Physical agents at work: protecting your employees
Noise, extreme temperatures, vibration, harmful radiation, etc. These factors are known as physical agents. They can affect your employees’ wellbeing. More than that, they can threaten their safety. We help you identify, measure and address these risks. That way you can keep your workplace safe and healthy.
What are physical agents?
Physical agents are environmental factors in the workplace that can be harmful to your employees’ health. Often, they are invisible or dormant. However, the impact can be enormous.
Examples include:
- Noise
- Heat and cold
- Vibrations
- Radiation
- Lighting
These agents play a role in a wide range of industries: manufacturing, logistics, construction, healthcare, even in the office. The earlier you identify them, the more targeted your actions can be.
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What are the risks of physical agents?
Prolonged or intense exposure to physical agents increases the risk of health problems, reduced performance and even accidents at work. Often, the effects only become apparent after some time. This is why prevention is crucial.
Examples of health problems:
- Hearing loss due to noise
- Heat stress or hypothermia due to working at extreme temperatures
- Skin damage due to UV radiation
- Muscle and joint problems due to vibration
- Fatigue and loss of concentration due to poor lighting
What does the law say about physical agents?
According to the Codex on Wellbeing at Work, it is your duty as an employer to prevent or limit exposure to physical agents. There are clear limit values and measurement obligations. Fedris also recognises certain occupational diseases as being linked to physical agents. Fedris is Belgium’s Federal Agency for Occupational Risks.
How can you address physical agents?
Your first step: A thorough risk assessment. This identifies when and where your employees are being exposed to physical agents. After that, you define targeted measures such as technical adaptations, protection equipment and training .
How do you measure physical agents?
A reliable risk assessment requires measurement. IDEWE has the experts and specialised equipment you need:
- Noise measurement
- Heat and cold load calculations
- Vibration analysis
- Light intensity measurement
- UV and EM radiation detection
How can IDEWE support you?
We’ll help you at every stage of the process:
- Inventory - Identify your noise, vibration or radiation sources. Record everything about the exposure: who, when, how long, where and (if applicable) due to which work equipment.
- Risk assessment and measurement - Determine which physical agents require special attention. Perform additional measurements if indicated, e.g. for radiation intensity.
- Prioritisation - Determine for which employees, devices or workstations the need for action is most urgent.
- Measurement programme - Set up a warning system to alert you if certain physical agents exceed the limit or intervention values.
- Additional measures - Invest in structural solutions. Examples include acoustic panels, hearing protection and anti-vibration handles.
Want to protect your employees from physical agents?