Physical Hazards in Confined Space

The other major type of hazard found in confined spaces is physical hazards.

What is physical hazard?

Physical hazard is factors or conditions within the environment which can cause harm to human body. It will have effect to our health in the short and long term. Physical hazards can be detected through your senses. For example ; touch, sight, etc.


Physical hazard can be categorized into;

Body Stressing

Body Stressing - refer to muscle response to limit the affected joint, tissue movement due to repetitive and strenuous work. Body stressing is caused by psychological stress or biomechanical factors. Psychological stress includes financial problems, relationship issues, etc. Meanwhile biomechanical factors includes physical exposures which cause damage in body muscles and tissues.

Heat

Heat - working in an environment with hot temperatures can cause heat strains. The physical effect of heat strain can be seen when body to have skin rashes, excessive sweating, heat exhaustion or even worse; heart stroke.

Noise

Noise - is unpleasant sound, loud and distributive to hearing. Excessive noise is when you have to talk louder or shout to the other person next to you. We normally encounter excessive noise in our workplace These excessive noise can effect us physically and psychological harm. We can lose our hearing and at the same time will cause us anxiety, depression, fatigue, memory loss and even inability to make decision.

Electricity

Electricity - working with electric tools or equipment is a risky work. Poor setting and installation can cause serious injury or death.  

Vibration

Vibration - people exposed to vibration and noise at the same time suffers hearing loss and musculoskeletal problems, than people exposed to vibration or noise alone.

Engulfment

Engulfment - or suffocation when working in silos or tanks filled with grains or other bulk materials. Engulfment can cause suffocation which lead to death eventually.

Height

 Height - working at height in a confined space can be risky and dangerous which can caused serious injuries or even death.