Injury Analysis
As mentioned in the previous section, injuries are always caused by the harmful transfer of energy to the employee's body.
The transfer of kinetic (impact) energy is the direct cause of the injury.
The severity of the injury depends on the magnitude of the harmful energy. Below are the various forms of energy that can be harmful.
Harmful Forms of Energy
- Acoustic Energy - Excessive noise and vibration.
- Chemical Energy - Corrosive, toxic, flammable, or reactive substances. Involves a release of energy ranging from "not violent" to "explosive" and "capable of detonation."
- Electrical Energy - Low voltage (below 440 volts) and high voltage (above 440 volts).
- Kinetic (Impact) Energy - Energy from "things in motion" and "impact". It is associated with the collision of objects in relative motion to each other. associated with the collision of objects in relative motion to each other. Includes impact between moving objects, moving object against a stationary object, falling objects or persons, flying objects, and flying particles. Also involves movement resulting from hazards of high pressure pneumatic, hydraulic systems.
- Mechanical Energy - Cut, crush, bend, shear, pinch, wrap, pull, and puncture. Such hazards are associated with components that move in circular, transverse (single direction), or reciprocating motion.
- Potential Energy - Involves "stored energy." Includes objects that are under pressure, tension, or compression; or objects that attract or repulse one another. Susceptible to sudden unexpected movement. Includes gravity - potential falling objects, potential falls of persons. Includes forces transferred biomechanically to the human body during lifting.
- Radiant Energy - Relatively short wavelength energy forms within the electromagnetic spectrum. Includes infra-red, visible, microwave, ultra-violet, x-ray, and ionizing radiation.
- Thermal Energy - Excessive heat, extreme cold, sources of flame ignition, flame propagation, and heat related explosions.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
6-4. Which form of harmful energy involves stored energy?
You forgot to answer the question!