STC SA Acronyms and definitions Flashcards
What is a Prohibition notice?
- A notice issued by an inspector to halt an activity which the inspector feels could lead to a serious personal injury.
- It Identifies which legal requirement is being or is likely to be contravened.
- This takes effect as soon as it is issued.
• an appeal may be made to the Employment Tribunal but, in this case, the notice remains in place during the appeal process
There are two forms of prohibition notice:
➤an immediate prohibition notice – this stops the work activity immediately until the specified risk is reduced
➤a deferred prohibition notice – this stops the work activity within a specified time limit.
What is an Improvement Notice?
Issued by an inspector that identifies a specific breach of the law and specifies a date by which the situation is to be remedied.
• An appeal must be made to the Employment Tribunal within 21 days. The notice is then suspended until the appeal is either heard or withdrawn
Define Health?
The protection of the bodies and minds of people from illness resulting from the materials, processes or procedures used in the workplace.
Define Ill Health?
The two words are normally used together to indicate concern for the physical and mental well-being of the individual at the place of work.
Define Welfare?
The provision of facilities to maintain the health and well-being of individuals at the workplace. e.g. washing and sanitation arrangements, the provision of drinking water, heating, lighting, and accommodation for clothing, seating (when required by the work activity), eating and rest rooms, first aid arrangements.
Define Environmental protection?
Arrangements to cover those activities in the workplace which affect the environment (in the form of flora, fauna, water, air and soil) and, possibly, the health and safety of employees and others. This includes waste disposal and atmospheric pollution.
Define Hazard and a Risk?
The two terms are often confused and activities such as construction work are called high risk when they are high hazard. Although the hazard will continue to be high, the risks will be reduced as controls are implemented. The level of risk remaining when controls have been adopted is known as the residual risk. There should only be a high residual risk where there is poor health and safety management and inadequate control measures.
Give examples of an Insure direct cost?
- Claims on employers and public liability insurance
- Damage to buildings, equipment, vehicles
- Absence from employees
Give examples of an Uninsured direct cost?
- Fines resulting from prosecution by the enforcement authority
- Sick pay
- Some damage to the product , equipment, vehicles or process (not directly associated with accident
- Increases in insurance premium
- Any compensation not covered by insurance
- Legal representation following a compensation claim
Give examples of an insured indirect cost?
- A cumulative business loss
- Product or process liability claims
- Recruitment or replacement staff
Give examples of an uninsured indirect cost?
- Loss of goodwill and a poor corporate image
- Accident investigation time
- Production delays
- Extra overtime payments
- Recruitment and training replacement staff
- First aid-provision and training
- Lower employee morale possibly leading to reduced productivity
Define Negligence?
It is the lack of reasonable care or conduct which results in the injury, damage (or financial loss) of or to another.
Define PRACTICABLE?
Capable of being carried out or feasible (given current knowledge, finance, information etc.)
Define REASONABLY PRACTICABLE?
Must be technically possible, and the risk assessed against the cost. Where cost is disproportionately high, can be deemed not to be reasonably practical.
What are the powers of the inspector?
- enter premises at any reasonable time
- can bring police officer, if necessary
- can bring another authorizes person and necessary equipment
- can bring specialist
- must be provided with facilities to work
- examine, investigate
- require the premises to be left undisturbed
- take samples, photographs and, if necessary, dismantle and remove equipment or substances
- require the production of books or other relevant documents and information
- seize, destroy or render harmless any substance or article
- require any person who can give info to answer question and sign statement
- issue enforcement notices and initiate prosecutions (he can just caution)
- take no action
- give verbal advice
- give written advice
- formal caution
- serve an improvement notice
- serve a prohibition notice
- initiate prosecution
What are the 6 steps of Hazard prevention?
- Eliminate the hazard
- Substitution
- Use of barriers (Isolation/segregation)
- Procedures (SSW/Dilution)
- Warning systems (Instruction/Training/Signs/Markings)
- PPE
What is meant by an Accident?
Any unplanned event that results in injury or ill health of people, or damage or loss to property, plant, materials or the environment or a loss of a business opportunity’. Other authorities define an accident more narrowly by excluding events that do not involve injury or ill-health.
Define Near miss?
Is any incident that could have resulted in an accident.
What does RIDDOR refer to?
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
Define Immediate cause?
The most obvious reason why an adverse event happens, e.g. guard is missing. There may be several immediate causes in any one adverse event.
Four basic elements to a sound investigation?
- collect facts about what has occurred
- assemble and analyse the information obtained
- compare the information with acceptable industry and company standards and legal requirements to draw conclusions
- implement the findings and monitor progress
Name a few Major reportable Injuries?
- Any fracture excl. Fingers/thumbs/toes
- Amputation
- Dislocation of the shoulder/hip/knee/spine
- Loss of sight
- Chemical or hot metal burn to the eye / any penetrating injury to the eye
- Any injury resulting from electrical shock or burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24hrs
- Injury leading to hypothermia/heat-induced illness or to unconsciousness
- Injury requiring resuscitation
- Injury requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24hrs
- Loss of consciousness caused by asphyxia or by exposure to a harmful substance or biological agent
- Acute illness requiring medical treatment or loss of consciousness which result from the absorption of any substance by inhalation/ingestion/through the skin
- Acute illness which requires medical treatment where there is reason to believe that this resulted from exposure to a biological agent/its toxins/infected material
What is stated under The OHS Act (section 13 with regards to injury on duty?
States that the employer (represented by HR or a Line Manager) has a duty to inform a health and safety representative as soon as possible if there has been an incident in the workplace.
What injuries under Section 24 incidents: report to Dept of Labour should be reported?
Serious incidents/accidents are addressed in section 24 of the OHS Act. These include incidents where the affected person required medical treatment other than first aid, and certain types of near miss incidents.
Section 24 incidents must be reported by the employer to the Department of Labour (DoL) Provincial Director within seven (7) days. If not, the employer will be guilty of a criminal offence and will have to pay a penalty.
What injuries under Section 24 incidents: report to Dept of Labour should be reported? Clarify on injury and Ill-health?
Section 24(a) and (b): injury or ill-health incidents (Injury on Duty)
Such incidents include:
- When a person dies;
- When a person becomes unconscious;
- When a person loses a limb or part of a limb;
- When a person is injured/becomes ill, or is likely to die or suffer permanent physical defect;
- When a person is unable to work for 14 days or longer;
- When a ‘major incident’/disaster occurs. *
* A ‘major incident’/disaster is defined by the OHS Act as: “an occurrence of catastrophic proportions,
resulting from the use of plant or machinery, or from activities at a work place”.
Section 24 incidents must be reported by the employer to the Department of Labour (DoL) Provincial Director
within seven (7) days. If not, the employer will be guilty of a criminal offence and will have to pay a penalty.
What injuries under Section 24 incidents: report to Dept of Labour should be reported? Clarify on near-miss incidents?
Section 24(c): near miss incidents
The OHS Act defines a near miss as “any unforeseen event involving one or more hazardous substances which,
but for mitigating effects, actions or systems, could have escalated to a major incident”. Such incidents involve
property damage but no personal injury, where:
- The health or safety of any person was endangered;
and
- A dangerous substance was spilled;
- There was an uncontrolled release of any substance under pressure;
- Machinery ran out of control;
- There were flying, falling or uncontrolled moving objects.
Section 24 incidents must be reported by the employer to the Department of Labour (DoL) Provincial Director
within seven (7) days. If not, the employer will be guilty of a criminal offence and will have to pay a penalty.
Recording section 24 incidents
Recording section 24 incidents
Findings of the investigation must be recorded within seven (7) days:
Annexure 1: this Recording and Investigation of Incident form is prescribed by the OHS Act, General
Administrative Regulations (9).
- A copy of the report must be sent to the SHE Office to ensure that due process is followed.
- The Health and Safety Committee should examine the report to consider and make relevant
recommendations.
- Records must be kept on file for at least three years.
Define IONISING RADIATION?
Emitted from radioactive materials in form of directly ionising α or β particles or indirectly ionising X-rays and γ rays or neutrons.
α – can be stopped by very thin material such as paper (ingestion)
β - can be stopped by aluminium foil (inhalation/ingestion)
γ – (similar to X-rays) produced from nuclear reactions and pass through the body
Define NON-IONISING RADIATION?
The action is to heat cells rather than change their chemical composition.
Examples: Lasers, Infrared radiation and Microwaves
What is meant by Confined spaces?
means any place incl:
any chamber/tank/vat/silo/pit/trench/pipe/sewer/Flue/well or similar space in which by virtue of its enclosed nature there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk.
Explain Criminal law?
Criminal Law Prosecuted By State Award of sanctions Guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Uninsurable
Explain Civil Law?
Civil Law Brought by the Victim Victim to seek compensation Settled on the balance of probabilities Is insurable against
Define Convection?
Hot air becomes less dense & rises, drawing in cold new air to fuel the fire with more oxygen. Heat is transmitted upwards at sufficient intensity to ignite combustible materials in the path of the very hot products of combustion & flames.
Define Conduction?
Transmission of heat through a material with sufficient intensity to melt or destroy the material & ignite combustible materials which come into contact or close to a hot section. (copper/steel/aluminium)
Define Radiation?
Often in a fire, direct transmission of heat through the emission of heat waves from a surface can be so intense that adjacent materials are heated sufficiently to ignite.
Define Direct burning?
Effect of combustible materials catching fire through direct contact with flames which causes fire to spread.
Define an Accident?
An unplanned, uncontrolled event leading to damage, loss or harm.
Define a Health & safety audit?
The structured process of collecting independent information on the efficiency, effectiveness & reliability of the total health & safety management system, and drawing up plans for corrective action.
Define Harm?
Ill health (physical & mental) & injury
Define safe system of work?
A step-by-step procedure, which takes into account hazards, controls, essential equipment, materials and the environment to produce an acceptable level of safety.
Define Control measures?
Any measure implemented to eliminate, reduce or control the risks from a hazard
Define informing?
Transferring knowledge or facts to people by the use of one or more media
Define Health & safety culture?
The product of individual & group values, attitudes, perceptions, competencies & patterns of behaviour that determine the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of an organisation’s health & safety management (HSG65). It is the values, which underpin the organisation & gives the distinctive ‘feel’ to it. Not easily written down or stated.
Define Ergonomics?
The interaction between the person, their work and their work environment. Includes the consideration of the individual’s physical and mental capabilities as well as their understanding of the job.
Define Manual handling?
The movement of loads by human or physical effort. Includes lifting, moving, pushing, pulling, transporting, supporting, putting down & intentional dropping & throwing of loads by hand or bodily force.
Define Noise?
Unwanted sound
Define Working at Height?
Work carried out above ground at a height of 2metres or more
What are the three main sections of a health & safety policy?
- Statement of Intent
- Organisation
- Arrangements
(SOA)
Name 3 physical hazards and their associated risks?:
Noise - Tinnitus, threshold shift, partial or total hearing loss
Vibration - HAVS, reduced manual dexterity, loss of digits
Heat - Nausea, sweating, fainting, heat stroke, blistering/burning of the skin
Give 3 biological hazards and where each may be found?
Hepatitis B virus - Infected body fluids e.g. used needles, blood
Leptospirosis bacterium - Rats urine e.g. sewers, undergrowth
Legionella bacteria - Water systems e.g. tanks, air conditioning systems
Name 3 chemical hazards and their associated risks?
Solvent adhesive - Headache, giddiness, nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, death
Asbestos - Lung damage, Asbestosis, Lung cancer
Cement dust - Lung damage, occupational asthma, dermatitis
What is the BCEA Act?
Basic Conditions of Employment Act, No. 75 of 1997
What is the COIDA Act?
Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, No. 130 of 1993
What is the LRA?
Labour Relations Act, No. 66 of 1995
What is the MA Act?
Mineral Act, No. 50 of 1991
What is the MHSA Act?
Mine Health and Safety Act, No. 29 of 1996
What is the NEMA Act?
National Environmental Management Act, No. 107 of 1998
What is the OHSA Act?
Occupational Health And Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993
Define AIA?
Approved Inspection Authority
Define CI?
Chief Inspector
Define CSO?
Construction Safety Officer
Define ECBSA?
Electrical Contracting Board of SA
Define F&S?
Form Work and Support Work
Define HCS?
Hazardous Chemical Substance
Define LEL?
Lower Explosive Limit
Define FPP?
Fall Protection Plan
What is a ‘Direct Cost’ and give examples?
Direct costs are expenses that a company can easily connect to a specific “cost object,” which may be a product, department or project.
- Manufacturing supplies
- Equipment
- Raw materials
- Labor costs
- Other production costs
Define IA?
Inspection Authority
Define MPOP?
Maximum Permissible Operating Pressure
Define OEL?
Occupational Exposure Limit
Define OESSM?
Occupational Exposure Sampling Strategy Manual
Define PC?
Principal Contractor
Define ‘Indirect Cost’ and give examples?
Indirect costs extend beyond the expenses you incur when creating a product; they include the costs involved with maintaining and running a company.
- Utilities
- Office supplies
- Office technology
- Marketing campaigns
- Accounting and payroll software
- Employee
A ‘major incident’/disaster is defined by the OHS Act as?
“an occurrence of catastrophic proportions,
resulting from the use of plant or machinery, or from activities at a work place”.
