Health and Safety Strand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Health and Safety Strand - Essay Example However, they may not know the immediate cause. It is indicated that most of them may not actually know that the vibration exposure may be the main cause. Hands to arm vibration on the other hand occur when individuals hold vibrating machines. However, such vibrations are not of high magnitude compared to that causing whole body vibration. Nevertheless, it has effects on the body especially when it is uncontrolled. It may cause loss of decreased grip and hand sensation. It has also been said to cause carpel tunnel syndrome. This happens when pressure on the median nerve causes numbness and weakness on fingers and hands. Apart from the above mild health problems, research conducted in the Europe and Australia have indicated presence of some of the fatal ailments. Both studies agree that mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases and occupational cancer as some of the most likely health problems. With lack of legal measures controlling the exposure to vibrations, it has become difficult to control these effects. However, many critics agree it is almost impossible to prevent machines from vibrating. It will therefore be difficult to protect employees from these harmful exposures. However, the researchers have indicated job rotation and reduced duration of exposure as some of the ways to mitigate this effect. (i) Describe the nature of occupational vibration exposure and the health effects of exposure to vibration; provide researched examples of affected workers or groups of workers Literature review Vibration exposures as indicted above should not be taken for granted. Majority of employees are not aware of the health effects of exposure to vibrations (Seidel 2000, p.26). Through they may experience complications from time to time; they might note relate them to vibrations. There are several studies, which have been carried out in a view to study the relationship between vibration exposure and health effects (VIBRISKS 2007, p.89). Most of those studies agree on one issues; that exposure to constant and persistent vibrations can result in fatal ailments. In 2008, the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) decided to find out how its workers were being affected in terms of health due to vibration exposures. The council decided to carry out a survey with the help of National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance (NHEWS) team. The main target subjects were workers in the farming, fishing, transport, industrial and the shipping sectors. These are the main occupations where individuals are more likely to be exposed to some kind of vibration (Macias 2007, p.90). The main reason for conducting the study was to find out whether the increased number of diseases such as occupational cancer and cardiovascular was in any way linked to the continued exposure (Paoli 2001, p.57). A sample of about 4,500 workers from the sectors indicated above was selected for the study. The researchers used the random sampling method to ensure that all subjects wer e given equal chance to participate in the study. Telephone calls were made randomly to the employees where they were asked questions about their occupation and how long they had worked. Secondly, the researcher wanted to know whether individuals understood the effects of vibrations on their health. Thirdly, subjects were asked to state some of the ailments they had been diagnosed with in the recent past. The research findings found that all the subjects were involved in one form of