Poor Physical Environment

Poor environmental conditions can include exposure to extreme temperatures, noise, vibration, dust, fumes, and other hazardous substances.

Staff who work in environments that where they are exposed to hazardous materials, machinery, or hazardous equipment are at risk of physical harm and psychological harm.

Staff who do not have appropriate amenities or physical environment suitable to do their job are at risk In combination with other factors such as remote or isolated work and poor support this can be considered a workplace hazard.

These conditions can have a negative impact on workers’ physical and mental health, and can increase the risk of accidents and injuries.

Let’s Look at an Example

Stef is a new apprentice in her first year as a plumber. Since she has started she has found the culture to be very male dominated and other staff treat her poorly or ignore her. The most difficult thing for Stef is the lack of appropriate toilet facilities onsite, the other staff are happy to use a porter potty with no door, but Stef is not comfortable doing this.

She has brought it up with management but they have told her she can use the McDonalds down the road, which adds time to her days so she is unable to get her tasks completed in the day. Stef experiences increasing anxiety with every shift.

Risk Factors For Poor Environmental Conditions

The risk of developing health problems due to poor environmental conditions is increased by:

• The severity of the exposure
• The duration of the exposure
• The individual’s susceptibility

Impact

Poor environmental conditions can have a significant impact on workers’ health and well-being. They can lead to:

• Increased stress and anxiety
• Decreased productivity
• Increased absenteeism
• Increased accidents and injuries
• Long-term health problems, such as respiratory disease, cancer, and hearing loss

Control measures

There are a number of control measures that can be used to reduce the risk of poor environmental conditions. These include:

• Engineering controls, such as ventilation systems and noise barriers
• Administrative controls, such as work-rest schedules and personal protective equipment
• Personal protective equipment, such as respirators and earmuffs

Poor environmental conditions are a significant hazard in the workplace. By identifying and controlling these hazards at work, employers can help to protect their workers’ health and well-being.

Recommendations

• Conduct a workplace risk assessment to identify and assess the risks of poor environmental conditions.
• Implement control measures to reduce the risk of poor environmental conditions.
• Monitor the effectiveness of control measures and make adjustments as needed.
• Provide training to workers on the risks of poor environmental conditions and how to protect themselves.