Module 01

Unit.01A.1

Elements.01.1A.1 & 2 Indentifying Occupational Health and safety Hazards

Instructional outlines:-

 Describe basic terms in hazard

 Describe types of hazard at workplaces
 Explain hazard control measures

HAZARD AND RISK AT WORKPLACES

An Overview
Work plays a central role in most people’s lives, it provides many economic and other
benefits, and most of us spend at least eight hours a day in work place, whether it is on a
plantation, in the office in the factory, site or in other work places, and workers get injury,
suffer disease, or die at the workplaces every day due to unsafe working environment.
Every workplace, (i.e be it a factory, a kitchen, site or a store), has the potential to
affect the health and safety of worker.

OSH: Definition
Occupational safety and health (OSH) or occupational health and safety (OHS) or
workplace health and safety (WHS) may be defined as a cross disciplinary subject
dealing with protecting, and maintaining the safety, health and welfare of people at
workplace.

Hazard: Definition

Anything or agent that has potential/capability to cause harm in absence of control

Potential - possible or likely, though as yet not tested or actual

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Anything/agent - (e.g. event, condition, situation, practice, behavior or set of circumstance)

Harm – (injury, disease, death or damage to living or non living organism) e.g human
environmental, property and equipment

Risk: Definition

The terms "hazard" and "risk" are often used interchangeably. However, in terms of risk
assessment, these are two very distinct terms. Risk is a chance or probability that a person
will be harmed if exposed to a hazard. OR is any situation that has probability or chance to
causes harm

More simply, Risk = Hazard x Dose (Exposure).

Note: A hazard poses no risk if there is not exposure to that hazard.

TYPES OF HAZARDS AT WORK SETTING

A common way of identifying workplace hazards is to classify them into various categories:

1. Biological hazard
2. Chemical hazard
3. Mechanical hazard
4. Physical hazard
5. Psychological hazard
6. Ergonomic hazard

Biological Hazard: Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological

substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans OR
anything coming from living organisms that could be harm to someone's health. Biohazard
may include:-Pollen, Fungi, Animals, Insects, Bacteria, Viruses, Medical waste, Samples of
a microorganism and Toxin.

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Chemical hazard: Harmful chemical compounds in the form of solids, liquids, gases, mists,
dusts, fumes and vapours exert toxic effects by inhalation (breathing), absorption (through
direct contact with the skin) or ingestion (eating or drinking).

These include various chemicals, liquids and solvents. The hazard associated with them
depend on their physical properties and whether they are toxic, irritants, corrosives or
mutagens

The effects on health of hazardous substances can vary from very mild (momentary
dizziness or skin irritation) to very serious, such as cancer. The principal effects are acute
effect/local effects and chronic effect/systematic effect

Mechanical hazard: The hazards caused by the moving parts of either manually or
powered tools, equipment, machinery and or plant. Example hitting by moving object,
shearing, crushing, cutting

Physical Hazard: physical hazard is defines " as any agent or factor that can cause harm
with or without contact. Physical hazards includes exposure to radiation, temperature, (
heat and cold), light, pressure, vibration, noise, illumination, electricity

Ergonomic Hazard: is any condition which has the potential to cause harm to a worker's
musculoskeletal system Or Ergonomic hazards are physical conditions that may pose risk of
injury to the musculoskeletal system. Ergonomic hazards results from repetitive movement,
manual handling, workplace/job/task design, uncomfortable workstation height and poor
body positioning or improper posture (uncomfortable or unnatural body positioning)

Psychological hazard/psychosocial hazard: Psychological hazards generally are not

from physical of things that you can see like a saw blade, smell like paint. Rather, the
hazards come as a result of interactions with others.

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Psychosocial hazard is any hazard that affects the mental well-being/mental health of the
worker and may have physical effects, and may lead inability to work in a healthily and safe
manner. The common psychological and psychosocial hazards at workplaces are:

 Poor communication
 Violence
 Abuse
 Occupational Stress
 Bullying
 harassment
 Sexual harassment – verbal or physical

HAZARDS CONTROL MEASURES

BY DEVELOPING AND OBEYING WORKSHOP RULES

What are safety rules?
Safety rules may be defined as statements which declare what is supposed to do and what
is not supposed to do in a particular situations e.g site, workshop etc OR are regulation or
principles governing the conduct of individual at workplaces.

Classification of safety rules

Every worker or Individual must take a positive decision to act, behave and work
responsibly and safely in order to protect himself/herself, other people and things around.
Safety rules or w/shop rules may be classified as:-
1. Personal safety rules
2. Working environment safety rules
3. Tool, equipment and machines safety rules

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General rules on safety /General safety rules and precautions
Safety rules or w/shop safety rules are many .Safety rules and precaution may vary
depending on nature of work/tasks, working environment and tools machine and equipment
used. The chance of accident and incident at the work place can be greatly reduced by
obeying the following general safety rules:-
 Always think before acts
 If you are in doubt ask! /ask when doubt
 Use the right tools, equipment for the right job
 Keep the w/shop or workplaces safe, efficient and pleasant by keeping it clean and
orderly
 Never touch live conductor or don’t touch the main line with bare hand
 Use rubber gloves and insulated tools when working on live circuit
 Obtain a written permit to work before working under dangerous condition such as
high voltage
 Use safety belt while doing any work on electric pole
 Make sure electrical equipment is dead before repair
 Any damaged equipment, tools machine must be reported to supervisor or teacher
 Always listen case fully to teacher or supervisor and follow instruction
 Never car too many tool at a time
 Inspect tools, equipment or machines before using
 Do not over load/use tools, equipment or machines
 Never work in the workshop or else if you’re tired or ill-health
 No personal music devices are allowed in a workshop
 Always use P. P. E or safety gears
 Inappropriate behavior such as horseplay or run, fitting and practical jokes are not
tolerated
 Learn the correct procedures before doing any work

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  The ladder should always be firmly held by helper while doing any over head work
 Don’t over load the machine and force to do work beyond its capacity
 Don’t carry sharp edge or pointed tools in apron pocket

BY UTILIZING P.P.E/ SAFETY GEARS

What is personal protective equipment?

PPE is equipment worn by a worker to minimize exposure to hazards. or "PPE", is

equipment worn to minimize exposure to a variety of hazards

Types of P.P.E/Safety Gear

There are several types of personal protective equipment; the following are the most
common

Some common hazards with the corresponding PPE are enlisted below:
1) Head hazards- A variety of helmets, hard hats, and bump caps are suitable PPE to avoid
head hazards.
2) Eyes hazards- PPE ranges with safety eyeglasses, goggles, face-shields, and visors.
3) Breathing hazards- Respiratory systems/apparatus, air-fed helmets are some PPE
options for breathing hazards.
4) Body hazards - Typical coveralls, boiler suits, and specifically designed protective
clothing can be chosen as effective PPE.
5) Feet and legs hazards - Preventive action can be taken by using safety boots/shoes, and
penetration-resistant mid-sole, gaiters, leggings, spats etc.
6) Hands and arms hazards - Potential PPE includes hand gloves, gauntlets, mitts, wrist-
cuffs, armlets etc.

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Module EL 01.Maintaining safety of w/shop, tools and equipment

Unit.01.1 Handling w/shop safety, accident and incident

Elements.01.1.3 Electric Hazard

Learning objectives:-
 Define electric hazard
 Describe common types of electric hazard
 Outline source of electric hazard
 List protective measure for an electric hazard

ELECTRICAL HAZARD

Overview

Electricity is essential to modern life, both at home and on the job. Some employees --
engineers, electricians, technicians, and power line workers, work with electricity directly.
Others, such as office workers and sales people, work with it indirectly. Therefore any use
of electricity or working with electricity has the potential to be very hazardous with
possible fatal results.

What is an electrical hazard?

Electrical hazard refers to physical hazard related to electricity or is a dangerous condition

where a worker can or does make contact with energized equipment or a conductor. The
principal hazards associated with electricity are:

1. Electric shock

2. Electric burns

3. Electrical fire and explosions

ELECTRIC BURNS
Burns are the most common shock-related injury. An electrical accident can result in an

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electrical burn, arc/flash burn, thermal contact burn, or a combination of burns.

Electrical burns: They occur when electric current flows through tissues or bone,
generating heat that causes tissue damage.

Arc or flash burns: Result from high temperatures caused by an electric arc or explosion
near the body. These burns should be treated promptly.

Thermal contact burns: are caused when the skin touches hot surfaces of overheated
electric conductors, conduits, or other energized equipment. Thermal burns also can be
caused when clothing catches on fire, as may occur when an electric arc is produced.

ELECTRICAL FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS

Over 25% of all fires have a cause linked to a malfunction of either a piece of electric
equipment or wiring or both. The most common causes of fire in electrical installations are
short circuits, overheating of cables and equipment, the ignition of flammable gases and
vapour, and the ignition of combustible substances by static electrical discharges.

ELECTRIC SHOCK/ELECTROCUTION

Electric shock occurs when the body becomes part of electric current and electric current
flows through the body. Electric shock is the convulsive reaction by the human body to the
flow of electric current, OR is a physiological effect resulting from the flow of an electric
current through a human body OR Is a physical effect result from an electrical current

How People can be exposed to an electric

Electric shock may occur/happen in two ways as:-

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DIRECT CONTACT

A contact of a person with the live part

Direct contact 1 – When person may come in contact with both wire of an electric circuit (L
& N or L1 & L2) OR one live/ phase of high voltage

Direct contact 2 – When person come in contact live/phase conductor and ground

Making contact with a high voltage line

INDIRECT CONTACT

Refer to a contact of person in with exposed conductive parts made live by faults

Indirect contact 1 - When person come in contact with exposed conductive parts made live
by faults and neutral conductor

Indirect contact 2 - When person come in contact with exposed conductive parts made live
by faults and ground

Effect of an electric shock

Effects can range from a tingling sensation to death. The passage of an electric current
through the body affects:-
 The central nervous system (lose consciousness)
 The muscles (muscular spasm (frozen grip) /Muscular contraction
 Heart (failing hearts beat)
 Death (restriction of breathing)
 Burns and severe pain
 loss of consciousness
 muscle spasms

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  numbness or tingling
 breathing problems
 headache
 problems with vision or hearing
 burns
 seizures
 irregular heartbeat

Factor determine the severity of an electric shock

The severity of an electric shock will depend on the following factors:-

 The strength/level/magnitude of the current

 The time exposure
 Body resistance determined by the state of health, and age of the victim
 Floor covering and wetness
 Main voltage
Action to be taken when person exposed to an electric shock
 Switch of the supply or remove the victim with non conducting materials
 Make the victim lie down and rest
 Cross check the condition of the causality
 If the victim is not breathing provide artificial respiration
 Take the victim to the hospital
CAUSES/SOURCES OF ELECTRICAL HAZARD

 Bad design and construction of equipment, materials and accessories

 Faulty installation and wiring
 Inadequate protection against faulty
 Overload electrical outlets and or electric circuit

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  Poor or lack of maintenance and repair
 Misuse of equipment trough lack of training
 Neglecting
 Forgetting to turn off an electric appliance, such as a stove, oven, or space heater,
can create a potential hazard in your home.
 Use extension cords as permanent wiring
 Damage insulation

PROTECTION AGAINST ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

Control measures that should be taken when working with electricity or using electrical
equipment are:
1. Insulation
2. Selection of suitable equipments
3. Use of protective systems( basic protection and fault protection)
4. Inspection and maintenance of electrical system
5. Properly utilization of electric equipment, appliances

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