At the end of this unit, you will be able to:
1. Understand what is meant by hazards
2. Identify different types of potential health and safety hazards that can be found in the workplace
3. Create a workplace safety checklist
4. Understand the common safety signs used
5. Identify the problems related to safety in the given situations.
Hazards and sources of Hazards
What are hazards?
In relation to workplace safety and health, hazard can be defined as any source of potential harm or danger to someone or any adverse health effect produced under certain condition.
A hazard can harm an individual or an organization. For example, hazard to an organization include loss of property or equipment while hazard to an individual involve harm to health or body.
A variety of sources can be potential source of hazard at workplace. These hazards include practices or substances that may cause harm. Here are a few examples of potential hazards:
Material: Knife or sharp edged nails can cause cuts.
Substance: Chemicals such as Benzene can cause fume suffocation. Inflammable substances like petrol can cause fire.
Electrical energy: Naked wires or electrodes can result in electric shocks.
Condition: Wet floor can cause slippage. Working conditions in mines can cause health hazards.
Gravitational energy: Objects falling on you can cause injury.
Rotating or moving objects: Clothes entangled into ratting objects can cause serious harm. Similarly, moving objects can hit you and injure you if you are not careful.
Using computers: Hazards include poor sitting postures or excessive duration of sitting in one position. These hazards may result in pain and strain. Making same movement repetitively can also cause muscle fatigue In addition, glare from the computer screen can be harmful to eyes. Stretching up at regular intervals or doing some simple yoga in your seat only can mitigate such hazards.
Handling office equipment: Improper handling of office equipment can result in injuries. For example, sharp-edged equipment if not handled properly can cause cuts. Staff members should be trained to handle equipment properly. Relevant manual should be made available by administration on handling equipment.
Handling objects: Lifting or moving heavy items without proper procedure or techniques can be a source of potential hazard. Always follow approved procedure and proper posture for lifting or moving objects.
Stress at work: In today’s organization, you may encounter various stress causing hazards. Long working hours can be stressful and so can be aggressive conflicts or arguments with colleagues. Always look for ways for conflict resolution with colleagues. Have some relaxing hobbies for stress against long working hours.
Working environment: Potential hazards may include poor ventilation, inappropriate height chairs and tables, stiffness of furniture, poor lighting, staff unaware of emergency procedures, or poor housekeeping. Hazards may also include physical or emotional intimidation, such as bullying or ganging up against someone. Staff should be made aware of organization’s policies to fight against all the given hazards related to working environment.
General Evacuation Procedures
Each organization will has its own evacuation procedures as listed in its policies. An alert employee, who is well-informed about evacuation procedures, can not only save him or herself, but also helps others in case of emergencies. Therefore, you should be aware of these procedures and follow them properly during an emergency evacuation. Read your organization’s policies to know about the procedures endorsed by it. In addition, here are a few general evacuation steps that will always be useful in such situations:
Leave the premises immediately and start moving towards the nearest emergency exit.
Guide your customers to the emergency exits.
If possible, assist any person with disability to move towards the emergency exit. However, do not try to carry anyone unless you are trained to do so.
Keep yourself light when evacuating the premises. You may carry your hand-held belongings, such as bags or briefcase as you move towards the emergency exit. However, do not come back into the building to pick up your belongings unless the area is declared safe.
Do not use the escalators or elevators (lifts) to avoid overcrowding and getting trapped, in case there is a power failure. Use the stairs instead.
Go to the emergency assembly area. Check if any of your colleagues are missing and immediately inform the personnel in charge of emergency evacuation or your supervisor.
Do not go back to the building you have evacuated till you are informed by authorized personnel that it is safe to go inside.
After discussing the course content, ask candidates to prompt the key points on their understanding of the evacuation procedures at their current organization.
Safety Guidelines Checklist
1. Store all cleaning chemicals in tightly closed containers in separate cupboards.
2. Keep the kitchen clean and dry all the time.
3. Throw away rubbish daily.
4. Make sure all areas have proper lighting.
5. In case of any injury or fracture, do not move the person until he or she has received medical attention.
6. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry when working with machines. It may catch on moving equipment and cause a serious injury.
7. Never distract the attention of people who are working near fire or with some machinery, tools or equipment.
4.3.3 Safety Signs
Where required, wear protective items, such as goggles, safety glasses, masks, gloves, hair nets, etc.
9. Shut down all machines before leaving for the day.
10. Do not play with electrical controls or switches.
11. Do not operate machines or equipment until you have been properly trained and allowed to do so by your supervisor.
12. Do not adjust, clean or oil moving machinery.
13. Stack all shelves in an orderly way.
14. Stack all boxes and crates properly.
15. Never leave dishrags, aprons and other clothing near any hot surface.
16. Repair torn wires or broken plugs before using any electrical equipment.
17. Do not use equipment if it smokes, sparks or looks unsafe.
18. Cover all food with a lid, plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
19. Do not smoke in “No Smoking” areas.
20. Report any unsafe condition or acts to your supervisor. These could include:
Slippery floors
Missing
20. Report any unsafe condition or acts to your supervisor. These could include:
Slippery floors
Missing entrance and exit signs
Poorly lighted stairs
Loose handrails or guard rails
Loose, open or broken windows
Dangerously piled supplies or equipment
Unlocked doors and gates
Electrical equipment left operating
Open doors on electrical panels
Leaks of steam, water, oil or other liquids
Blocked aisles
Blocked fire extinguishers.
Blocked fire doors
Smoke in non-smoking areas
Roof leaks
Safety devices not operating properly
1. Understand what is meant by hazards
2. Identify different types of potential health and safety hazards that can be found in the workplace
3. Create a workplace safety checklist
4. Understand the common safety signs used
5. Identify the problems related to safety in the given situations.
Hazards and sources of Hazards
What are hazards?
In relation to workplace safety and health, hazard can be defined as any source of potential harm or danger to someone or any adverse health effect produced under certain condition.
A hazard can harm an individual or an organization. For example, hazard to an organization include loss of property or equipment while hazard to an individual involve harm to health or body.
A variety of sources can be potential source of hazard at workplace. These hazards include practices or substances that may cause harm. Here are a few examples of potential hazards:
Material: Knife or sharp edged nails can cause cuts.
Substance: Chemicals such as Benzene can cause fume suffocation. Inflammable substances like petrol can cause fire.
Electrical energy: Naked wires or electrodes can result in electric shocks.
Condition: Wet floor can cause slippage. Working conditions in mines can cause health hazards.
Gravitational energy: Objects falling on you can cause injury.
Rotating or moving objects: Clothes entangled into ratting objects can cause serious harm. Similarly, moving objects can hit you and injure you if you are not careful.
Using computers: Hazards include poor sitting postures or excessive duration of sitting in one position. These hazards may result in pain and strain. Making same movement repetitively can also cause muscle fatigue In addition, glare from the computer screen can be harmful to eyes. Stretching up at regular intervals or doing some simple yoga in your seat only can mitigate such hazards.
Handling office equipment: Improper handling of office equipment can result in injuries. For example, sharp-edged equipment if not handled properly can cause cuts. Staff members should be trained to handle equipment properly. Relevant manual should be made available by administration on handling equipment.
Handling objects: Lifting or moving heavy items without proper procedure or techniques can be a source of potential hazard. Always follow approved procedure and proper posture for lifting or moving objects.
Stress at work: In today’s organization, you may encounter various stress causing hazards. Long working hours can be stressful and so can be aggressive conflicts or arguments with colleagues. Always look for ways for conflict resolution with colleagues. Have some relaxing hobbies for stress against long working hours.
Working environment: Potential hazards may include poor ventilation, inappropriate height chairs and tables, stiffness of furniture, poor lighting, staff unaware of emergency procedures, or poor housekeeping. Hazards may also include physical or emotional intimidation, such as bullying or ganging up against someone. Staff should be made aware of organization’s policies to fight against all the given hazards related to working environment.
General Evacuation Procedures
Each organization will has its own evacuation procedures as listed in its policies. An alert employee, who is well-informed about evacuation procedures, can not only save him or herself, but also helps others in case of emergencies. Therefore, you should be aware of these procedures and follow them properly during an emergency evacuation. Read your organization’s policies to know about the procedures endorsed by it. In addition, here are a few general evacuation steps that will always be useful in such situations:
Leave the premises immediately and start moving towards the nearest emergency exit.
Guide your customers to the emergency exits.
If possible, assist any person with disability to move towards the emergency exit. However, do not try to carry anyone unless you are trained to do so.
Keep yourself light when evacuating the premises. You may carry your hand-held belongings, such as bags or briefcase as you move towards the emergency exit. However, do not come back into the building to pick up your belongings unless the area is declared safe.
Do not use the escalators or elevators (lifts) to avoid overcrowding and getting trapped, in case there is a power failure. Use the stairs instead.
Go to the emergency assembly area. Check if any of your colleagues are missing and immediately inform the personnel in charge of emergency evacuation or your supervisor.
Do not go back to the building you have evacuated till you are informed by authorized personnel that it is safe to go inside.
After discussing the course content, ask candidates to prompt the key points on their understanding of the evacuation procedures at their current organization.
Safety Guidelines Checklist
1. Store all cleaning chemicals in tightly closed containers in separate cupboards.
2. Keep the kitchen clean and dry all the time.
3. Throw away rubbish daily.
4. Make sure all areas have proper lighting.
5. In case of any injury or fracture, do not move the person until he or she has received medical attention.
6. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry when working with machines. It may catch on moving equipment and cause a serious injury.
7. Never distract the attention of people who are working near fire or with some machinery, tools or equipment.
4.3.3 Safety Signs
Where required, wear protective items, such as goggles, safety glasses, masks, gloves, hair nets, etc.
9. Shut down all machines before leaving for the day.
10. Do not play with electrical controls or switches.
11. Do not operate machines or equipment until you have been properly trained and allowed to do so by your supervisor.
12. Do not adjust, clean or oil moving machinery.
13. Stack all shelves in an orderly way.
14. Stack all boxes and crates properly.
15. Never leave dishrags, aprons and other clothing near any hot surface.
16. Repair torn wires or broken plugs before using any electrical equipment.
17. Do not use equipment if it smokes, sparks or looks unsafe.
18. Cover all food with a lid, plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
19. Do not smoke in “No Smoking” areas.
20. Report any unsafe condition or acts to your supervisor. These could include:
Slippery floors
Missing
20. Report any unsafe condition or acts to your supervisor. These could include:
Slippery floors
Missing entrance and exit signs
Poorly lighted stairs
Loose handrails or guard rails
Loose, open or broken windows
Dangerously piled supplies or equipment
Unlocked doors and gates
Electrical equipment left operating
Open doors on electrical panels
Leaks of steam, water, oil or other liquids
Blocked aisles
Blocked fire extinguishers.
Blocked fire doors
Smoke in non-smoking areas
Roof leaks
Safety devices not operating properly
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