross noise level
○​ Octave Band Analyzer: Measures noise level in each frequency range
○​ Audiometer: Instrument used to determine sensitivity of a person’s hearing, Tests your
ability to hear sounds; does not measure noise levels
■​ Source (make it quieter), Path (move away from it), Human (PPE)

●​ 3. Vibration: oscillating motion of body- difficult to control and less awareness


○​ Resonance/Segmental vibration: vibrations that affect only parts of the body
○​ Whole-body vibration: vibrations that affect the whole body as a unit
Health Effects:
■​ Sore joints, neck shoulder muscles
■​ Raynuads ‘white fingers’
■​ Necrosis (decay)
■​ Resonance: The effect when an object reacts to frequency
■​ Decalcification
●​ 4. Thermal stress: extreme hot or cold temperatures
○​ Homeostasis: The balance of heat generation​ ​
3 Methods of Heat Gain or Loss
○​ Conduction – when two surfaces are in contact (e.g., the skin touches a hot stove,
resulting in a local burn
○​ Convection – when one surface adds heat to the surroundings (e.g., the skin is close to
airow emanating from a heater)
○​ Radiation – when energy is transmitted by electromagnetic waves (e.g., the skin is
exposed to sunlight)
●​ Heat-Related Illnesses
○​ Heat edema ​ ​
○​ Heat rash (blocked sweat ducts trap sweat under the skin)
○​ Heat cramps (muscle spasms from electrolyte imbalance)
○​ Heat stroke (classical heat stroke or exertional heat stroke)
Risk Factors for Cold-Related Illnesses
○​ Age, gender, fatigue, diseases, health conditions, consuming drugs or alcohol, smoking
Injuries
○​ Non-freezing: chilblains – painful inammation of small blood vessels in your skin
○​ Freezing: frostnip and frostbite ​
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Chapter 6: Biological and Chemical Agents


●​ Agents: Any substances, chemical or biological, to which a human may be exposed at work or at
home
●​ 1. Biohazards: Hazards created by exposure to infectious microorganisms, proteins, or
nucleic acids
○​ Chain of Infection: The process and conditions by which biological: agents are spread
from one host to another
○​ Reservoir: The home or environment where the biological agent grows and multiplies
○​ Portal of exit: The path by which a biohazardous agent leaves its host
○​ Mode of transmission: The means or channel by which an agent is carried from one host
to another
○​ Portal of entry: The path by which a biohazardous agent gains access to a new host
○​ Susceptible host: An individual or animal that becomes infected with a biohazardous
agent
■​ Biological Agents: Natural organisms or products of organisms that present
a risk to humans
●​ Legionnaires’ disease
●​ AIDS
●​ SARS
●​ Exposure to biohazards is not as common as exposure to chemical
agents

2. Chemical Agents: Hazards created by exposure to chemicals


○​ ​Toxicity: Ability to cause injury to human biological tissue
○​ Aerosols: Airborne respirable contaminants, such as liquid droplets or solid particulate,
dispersed in air, that are of a fine enough particle size
○​ Physiological reactions to low-level chemical exposures in the environment: Headaches,
dry nasal passages, and nausea

3. Toxicology: study of poisons, chemical OI (bases more severe than acids)


4 routes of entry
○​ Respiration
○​ Skin absorption
○​ Ingestion
○​ Skin Penetration
■​ Most human exposure to chemicals comes from breathing airborne contaminants
i.e Silica
5 basic levels of protection within the respiratory tract
○​ Nose
○​ Interior of the nasal passage
○​ Mucus/cilia
○​ Lung passages
○​ Alveoli (tiny air sacs at the ends of the lung's air passages)

Skin Absorption
○​ Chemical contact with the skin is a common occurrence
○​ Chemicals not absorbed through skin may produce localized irritation (dermatitis)
○​ Burns or blisters can result from contact with acids or alkalis (chemical action)
○​ Skin disorders can result from contact with certain plants (biological action)
○​ Skin damage can result from contact with radiation or heat (physical action)

Ingestion
○​ Poor personal hygiene, eating, drinking, or smoking in an area where solvents are
used
○​ Ingestion of most solvents causes damage to lining of digestive system
○​ Ingested solvent may be absorbed into bloodstream and carried to organs where it
will produce toxic effects

Penetration
○​ Occurs when skin is cut or punctured by any sharp object
○​ Type of contamination on the source, such as a knife or needle (doctors, nurses) , will
determine possible trauma or illness
○​ Disorders range in seriousness from low grade infections to HIV
​
Characteristics and properties that make solvents hazardous and toxic:

○​ Low surface tension – spreads quickly/wetting


○​ High vapour pressure – increased volume of vapour​ ​ ​ ​
○​ Low heat of vaporization – energy required to turn liquid into gas/vapour.
○​ High volatility – speed of evaporation
○​ Ability to dissolve fats​ ​ ​ ​
○​ Flammability
○​ Vaporization – volume of vapour from a given volume of liquid.
○​ Low boiling point – temperature liquid to gas

4. Solvents

Inorganic Solvents
●​ Acids
○​ Hydrochloric acid, Sulphuric acid, Chromic acid
○​ Highly corrosive
○​ Used for refining and processing metals
●​ Bases (alkalines)
○​ Potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride
Organic Solvents
○​ Petrochemically based
○​ Manufactured by combining carbon atom with a great many other elements

Engineering Controls
○​ Substitution with less hazardous solvents

○​ Process enclosure exhaust ventilation


○​ Closed systems
○​ Maintenance of engineering control systems
○​ Vapour recovery system
○​ Control of ignition systems

Administrative Controls
○​ Safe operating and emergency procedures
○​ Use and care of PPE
○​ Handling and control of agents
○​ Training must be conducted on an ongoing basis, given that new solvents and other
agents are continually entering the workplace

WHMIS
○​ Comprehensive communication system outlining the safe use of hazardous products via:
product labels
Safety data sheets (SDS)
■​ Identify potentially harmful materials
■​ Present information about the nature of materials and their harmful effects
■​ Provide guidance on how to handle safely
○​ Hazards classes and categories: All hazardous materials are organized by group, class,
category, and type
○​ 2 types of Labels: Supplier and Workplace

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)


○​ The most commonly used protection device is a respirator
■​ Respiratory protection is more specialized for biohazards than it is for chemical
agents
○​ PPE for hands, face, and other body parts must be provided where necessary

Medical Surveillance
○​ Pre- Pre-employment and preplacement Medical examinations
○​ Recordkeeping is an important component
○​ Personal Hygiene

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