Because the manufacturing & engineering sector covers such a wide range of industries, employees’ risk exposure varies greatly.
Employers carry the responsibility to balance operational efficiency with employee safety, and occupational health medicals must form part of their human resources management.
There are many dangers inherent in the manufacturing and engineering setting. For example, physical hazards include but are not limited to:
- noise
- hand-arm and whole-body vibration
- electromagnetic radiation (electricity and X-ray)
- airborne and omnipresent chemical exposure (cement, wood, dust)
- exposure to thinners and solvents used in glues or paints
- exposure to harmful toxic substances
- chemical contact
- exposure to hot parts
All these could have specific or general health effects that need to be monitored and assessed on a regular basis to ensure the employee’s medical fitness for work.