Thursday, November 23, 2006

Medical conditions

The health of people can be a significant risk factor for hazardous work. Problems can arise because a medical condition may be exacerbated by the activity and/or if they do have a problem it may not be easy for them to receive appropriate medical treatment in a timely manner. This needs to be considered in risk assessments. the following may be an issue for activities involving work at height (especially from a ladder), driving, confined space entry:

* Recurring dizziness
* Epilepsy
* Psychiatric conditions (inc fear of heights)
* Heart condition
* Severe lung conditions
* Alcohol and drug abuse
* Significant impaired joint function
* Medication that recommends you do not operate machinery could also be a problem

When people are working with hazardous substances it is important to consider whether they are more susceptible than most due to a health problem (e.g. eczema, lung problems).

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