Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
having.been.exposed.to.cresols,.even.a.short.exposure.in.the.sun.usually.results.in.
severe.sunburn.
Nonionizing. radiation,. although. perceived. not. to. be. as. dangerous. as. ionizing.
radiation,.does.have.its.share.of.adverse.health.effects.accompanying.it.
vIBrAtIon
Vibrating. tools. and. equipment. at. frequencies. between. 40. and. 90. hertz. can. cause.
damage.to.the.circulatory.and.nervous.systems.. Care.must.be.taken.with.low.fre-
quencies,.which.have.the.potential.to.put.workers.at.risk.for.vibration.injuries..One.
of.the.most.common.cumulative.trauma.disorders.(CTDs).resulting.from.vibration.
is.Raynaud's.Syndrome..Its.most.common.symptoms.are.intermittent.numbness.and.
tingling.in.the.ingers,.skin.that.turns.pale,.ashen,.and.cold,.and.eventual.loss.of.sen-
sation.and.control.in.the.ingers.and.hands..Raynaud's.comes.about.by.use.of.vibrat-
ing.hand.tools.such.as.palm.sanders,.planers,.jack-hammers,.grinders,.and.buffers..
When.such.tools.are.required.for.a.job,.an.assessment.should.be.made.to.determine.
if.any.other.method(s).can.be.used.to.accomplish.the.desired.task..If.not,.other.tech-
niques,.such.as.time/use.limitations,.alternating.workers,.or.other.such.administra-
tive.actions,.should.be.considered.to.help.reduce.the.potential.for.a.vibration-induced.
CTD..The.damage.caused.by.vibrating.tools.can.be.reduced.by
•.
Using.vibration.dampening.gloves
•.
Purchasing.low.vibration.tools.and.equipment
•.
Putting.antivibration.material.on.handles.of.existing.tools
•.
Reducing.length.of.exposure
•.
Changing.the.actual.work.procedure.if.possible
•.
Using.balanced.and.dampening.tools.and.equipment
•.
Rotating.workers.to.decrease.exposure.time
•.
Decreasing.the.pace.of.the.job.as.well.as.the.speed.of.tools.or.equipment
Individuals. subject. to. whole-body. vibration. have. experienced. visual. problems;.
vertebral.degeneration;.breathing.problems;.motion.sickness;.pains.in.the.abdomen,.
chest,. and. jaw;. backache;. joint. problems;. muscle. strain;. and. problems. with. their.
speech..Although.there.are.still.many.questions.regarding.vibration,.it.is.deinite.that.
physical.problems.can.transpire.from.exposure.to.vibration.
WorkPlAce stress
All.of.us.need.a.certain.amount.of.stress.to.keep.us.alert.or.just.to.keep.us.going..
How.much.stress.is.good.and.how.much.is.bad.is.always.the.question..Because.so.
many.individual.differences.exist.for.workers,.it.is.nearly.impossible.to.predict.what.
is.too.much.stress.or.too.little.stress..Some.individuals.thrive.on.stress.while.others.
have.adverse.bodily.reactions.to.stress..No.exacting.measurement.can.predict.stress.
levels..Those.instruments.that.are.used.are.often.based.upon.very.subjective.factors.
and.judgments.
