F.O.L.

BILINGE-Health and safety in the workplace

UNIT 11

GENERAL RISKS AT WORK AND THE PREVENTION RULES

SUMARY I. - WORK HAZARDS/RISKS II. - RISKS RELATED WITH SAFETY CONDITIONS III. - Tools used on the job IV. - RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONTAMINANTS AT WORK V. - HAZARDS RELATED TO PHYSICAL STAIN IN THE WORKPLACE VI. - RISKS RELATED WITH WORK ORGANIZATION

I. - WORK HAZARDS/RISKS A waiter working a full shift at a hotel must spend 8 hours of his day, on his feet, carrying trays, serving customers and resolving potential conflicts at the hotel.... This worker is surrounded by various hazards and risks so he may end up his working day suffering an accident. What is the difference between 'hazard' and 'risk'? This two words could be synonymous but they arent. A hazard is something that can cause harm. It is something that can hurt you or make you ill. For example: electricity, chemicals, climbing up a ladder, noises, a keyboard, a bully at work, stress. A risk is the chance, high or low, that any hazard will actually cause somebody harm. For example, working alone away from your office can be a hazard. The risk of personal danger may be high. Electric cabling is a hazard. If it has
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snagged on a sharp object, the exposed wiring places it in a 'high-risk' category. Go to the following links to read more about it:
http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_phthalate/sec.asp?CID=1911&DID=7590 http://www.worksmart.org.uk/health/viewquestion.php?eny=343 file:///E:/default.asp.htm

LAW OF LABOUR RISK PREVENTION (LPRL) defines an occupational risk as "the possibility that a worker may suffer an injury resulting from work." It is important to note that not all occupational risks are equally harmful to the worker. The LPRL says it is necessary to evaluate the seriousness (severity) of a risk and the probability of the risk causing harm to an employee. In general, we can classify the severity of an occupational risk by: - Slightly harmful. - Harmful. - Extremely harmful. The probability that a risk occurs may be low, medium or high. The law says that all employers have to complete an Initial Risk Assessment (IRA). This assessment will identify the different hazards at work. If the risk cannot be avoided, the employer must take the measures to reduce potential harm to employees.
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EXERCISE #1 Imagine your boss has ordered you to go to the office and once you are there you slip and break an ankle. Make a list of three possible situations that may have caused the accident.

Risks can be classified as follows: 1. Risks associated with Security Conditions 2. Risks associated with the physical working environment 3. Risks associated with contaminants at work 4 Risks associated with the workload 5 Risks associated with the organization of work at a company

Go to this link to read more about the most common risks at work:
Consult: factsheet-looking-out-for-work-hazards

II. - RISKS RELATED WITH SAFETY CONDITIONS Next let us study those risks that can lead to accidents endangering health or harming the worker. I.-The workplace and the workplace surface

http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/pict/s24.jpg Diseo de un edificio y circulacin de aire

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We are referring to all of the risks associated with the architecture of the workplace. The building where the employee performs his work, the design, and its installations inside and outside the building and more specifically: The floor of the building, any stairs, handrails, platforms and / or defective scaffolding or scaffolding in poor conditions. The walls and workplace partitions, doors and windows that are defective or in disrepair. Defective roofs or roofs in disrepair. The lack of organization and cleanliness. Poor signage and a lack of warning signs. Statistics tell us that falls are one of the most frequent accidents in workplaces. Falls are closely related to the structures of buildings and how the company is organized. They can be in the same plane or from a height. 1. - Risk of falling on the same level The worker can fall, slip, stumble, or take a bad step in the workplace causing an injury. In most of the cases workers fall to the surface or fall into an object.(http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/files/FallSameLevel.pdf ). The possible causes, hazards could be the following: -Dirty floors or slippery floors - Obstacles in the walkways or in the entrances -The workplace may not be properly lit -Irregular floors can cause accidents. 2. Risk of falls due to height The worker can hurt himself when he works at various heights. The hazards that can cause labour accidents can be the following: -Staircases
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-Working in attics, lofts, or other elevated areas -Elevated storage -Holes or gaps in the floor
http://www.dalealplay.com/informaciondecontenido.php?con=138374

II. - Tools used in the job Many of the injuries that occur in the workplace are due to the misuse of tools. Using them in an improper way can cause many injuries and some of them can be very serious. Here are the most frequently used machines in the hospitality sector as well as other dangerous utensils: -Mincers and Blenders -Manually operated deli slicers -Knives, Machetes, Axes, Peelers, etc -Dishwashers -Tin Cans, Cartons, Glass Bottles, etc III. - Machinery and work equipment To avoid possible injuries due to machinery and work equipment, the business owner must buy them with proper warranties and they must comply with current workplace standards. The installation and maintenance must be completed following the instructions of the manufacturer. IV. Risk of Burns When the worker uses types of machinery that produce high levels of heat, he/she may suffer a burn. The possible hazards may be any of the following: Kitchen Containers Fryers
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Ovens Gas Burners Flames Vapors

V. Risks by contact with electricity There is risk of suffering electric shock when a worker comes into contact directly with a live wire or cable and also when a worker indirectly comes into contact with electric current. Touch a bare cable/wire Switches in poor condition - An electrical device or machine that has an electrical bypass.

http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=946 http://www.safeelectricity.org/esw_v1_1/teacher/index.html

III. - PHYSICAL HAZARDS DUE TO WORKING ENVIRONMENT

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/oshworld/ilostd/c148.htm

When we talk about the "physical hazards we mean: 4.1 Lighting Lighting is important and necessary in all workplaces. Good lighting in the workplace will help us to prevent accidents. Poor lighting or insufficient lighting can cause accidents at work and even cause an injury to the worker. In Spain there are rules governing how the workplace should be lit, depending on the precision of the task that the worker needs to do. That is, if the worker's job requires great precision: developing circuit boards, miniatures, etc... ... The intensity and quality of light will need to be higher than the light necessary in an office, restaurant, or a store. Lighting rules also govern the intensity, color, refraction, etc...

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4.2. Noise

http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/noise/5-5bi.jpg Noise is an important hazard that can cause accidents as well as diseases when the worker is exposed to decibel levels which exceed the lawful limits.

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http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/noise/no3s.gif

http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/noise/5-5.jpg Noise is annoying, distracting and also harmful.

http://osha.europa.eu/es/topics/noise http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/01/11/exposure_to_loud_noise_may_cause_ tumor__amp_other_health_risks.htm http://www.rrc.mb.ca/index.php?pid=1316

4.3 Temperature Heating and cooling can create hazards that jeopardize workers health. The Spanish laws govern the temperature in the workplace according to the type of activity undertaken by the worker: whether sedentary or not. These factors are hazards that may cause an accident in the workplace. 4.4 Humidity 4.5 Vibrations 4.6 Radiation IV. - RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONTAMINANTS AT WORK I. Risks due to exposure to chemicals.

Chemical substances can be absorbed through various forms: -Respiratory Tract, Inhalation -Skin Contact, absorption
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-Digestive Tract, Ingestion -Absorption through open wound

http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/kemi/tm1.gif

http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/kemi/7-7.jpg http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/body/body2.gif

Therefore these possible hazards are produced when the worker comes into contact with products that contain dangerous chemical substances: a. Detergents b. Acidic and Corrosive Substances (bleach, ammonia, chloric acid, toilet bowl cleaners) c. Liquids used for refrigeration d. acid or alkaline vapors

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http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/body/body1.gif http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/pict/s1.jpg 2. - risks from exposure to biological agents

http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/body/body9.gif http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/kemi/15.gif

http://training.itcilo.it/actrav_cdrom2/es/osh/kemi/pest/44.gif Biological agents are those microorganisms such as viruses, parasites, fungi and bacteria that can cause diseases, infections or allergies.
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http://osha.europa.eu/en/topics/ds/index_html

V. - HAZARDS RELATED TO PHYSICAL STRAIN IN THE WORKPLACE

http://osha.europa.eu/es/topics/msds/index_html

A physical load is defined by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health at Work as: "the set of physical requirements to which the worker is subjected to during their working day". Heavy loads in the work place are related to: -Physical Strength -The posture or stance used to complete the work -The loading and unloading of materials (shipments, stock etc) Why do we become fatigued when we do manual labour? Why do our muscles become stiff and ache when we do not use proper posture to complete our work? Why do workers claim to have suffered a pulled muscle or claim to have muscle pain and stiffness? The law does not state what the maximum weight of a load should be. Many experts say that the acceptable weight should be no more than 25kg. The following situations can provoke possible hazards: - Lifting and carrying heavy loads - Complete extension of the arms - Working in narrow spaces - Repetitive movements - Standing, being on your feet II. Mental Strain The following hazards have to do with mental strain: The amount of information a worker is receiving and processing: That is when a worker is asked to do a lot of things at once, many orders, many tasks, etc... The complexity of the tasks required of the worker when the worker has to make a great mental effort.

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The time in which the worker has to finish his/her responsibilities: when the worker has little time to complete his/her job. Individual capabilities. III. Stress Diverse workplace situations that can lead to stress: -Working many hours every day. -Unexpected and unplanned work. -Too many clients at the same time. -To do work that you must complete, although you are not qualified or properly trained. -IV. Poor Coworker relationships Poor relationships between coworkers can also lead to possible hazards: -Inadequate distribution of the work load between workers. -Lack of coordination or teamwork -Disputes between coworkers. -Negative attitude towards the boss. VI. - RISKS RELATED WITH WORK ORGANIZATION
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/workorg/risks.html

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