Occupational Safety
Question 1
Shipping and receiving involve a lot of industrial parts lifting. Workers are likely to suffer from back injuries when lifting heavy parts during sending or and receiving of shipments. The damage caused by heavy lifting may be categorized into musculoskeletal injuries.
Metalwork lines produce a lot of noise and dust, and the anticipated hazard in metalworking lines is grinding. These hazards may be categorized as physical, and the route of exposure to dust is dermal and inhalation
The hydraulic press utilizes hydro fluid during the process, and these fluids are therefore likely to get into contact with workers’ skin causing allergies. The category of this hazard is chemical, and its route of exposure is considered as dermal.
Hand welding stations and robotic welding stations produce fumes during the industrial operation. This hazard may be categorized as both physical and chemical. Fumes produced may be toxic, causing eye irritation. Inhalation is hazard route of exposure
Paint booths require protective gear to prevent exposure to paint. Paint is the anticipated hazard, and it may be categorized as a chemical. Exposure to the paint fumes may occur through inhalation as the route of exposure while paint contact to the skin may use a dermal route
The quality control and quality assurance laboratory require a lot of lifting, and the anticipated hazard is lifting. Heavy lifting is likely to cause muscle injury, and this hazard may be categorized as musculoskeletal. The route of exposure may be physical.
Final inspections subject workers to prolonged standing or sitting, which may cause musculoskeletal injuries. The anticipated hazard in this process is repetitive movement, and the risk may be categorized as musculoskeletal (Fuller 10).
Question 2
Paint booth
On an initial visit to the plant, I would conduct an inspection of the paint booth to ensure that an eyewash station is available along with safety data sheets (SDS). Most paints are considered flamed, and as a result, I would pay attention to how the paints are stored, paying attention to the paint booths, flammable lockers, as well as the availability and accessibility of fire extinguishers in the paint storage area. Workers are also required to mix paint in the paint booth. I would observe whether or not they would use personal protective equipment (PPE)and whether or not they can use PPE properly. Special consideration will also be made on the type of personal protective equipment in use. The expected PPE in the paint booth is gloves to prevent chemical contact to skin, googles, to avoid eye irritation from fumes, Tyvek suits, and full-face or half-face respirators. Fume production is among the anticipated hazards in this process. Airflow will, therefore, be observed in the room and the availability of an exhaust necessary for preventing fumes build-ups. After the use of the personal protective gear, i would also take note of how they disposed of painting waste and other disposals.
Question 3
Information needed to anticipate health hazards in the eight areas within the fictional industry can be found in OSHA (Fuller 10). OSHA provides an extensive information base database for numerous industries
The AAP industrial plant involves the shipping and receiving of automotive parts. This process requires a lot of lifting during shipment and receiving of crates and boxes. Workers in the plant are therefore likely to suffer from back injuries, and as a result, the anticipated hazard is expected to be lifting. Quality control and quality assurance also involve a lot of lifting, sitting, and stands, as well as other repetitive processes. It is also likely to cause muscle injury and back injuries. The anticipated risk in these processes is, therefore, lifting and repetitive movements that are expected to way down on the employee.
Hydraulic press and the paint booth are anticipated to have chemical-based hazards. The hydraulic press fluids and paint from the paint booth are likely to get into contact with the worker’s skin causing allergies and potential long-term health effects. Metalworking lines produce noise due to grinding and require a lot of movement, the anticipated risk may be noise, and this requires sound blocking PPE
Robotic welding and hand welding stations are both fume emitters. Fumes are, therefore, the anticipated hazard in this process. Welding also requires the use of light-sensitive googles to protect welders in the case of hand welding from harmful light.
Question 4
The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines were set up to prevent workers from being exposed to recognized hazards, promote workplace health, and safe working conditions at workplaces (Fuller 24). Before the establishment of OSHA, there were very few accidents preventive measures put in place to prevent workers from injuries and or accidents. OSHA was later established to reduce the occurrence of work-related injuries and fatalities. The advancement of technology has resulted in more industrial automation, which in turn has led to an increase in hazards in workplaces. Industrial hygienists possess academic backgrounds such as risk assessment, toxicology, ergonomics, environmental science, among others, necessary in safeguarding industrial workers’ health as well as in developing relevant regulations (OSHA n.p). The industrial hygienist can, therefore, make an assessment of a plant like Acme Automotive Parts recognize potential hazards, make an evaluation of identified hazards and develop contingency measures likely to control the anticipated or perceived risk and, therefore, further safeguarding the interest of industrial workers at APP. With the help of OSHA industrial hygienist at APP can also make assessments necessary at protecting workers from potential long-term health effects that may arise from musculoskeletal damage, blindness, amputation, loss of hearing, and skin conditions.
Work Cited
Fuller, T. Essentials of industrial hygiene. Itasca, IL: National Safety Council. 2015.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration-OSHA. Informational booklet on industrial hygiene (OSHA Publication No., 3143). 1998. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3143/OSHA3143.htm