1.9 Health and Safety

Question 1

In general, employers should ensure what 6 things?

Answer 1

1 The workplace is safe and free from risks to health
2 Welfare facilities such as first aid are provided
3 Dangerous items and substances are used and stored safely, and removed from use if necessary
4 Machinery is safe to use, maintained and in good working order
5 Training, information and adequate supervision is provided as necessary
6 Appropriate safety signage is provided

Question 2

Employees have to consider health and safety in the workplace. What should they ensure they do?

Answer 2

1 Take reasonable care for their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of those in the vicinity.
2 Use the personal protective equipment (PPE) provided, and use machinery in accordance with the given training instructions.

Question 3

What 5 aspects should all safe working practices cover?

Answer 3

1 training
2 machine maintenance and guarding
3 extraction systems
4 provision of personal protective equipment
5 accident reporting

Question 4

What are safe working practices?

Answer 4

They are a set of guidelines that an employer may produce as part of an overall health and safety management system

Question 5

Why do staff have to do training?

Answer 5

Employees should be trained in the safe use of work machinery and equipment and trained to carry out safely any process that is part of their job.

Question 6

What is machine maintenance?

Answer 6

All machinery should be part of a regular maintenance programme in which parts are inspected for wear, blades are replaces as required and items such as bearing or gears are lubricated. This is vital, not only to sure the safety and effective operation of the machine, butt also to prove thee machine has been adequately looked after in the event of an accident investigation.

Question 7

What is machine guarding?

Answer 7

Machinery should have the correct guards to protect the employee. Guards can include blade covers for bands saw and circular saws, quadrant guards on disc sanders as well as infrared beams or micro-switches, which will stop the machine immediately if the beam is broken or the switch is enables.

Question 8

What are extraction systems?

Answer 8

If a workshop process produces any dust or fumes, then extraction must be provided. The extraction system ensures that any hazards such as timber dust or welding fumes are extracted at the source, this preventing the employee from inhaling any potentially harmful airborne particles.

Question 9

What is personal protective equipment and why is it necessary?

Answer 9

Employers should ensure that PPE is available to any employee who may be subject to a health and safety risk is work. PP can include items such as safety helmets, eye protection, dust masks, respiratory protective equipment, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and gloves.

Question 10

How do employees report any accident at work?

Answer 10

Employers must keep a record of any accident, and must report this via RIDDOR (reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations, 2013) to the HSE. RIDDOR covers any accident, near miss or dangerous event which has resulted in injury, death or occupational disease, such as a respiratory issue that has been induced by working in very dusty conditions.

Question 11

What does HSWA stand for?

Answer 11

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Question 12

What is the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974?

Answer 12

The main piece of legislation for British health and safety law. To comply, all employees must ensure that all employees and visitors to the workplace are protected in terms of health, safety and welfare.

Question 13

What does COSHH stand for?

Answer 13

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Question 14

What is included in the category hazardous substances?

Answer 14

1 paints, varnishes, cleaning agents and adhesives that may be used during work
2 Fumes that may be created as a result of a process such as soldering and brazing
3 Airborne particles such as dust created by cutting or sanding timber

Question 15

What are the 8 principles that are considered under COSHH regulations?

Answer 15

1 Plan and carry out processes and activities to minimise the release and spread of emissions and substances hazardous to health.
2 Consider all of the relevant routes of exposure, such as inhalation, skin absorption and ingestion, when developing control measures.
3 Control exposure by measures proportionate to the health risk.
4 Choose the most effective and reliable control options, which minimise the escape and spread of substances hazardous to health.
5 Provide, in combination with other control measures, suitable PPE.
6 Check and regularly review the control measures for their continuing effectiveness.
7 Inform and train all employees on the hazards and risks from the substances with which they work and the use of control measures to minimise the risks.
8 Ensure that the introduction of control measures does not increase the overall risk to health and safety.

Question 16

What is a safety precaution?

Answer 16

Any action carried out in advance that protects against possible danger or injury

Question 17

What is a risk assessment?

Answer 17

Something that an employer is required to carry out by law, and should be recorded in any establishment where there are 5 or more employees. The risk assessment must consider what might cause harm to people, and if reasonable steps are being taken to prevent that harm.

Question 18

What are the 3 ways in which the Consumer Protection Act 1987 protects consumers?

Answer 18

1 Product liability - If the product us defective and causes injury, the manufacturer will be held responsible.
2 General safety requirement - All goods for domestic use must be reasonably safe. Any product deemed unsafe may be removed from sale for up to 6 months while safety checks are carried out. If the product is found to be faulty, it may be destroyed.
3 Price indications - The Act prohibits sellers giving consumers a misleading price indication, such as advertisement, price ticket or a price comparison. The Act in enforced by trading standards officers who have the power to seize goods and business records if they have reasonable grounds to suspect a misleading price indication has been given or displayed.

Question 19

To ensure a product is safe, What are the 4 things a manufacturer should do?

Answer 19

1 warn customers about potential risks
2 Provide information to help consumers understand the risks
3 Monitor the safety of products
4 Take action if a safety problem is found

Question 20

What is the British Standards Institute (1901)?

Answer 20

BSI works with industry and government as well as business and consumer groups across the world, to produce a set of standards to assure consumers that products are will produces, safe and fit for purpose

Question 21

How is the 3 pin plug certified as safe by the BSI?

Answer 21

1 It carries the words ‘approved by BSI’, the kitemark and the kitemark licence number for the plug
2 It is supplied with a removeable card label, fitted over the three pins, which shows the writing diagram
3 Inside the plug is a fuse, which shows the BSI kitemark
4 The earth pin is the longest pin. The live and neutral pins have a plastic cover at the pin base. The earth pin does not have a sleeve to ensure a proper connection of the earth circuit; this protects the user from getting an electric shock if a fault occurs.
5 The wiring is coloured in accordance with the wiring diagram; earth (green and yellow), neutral (blue) and live (brown).