Ergonomics Paper
Heat stress is an occupational hazard, and it is highly advisable that workers should not work in a hot environment that is above the safe WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) limit. This is because a work environment characterized by high ambient temperatures, high humidity, vigorous physical activities, exposure to radiant heat, poor ventilation and physical contact with objects, which have high thermal energies, can induce heat stress. Furthermore, based on the human factors theory, a hot, uncomfortable environment causes stress among the workers thereby reducing their effectiveness thus negatively impacting their quality of work as well as increasing the chances that the workers could suffer injuries (Salvendy, 2012).
Moreover, excessive heat does cause heat disorders, which lead to adverse health effects. Some of these heat disorders include heat stroke, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rashes, heat fatigue and heat collapse. Some of these disorders are medical emergencies, which could cause death if they are not promptly and appropriately managed (Xiang, Peng, Pisaniello & Hansen, 2014). The safety of workers should be prioritized, and it is thus prudent that workers should not work in hot environments which pose a risk to their well-being.
Free Posture Approach
Employees should work in a safe and stress-free workplace, and this obliges the employer to educate the workforce on proper workplace posture. Employees who assume improper posture when operating computers do tend to suffer from back pain and repetitive stress injury. These two conditions produce stress thereby reducing the quality of work done by the affected employees. Moreover, repetitive stress injury makes the employee fall ill, and this increases the indirect costs of accidents that the employer must bear (Salvendy, 2012).
The free posture approach aims to ensure that the employee assumes the proper posture as dictated by the tasks being performed. This approach reduces the incidence of low back pain among the employees as well as averts sprain on the back muscles thereby ensuring that the employee works in the most comfortable position thereby increasing his or her productivity.
References
Salvendy, G. (2012). Handbook of human factors and ergonomics.
John Wiley & Sons.Xiang, J., Peng, B. I., Pisaniello, D., & Hansen, A. (2014). Health impacts of workplace heat exposure: an epidemiological review. Industrial health, 52(2), …
