Altitude Assessment and Management for High-Altitude Workers

Every job has its risks. For context, health workers can contract airborne illnesses, pilots are prone to aircraft crashes, and wild hunters might sustain animal-inflicted injuries.

Companies that employ workers to execute activities at high altitudes must ensure their employees’ safety at all times. This article reveals the significance of altitude assessment and crucial medical-themed practices for those working at elevated heights. 

Why Is Altitude Assessment Important?

Employees working at high altitudes are prone to many risks. Notable mentions include breathing issues and dehydration. At elevated heights, the oxygen content of the blood reduces, leading to respiratory distress.

Altitude assessment is necessary for reducing the risks of working at levels far above the ground.

A way to perform an altitude assessment is via a risk assessment. This activity involves an expert evaluating the risks of equipment and other working areas before employees commence work. 

Risk assessments are crucial as they identify potential dangers and try to rectify them before employees start doing their job. A top-tier altitude assessment company shoulders all the risk evaluations of working at elevated heights.

Acute Medical Management in Risky Workplaces

Acute management plans are important for employees working in high-risk environments. Workers exposed to harmful substances and chemicals, high-pitched noise, and high temperatures must be screened periodically for job-related diseases.

Contactable medical staff is also necessary in case of workplace emergencies.

Health Assessment for Rail Safety Workers

Rail worker inspecting a newly-constructed track

The chief medical advisor conducts a proper rail safety worker assessment before accrediting the contractors to perform their tasks. This assessment is necessary to ensure rail safety workers are medically fit to overcome the risks associated with their line of work.

The rail safety workers evaluation follows the National Transport Commission (NTC) guidelines for hiring road safety workers by rail operators.

Respiratory Health Assessment for Mine Workers

Many respiratory problems are associated with working in mines. People who work in these areas are exposed to respiratory airway triggers and contaminants. 

Diseases that stem from constant exposure to airborne toxins include:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Bronchitis
• Workplace-induced asthma, and
• Lung cancer.

Thus, respiratory health surveillance and assessment are crucial for employees working in these conditions to validate their fitness. Periodic medical checkups by qualified medical personnel are also non-negotiable to ensure worker safety at all times.

Primary Factors to Consider When Managing Employees Working at High Altitudes

When employing workers to perform specific tasks at high altitudes, it’s vital to curate structures for medical emergencies. Health workers’ proximity is crucial when there’s an accident and will reduce the likelihood of complications and death.

Working at high altitudes can trigger the development of certain heart and lung diseases. As such, it’s vital to screen employees regularly for these ailments.

Working at high altitude poses several risks to humans, especially the cardiopulmonary system. 

Thus, it’s essential to conduct pre-employment medical screening for prospective employees to ensure they can work at elevated altitudes.

Are You a High-Altitude Worker? Keep These Noteworthy Tips in Mind

For individuals who want to work or are working at high altitudes, it’ll be best to consider these vital tips:

1. Ensure you’re physically fit because working at high levels is physically challenging
2. Get used to climbing. That way, you can adapt to the working conditions prevalent at high altitudes
3. Go for a medical checkup to ensure you’re healthy enough to work at high altitudes
4. Always inspect the elevator platform you will use for your working stints. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Conclusion

Working at high altitudes might be unsafe. However, with proper altitude assessments, there’s less room for serious workplace hazards. 

If your organization requires employees to work at high altitudes, ensure you provide altitude assessments and periodic health checks. A stitch in time saves nine!