07. Common Hazards 1-4 Flashcards
In all cases the manager should: 4
Be aware of the relevant hazards and corresponding controls; Ensure that staff understand the nature of the hazards and the reason for providing controls; Monitor the workplace to ensure that workplace precautions, risk control systems and management controls remain effective; and Lead by example, demonstrating expected behaviours.
(1) Access and Egress The Health and Safety at Work Act places a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, a safe means of access to and egress from any workplace This covers the basic means of entering or leaving a workplace, be it an office, factory or construction site including the journey between the site access or staff car park and reception. The following will therefore require consideration: 8
Suitability of external lighting; Conditions of roads and pathways; Provision of signage; Safety of visitors; Safety of disabled persons; Protection of pedestrians from vehicles; Procedures for dealing with snow and ice; and Emergency situations. The general duty also applies to safe means of access to and from specific places of work within the general workplace, e.g. a confined space, work at height such as on a rooftop, or a work vehicle.
(2) Aggression, Bullying and Violence The HSE has defined work-related violence as:
“any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work.”
Effects of Workplace Violence For employers 4
Poor morale. Poor corporate image. Difficulty with staff recruitment and retention. Extra costs from absenteeism, higher insurance premiums and compensation payments.
The first stage of a programme for managing workplace violence is
to determine whether or not there is a problem, and if there is to assess the level of risk.
Managing Workplace Violence Control measures will usually involve a combination of measures to: 3
Improve the working environment; Designing the job to reduce risk; and Providing staff with appropriate information and training
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) has defined harassment, as
“unwanted conduct that violates people’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment;”
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) has defined bullying, as applied to sexual orientation, religion or belief and race and ethnic and national origin as:
“offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient.”
The TUC (Trades Union Congress) has identified a number of bullying behaviours, including: 5
shouting at staff; deliberately excluding someone from work activities; blocking promotion; setting up someone to fail through unrealistic targets or deadlines; and regularly making someone the butt of jokes.
CoSHH doesn’t cover lead, asbestos or radioactive substances because
these have their own specific regulations.
What is a hazardous substance? 5
Any substance or mixture which is classified as dangerous for supply because it is very toxic, toxic, harmful, corrosive or irritant; Any substance which has a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL); Any biological agents used at work; Any dust other than one with a WEL at a concentration in air above 10 mg/m 3averaged over 8 hours, or any such respirable dust above 4 mg/m 3 over 8 hours; or Any other substance that creates a risk to health because of its properties and the way it is used or is present in the workplace.
Principles of Good Control Practice The CoSHH Regulations define the principles of good control practice for hazardous substances as follows: 8
- Design and operate processes and activities to minimise emission, release and spread of substances hazardous to health. 2. Take into account all relevant routes of exposure. 3. Ensure control measures are proportionate to the health risk. 4. Choose the most effective and reliable control options to minimise the escape and spread of hazardous substances. 5. Where adequate control cannot be achieved by other means, provide, in combination with other control measures, suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). 6. Check and regularly review control measures to ensure their continuing effectiveness. 7. Inform and train all employees on the hazards and risks and the control measures developed to minimise the risks. 8. Ensure that the introduction of control measures does not increase the overall risk to health and safety.
Hierarchy of Practical Control Measures COSHH 7
- Eliminate the use of a harmful product or substance and use a safer one. 2. Use a safer form of the product, e.g. paste rather than powder. 3. Change the process to emit less of the substance. 4. Enclose the process so that the product does not escape. 5. Extract emissions of the substance near the source.6. Have as few workers in harm’s way as possible. 7. Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, coveralls and a respirator. PPE must fit the wearer.
There are a range of ergonomic hazards associated with the use of desktop and laptop computer equipment, notably: 3
poor posture; repetitive keyboard use; and the distance between the user’s eyes and the screen.
The main types of harm caused by computer use are:
Musculoskeletal disorders including back pain and work related upper limb disorders (WRULDS) (also known as repetitive strain injury or RSI); Visual fatigue; and Mental stress.
