The working environment can damage health even when there is no accident. The effects are usually seen after weeks or years. That is why prevention has to be constant.
Noise
Continuous noise damages hearing permanently. Real Decreto 286/2006 uses these daily exposure values:
- 80 dB(A): lower exposure action value. The employer must inform and train, and make hearing protectors available to anyone who asks for them.
- 85 dB(A): upper exposure action value. Noise must be reduced and protectors are compulsory.
- 87 dB(A): exposure limit value, which cannot be exceeded once the protector is taken into account.
Signs that there is too much noise: you have to shout to talk to someone a metre away, or your ears ring at the end of the day.
Temperature and humidity
Real Decreto 486/1997 sets out, for enclosed workplaces:
- 17 to 27 ºC for sedentary work, such as office work.
- 14 to 25 ºC for light work.
- Relative humidity of 30 % to 70 %.
Intense heat can cause dehydration, cramps and heatstroke. Drink water often, take breaks in the shade and report if you feel unwell. In very cold conditions, protect your hands, feet and head.
Lighting
Insufficient light tires the eyes and leads to mistakes and accidents. The minimum levels in Real Decreto 486/1997 depend on the task. Some examples:
- 100 lux if the visual demand is low.
- 200 lux if it is moderate.
- 500 lux if it is high.
- 1,000 lux if it is very high.
These minimums are doubled where a visual error could be dangerous to the person doing the task or to others, and in walkways with an appreciable risk of falls or collisions.
Chemical substances
They can enter the body in several ways: inhalation (the most frequent), skin, ingestion (eating or drinking with dirty hands) and parenteral (cuts or needle-stick injuries).
To find out the risk of a product, read:
- The label. Under Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (CLP) it carries pictograms in the shape of a diamond with a red border, a signal word ("Danger" or "Warning") and hazard statements.
- The safety data sheet, which the supplier must give to the employer (Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, REACH). It explains the risks, first aid and how to store and dispose of the product.
Basic rules:
- Never decant a product into a food or drink container.
- Do not mix cleaning products: some mixtures give off toxic gases.
- Ventilate and use the gloves and goggles the label specifies.
- Wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking.
- Keep each product closed and in its place.
Biological agents
These are bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. They mainly affect healthcare, cleaning, agriculture, livestock farming and waste management. Real Decreto 664/1997 governs them. The basic measures are hand hygiene, gloves, covering wounds, not pricking or cutting yourself with contaminated material, and the vaccinations the employer offers.
Other exposures
Vibration (vibrating tools, driving machinery) can damage hands, arms and back. Some jobs also expose people to dust, fumes or radiation. In all cases, the risk assessment for your job will say what measures must be applied.