WHAT IS SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF ANY WORKPLACE IS SAFETY.

You need to be aware of the dangers and hazards you can face whether you work in an office, a factory, a construction site, or any other setting. Safety is a question of personal responsibility as well as a moral and legal requirement.

In this blog article, I'll go over some of the advantages of safety, some of the most typical reasons for mishaps and injuries, and some of the best ways to avoid them.

 

PERKS OF SAFETY:

For both companies and employees, safety offers several advantages. Among the advantages are:

Lower costs:

SAFETY may assist in lowering the costs of accidents and injuries, including medical bills, workers' compensation, and lost wages.

Accident and injury causes:

There are many causes of accidents and injuries, but some of the more frequent ones are as follows:

 

Human error:

Human error is the term used to describe mistakes or omissions committed by individuals, such as failing to wear safety gear, disobeying safety regulations or procedures, or being preoccupied or exhausted.

Mechanical failure:

Defects or malfunctions in machinery or equipment, such as poor wiring, damaged components, or insufficient maintenance, are referred to as mechanical failure.

Environmental elements:

The term "environmental factors" refers to outside circumstances or occurrences, such as weather, fire, flood, or earthquake, which have an impact on the workplace.

Organizational factors:

These are facets of the workplace structure or culture that affect safety behavior, such as a lack of supervision, communication, or training.

What is Safety in the workplace?

Workers must be provided with a safe working environment by their employers. No matter what the sort of work they perform, whether it's driving or to fix potholes dealt or poring over accounts receivables in the money division, representatives ought to never be in a position where their actual security is in danger.

 The Word related Wellbeing and Wellbeing Organization is the government office liable for implementing working environment security guidelines. The significance of wellbeing and businesses' liabilities to forestall wounds fluctuate as per the kind of working circumstances.

WHAT IS A HAZARD?

• A hazard is anything with a potential to cause harm to persons or damage to equipment and

the environment or a combination of these,

OR

• A hazard is a source, situation or act which can cause harm or loss (OHSAS 18001)

 

HAZARDS THAT IMPACT ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY:

Hazards: Physical, Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical

Consequence:-

• Contact

• Impact

• Shock

• Burns

 

 

HAZARDS THAT IMPACT ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH:

Hazards: Biological, Ergonomically, Chemical, Physiological, Psychological

Consequence:-

• Ingestion

• Inhalation

• Absorption

• Stress and strains

 

WHAT IS HAZARD IDENTIFICATION?

A process of recognizing that a hazard exists and defining its characteristics

 

CLASS A, B AND C HAZARDS

Hazards are classified as either A, B or C type Hazards.

                           

 

Class “A” Hazards

• It is a condition likely to cause permanent disability, loss of life or body part / extensive loss

of property or disruptive property damage.

• These hazards must be corrected immediately. If not the hazard must be isolated barricaded

off immediately until permanent remedial actions can be taken.

• All ‘A’ hazards must be reported to the Supervisor and/or Health and Safety Representative.

Examples of ‘A’ class hazards:

• Working under bad or unsupported hanging

• Walking, standing or sitting in demarcated narrow travelling way when a loco is approaching

 

 

 

 

Class “B” Hazards

• It is a condition likely to cause serious injury or illness, resulting in temporary disability or

property damage that is disruptive but not extensive. These hazards must be rendered safe

and rectified within 24 hours.

 

• All ‘B’ hazards must be reported to the Supervisor and/or Health and Safety Representative

Examples of ‘B’ class hazards:

• Slippery walking surfaces

• Lifting heavy loads incorrectly, not using your legs

 

Class “C” Hazards:

• It is a condition likely to cause minor, non-disabling injury or non-disruptive property damage.

These hazards must be rectified and made safe between 5-30 days.

• All ‘C’ hazards must be reported to the Supervisor and/or Health and Safety Representative

Examples of ‘C’ class hazards:

• Minor compressed air or service water leaks

• Tools not stored in their correct place

 

 

WHAT IS RISK?

Risk is a combination of the likelihood and consequence of a specified event occurring (to

determine how serious the HAZARD is- severity)

 

 

Likelihood: - Probability or chance that the hazardous situation will actually happen

1. Definitely – would certainly happen.

2. Very likely – could happen readily.

3. Likely – could happen normally.

4. Unlikely – could happen under certain circumstances

5. Highly unlikely – could happen but unlikely

Consequence: - Size or seriousness of harm

1. Fatality – would cause death.

2. Major harm – could cause permanent disabilities and long-term health problems to the

workers.

3. Medium harm – could cause injuries that the employee could recover from and would cause

health problems that could go on for a short while.

4. Minor harm – could cause discomfort and hurt.

5. Slight harm – would cause only bother or temporary irritation.

 

WHAT IS AN INCIDENT?

An incident is an unplanned event that could or does result in harm or loss.

 

WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH?

Occupational health includes occupational hygiene and occupational medicine:

• Occupational hygiene means the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of

conditions at the mine, which may cause illness or adverse health effects to persons.

• Occupational medicine means the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, injury and

adverse health effects associated with a particular type of work

 

WHAT IS REASONABLY PRACTICAL?

Means practicable with regard to:

• The severity and scope of the hazard or risk concerned.

• The state of knowledge reasonably available concerning that hazard or risk and of any

means of removing or mitigating that hazard or risk.

• The availability and suitability of means to remove or mitigate that hazard or risk.

• The costs and the benefits of removing or mitigating that hazard or risk.

 

WHAT IS SAFETY?

• Safety means the freedom from harm or loss