ASU334 Lecture-02 PDF

3. Use of Personal Protective Equipment No. Key Learning Points 1 Use of personal protective equipment is the last resort when controlling the sources of accident is ineffective. 2 Personal protective equipment is provided by employers. Wh...

3. Use of Personal Protective Equipment No. Key Learning Points 1 Use of personal protective equipment is the last resort when controlling the sources of accident is ineffective. 2 Personal protective equipment is provided by employers. Whether proper protection can be provided should be considered first when selecting personal protective equipment. Employees should understand the matters of “selection, use, maintenance and fit for the work” related to personal protective equipment. Replace unfit or damaged personal protective equipment immediately. 3 A safety helmet is used for protecting a worker's head from direct hit by falling objects. A worker working in a construction site shall wear a safety helmet at all times regardless he is working inside a building or required to work for a few minutes only. One of the basic requirements of safety helmets is bearing a safety marking such as the European Standard number. 4 The following are the safety practices regarding safety helmets:  A sufficient clearance should be maintained between the head and the shell of a safety helmet.  Regularly check if there is any damage.  Regularly clean a safety helmet but not with an organic solvent.  Regularly check the expiry date.  Don’t remove the helmet harness.  Don’t pierce holes on a safety helmet to enhance ventilation. 8 No. Key Learning Points  Don’t place a straw hat inside a safety helmet for shading sunlight. 5 Steel toe caps, steel soles and slip-proof characteristics are the basic requirements for safety shoes. 6 In comparison with a general purpose of safety belt, the use of a full body harness can effectively reduce the extent of injury to the waist of the user during falling. 7 Appropriate aprons, safety shoes, gloves and face shields should be worn while handling chemicals. Gloves specific for handling the chemical should be used. 8 The user of a respirator should note the closeness between the respirator and the user’s face. After using a respirator, the user should clean and wipe the respirator thoroughly. Appropriate dust filters should be used for protecting the respiratory system of workers engaged in grinding work. Appropriate masks and eye protectors should be used by workers entering dusty workplaces. 9 Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can lead to hearing damage. Ear muffs have generally the best performance for hearing protection. Only ear protectors including ear muffs with their brands and models approved by the Labour Department can be used. Piling work would generate high levels of noise. Workers working in the noise affected area shall wear approved ear protectors appropriately. 10 Wet drilling method and dust removal equipment should be adopted as safety measures for drilling holes in a tunnel. 11 When operating a machine with revolving parts, workers should not wear cotton gloves so as to avoid causing injury to hands due to entangling of cotton gloves with the revolving parts of the machine. 12 It is inappropriate to wear working uniforms stained with inflammable liquid, sandals and slippers at work. 13 Silicosis is caused by prolonged inhalation of silica dust. Hand-dug caisson workers are most likely to suffer from this disease. 9 4. Fire Safety No. Key Learning Points 1 Most fatal cases in fire are caused by inhalation of smoke. 2 The essential conditions for burning are fuel, heat and oxygen. Therefore, isolating the fuel, cooling and cutting off the oxygen supply are fire fighting methods. 3 Rubber floor tiles laying work with the use of adhesive is a high fire risk construction process. 4 Fire is likely caused by spraying of flammable liquid (e.g. paint spraying). 5 Burning of paper, cloth, timber, plastic, rubbish and miscellaneous articles is classified as the first category of fire. 6 The following are fire prevention measures:  Check the fire fighting equipment regularly.  Keep the exit doorway free from obstruction.  Keep the workplace clean and tidy.  Keep the smoke doors closed.  Carefully use the machines and tools that would generate sparks and heat.  Confirm the location for assembly after fire evacuation.  Flammable substances should be stored in metal cabinets.  Don’t store large quantities of flammable substance in the workshop.  Don’t stack miscellaneous articles to block the fire fighting equipment.  Used rags soaked with flammable liquid should be placed in covered metal containers. 10 No. Key Learning Points  Workers should not smoke within a “No Smoking Area” so as to prevent ignition of the inflammable substances nearby. 7 A water type fire extinguisher is suitable for putting out a timber fire but not for a fire caused by a flammable liquid, e.g. petrol. 8 A foam type fire extinguisher is not suitable for a fire caused by failure of electrical appliances. 9 When using a dry powder type fire extinguisher, one should note that the discharged dry powder may cause disorientation. 10 Carbon dioxide type fire extinguisher is most appropriate for putting out an electrical fire. 11