Industrial Safety and Hygiene

Industrial Safety and Hygiene

• Topic is presented by Oscar Mauricio Rojas Peña from the Faculty of Engineering, Tema 1.
• The presentation addresses safety and hygiene in the industrial sector.

Previous Knowledge

• Prior understanding can be gauged via Quizizz.
• The Quizizz entry code is 104 367.

Branches of PRL (Prevention of Occupational Risks)

• Industrial Safety focuses on preventing accidents.
• Industrial Hygiene is concerned with controlling environmental factors to prevent illness and discomfort.
• Ergonomics is the adaptation of the workplace to the worker.
• Organizational Psychology deals with the human factors of work.
• Preventative Medicine is the measures taken to prevent workplace illness and injury.

Negative Effects of Environmental Modifications

• Mechanical: Leads to work accidents.
• Physical: Leads to illness caused by physical agents.
• Chemical: Illnesses caused by chemical agents.
• Biological: Illnesses caused by living agents.
• Psychological, Social and Moral: Leads to fatigue, stress, dissatisfaction, and affecting other psychological illnesses.

Key Concepts

• Resolution is about regulating the investigation process of incidents and work accidents.
• A work incident is an event during the course of work that has the potential to be an accident.
• A work incident may involve people, but no one suffers injuries; only damage to property or loss during the processes.
• A work accident is a sudden event that occurs because of or during work that causes damage to the worker's health, e.g. organic injury, functional disturbance, disability or death.
• The difference between a work accident and incident is that an incident does not result in injury, for example, slipping and almost falling.

Defining What Qualifies as a Work Accident (Art. 3. Ley 1562 de 2012)

• It is considered a work accident if it happens during the execution of a task under the authority of a superior, even outside the usual place and time.
• When an accident occurs during worker transportation from their residence to the workplace or vice versa (provided by the employer).
• Any accident happening to a worker in trade union service is considered a work accident, as long as the accident occurs during fulfillment of that function.
• Accidents occurring during recreational, sports or cultural activities while acting on behalf of the employer or the user company is also considered a work accident.
  • This applies when workers from temporary service companies are on assignment.

Defining Professional Illness

• According to Article 200 of the Substantive Labor Code, professional illness is a pathological condition that arises as a result of the type of work.
  • Determined by physical, chemical or biological agents.
• Endemic and epidemic diseases of the region are considered professional only when acquired by those in charge of combating them.
• According to article 4 of the law 1562 of 2012, it is contracted as a result of exposure to risk factors inherent in work activity.
  • National Government will determine which diseases are considered related to work periodically.
  • If a disease is not on the list but causality with occupational risk factors is demonstrated, it will be recognized as work-related.

Labor Hazard

• It’s a source or situation with the potential to cause damage in terms of injury, illness, damage to property, or the work environment (GTC-45).
• Labor Risk is the combination between hazard, probability, and severity.

Risk Factor and Consequence

• Risk factor- Conditions that can cause changes in workers where employer cannot control.
• A consequence is defined as the damage due a risk that can be considered; including personal misfortune and material damage.
• (AT, EP)
• The photo shows a danger of electrical contact.
  • The risk factor is exposed electrical unit
  • The consequence- Electrocution

Risk Materialization

• Accidents happen when risks materialize.
• Analyzing risks can derive to accidents and professional illnesses

Risks at Work

• Possible accidents are categorized, spanning falls, collisions, entrapments, projections, exposures, and contact-related incidents.
• Fall can be on the same/different levels, object-caused and caused by machines.

Example Concept

• Occupational Risk: Falling to a different level.
• Risk Factor: Fall to depth, without secured barriers.
• Consequence: Death.

Act & Condition Substandard

• Substandard Act - worker performs an unsafe task incorrectly.
• Substandard Condition - unsafe environment.
  • Can generate work related illness & condition.
• Substandard condition and actions can cause accidents in the workplace.