---> Sensory system
Changes in vision: decreased ability to see in low lighting, to distinguish between colours and to judge distances and the speed of moving objectsPotential impact at work:
- Impact on night driving.
- Implications in case a worker needs to move between light and dark working environments.
- May affect the ability to read printed material, dials and screens.
- May impact the ability to do very detailed tasks.
- Improve contrast between objects by increasing the lighting levels.
- Avoid shades of blue, blue on green or blue on black in work environment.
- Install local lighting or task lighting that does not interfere with the visual field of others – if possible make it individually adjustable.
- Reduce sunlight glare with shades and awnings.
- Reduce the need for workers to move between bright and dark environments.
- Make signs clear, visible and easily readable.
- Consider changes from night to day shift in case of, for example, night driving.
- Provide or encourage regular eyesight tests.
- May have an impact on communication in general, on understanding of instructions, and on awareness of hazards in the immediate surroundings, especially in noisy environments.
- Control noise in the working environment.
- Use sound-absorbing construction material.
- Avoid creating places that have echoes.
- Provide across all working ages and encourage workers to wear throughout working life.
- Ensure that emergency signals can be understood by everyone in the workplace; complement auditory signals with visual or vibrating alarm signals.
- Provide hearing tests for workers.
- Support the purchase of hearing aids.
- Higher risk of falling, slipping and tripping.
- Implications for firefighters and rescue personnel.
- Implications for construction workers and others working at height.
- Ensure proper lighting of all walkways.
- Clean up spills immediately, keeping floors in good condition and use absorbent materials to avoid slipping.
- Use high contrast colours on stairs and uneven areas.
- Match work with abilities – not all workers can carry out work with ladders and scaffolds.
- Ensure that guidelines and safety measures for work at height are known and followed.
- Provide shoes/boots with non-slip soles.