Analysis of Health and Healthy for Vibration with Hong Kong Construction Industry - Essay Example

Analysis of Health and Healthy for Vibration with Hong Kong Construction Industry By: Professor: Class: University: City: State: Date of submission: Analysis of Health and Healthy for Vibration with Hong Kong Construction Industry Introduction Workers within the construction industry are exposed to different hazardous materials and physical agents including welding fumes, organic solvents, radiation, and vibration. Excessive exposure to such agents could result in result, permanent disability, and chronic illness within the sites. According to The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, poor working environments and health conditions could contribute to loss of concentration of the workers, which increases accident risks (Government of Alberta, 2010). The major feature of the construction industry is high labour turnover, frequently changing working environments, and condition of the working site. Moreover, other feature includes different work types undertaken simultaneously by different contractors (The Victorian Trades Hall Council: Occupational Health and Safety, 2015). The integration of these factors would further increase the health risk of the workers within the sites. Within the construction industry, many jobs involve utilization of the hand-held power tools including the pneumatic breakers and disc grinders. However, the vibration from these equipments could contribute to carpel tunnel syndrome among the employees, which mainly affects their fingers and hands. In the end, vibrations from the machines would contribute in permanent damage of the nerves, which in turn leads to loss of sense of touch and dexterity (Healthy Working Lives, 2012). With such challenges within the construction, the Department of Labour in Hong Kong has been enacting legislation to regulation the vibration levels. The regulations require, where possible, the constructors should use low vibration tools, which is vital to maintain to ensure that they are balanced with no loose parts. Additionally, the regulations also recommend wearing of the anti-vibration gloves in a bid to reduce the harmful effects associated with vibration on the workers. Vibration Workplace Environments Like in any other place, employees within the construction sector in Hong Kong are exposed frequently to vibration at work. The effects on people are similar including reduction in the performance of the employees and damaging their health conditions. In Hong Kong, there have been several efforts made by both the legislators and the manufacturers of the machinery used within the construction industry to cut the level of risk (Zhu et al., 2014). Vibration produced from the tools and machinery used within the construction industry could be a function of the working principle of the tools, which could as well result from the external influences. The major cause of the vibration from the construction sites are the unbalanced mass of the rotating parts of the machines, friction that occurs between various components of the machine and bearing, and external and internal forces responsible for the creation of shocks. There are two categories of vibration on the employees: hand-arm and whole-body vibration. However, both types of vibration are transmitted through hands and feet to the whole body. The ISO 2631-2: Mechanical vibration and shock - evaluation of human exposure to whole body vibration - part 2: vibration in buildings mainly focuses on whole body vibration and defines the scope of human exposure. Considering that some constructors in Hong Kong still utilize the old technologies, employees still use the hand-held or the manually guided machines. The hand-arm vibrations are transmitted through the handle of the machinery. The workers exposed to such vibrations usually suffer from various syndromes including hand-arm vibration syndrome, which is responsible for neurological and motor disorders within the hands and fingers of the employees in Hong Kong. Other forms of disorders are circulatory disorder that affect the fingers and the musculoskeletal system disorder. Construction Site Obligations According to Health and Safety Executive, (2008, pp.5), it is an obligation that the employer undertakes various processes of risk identification and assessment within the workplace where vibration is considered hazardous. However, the Hong Kong legal structure requires documentation of results. If the exposure action values are exceeded, then it is important the employer undertake various measures of reducing vibration. The law requires consideration of various factors including the alternative work procedures, suitability of working equipment, workplace design, personal protective and supplementary machinery, and adequate information of proper utilization of the vibrating machines. Guidelines for consideration of non-employee are also highlighted in the Health and Safety Executive. (2008, pp.10) and The Victorian Trades Hall Council: Occupational Health and Safety (2015). Moreover, it is vital to consider factors such as maintenance programmes for the organizational equipment and systems, limiting the exposure duration, suitable clothing for protecting the employees against cold and damp, and appropriate shifts and schedules with work breaks. Under circumstance should the level of exposure exceed the exposure limit value. Nonetheless, should the workplace environment exceed the required exposure limit, then it is the obligation of the employers to take immediate measures of reducing the exposure levels below the limit values. Usually, the employees exposed to vibration risks needs to be informed of the results from risk assessment. In addition, the employers have to develop proactive measures of subsequently instructing the employees. If the working environments exceed the exposure action limit, then the workers are entitled to various occupational health examinations with an aim of ensuring prevention and early diagnosis of disorders associated with vibrations (Health and Safety Executive, 2008). While working on the temporary or mobile construction site, the client, project supervisor, and employers need to comply with the required legal framework on coordination of workplace health and safety issues during the preparation and execution stages of the project. In addition, it is vital that supervisor or the client of the project put in place workplace safety and health plan before concentrating on the site. The prevention of risks associated with vibration needs to be considered by the supervisors of the project from the early stage of project preparation while planning different stages of work. Furthermore, it is vital that health and safety coordinators develop safety and health plan while considering the activities within the site with inclusion of specific measures of preventing the vibration risks (Buchholz & Kittusamy, n.d). During the execution stage of the construction project, health and safety coordinators need to ensure that the working conditions and procedures are implemented properly, and the site follows the required general principles of safety and prevention in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Vibration Legal Framework The government undertook a comprehensive review within Hong Kong construction industry with focus on safety issues while mapping out the long-term safety plans in 1995. The undertaken review concluded that for Hong Kong to acquire the required standard of safety and health within the working environment, the industry has to hold self-regulation and safety management. From the review, it was recommended that the government establish a framework that would ensure self-regulation achievable thorough industrial system of safety management (International Organization for Standardization, 2007). It is from such background that the government developed a safety management system that consisting of 14 different elements. Through the years, the government has been promoting the system through launching different pilot schemes, publication of Occupational Safety Charter, developing a guide for Safety Management, and organizing different promotional and seminar activities. Currently, in Hong Kong, the framework is enshrined within the Factories and Industries Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulations, which is majorly referred to as the Safety Management Regulations. Under the Safety Management Regulation, it is a requirement that the constructors and employers develop, implement, and maintain concerning the undertakings of safety management system containing several process elements. Moreover, it is important to regularly audit and review the requirements (Health and Safety Executive, 2008). Occupational Health and Safety regulations require the proprietors to undertake reasonably practicable measures with an aim of eliminating or minimizing the risk. Usually, there are different methods of controlling the vibration risks ranked from the highest protection level and the reliability of the lowest level. In some cases, the ranking is referred to as the hierarchy of control, which the employers must work through in managing the risks sustainably. Regulation 6: Elimination or control of exposure to vibration at the workplace highlights the appropriate measures for eliminating vibration risks (Health Safety Executive, 2008). If the risks cannot be eliminated, then it is vital to consider implementing different alternatives. These measures include substituting the high-vibration tools with the machinery producing lower vibration emission levels and considering replacement of the older tools with the new ones to reduce the level of vibration. Moreover, the employers could as well isolate the path taken by vibration to reach the hands of the employees. For example, on the grinder, the employers could add rubber bush to the sides of the handle with an aim of reducing vibration that the machinery transmits to the supporting hand (Department of Environment Malaysia, 2007). Additionally, it is vital to consider the application of various engineering controls through modification of the available machinery to the extent of either minimize the level of vibration or prevent the produced vibrations from moving to the hand from the tool. However, if the employers find implementation of factors difficult, then it is vital to consider various control mechanisms with an aim of minimizing the remaining risks (Government of Alberta, 2010). These measures include using various administrative controls such reducing the duration of working especially if the employees are using high vibration tool through establishing job rotations. According to Health Safety Executive (2010), information, instruction, and training for employees states that using the personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves for protecting the hand from the wet surfaces or environmental conditions, which could increase the probability of finger blanching. However, it is vital to note that anti-vibration gloves are ineffective in minimization of vibration transmission to the hand. Besides, depending on the frequency of vibration, the level of transmission could increase. Nonetheless, it is important to avoid using thick gloves since the lack of feel they present could make the workers more firmly than the required level, which could as well increase the level of fatigue and transmission from the vibration. Through combining various control measures in cases where a single is not enough, the contractors could adequately reduce the level of risks. According to Part 2 of The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005: Assess Vibration Risks And Develop An Action Plan For Control, it is important to consider all the possible measures of controlling vibrations and making decisions regarding on the best mechanism of controlling the vibration rates in the workplace. Additionally, Healthy Working Lives (2012): Legal duties and obligations around vibration highlight the role of both the employees and employers relating to The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. Deciding on the mechanism considered reasonably practicable involves considering the availability and suitability of different measures through utilizing substitution method, engineering controls, and isolation with an aim of reducing the risks before concentrating on the administrative control measures. Moreover, the employers also need to measure the level of employees’ exposure to vibrations (International Organization for Standardization, 2007). If the employees report the symptoms especially tingling and numbness after working using various vibrating, then it is clear that the exposure level to vibrations could be reaching the level that lead to harm . Therefore, adequate measures are vital in reducing the level of exposure. In the absence of information regarding vibration emission from the machinery, the law requires the employer to use the tool in unusual way if uncertain regarding the effectiveness of the control measures put in place to reduce the risk levels. Conclusion Each day, the construction workers are exposed to different forms of hazards: chemical, physical, and biological. These hazards could cause injury, chronic illness, and to some extent death which makes establishment of the regulatory framework important in a bid to reduce the consequences from the exposure. The essay focused on vibration as a physical agent within the Hong Kong context. Like any other construction industry, Hong Kong industrial sector experiences several challenges associated with vibration from the machinery used in the construction. Exposure to vibration risk could result in loss of concentration and fatigue resulting poor working conditions, which could in turn contribute to various risks. The main feature characterizing the construction industry is high labour turnover and the ever-changing environmental condition, which makes works difficult for the employees. The Hong Kong government majorly uses Factories and Industries Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulations when establishing various legal frameworks for ensuring proper safety and healthy working conditions. Moreover, through the regulation, the Hong Kong government has been able to establish the Occupational Safety Charter that makes focuses on the health and working conditions of various workers including those within the construction industry. References Buchholz, B., & Kittusamy, N. K. (n.d.). Whole-body vibration and postural stress among operators of construction equipment: A literature review. Retrieved September 27, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/userfiles/works/pdfs/wvaps.pdf Department of Environment Malaysia. (2007). The Planning Guidelines For Vibration Limits And Control In The Environment. Retrieved September 27, 2016, from http://www.doe.gov.my/portalv1/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/The-Planning-Guidelines-For-Vibration-Limits-and-Control-in-the-Environment-2nd-Edition-2007.pdf Government of Alberta. (2010, February). Best Practices – Vibration at the Work Site. Retrieved September 13, 2016, from https://work.alberta.ca/documents/WHS-PUB_gs007.pdf Health and Safety Executive. (2008). The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005: Guidance on Regulations. Retrieved September 13, 2016, from http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/l140.pdf Healthy Working Lives. (2012, November 28). Vibration | Hand Arm & Whole Body Vibration workplace risks | Healthy Working Lives. Retrieved September 13, 2016, from http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/workplace-hazards/vibration#legal International Organization for Standardization. (2007). ISO 2631-2: Mechanical vibration and shock - evaluation of human exposure to whole body vibration - part 2: vibration in buildings (1 Hz to 80 Hz). Geneva: ISO.  https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S08/is.iso.2631.2.2003.pdf The Victorian Trades Hall Council: Occupational Health and Safety. (2015, June). Legal Standards for Vibration - OHS Reps. Retrieved September 13, 2016, from http://www.ohsrep.org.au/hazards/vibration/legal-standards-for-vibration Zhu, S., Shi, X., Leung, R., Cheng, L., Ng, S., Zhang, X., & Wang, Y. (2014). Impact of Construction-Induced Vibration on Vibration-Sensitive Medical Equipment: A Case Study. Advances in Structural Engineering, 17(6), 907-920. doi:10.1260/1369-4332.17.6.907 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279243816_Impact_of_Construction-Induced_Vibration_on_Vibration-Sensitive_Medical_Equipment_A_Case_Study Read More