Chapter 5 Homework

Page 136 Exercise 1#

There are several physical agents in an office environment like as bank, research lab which poses
a greater risk to customer, employees, and contracted cleaners. Some common physical agents
and their risk to customer and employee explained below:
Noise: Several elements of office produce noisy environment like printers, HVAC systems and
telephone.
Employee: Such noisy agents may result a loss of hearing, reduce the productivity and
concentration of employee.
Danger for customers: May result an uneasy environment affecting the communication
Contracted Staff: If any more sound producing cleaning equipment like vacuum cleaner
is used, may create risk for contracted staff
Lighting environment:
Elements of environment responsible for causing such risk can be natural light from windows
and computer screens.
Employee: If there is poor lighting, employee may feel headache, eye strain and fatigue
whereas vision problems may result because of glare from screens.
Customers: risk is minimal such that poorly lit can cause discomfort environment
Contracted staff: During cleaning, if the light is poor, may result the accident.
Ergonomics:
Elements such as office furniture, setting up the computer can arise the risk of problem
Employees: If ergonomic setup is poor, this may result back pain, chest pain, neck pain,
musculoskeletal disorders and other strain problem.
Customers: May feel uncomfortable while seating
Contracted Staff: cleaning equipment when not handled properly may result to MSDs
and other muscle strain problems.

Solutions:
 Implementation of sound absorbing devices
 Timely monitoring and checking lighting systems
 Timely assessments of ergonomic materials.
In a nut shell, such physical agents can be properly managed ensuring risk to every one can be
potentially reduced creating a more comfortable working environment.
Case Study 2 Page 137#
As a newly hired human resource specialist, you are touring the floor of the manufacturing plant. You are
surprised to see that many workers are wearing their hearing protectors around the neck like a necklace
instead of covering their ears. Moreover, the style seems to be to wear safety glasses perched on top of
the head rather than in a position that would protect eyes. Employees working with acids are doing so in
street clothes and barehanded, although rubber gloves and safety aprons are hanging on hooks next to
the workstations. Even from your brief tour, it is clear that the company has invested in the best personal
protective equipment available. Yet workers do not seem to be using the equipment to protect
themselves. One of your new responsibilities is health and safety programming. What do you do?

As a human resource specialist, I would take the following steps for improving the observed
issues:
 I would immediately conduct a detailed safety audit either by making an observation of
areas and different shifts, taking note of time, location, try to find the reason why workers
not wearing PPE correctly.
 I will make them aware about the potential risk of not using PPE in correct way and
conduct a training program to establish a safety culture
 I will allow workers to use PPE maintain safety guidelines such that it is more acceptable
 Regular inspections of PPE to ensure the safety protocols and start a feedback mechanism
for workers about the safety practices.

To sum, If I can address such issues in a good way, only then a safe working environment can be
formed where safety of all employees is prioritized.