By Andreas Becker
Providing a comfortable work environment for workers is part of providing a healthy and safe workplace. This is not always practical but all reasonable efforts should be made to make the workplace as comfortable as possible.
Either sitting or standing for extended periods can be uncomfortable. Seating must be provided if it is reasonable for workers to carry out their work while seated. The type of seating should be designed in a way that is appropriate for the task at hand and should provide both comfort and stability. If it is necessary to perform the work standing seating can normally be provided for breaks.
Employers have a responsibility to provide workers with a smoke free environment. The laws relating to smoking in the workplace are the responsibility of the Ministry of health. The ill effects of smoking and passive smoking are well recognised. It is wise to develop a smoke free policy. This can then be referred to during recruitment, in employment agreements and other workplace policies. The policy and smoke free signs can be printed and displayed in prominent places around the workplace. All contractors should be notified of the smoke free policy. All employees should receive education and training about the smoke free policy and managers and supervisors should be trained in ways to manage breaches. If steps are not taken to provide a smoke free workplace employees are entitled to lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Health.
There are no maximum or minimum temperature set in law at which work must stop. This is because there are many factors that influence how much we are affected by air temperature. How hot we feel can be influenced by external factors such as air temperature, humidity and wind. This can be exacerbated by having to wear protective clothing, strenuous work, level of acclimatisation and insufficient breaks. It can be uncomfortable to feel hot and this can lower productivity and morale and as such the above factors should be controlled as much as possible. In extreme cases excessive exposure to heat can result in heat exhaustion and in some cases fatal heat stroke. All practicable steps need to be taken by both employers and employees to ensure that the level of heat exposure does not reach dangerous levels.
An employee can also experience stress when exposed to low temperatures. This can happen when they are required to work outside in the cooler months, at high altitude, in wet weather or in refrigerated environments. Wind chill factor needs to be taken into account even at moderate temperatures. It is important that employers ensure that employees wear appropriate protective clothing and that appropriate measures are taken. Some effects may be minor and result in only discomfort but greater cold stress can have serious consequences including death. When a worker is feeling the effects of cold stress they experience stiff joints, reduced muscle strength, loss of dexterity and is less mentally alert. As a result he will be more prone to accidents. Direct health effects of exposure to cold temperatures are those that affect the extremities such as frostnip and the more severe frostbite and those that affect the body's core such as hypothermia. Women are regarded as being at greater risk of cold injury as they are less able to increase their temperature by shivering or exercise. Other factors which affect the level of cold injury are increased age, fatigue, some drugs, alcohol and smoking.
Making sure that the working environment is comfortable is an important aspect of ensuring the health and safety of employees.
Either sitting or standing for extended periods can be uncomfortable. Seating must be provided if it is reasonable for workers to carry out their work while seated. The type of seating should be designed in a way that is appropriate for the task at hand and should provide both comfort and stability. If it is necessary to perform the work standing seating can normally be provided for breaks.
Employers have a responsibility to provide workers with a smoke free environment. The laws relating to smoking in the workplace are the responsibility of the Ministry of health. The ill effects of smoking and passive smoking are well recognised. It is wise to develop a smoke free policy. This can then be referred to during recruitment, in employment agreements and other workplace policies. The policy and smoke free signs can be printed and displayed in prominent places around the workplace. All contractors should be notified of the smoke free policy. All employees should receive education and training about the smoke free policy and managers and supervisors should be trained in ways to manage breaches. If steps are not taken to provide a smoke free workplace employees are entitled to lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Health.
There are no maximum or minimum temperature set in law at which work must stop. This is because there are many factors that influence how much we are affected by air temperature. How hot we feel can be influenced by external factors such as air temperature, humidity and wind. This can be exacerbated by having to wear protective clothing, strenuous work, level of acclimatisation and insufficient breaks. It can be uncomfortable to feel hot and this can lower productivity and morale and as such the above factors should be controlled as much as possible. In extreme cases excessive exposure to heat can result in heat exhaustion and in some cases fatal heat stroke. All practicable steps need to be taken by both employers and employees to ensure that the level of heat exposure does not reach dangerous levels.
An employee can also experience stress when exposed to low temperatures. This can happen when they are required to work outside in the cooler months, at high altitude, in wet weather or in refrigerated environments. Wind chill factor needs to be taken into account even at moderate temperatures. It is important that employers ensure that employees wear appropriate protective clothing and that appropriate measures are taken. Some effects may be minor and result in only discomfort but greater cold stress can have serious consequences including death. When a worker is feeling the effects of cold stress they experience stiff joints, reduced muscle strength, loss of dexterity and is less mentally alert. As a result he will be more prone to accidents. Direct health effects of exposure to cold temperatures are those that affect the extremities such as frostnip and the more severe frostbite and those that affect the body's core such as hypothermia. Women are regarded as being at greater risk of cold injury as they are less able to increase their temperature by shivering or exercise. Other factors which affect the level of cold injury are increased age, fatigue, some drugs, alcohol and smoking.
Making sure that the working environment is comfortable is an important aspect of ensuring the health and safety of employees.
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