Occupational Hygiene & Ergonomics

Occupational hygiene has been described as the anticipation and identification of health hazards arising within the occupational environment and the evaluation, assessment and control of the risks to health arising out of such hazards. Ergonomics, an overlapping field in many respects to occupational hygiene, is all about ensuring a safe working environment by fitting the job to the physical and psychological capabilities and limitations of the person, rather than the other way around as is, unfortunately, all too often the case. The important thing to remember is that regardless of your company's size or industry, occupational hygiene and ergonomics is something that affects every organisation.

AcePSI's Occupational Hygiene Division, which encompasses both occupational hygiene and ergonomics services, is under the direction and guidance of an occupational and environmental hygienist, with extensive and award-winning experience. Naturally, our clients can be assured our internal quality management and control procedures relating to all occupational hygiene services are on par with those of our heavily accredited asbestos services and are subject to regular and rigorous internal audit and review.

Some of our occupational hygiene services include:

  • Lighting Surveys
  • Slip Testing
  • Water Quality Monitoring
  • Airborne Contaminant Monitoring and Assessment
  • Contaminated Land

Chemical Hazards

Chemical hazards are often a risk to workers who have some form of involvement with chemical preparation, be it solid, liquid or gas. Some workers can be unaffected, but others may find themselves far more susceptible to certain substances, causing various illnesses or irritations.

Chemical hazards can include:

  • Pesticides
  • Solvents
  • Gases
  • Vapours and fumes

Physical Hazards

Often regarded as the most common of hazards within the workplace. The problem with a lot of physical hazards is that they are all too common, and cover a much larger scope of industries than any of the other hazard types. However, despite this they are often the easiest to spot and with improved knowledge and understanding can more often than not be easily avoided.

Physical hazards can include:

  • Background noise
  • Persistent vibrations
  • Electrical damage such as poor wiring
  • Working from extreme heights
  • Spillages
  • Extreme exposure to sunlight

Biological Hazards

If you work with animals, plants or even people then you are at risk of potential biological hazards. Working in such industries as day-care, veterinary practices, nursing homes or any form of healthcare means you are more susceptible to biological hazards than most.

Biological hazards can include:

  • Animal handling
  • Insect bites
  • Blood
  • Sewage treatment

Ergonomic Hazards

Ergonomics is all about the balance between people and their working environment. It takes into account an employees capabilities and limitations in ensuring that tasks, information and the environment are as suitable and practicable as possible.

To achieve this we must consider the job in hand and the demands on the employee as well as the information being used. Based on 5 main ergonomic factors; safety, comfort, ease of use, productivity and aesthetics, we can determine how various systems can be redesigned and improved upon. Doing this will help ensure the safest working environment possible.

Ergonomic hazards can include:

  • Poor lighting
  • Frequent Lifting
  • Poor Posture
  • Repetitive movement