Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

20.2.2 NGC2 – Controlling workplace hazards
Paper 2 – Question 1
A glassworks produces covers for streetlights and indus-
trial lighting. The process involves molten glass being 
blown by hand and shaped in moulds.
(i) 
Identify FOUR
health effects that may be 
caused by working in the hot conditions of 
the glass factory. 
(4)
(ii) 
Describe
measures that could be taken in
order to minimize the health effects of working
in such hot environments. 
(6)
(iii) 
Outline
the factors relating to the 
task
and
the 
load
that may affect the risk of injury to an
employee engaged in stacking the fi nished
product onto racking. 
(10)
Answer:
(i) 1. Heat exhaustion due to high ambient temperature
2. Dehydration due to excessive sweating
3. 
Heart stress and, in extreme cases, heat stroke 
due to prolonged exposure to high ambient
temperatures
4. Burns from handling hot molten glass
5. 
(Additional answer) the eyes can also be affected 
by high intensity light from looking at molten 
glass.
(ii) The health effects of working in a hot environment 
can be reduced by the gradual acclimatization of 
new workers. Even after the initial acclimatization, 
frequent rest periods will be necessary to allow the 
body to acclimatize to the hot conditions on a daily 
basis. Rest should be in cool areas which in sum-
mer may need to be artifi cially cooled. If, in addition, 
the humidity is high, a good supply of ventilation air 
will be needed, to help control sweating. Adequate 
supply of cold drinking water is essential to avoid 
dehydration.
Workers in hot conditions should wear appropri-
ate clothes, which must be a compromise between 
lighter garments to promote evaporation of perspir-
ation, and protective clothes to prevent burns. It will 
be necessary to provide protective leather or fi re 
resistant aprons and gloves, and appropriate eye 
and face protection such as eye visors. Visors may 
need to be supplied with cooling air to keep people 
cool and permit proper vision. Screens could also 
be provided to protect workers from radiant heat. 
Periodic health surveillance should be provided.
Finally, workers should be trained to recognise ill-
health affects on others.
(iii) The 
task
should be analysed in detail so that all 
aspects of manual handling are covered including 
the use of mechanical assistance. This will involve 
a manual handling risk assessment. The number of 
people involved and personal factors, such as age 
and health, should also be considered. A satisfac-
tory body posture must be adopted with the feet 
fi rmly on the ground and slightly apart. To avoid 
work related upper limb disorders (WRULDS) there 
should be no stooping or twisting of the trunk; 
it should not be necessary to reach upwards since 
this will place additional stresses on the arms, 
back and shoulders. The further the load is held or 
manipulated from the trunk, the more diffi cult it is to 
control and the greater the stress imposed on the 

---