Occupational Safety and Health PDF

 SEVEN BEHAVIORS THAT CAN CAUSE WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS 1. Over Confidence: Having confidence is a good thing but being over confident can be dangerous. Thinking “it can never happen to me” is an attitude that can lead to improper procedures or methods used while working. 2. Ignoring Safety P...

 SEVEN BEHAVIORS THAT CAN CAUSE WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS 1. Over Confidence: Having confidence is a good thing but being over confident can be dangerous. Thinking “it can never happen to me” is an attitude that can lead to improper procedures or methods used while working. 2. Ignoring Safety Procedures: Failing to observe safety procedures can endanger all workers. Rules and procedures are in place for a reason and it’s important for them to be followed. Having a casual attitude about safety rules leads to danger. SEVEN BEHAVIORS THAT CAN CAUSE WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS 3. Shortcuts: As we try to be more efficient we tend to take shortcuts that can lead to unsafe conditions and increased chances for injuries. 4. Not having complete instructions when starting a task: Many times a workers will be shy or intimidated about asking for better instructions and will just try to “wing it” instead of knowing exactly how to do things correctly. New employee training is a must to prevent accidents. Don’t just assume that everyone knows how to do his or her job correctly. SEVEN BEHAVIORS THAT CAN CAUSE WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS 5. Poor Housekeeping: A well maintained work area sets a standard for all. Poor housekeeping creates all types of hazards and sets the stage for accidents. Good housekeeping encourages pride and a safe environment. 6. Mental Distractions: Doing a task safely requires a mental attention. Things that distracts a person from work creates a hazard and can pull focus away from tasks at hand. It’s important to stay focused and leave problems at home. Even casual conversations can be distracting. 7. Pre-planning: Not thinking through a process to complete a task can be a hazard. Being hasty and just starting on a job without giving a thought to what how to go about it can be asking for problems. Remember the saying, “Plan Your Work and work Your Plan.” HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS Accident prevention depends on the 3 E’s 1. engineering – job should be engineered for safety 2. educated – employees should be educated for safe procedures 3. enforced – safety rules should be enforced. 1. Reducing Unsafe Conditions is primarily in the domain of safety engineers: their task is to remove or reduce physical hazards. However, all supervisors and managers do play a role in reducing unsafe conditions.  HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS 2. Reducing Unsafe Acts Through Selection and Placement. -to reduce accidents, is to screen out accident-prone persons before they are hired - screening out applicants who are potentially “short tenure”, “theft prone”, or “low performance” - identifying the human trait (such as visual skill) that might be related to accidents on the job * biographical data, test, and interview questions are some of the tools that you can use * Emotional stability and personality tests. Psychological tests- especially test of emotional stability. * Measures of muscular coordination. - Coordination is a predictor of safety for certain jobs *Test of visual skills We have already seen that good vision plays an important part in preventing accidents in many occupations, including driving and operating machines. HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS 3. Reducing unsafe acts through propaganda. Many organizations use propaganda of one sort or another – such as safety posters – as part of their safety programs. 4. Reducing unsafe acts through training. Experience greatly reduces accidents. Since training can provide a substitute for experience. Such training is especially appropriate with new employees. You should instruct them in safe practices and procedures, warn them of potential hazards, ad work on developing their predisposition toward safety. HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS 5. Reducing unsafe acts through positive reinforcement. Safety program based on positive reinforcement have been used successfully to improve safety at work. 6. Reducing unsafe acts through top management commitment. Reducing accidents is largely a result of developing a safety-conscious attitude on the part of employees. * management should be personally involved in safety activities on a routine basis * giving safety matters high priority in company meetings and production scheduling * giving the company safety officer high rank and status * building safety training into new workers’ training COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES Injury – is physical damage to body tissues caused by an accident or by exposure to environmental stressors. Many work injuries are directly associated with accidents, such as a heavy object falling and crushing bones in the feet. 1. Falls – the most common types of workplace accidents Typical injuries include fractures, sprains, strains, contusions, damage To internal organs, and death. The severity of injury from a fall depends on three factors: velocity of an initial impact magnitude of deceleration (due to hardness of the surface) orientation of the body on impact. COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES 2. Impact – resulting from being struck by and struck against object may cause serious accidents. Struck by worker is hit by a moving object or particle. Ex. a warehouse worker fractures a leg when hit by a moving forklift, and a grinding machine operator is permanently blinded when struck in the eyes and face by the fragments of an exploding grinding wheel. Approximately one-third of these accidents are caused by falling objects. Items accidentally dropped from overhead (such as hand tools, construction materials) can cause severe head, neck, and shoulder injuries, such as fractures, concussions, and lacerations. In some instances, these injuries are fatal. COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES Effective methods for preventing these events include. Installing covers or side rails to enclose or contain materials carried on overhead conveyor system. Placing toeboards on all overhead work platforms Installing nets or gratings above workers assigned to hazardous areas. Providing and requiring the use of safety helmets. Training workers to follow safe rigging practices when hoisting material overhead. Painting safety warnings on floors to indicate work zones where overhead hazards are present. COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES Struck against worker collides with a stationary object. Typical injuries include contusions, abrasions, lacerations, and fractures. Head injuries are common and are associated with low ceilings and confined spaces. The severity of injury from impacting objects depends on three factors: 1. velocity of the impact 2. characteristics of the object (size, hardness, shape etc.) 3. body part impacted Struck against injuries can sometimes be controlled by using personal protective equipment, such as safety helmets and gloves, and through improved design of work stations and tools.  COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES 3.Mechanical – There are as many hazards created by moving machine parts as there are types of machines. Mechanical hazards cause caught. In, caught-on, and crush accidents that can cut, crush, amputate, break bones, strain sure to excessive noise can result in hearing loss that not only affects you but can impact on the people who live and work with you. 4.Toxics – All materials are potentially toxic to some extent. At work, a material may be considered toxic if a small quantity can cause injury, such as tissue damage, cancer, mutations. Four (4) possible routes of entry of toxic materials into the human body Inhalation. Breathing in toxics is the most common and dangerous route.. Ingestion. Toxics enter through the gastrointestinal tract. Absorption. Toxics pass through skin into the bloodstream. Injection. Toxics may be injected into the body (needle, etc.) the least common, yet most direct route of entry. COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES Classes of Toxic substance Toxic or harmful substances encountered in the workplace may be classified in various ways. 1. Dusts – Solid particles generated by handling, crushing, grinding, rapid impact, and detonation of organic or inorganic materials such as rocks, ore, metal, coal, wood, and grain. 2. Fumes - Solid particles generated by condensation from the gaseous state, generally after volatilization from molten metals, and often accompanied by a chemical reaction such as oxidation. 3. Mists – Suspended liquid droplets generated by condensation from the gaseous to the liquid state or by breaking up a liquid into a dispersed state, such as splashing, foaming, or atomizing. 4. Vapors – The gaseous form of substances that are normally in the solid or liquid state and can be changed to these states by either increasing the pressure or decreasing the temperature. Vapors diffuse. 5. Gases – Normally formless fluids that occupy the space of enclosure.  COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES 5. Heat and Temperature. Overexposure to heat and temperature extremes may result in a range of injuries from burns to frostbite. Temperature indicates the level of heat present. Heat is produced as result of chemical reaction, combustion, electrical current, mechanical motion and metabolism. Heat is transferred by: Convection- Heat is transferred by molecules moving through a fluid, gas or liquid. Radiation – Occurs when a body’s temperature is above absolute zero. Conduction – Heat is transferred through a substance or between substances without physical movement of the substances itself. 6. Flammability/Fire. Fire may cause burn injuries. Flammable materials include: fuel solvents coatings cleaning agents lubricants chemicals refrigerants insecticides plastics hydraulic fluid vegetation fabrics wood/paper metals rubber COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES 7. Explosives. The results of an explosion may range from minor injury to major catastrophe. Explosives are used mostly by industry in construction, mining, quarrying, and seismographic work. 8. Pressure Hazards – High and low pressure conditions in the workplace can result to injury. Standard atmospheric pressure is 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi). Examples of pressure hazards include: ruptured cylinders whipping hoses and line water hammer using compressed air for cleaning tools COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES 9. Electrical contact. Exposure to electrical current may cause injury or death. The voltage is not so important as is the amount of current. There are five (5)principles categories of electrical hazards: Shock. Electrical shock may be caused by bare conductors, insulation failures, buildup of static electricity, and faulty electrical equipment. Ignition of combustible material. Ignition is usually caused by a spark, arc, or corona effect (ionized gas allows a current between conductors). Overheating. High current creates high heat that can result to fires, equipment burnout and burns to employees. COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES Electrical explosions. Fast overheating of circuit breakers, transformers, and other equipment may result in a explosion. Accidental activation of equipment. Unexpected startup of equipment and machinery can injure and kill. That’s why lockout/ tag out procedures are important. 10.Ergonomics. Improper lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and twisting can cause strains and sprains. Ergonomics hazards exist in: The worker – physical/mental capability, preexisting conditions, etc. The task – work that includes high force, repetition, frequency and duration, and inappropriate posture, point of operation. The environment – noise, temperature, humidity, color, etc.  COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES 11. Biohazards. People who work with animals, animal products or animal wastes have a greater risk of infection. Biohazard agents include: Bacteria – simple, one-celled organisms that may or may not be harmful. Viruses – organisms that depend on a host cell for development or reproduction. Fungi – may be small or large parasitic organisms growing in a living or dead plant or animal matter. Rickettsia- rod-shaped microorganisms that are smaller than bacteria and depend on a host for development or reproduction. Microorganisms transmitted by fleas, ticks and lice. 12. Workplace Violence- is brought about on by any violent act that occurs in the workplace which creates a hostile work environment that affects employees’ physical or psychological well-being. A risk factor is a condition or circumstance that occurring in a particular setting. Risk factors include: - Employee contact with the public - Exchanging money - Selling/dispensing alcohol or drugs - Delivering passengers, goods or services