Element 1 Flashcards
Identify the 2 standards used to outline good practice with regard to basic welfare within workplaces?
- Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992.
- Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007.
With regard to minimum Welfare standards, explain “Drinking Water”?
It must be Wholesome or non-potable. However, if the 2 types are present, then they must be clearly labelled.
With regard to minimum Welfare standards, explain “Sanitary Conveniences”?
- There must be a sufficient number.
- Separate facilities for men and women.
- Protected from the weather.
- Clean.
- Lit.
- Ventilated.
- Provision for disabled use.
With regard to minimum Welfare standards, explain “Changing Rooms”?
- Lit.
- Clean.
- Ventilated.
- Separate facilities for men & women.
With regard to minimum Welfare standards, explain “Washing Facilities”?
- Hot & Cold (or warm) running water.
- Soap.
- Towels (or other means of drying).
With regard to minimum Welfare standards, explain “Accommodation for Clothing”?
- Lockers so that personal clothing can be kept clean & secure.
- Separate storage for dirty work clothing to prevent cross contamination.
With regard to minimum Welfare standards, explain “Resting and Eating Facilities”?
- Sufficient seating.
- Away from hazardous work areas.
- Removal of PPE.
- Hygienic environment.
- Able to make own Hot drinks & food.
- Separate facilities for New or Expectant Mothers.
What are the basic workplace environment standards for indoor workplaces?
- Space - Adequate to allow task to be performed safely.
- Seating - Appropriate, stable, back rest & foot rest if appropriate.
- Ventilation - Sufficient supply of purified air.
- Heating - Reasonable: Minimum indoor temperature for Sedentary work is 16 degrees C, and for Manual work is 13 degrees C.
- Lighting - Adequate.
- Noise - Controls to reduce excessive noise.
Outline some factors to consider when providing workplace lighting?
- Minimum light (lux) levels should be achieved.
- Natural light is preferred.
- Light levels adjusted to suit the detail of the task.
- Local lighting (spotlights) positioned to conduct critical work activity.
- Arranged to avoid reflections or glare.
- Arranged to avoid shadows, which may create risk.
- Flickering should be avoided to prevent nuisance.
- Suitable for the environment (i.e. Intrinsically Safe areas).
- Emergency lighting in the event of a mains failure.
Identify Health & Safety effects of working in a Hot environment?
Dehydration. Muscle Cramps. Heat Stress. Heat Exhaustion. Heat Stroke. Other Effects - Burns, Cancer, etc.
Identify Health & Safety effects of working in a Cold environment?
Hypothermia.
Frostbite.
Slip Hazards.
Freeze Burn Injuries.
Outline some control measures that can be used in a HOT environment?
- Provide good ventilation - moving air has a cooling effect.
- Insulate heat sources - lag hot pipes.
- Shield heat sources - prevent contact burns.
- Provide cool refuges - workers can escape heat.
- Provide easy access to drinking water or isotonic drinks.
- Provide frequent breaks or job rotation.
- Provide appropriate clothing.
Outline some control measures that can be used in a COLD environment?
- Prevent or protect workers from draughts.
- Shield/lag extremely cold surfaces.
- Provide warm refuges.
- Provide PPE - insulated jackets, balaclavas, etc.
- Provide frequent breaks and job rotation.
- Provide easy access to hot food and drink.
- Scrape, salt or grit icy floors.
What can poor STACKING of materials lead to?
- Hinderance or prevention of a safe environment.
- Blockage of light.
- Blockage to essential services (Fire equipment).
- Danger of collapse/toppling over.
Outline factors to consider when storing materials?
- Storage areas are clearly defined.
- Separate areas for different items.
- Certain materials/substances should be segregated during storage (gas bottles).
- Areas kept clean and tidy. Regularly inspected.
- Appropriate warning signs where necessary.
- Storage areas should not be used for work activity.
Outline factors to considers when stacking materials?
- Each stack should be for one material only, not mixed.
- A maximum stack height must be set (dependent on strength & stability of the material).
- Stack should be vertical, not leaning.
- Pallets should be used to keep material off of the ground.
- Sufficient space between stacks, to allow for safe movement.
- Stacks protected from being struck by vehicles.
Outline factors to consider when storing flammable materials?
- Should be kept in separate stores.
- External, open-air stores should be away from buildings.
- Internal stores should be constructed of fire-resistant materials.
- Stores containing large quantities of flammables, should have at least 2 exits as a means of escape.
- Doors and gates should be locked when not in use.
- Stores should have suitable warning/safety signs.
- Hot works should NOT be carried out clues to storage areas.
- Electrical equipment installed/used in storage areas needs to fe of correct rating.
- Fire-fighting equipment should be provided.
- Stores should be inspected regularly for correct use and housekeeping.
Define “Work-Related Violence”?
Any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work.
Give some factors which associated with violence in the work place?
- Work that involves the handling of cash.
- Work that involves working alone and dealing with members of the public.
- Workers representing authority (Police, Traffic Wardens, etc).
- Uniforms (symbols of authority).
- Workers who are dealing with people under stress.
- Workers who are dealing with people under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
- Workers who have to say “No” (bar staff).
Identify some occupations which are more at risk of violence in the workplace?
- Prison Officers.
- A & E staff.
- Police.
- Traffic Wardens.
- Social Workers.
- Bus/Taxi Drivers.
- Fire Fighters/Paramedics.
- Railway Staff.
- Estate Agents.
List some Control Measures to prevent violence at a “Central Office” work location?
- Zero tolerance policy and prosecution for offenders (signs showing the fact).
- Security staff.
- CCTV cameras.
- Security doors between staff and public areas.
- Minimising queues and waiting times.
- Clear announcements about waiting times.
- Training for staff (diffusing a situation….providing a good quality service).
- Screens between staff and the public.
- Panic alarms.
- A pleasant environment.
List some Control Measures to prevent violence with regard to a worker making a “home visit”?
- No lone working or no lone working in high risk areas.
- Keep records of past incidents and vet customers.
- Visit-logging with Supervisor.
- Pre and Post visit telephone calls with Supervisor.
- Training for staff in “Break away techniques” and “Lone working”.
- Always have a means of communication.
- No visits after dark.
- Park in secure areas.
- Do not carry cash or valuables.
Identify types of substances that may be misused at work?
- Alcohol.
- Legal or illegal drugs.
- Solvents.
What effects may alcohol and/or drug misuse have on a workplace?
- Late attendance.
- Increased absenteeism.
- Reduction in quality of work.
- Reduction in work rate.
- Dishonesty.
- Theft.
- Irritability and mood swings.
- Deterioration in working relationships.
What Control Measures could employers adopt in order to reduce the risks of substance misuse at work?
A clear drug and alcohol policy which could include:
- Restriction of alcohol in the workplace.
- Statutory legal requirements prohibiting workers from being under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
- Non statutory requirements of the above, sort by the employer.
- Arrangements for random drug and alcohol testing.
- Arrangements for workers to have access to rehabilitation and treatment programmes.
- Disciplinary procedures for workers who refuse or fail a test or refuse assistance.
- Provision of information, instruction, training and supervision.
Identify types of accidents that hazards cause?
- Slips, trips and falls.
- Falls from height.
- Collisions with moving vehicles.
- Being struck by moving, flying or falling objects.
- Striking against fixed or stationary objects.
- Maintenance activities.
Outline typical slip hazards?
- Smooth floor surfaces (eg. polished marble, wet because of spills).
- Contamination of a floor (eg. Leaves or fat).
- Frost and ice.
Outline typical trip hazards?
- Uneven or loose floor surfaces.
- Trailing cables.
- Objects on the floor.
Outline typical “Fall from height” hazards?
- Working next to an unprotected edge.
- Working on a fragile material above a drop.
- Using access equipment (MEWPS or Cherry Picker).
- Using ladders.
- Standing on objects to reach high levels.
Outline some typical “Collision with moving vehicle” hazards?
- Pedestrian walkways that require walking on vehicle traffic routes.
- Pedestrian crossing points.
- Exits that open onto vehicle traffic routes.
- Areas where people walk adjacent to moving vehicles.
Outline some typical “Being struck by moving, flying or falling objects” hazards?
- Ejected parts (eg. metal waste during drilling).
- Thrown objects (eg. scaffold coupling).
- Loads falling from height (eg. from forklifts).
- Objects dislodged from roofs when being worked on (eg. Slates or tiles).
- As above, but due to adverse weather conditions.
- Toppling of unstable objects (eg. Unsecured ladder or poor stacking).
Outline some typical “Striking against fixed or stationary objects” hazards?
- Objects that project/protrude into a pedestrian area/route.
- Narrow doorways in a pedestrian route.
- Low overheads (eg. Pipe work).
What is the basic Health & Safety management principle with regard to hazards and risk?
- Eliminate the hazard.
- Create a safe place.
- Create a safe person.
Identify some factors that could be considered when developing a plan for the safe movement of pedestrians around the workplace?
- Have a vehicle free workplace.
- Slip resistant surfaces.
- Spillage control and drainage.
- Designated walkways.
- Fencing and guard rails.
- Use of signs and PPE.
- Information, instruction, training and supervision.
What factors may influence the kind of slip resistant floor that is required in the workplace?
- The number of people who walk on the floor.
- The footwear of those people.
- The wear and tear of the surface (eg. Will vehicle traffic use it as well).
- Foreseeable spills and contamination on the floor.
- Environmental conditions (eg. Weather, temperature, sunlight).
How is spill control best achieved?
By preventing the spill from happening in the first place:
- Maintenance and inspections.
- Behavioural controls (eg. Banning drinks in certain areas).