Health and Safety

Question 1

Name the Health and Safety acts we are concerned with
(5)

Answer 1

Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005

With chemicals act 2008 and 2010

Waste disposal

Carriage of dangerous goods by road

Tobacco smoking (prohibition) regulations 2003 -> Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002

Question 2

What are some aspects of the Safety, Health and Welfare Act?
(3)

Answer 2

Not engage in improper conduct likely to endanger S, H and W of self and others

Attend such training as appropriate

Shall not misrepresent themselves with regard to the level of training

Question 3

Define safety
(2)

Answer 3

Freedom from injury, danger or risk

In practice safety means to keep danger at an acceptable low level

Question 4

Define health
(3)

Answer 4

Freedom from bodily or mental illness

Absence of illness, injury or impairment

In general, physical and mental wellbeing is not damaged by ones employment

Question 5

Define welfare
(3)

Answer 5

The provision and use of comfort items such as toilets, washing facility and restrooms

Somewhere clean to eat and drink during breaks

If working outdoors you should be protected against bad weather, noise, slippery conditions etc

Question 6

Define an accident
(2)

Answer 6

Unexpected, unplanned event

Results in physical harm, injury, disease to an individual, damage to property, a near miss, a loss or any combination of these effects

Question 7

Define hazard
(2)

Answer 7

Anything with potential to cause human injury or damage

Can include objects, substances, machines and work methods

Question 8

Define a near miss
(2)

Answer 8

An event without immediate or serious consequences

But had potential to be serious

Question 9

Define risk

Answer 9

The likelihood that someone will be harmed by the hazard, together with the severity of the harm suffered

Question 10

Define risk assessment

Answer 10

The careful examination of what in your work could cause harm to people so that you can evaluate if sufficient precautions have been taken or if more are needed

Question 11

Give some general protective principles

Answer 11

Avoid risks to health and safety where possible

Evaluating the likely consequences of risks which cannot be avoided to be able to deal with them at source (risk assessment)

Taking account of individual worker in design of workplace, choice of equipment and systems of work

Adapting the place of work in the light of technical progress

Replacing dangerous substances, articles or systems of work either by replacing or substituting

Provide and maintain suitable protective clothing and equipment

Prepare adequate procedures in case of emergency or serious and imminent danger

Report accidents and dangerous occurrences

Replacing dangerous substances, articles or systems of work either by replacing or substituting

Adopting a preventative approach to health and safety
Providing health and safety training, instruction and information

Question 12

What are some aspects of taking account of individual worker in design of workplace, choice of equipment and systems of work?
(4)

Answer 12

To reduce effects of monotonous work

Set achievable work rates

Work breaks for VDU users

Ergonomics (bench heights)

Question 13

List an aspect of adapting the place of work in the light of technical progress

Answer 13

Enclosed processors or analysers

Question 14

List two aspects of replacing dangerous substances, articles or systems of work either by replacing or substituting

Answer 14

RA’s
COSHH (UK)

Question 15

List three aspects of adopting a preventative approach to health and safety

Answer 15

H+S ethos
Identifying hazards
Putting suitable controls in place

Question 16

What are some duties of employees?

Answer 16

Take reasonable care to protect S, H +W of self and others

Not under influence of intoxicant to a state as to endanger self or others -> includes drug use

Co-operate with employer or other persons to enable compliance with relevant statutory provisions

Not engage in improper conduct or behaviour likely to endanger S, H + W of self or others

Attend such training (and undergo assessment) as may be reasonably required by employer or as prescribed relating to health and safety, as relating to work carried out by employer

Question 17

What are the minimum requirements from the chemical agents regulation 2015
(5)

Answer 17

Reduction of exposure of employees to chemicals

Monitoring of exposure to chemicals

Control of exposure to chemicals

Provision of information, instruction and training

Provision of relevant health surveillance where RA shows risk to health

Question 18

What does the chemical agents regulations 2015 cover
(4)

Answer 18

Safe storage, handling and segregation

Action/emergency plans - plans available to employees/emergency services

Safety drills

Access to MSDS

Labelling - containers

Question 19

What are some examples of hazard identification
(3)

Answer 19

Labelling of chemicals

Material safety data sheets (MSDS)

Risk assessment

Question 20

What is MSDS

Answer 20

Data sheets providing information headings -> EU directive

Question 21

What 16 aspects does MSDS?

Answer 21

Identification of substance or preparation and the company supplying it

Composition/information on ingredients

Hazard identification

First aid measures

Fire fighting measures

Accidental release measures

Handling and storage

Exposure controls/personal protection

Physical and chemical properties

Stability and reactivity

Toxicological information

Ecological information

Disposal consideration

Transport information

Regulatory information

Other information

Question 22

What are some important aspects of chemical storage?
(11)

Answer 22

Location
Space requirement
Temperature
Ventilation
Containers
Quantities
Age and condition
Labelling
Security
Flammable
Segregation of incompatible chemicals

Question 23

Write a note on biological hazard
(4)

Answer 23

Safety Health and Welfare at Work (biological Agents) Regulation 2013 -> reduce risk

Biological safety cabinets

Decontamination - disinfection/sterilisation

Categories of biological agents - Code of practice

Question 24

What is a category 1 biological hazard
(4)

Answer 24

Unlikely to cause human disease
Minimal precautions - glove, coat, face mask
Decontamination - wash hands and surfaces
Dispose as clinical waste

Question 25

What is a category 2 biological hazard?
(4)

Answer 25

Can cause mild disease in humans and might be hazard to employee - difficult to contract by aerosol

Safety cabinet or bench work using Category 3 procedures

Decontamination - more stringent

Dispose as clinical waste

Question 26

What is a category 3 biological hazard?
(3)

Answer 26

Can cause serious disease and is hazard to employee - treatment usually available

Category 3 procedures such as safety cabinet class II or III -> separate work area

Special decontamination and disposal procedures - autoclave, disposal bins

Question 27

What is a category 4 haemorrhagic fevers?
(3)

Answer 27

Cause serious or fatal disease and hazard to employee - usually no effective treatment

Specific facilities - ‘clean room’ - safety cabinet class III -> separate oxygen supply, specialise clothing

Decontamination procedures - room, all waste

Question 28

Write a note on biological safety cabinets
(6)

Answer 28

Not fume hoods

Air flow - negative
- across work area
- reduces aerosols

Filters - extracted air

Require regular checks and maintenance

Question 29

Write a note on sterilisation/disinfection

Answer 29

Chosen for effectiveness against specific microorganism
- alcohol based
- chlorine based
- phenol based

Autoclave
UV light

Question 30

Write some notes on risk management/ what is risk management
(4)

Answer 30

Approach to health and safety within an organisation

Focus on predicting and controlling potential losses, accidents or harm

Methods used to estimate harmful effects that arise from exposure to hazards

Evaluation of work activities that could cause harm or loss - elimination or control of risks