Thursday, 22 December 2011
The contents of the health and safety file
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Working Safely
This article defines safe working, the meaning of
hazard and risk, hazard identification techniques, basic
qualitative risk assessment, selecting or seeking advice on
workplace precautions and assisting managers to prepare risk
assessments. It concludes with a reminder of statutory
responsibilities for health and safety at work.
- "The likelihood that a particular hazard will give rise to harm (the extent of the risk covers the population affected and the consequences for them).
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Physical hazards - these may include excessive noise, extremes of temperature or exposure to other energy forms such as radiation and electricity. Alternatively, they may be mechanical in nature such as traps, impact, contact and entanglement with machinery.
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Chemical hazards - these may comprise acids, alkalis, solvents, detergents or other substances known to be hazardous to health. They may produce toxic, harmful, corrosive or irritant effects when in contact with the human body.
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Biological hazards - diseases such as Hepatitis, Legionnaires, Leptospirosis and Anthrax may be contracted from humans or animals or transmitted by other media such as blood, water or the air.
- Legislation and supporting Approved Codes of Practice which give practical guidance and include basic minimum requirements.
- HSE guidance.
- Process information.
- Product information.
- Relevant British and international standards.
- Industry or trade association guidance.
- The personal knowledge and experience of managers and employees.
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Accident, ill health and incident data from within the organisation, from other organisations or from central sources.
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Expert advice and opinion and relevant research.
- Slipping/tripping hazards (poorly maintained floors or stairs)
- Fire (flammable materials and sources of heat)
- Chemicals (battery acid)
- Moving parts of machinery (blades)
- Work at height (mezzanine floors)
- Ejection of material (plastic moulding)
- Pressure systems (steam boilers)
- Vehicles (fork-lifftrucks etc.)
- Electricity (poor wiring)
- Dust (grinding)
- Fumes (welding)
- Manual handling
- Noise
- Poor lighting
-
Low temperature
Members of the public, or people sharing the workplace, if there is a chance they could be hurt by work activities.
- Likelihood
- Severity
- 5 = Certain or near certain
- 4 = Very likely
- 3 = Likely
- 2 = Unlikely
- 1 = Very unlikely
- 5 = Death
- 4 = Major injury, disabling disease
- 3 = Lost time injury (over 3 days)
- 2 = First aid injury
- 1 = Minor injury
This can easily be shown with the use of the risk matrix
Severity
|
Likelihood
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
25
|
20
|
15
|
10
|
5
|
|
4
|
20
|
16
|
12
|
8
|
4
|
|
3
|
15
|
12
|
9
|
6
|
3
|
|
2
|
10
|
8
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
|
1
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
- Can we get rid of the hazard altogether?
- If not, how can the risks be controlled so that harm is unlikely?
- Try a less risky option
- Prevent access to the hazard (by guarding)
- Organise work to reduce exposure to the hazard
- Issue personal protective equipment
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Provide welfare facilities (washing facilities for removal of contamination and first aid)
STEP 4 - Record your findings
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Electrical installations - insulation and earthing checked and found sound
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Fume from welding - local exhaust ventilation provided and regularly checked
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Risk assessments -must be suitable and sufficient — this means showing that:
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A proper check was made by competent people to identify significant hazards
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Those who might be affected are identified
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All the obvious significant hazards were addressed, taking into account the number of people who could be involve
- Approved Codes of Practice
- Guidance
- Free leaflets on a wide variety of hazards
Local Authority Environmental Health Departments
- Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) (see above)
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
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British Safety Council
A number of these relate to safety such as BS EN 292 Safeguarding of Machinery and BS EN 166 Eye Protection. Whilst not having legal standing they will be used as yardsticks of good safety practice
Professional Institutes/Trade Organisations
Consultants and Specialists
Manufacturers and Suppliers
Manufacturers, suppliers and importers have a duty under HASAWA Section 6 to provide information that will enable the users of their products to be able to use them with safety.
Posters and Signs
Employers must display certain statutory notices that provide information to employees. Other posters can be used to remind staff of general workplace hazards or to support specific safety campaigns. Signs remind employees of safety requirements and also draw to the attention of visitors who are not familiar with the workplace potential hazards.
Company Sources
- Company Safety Policy — a legal requirement with five or more employees in the company.
- Job descriptions — responsibilities, hazards and control measures.
- Accident statistics and records.
- A poster prominently displayed in the workplace, entitled "Health and safety law — what you should know"; or
- An approved leaflet given to employees. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 7 - Duties of employees at work
- To take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
- To co-operate with their employer or any other person so far as is necessary to enable statutory duties or requirements to be complied with.
Employees must use any machinery, equipment, substance etc in accordance with training and instructions given.
- Work situations that represent serious and immediate danger to health and safety.
- Matters that represent shortcomings in the protection arrangements for health and safety.
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Time Out
Hi there could be a bit of a delay to new posts as I take a time out for study, we have exams in 4 weeks I need that time to concentrate on parts I'm a bit light in, ie practical assessment, so will finish all this later
Stewart
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Element 9 Physical & Psychological Health – Hazards & Control
A slightly different tack on this element as I am a bit behind on the course, but an excellent source of information is Andy Brazier's page http://healthandsafetycertificate.blogspot.com/ lots and lots of stuff here. I even bought his book for a £5 it's a bargain. Below is chapter 13 covering the relevant topic Physical and psychological hazards The following can cause physical and/or psychological harm: Ionising and non-ionising radiation; Ionising radiation Ionising radiation occurs as either electromagnetic rays (such as X-rays and gamma rays) or particles (such as alpha and beta particles). It occurs naturally (e.g. radon gas) but can also be produced artificially. Everyone receives some exposure to natural background radiation. It is used or occurs in the following work settings Exposure to ionising radiation can alter human cells. It can cause radiation burns, poisoning and lead to cancer. It can be dangerous to unborn babies. Exposure can be directly from a source of ionising radiation. Consequences can be particularly severe when radioactive material is ingested as the exposure lasts as long as the material is inside the body. Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 require employers to make sure exposure is restricted as far as reasonable practicable and is kept below dose limits. Practices must be authorised by the HSE and suitable risk assessments need to be carried out prior to work commencing and reviewed at suitable intervals. Where radiation accidents are reasonably foreseeable, contingency plans need to be developed. Employers need to appointment Radiation Protection Advisers (often an individual from a specialist company) who achieve competence in the management of risk due to ionising radiation. They should be consulted with to ensure regulations are being complied with. The regulations specify circumstances when controlled areas need to be defined because people may be exposed to certain levels of ionising radiation within them. Where such areas are necessary it is a requirement to develop .Local Rules. And appoint Radiation Protection Supervisors who have a fundamental role in ensuring compliance with regulations and local rules. They do not need to be present at the worksite at all times, but are the first point of contact for help and advice and so need to be readily available. People who have the potential to be exposed to certain levels of ionising radiation need to be designated as a .Classified Person. and their dose must be monitored and records kept. Action needs to be taken where someone is exposed to excessive doses of ionising radiation. Non-ionising radiation Non-ionising electromagnetic radiation (NIEMR) is the term used to describe the part of the electromagnetic spectrum covering two main regions Hazardous exposure may result from the sun, sunbeds, lasers and welding. Exposure of the eyes to UV radiation can damage the cornea and produce pain and symptoms similar to that of sand in the eye. The effects on the skin range from redness, burning and accelerated ageing through to various types of skin cancer. High-power lasers can cause serious damage to the eye (including blindness) as well as producing skin burns. Exposure of people to high levels of EMFs can give rise to acute effects. The effects depend on the frequency, with low frequencies affecting the central nervous system and high frequencies causing heating effects that can lead to a rise in body temperature. In reality, these effects are extremely rare and will not occur in most day-to-day work situations Noise at work can cause hearing loss. This may be temporary, but continued exposure, or short term exposure to very high noise can cause permanent damage. Also, exposure to high levels of noise can cause tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears) and working in a noisy environment makes communication difficult and can mean people cannot hear warnings and alarms. Noise levels are measured in Decibels (dB). Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 set limits for short and long term exposure and require employers to: Assess the risks to their employees from noise at work; Legal limits are defined in three categories A key element of the regulations is that noise levels should be reduced before considering hearing protection. Employees have a duty to co-operate with their employers in protecting hearing, including wearing hearing protection provided. Reference . .Noise at work Guidance for employers on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. available free at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg362.pdf Vibrations There are two main concerns regarding vibration Whole-body vibration is shaking or jolting of the human body through a supporting surface (usually a seat or the floor), for example when driving or riding on a vehicle along an unmade road, operating earthmoving machines or standing on a structure attached to a large, powerful, fixed machine which is impacting or vibrating. It can cause back pain, often aggravating a previous problem. Hand-arm vibration can be caused by operating hand-held power tools (e.g. road breakers), hand-guided equipment (e.g. powered lawnmowers) or by holding materials being processed by machines (e.g. using pedestal grinders). Regular and frequent exposure to hand-arm vibration can lead to permanent health effects (occasional exposure is unlikely to cause ill health). Symptoms include: The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations require employers to: Assess the vibration risk to employees; The exposure action value (EAV) is a daily amount of vibration exposure above which employers are required to take action to control exposure. For hand-arm vibration the EAV is a daily exposure of 2.5 m/s2 A(8) and for whole body vibration 0.5 m/s2 A(8) The exposure limit value (ELV) is the maximum amount of vibration an employee may be exposed to on any single day. For hand-arm vibration the ELV is a daily exposure of 5 m/s2 A(8) and for whole body vibration 1.15 m/s2 A(8) Reference . .Control back-pain risks from whole-body vibration. available free at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg242.pdf Reference . .Control the risks from hand-arm vibration. available free at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg175.pdf Temperature Working in conditions that are too hot can cause heat stress that can affect a person.s ability to work, potentially leading to heat exhaustion and heat stroke (can result in unconsciousness and can be fatal). Also, dehydration. Working in cold conditions can cause cold stress and hypo-thermia. Temperatures in the workplace are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Employers must provide a .reasonable. temperature in the workplace. It is suggested that the minimum temperature in workrooms should normally be at least 16 degrees Celsius, or 13 degrees Celsius if much of the work indoors involves severe physical effort. A meaningful figure cannot be given at the upper end of the scale because other factors have an affect including radiant temperature, humidity and air velocity. Humidity Humidity is the amount of water vapour in air. Levels are usually quoted as relative humidity, which is the ratio between the actual amount of water vapour in the air and the maximum amount of water vapour that the air can hold at that air temperature High relative humidity (>80%) starts to prevent evaporation of sweat from the body. This evaporation is a major way of regulating body temperature. Therefore, high humidity can contribute to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Humidity is particularly a concern when people are required to wear extra clothing (i.e. in the form of personal protective equipment PPE). In this case the humidity inside clothing can be significantly higher than outside. Humidity is covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Managing the risks associated with physical hazards Ergonomics Ergonomics is the application of scientific information concerning humans to the design of objects, systems and environment for human use. The aim is to use this information to ensure comfort, efficiency, productivity and safety. Ergonomics comes into everything which involves people. In a phrase, the job must .fit the person. in all respects, and the work situation should not compromise human capabilities and limitations. Ergonomics covers anatomy, physiology and psychology. Neck and back pain Neck and back pain can arise in many situations, but the following are known to cause problems: As with many ill health conditions, some people are more susceptible to back pain than others. HSE have dedicated web pages for neck and back pain at http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/index.htm Work related upper limb disorders (WRULD) WRULD, sometimes known as repetitive strain injury are problems with the shoulder and arm, including the forearm, elbow, wrist, hand and fingers, and can include neck pain. Any type of work that involves a worker using their arms to carry out tasks can lead to WRULDs, although they are frequently associated with computer use and assembly work. Symptoms include tenderness, aches and pain, stiffness, weakness, tingling, numbness, cramp and swelling. Finding solutions is not always easy, and it is important to recognise that people are different sizes, have different abilities and some are more susceptible due to disabilities. Certainly workstation and job design can have a significant impact, but behaviours are equally important, including posture, exercise and taking breaks. People need to be informed of the risks and how to minimise them. If someone contracts WRULD it may be sufficient for them to change their working methods. However, in some cases medical treatment and rehabilitation may be required. Reference- Aching arms (or RSI) in small businesses, available free at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg171.pdf Display screen equipment (DSE) Poor physical layout of DSE workstations can cause WRULD. Also, screen glare and poor image quality can contribute to tired or sore eyes and headaches (especially for people who wear contact lenses or bi-focal glasses). People using DSE can suffer from stress due to the expected pace of work or anxiety about new technology. There is no evidence to suggest radiation from screens is a problem, even for pregnant women. A few people claim skin problems, but this is more likely to be with air quality (that may be affected by electrical equipment) rather than the DSE itself. A small number of epileptics may have problems. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 require that operators or users have: There are many devices available that are designed to minimise health impacts from using DSE. They include specialised computer mice, document holders and arm rests. As with WRULD, whilst these can assist it is often behaviour (combined with well design standard DSE) that can have the greatest impact. Reference . .Working with VDUs. available free at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf Working environment Welfare and hygiene People cannot remain healthy at work if their basic welfare needs are not catered for. This includes the following: It is important to recognise that people eating with dirty hands can result in them ingesting hazardous materials. Also, that dirty clothes can mean people taking hazardous materials into their car and possibly home to their family. Facilities have to be kept clean, in good condition and supplied with materials (e.g. toilet paper, soap). Also, rooms need to be well ventilated and at a reasonable temperature (not too hot or cold). These requirements are all covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. A safe place to work The following fall into the category of general safety: Reference: Workplace health, safety and welfare - a short guide for managers, available free at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg244.pdf Stress Stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them. Whilst pressure is an integral part of work and helps to keep people motivated, when it is excessive it can lead to stress. Stress causes chemicals to be released into the body that impact on how the body works. Overtime this can cause significant health problems. Also, stress affects peoples. concentration, information processing and decision making, which undermines their performance and can cause them to commit errors or behave unsafely. The primary sources of stress at work include: Organisations should have systems in place to manage stress. They should include a policy, organisation and arrangements to identify potential stress (through risk assessment), actual stress (sickness rates) and deal with it. Proactive monitoring of stress, often through the use of staff surveys, should be part of the arrangements. The HSE have a website dedicated to stress at http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/index.htm Fatigue Fatigue occurs when people get very tired over a long time and/or are unable to rest. It significantly increases the likelihood of human error and over the long term can cause of contribute to stress (with subsequent health problems). Poor working conditions (e.g. noise, lighting, DSE) tend to increase levels of fatigue. Shift and night work Shift and night workers are particularly prone to fatigue because their workingpatterns differ from natural .circadian rhythms,. meaning they have to be awake when their body wants to be asleep. They are known to be prone to stomach, heart and psychological problems. Also, working unusual hours can impact on relationships causing stress. People working at night are likely to be tired and so prone to errors. Also, it is likely to be dark and there is usually less support (e.g. technical), which can create problems. Good shift patterns and controls over hours actually worked can minimise fatigue. Plenty of exercise, a healthy diet and getting sleep whenever possible are particularly important for shift and night workers to minimise the risks due to their patterns of work.
Monday, 21 April 2008
Typical Examination Questions based on Element 8
``1. Outline (8) Factors can include: Blocked filters. Hood placed too far from source of contaminant. Lack of maintenance and testing. Unauthorised alterations. Wear or corrosion of fan blades. Incorrect settings. System overwhelmed by increase in contaminant. Inadequate design 2. Identify (8) Information should include: The name of the substance. It's chemical properties and composition. The nature of hazards. Relevant standards (e.g. Occupational exposure limits). Precautions to be observed in its transport, handling and use. Measures to take in an emergency (e.g. spillage or accidental exposure) including first-aid treatment and disposal requirements. 3. a) List (b) Outline TWO (6) (2) Control measures in correct order of use are: Elimination of the substance or its substitution with something less harmful. Possibility of reducing exposure by introducing changes in working methods (e.g. use of brush instead of spray or, pellets instead of dust), or to work patterns. Segregation or enclosure of the process and provision of LEV). Lastly, the provision of PPE. Reasons include: Poor fit of the respirator, either because of the use of other PPE at the same time or facial hair. The use of incorrect cartridge. The cartridge not being properly fitted. Failure to change the cartridge at appropriate intervals. Inadequate storage facilities leading to respirator being damaged or contaminated. 4. (a) Describe (b)State (2) (6) Symptoms are reddening, blistering and cracking of the skin with a possibility of infection and ulceration. Factors include; the nature of the agent, concentration levels and the duration and frequency of exposure when dermatitis substances are handled. Additional factors that could increase the risks include cuts and abrasions that would allow the chemical to be absorbed more readily. Existing skin conditions, the type of skin and its sensitivity, the specific site of skin contact, poor personal hygiene and the misuse of protective measures are other factors 5. Outline the Factors to be considered in the selection of respiratory equipment for persons carrying out welding activities Factors to be considered include: The nature and concentration of contaminants released from the welding process. The material to be welded including any surface coatings (eg lead paint) and the constituents of the filler materials must all be assessed. Once this has been done a range of suitable respiratory protective equipment that would offer adequate protection can be considered. In doing so consideration would be given to the compatibility of the equipment with the work to be done and any other PPE, ergonomic considerations (Bulkiness, comfort etc.), the level of training required, the duration and use, the ease of maintenance and the costs 6. (a) Define (b) Outline the personal hygiene practices that should be followed to reduce the risk of ingestion of a hazardous substance. (2) (6) (a)Target organs are , the organs of the human body upon which a toxic material exerts it effort. (b) Personal hygiene practices would include, washing hands before eating , the avoidance of eating or drinking and smoking in the workplace, utilising facilities for contaminated clothing, appropriate use of gloves and avoiding hand to mouth contact
the factors that may affect the efficiency of a local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system.
the information that should be included on a hazard data sheet supplied with a hazardous substance.
the elements of a hierarchy for the control of airborne contaminant
reasons why a cartridge-type respirator may in practice fail to provide a sufficient level of protection.
the typical symptoms of occupational dermatitis.
the factors that could affect the likelihood of dermatitis occurring in workers handling dermatitic substances. (6)
the term 'target organ' within the context of occupational health.