IT Health, Safety, and Security at Workplace PDF

Part B Unit 4 (Maintain Healthy, Safe and Secure Working Environment) Chapter-1 (Health, Safety and Security at Workplace)  Health of an employee is the state of the physical, mental and social well being. Every organization must provide hea...

Part B Unit 4 (Maintain Healthy, Safe and Secure Working Environment) Chapter-1 (Health, Safety and Security at Workplace)  Health of an employee is the state of the physical, mental and social well being. Every organization must provide healthy and safe working environment for their employees at the workplace.  The work environment of the organization must be safe. It must be free from hazards and risk.  A hazard is the something that can cause harm to the people.  A risk is a probability of causing harm to the people.  Security is a kind of freedom from any potential harm. Security ensures the safety of the people workingin the organization.  The security department should be responsible for various securities such as personal safety, computer system safety, electrical safety, transport safety and other equipment safety.  Policies and Procedures for Health, Safetyand Security-  The Department of Information Technology (DoIT) has prepared the policy to provide employees with a healthy and safe work environment.  Reasons for Health, Safety and SecurityPrograms or Policies in Workplace  It clearly indicates the company’s commitmentfor their employee’s health and safety;  It shows the performance of the business andthe safety performance are compatible with eachother;  It clearly state that the company is not only doing the business for profits but it is taking care of all its stake holders.  The accountability of every one working for the company is outlined for the workplace health,safety and security;  Company can comply national policy on Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) of Government of India;  Injuries and illness of the employees is prevented through such policy  A typical policy of an IT company may contain the following OH&S clauses.  Provide adequate resources to ensure continual improvement in its OH&S performance.  Comply with relevant OH&S legal and other requirements applicable to the organization and drive for ‘beyond compliance’ leadership.  Set appropriate OH&S objectives & targets and conduct periodic performance reviews against these targets.  Adopt measures and processes that focus on the prevention of occupation related accidents, injuries, illnesses, and near-misses and strive to continuously improve such processes.   Ensure OH&S awareness and build competency associated at all levels to handle individual OH&S responsibilities.  Workplace Safety Hazards  Physical Hazards- It is the risks arising from the physical work environment floors, facilities, walls, and ceilings. Physical hazards could also mean working with machinery and electricity operated machines.  How to avoid Physical hazards? To avoid falls and slips, all things must be arranged properly. Any spilt liquid, food or other items such as paints must be immediately cleaned to avoid any accidents. Make sure there is proper lighting and all damaged equipment, stairways and light fixtures arerepaired immediately.  Electrical Hazards- It refers to potential dangers that arise when electrical energy is improperly controlled or utilized. The common causesof electrical accidents are wiring,overloading of electrical outlets, ungrounded or faultyequipment, and unsafe use of electrical equipment.  How to avoid Electrical hazard? Employees must be provided basic knowledge ofusing electrical equipment and common problems. Electrical technicianand engineers should carry out routine inspectionsof all wiring to make sure there are no damaged orbroken wires.  Fire Hazards- It refers to any condition that can cause a fire or intensify its severity. It includes open flames, combustion materials, tasks that can produce sparks (e.g. grinding) etc.  How to avoid Fire hazard? The whole organization must also have first response and emergency mitigation systems in place. Employees should be aware of all emergency exits, including fire escape routes of the office building and also the locations of fire extinguishers and alarms.  Health Hazards-It is present in most workplaces that could impact any part of the human body.It also includes the health situation of what we cannot see upfront – their respiratory and cardiovascular system, and the nervous system. For example, a noisy machine or factory environment could damage the sense of hearing of the workers, damage to the lungs because of the exposure to harmful chemicals etc.  Hazards using Computers (Ergonomic Hazard)-Hazards while using computer includes poor sitting postures or excessive duration of sitting in one position. These hazards may result in pain and strain.  How to avoid hazards using Computer? Stretching at regular intervals or doing some simple yoga in your seat can mitigate such hazards.  Potential Hazard- Potential hazards may include poor ventilation, chairs and tables of inappropriate height, hard furniture, poor lighting, staff unaware of emergency procedures, or poor housekeeping.  Lifting or moving heavy items without proper procedure or techniques can also be a source of potential hazard.Always follow approved procedure and proper posture for lifting or moving objects.  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.  Stress causing hazards- long working hours can be stressful and so can aggressively conflicts or arguments with colleagues. Always look for ways for conflict resolution with colleagues. Have some relaxing hobbies for stress against long working hours.  Safety Guidelines Checklist- 1. Store all cleaning chemicals in tightly closed containers in separate cupboards. 2. Throw garbage daily. 3. Make sure all areas have proper lighting. 4. Do not wear loose clothing or jewellery when working with machines. 5. Never distract the attention of people who are working near a fire or with some machinery, tools or equipment. 6. Where required, wear protective items, such as goggles, safety glasses, masks, gloves, and hair nets. 7. Shut down all machines before leaving for the workplace. 8. Do not play with electrical controls or switches. 9. Do not smoke in ‘No Smoking’ areas. 10. Repair torn wires or broken plugs before using any electrical equipment.  Chapter 2 (Workplace Quality Measures)  Air and Water Quality Monitoring Process-  Air and water pollution can be analyzed by using several methods. There are three common forms of analysis – physical, chemical and biological.  The water and air samples can be analyzed by performing some physical, chemical and biological tests.  The temperature and content of the sample can be easily measured. For example, the various gases or percentage of various gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide present in the air can be measured.  Guidelines for Clean Air and Clean Water-  Air pollution is mostly caused by production of the dust, mixture of solid particles and gases in the surrounding air. So avoid dust production, generation of solid particles and gases in the air.  Extensive use of automobile vehicles in the campus can lead to the air pollution. So organisation must use limited number of vehicles to avoid air pollution. Practice a no vehicle day in every week.  Ozone produced in the air can pollute the air. Many times it is called as a smog. The generation of ozone gas must be kept at low level by the organisation.  Most of the human activities pollute the surrounding water. The sewage or the waste water can also cause the water pollution. Take care that their waste is not mixed with the surrounding water.  Extensive use of fertilizers and pesticide must be avoided as it can make the ground water polluted.  Importance of Cleanliness at Workplace- It is always safe to keep your workplace clean to avoid hazardous. The poor handling and storage practices result in damages.  Floors should be kept clean and clear to prevent slipping and collision.  Lighting fixtures are to be checked regularly to permit clear vision.  Spaces around machines and equipment should be kept clear and clean at all times to permit free movement.  Office Ergonomics- Ergonomics is the science concerned with designing and arranging things so that people can use them easily and safely. The following office ergonomics emphasize the identification of early warning signs.  Computer Health and Safety Tips- With the increase use of computer, several health and safety issues related to vision, musculoskeletal issues, body aches and pains may occur.  Musculoskeletal Problems- This problem include different areas of your body, such as neck, back, chests, arms shoulders and feet. It occurs because of your wrong posture, uncomfortable chair for sitting that is not ergonomically correct while working on the computer. To avoid this problem, 1. Position your computer such that the end of the monitor should be at your eye level. 2. Maximize contact of your back against the backrest of the chair. 3. Always take small breaks while working on the computer to stretch your muscles, keep your blood flowing, and to rest your eyes.  Occupational Overuse Syndrome- also known as repetition strain injury (RSI), is a collective term for a range of conditions, characterized by discomfort or persistent pain in muscles, tendons and other soft tissues, with or without physical manifestations.Psycho-social factors, including stress in the working environment, may be important in the development of occupational overuse syndrome.  One of the most common conditions related to repetitive use of muscles when using the computer is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. Ensure that you use appropriate posture when typing. Users should avoid gripping the mouse too tightly. The keyboard and mouse should be kept at the same level. In addition, use of ergonomic keyboard and mouse help to reduce the risk of wrist related conditions.  Strain in Legs and Feet- Sitting to work for long time may cause strain in legs. Position your desk chair to sit comfortably with your feet flat on the floor and your lower legs vertical.  Eye Strain- Computer’s bright light, glare and flickering images can cause eye strain and visual fatigue. Computer Vision Syndrome is caused by poor lighting and glare on the computer screen. Specifically wear anti-glare glasses to work on computer.  Headaches-Headache may occur due to muscle tension or pain in the neck. Strain on the eyes or vision problem can also cause headaches.Try your best to keep your neck straight in front of the computer and take breaks.  Obesity- Spending long hours on computers may lead lacks of physical activity and exercise. In children prolonged use of computers or electronics in general, is a major contributing factor to obesity.  Stress Disorders- Technology impacts our behaviors and emotions. Prolonged use of computers may be accompanied by poor health and increased pressure on you in your workplace, which may lead to stress.  Injuries from Laptop Use- The growing use of laptops cause more pain and strain. Laptops are designed for short periods of use.To overcome this problem, you may use desktop that is set up ergonomically correct, while working for long hours.  Sleeping Problems-Artificial lighting from computer screens can trick your brain and suppress its release of melatonin substance that assists your sleeping patterns. To tackle this, refrain from using a computer right before going to bed.  Health and Safety Requirements for Computer Workplace- The minimum health and safety requirements for computers including Desktop computers, Laptops, Tablets, Smart phones, Television screens and Video monitors are as follows:  Display Screen (Monitor)-Use the modern LED monitors of legible size and with adequate spacing between the characters and lines.  Keyboard-The keyboard should tilt and separate from the screen to find a comfortable working position and avoid fatigue in the arms or hands.  Work Surface-The work desk should be sufficiently large, low reflectance surface and allow a flexible arrangement of the screen, keyboard, documents and related equipment.  Work Chair-The work chair must be stable and allow the user to move easily and find a comfortable position. It should be adjustable in height.  Space Requirements- The workstation should be designed to provide sufficient space for the user to change position and vary movements.  Lighting-There must be satisfactory lighting conditions with appropriate contrast between the screen and background environment.  Reflections and Glare- Workstations should be designed so that sources of light cause no direct glare and no distracting reflections on the screen.  Noise and Heat- Noise emitted by equipment should not distract the attention. Noise cancelling earphones may provide a solution if some noise is unavoidable.  Cautions while Working on the Computer  It is important to work safely on computer. The static electricity generated just by walking on the carpet can damage your computer component. So use a surge protector when you plug your system in.  A battery backup system is the best way to protect against a power outage, as it provides the system with constant voltage.  Remove rings, watches and necklaces while working on the computer. These ornaments are often made of conductive metals which can damage Computer components by striking them static electricity.  Unplug all power sources and cables from computer. If you are working with plugged in computer then it might damage your hardware. Modern processors will overheat within 7 sec if heat sink is not attached.  If a cord or wire will cross a pathway safety it should be mark it with hazard tape.  Avoid water at all times when working with electricity. Never touch or try repairing any electrical equipment or circuits with wet hands.  Chapter 3- (Prevent Accidents and Emergencies)  In an organization, any small accident or unforeseen situation may turn into emergencies if not given due attention.  The emergencies can be natural, such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes or man-made emergencies may include fire, toxic gas releases, chemical spills, illness, explosions, and civil disturbances.  The best way to protect yourself and your organization is to develop a well thought-out emergency action plan to guide the employees in the event of an emergency.  An accident is an unplanned, uncontrolled, or unforeseen event resulting in injury or harm to people and damages to goods. For example, a person falling down and getting injured or a glassware item that broke upon being knocked over.  Emergency is a serious or crisis situation that needs immediate attention and action. For example, a customer having a heart attack or sudden outbreak of fire in your organization needs immediate attention.  The following are some of the guidelines for identifying and reporting an accident or emergency:  You should be able to identify such incidents in your organization, and be aware of the procedures to tackle each form of accident and emergency.  Promptly act as per the guidelines.  Follow Company Policies and Procedures for Preventing Further Injury While Waiting for Help to Arrive.  Act within the Limits of your Responsibility and Authority when Accidents and Emergencies Arise.  Promptly Follow Instructions given by Senior Staff and the Emergency Services.  Types of Accidents-  Trip and Fall  Slip and Fall  Injuries caused due to Escalators or Elevators (or lifts)  Accidents due to Falling of Goods  Accidents due to Moving Objects  Handling Accidents-  Attend to the Injured Person Immediately  Inform your Supervisor  Assist your Supervisor  Some general emergency handling procedures are-  First Aid- dealing with common problems such as cuts, burns, headaches and muscle cramps.  Electrical Safety- routine inspections of all wiring to make sure there are no damaged or broken wires.  Fire safety- All employees must know where the fire extinguishers are located, and how to properly use them. No flammable material are to be placed around an exit door way.  Evacuation- Leave the premises immediately and start moving towards the nearest emergency exit.  Identification of Material and Ignition Sources- Materials are classified by risk, and are sorted according to these fire classifications:  Class A Material: materials such as wood, cloth, and paper, which won’t ignite on their own but will continue to burn once exposed to a heat source.  Class B Material: all liquid, grease, and gas materials that burn when exposed to ignition sources.  Class C Material: electrical materials and equipments. These materials cause fires very quickly and present a serious risk of arc flash.  Class D Material: any material that is volatile and able to quickly ignite, such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium.  Examples of ignition sources include:  Open flames such as gas ovens, lighters in smoking areas, and welding torches.  Sparks from wood or metal saws and other types of equipment.  Heat sources such as combustion engines, space heaters, ovens, and machines that produce heat during operation.  Chemical ignition from chemicals that combust under normal working temperatures.