51. Working in Adverse Environmental Conditions

High/low temperature or temperature changes
Stale/stuffy air and dry or humid air
Insufficient day light and low quality general lighting
Crowded workplace

These findings are related to the health symtoms suffered by the occupants. Those who experience symptoms of ill-health are the least satisfied with the environmental conditions at thier place of work. It is evident that the occupants believed that health symptoms can affect their productivity because it can result in absenteeism., leaving work early, feeling lethargic, depression or headaches.

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Control Measures – Simple Steps

avoid work at height where it’s reasonably practicable to do so
where work at height cannot be easily avoided, prevent falls using either an existing place of work that is already safe or the right type of equipment
minimise the distance and consequences of a fall, by using the right type of equipment where the risk cannot be eliminated

Hazard Category	Hazards	Controls
High Temperatures (Hot)	1. Accidents/Incidents can occur through stress and fatigue when personnel are subjected to continuous working at high temperatures without implementing sufficient recover/rest breaks or suitable engineering controls to reduce the temperature.	1. Supervisors shall implement all available control measures to reduce the temperature to an acceptable level (using fans, air-movers. etc.) 2. Supervisors shall ensure that alternative controls are introduced so as to minimise any possbility of accidents/incident caused by stress and/or fatigue (such as sufficient recover/rest breaks, job rotation, etc.) where the temperature cannot be reduced.
Low Temperature (Cold)	1. Accidents/incident occur through stress and fatigue when personnel are subjected to continues working at low temperatures without implementing sufficient recovery/ rest breaks or suitable engineering controls to increase the temperature.	1. Supervisors shall implement all available control measures to increase the temperature to an acceptable level. 2. Supervisors shall ensure alternative controls are introduced to minimize any possiblity of accidents/incidents caused by stress and/or fatigue (such as sufficient recovery/rest breaks, job rotation and/or issuing personal protective equipment (PPE) etc.
Strong Winds	1. Accidents can occur during strong winds, especially when personnel are working at heights or where the task in hand requires a certain amount of balance, etc.	1. Supervisor shall implement control measures to protect personnel from strong winds at work (by using wind shields, tarpaulins, etc.) 2. Fall protection devices shall be implemented (such as harnesses, inertia reels, etc.) when personnel are working at heights. 3. If at any time personnel feel at risk on the job in hand, then stop work and report to the supervisor.
Rain, Sleet and Snow	1. Can cause a number of potential hazards, mainly through personnel slipping on icy or wet surfaced (especially if surfaces are greasy) and/or by impaired vision caused by falling rain, sleet and snow (especially) if driven by strong winds.	1. Supervisors shall ensure that control measures are introduced to ptotect personnel while at work (such as tarpaulins or PPE, etc.) 2. Where work is to be carried out at heights or in places where potential falls are present suitable fall protection devices shall be implemented (such as harness, inertia reels, etc.) 3. Access/egress routes shall be maintained to the highest possible standard so as to reduce the possiblilities of personnel slipping on surfaces.