Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment - Case Study Example

Wharf Building Assessment OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES OVERVIEW Risk assessments are important to the systematic management of occupational health and safety risks. The report gave an overview of findings and actions that should be taken to rectify health and safety issues observed in the workplace. These are issues observed concerning exit doors, warning & safety signs, various trip hazards, improper waste management, unsafe working practices, insufficient and unsafe working space, and hazardous chemical storage. The report also provides and recommended intervention procedures to rectify the problems. Table of Contents 1. Introduction - 4 2. Wharf Building Assessment - 4 2.1 Fire Exit Doors, Warning and Safety Signs - 4 2.2 Trip Hazards - 6 2.3 Sharp Objects in Machines and Workbenches - 7 2.4 Full and Uncovered Waste Bin - 7 2.5 Disorganized Working Practices - 8 2.6 Insufficient Working Space - 9 2.7 Hazardous Steel Pipe placed on top of Steel Cabinet - 9 2.8 Hazardous Chemicals in the Open - 9 3. Inspection Sheet Content - 11 4. Reference - 14 1. Introduction The processes of hazard identification and risk assessment are important to the systematic management of occupational health and safety risks. They make decision-makers to prioritize health and safety risks and make rational decisions about safe methods of work and appropriate risk control measures. The following section provides an overview of findings and actions that could and should be taken to rectify the situation in the workplace. 2. Wharf Building Assessment 2.1 Exit Doors, Warning and Safety Signs The first thing one will notice at the entrance of the workplace is a double leaf metal door directly opposite the entrance. This is an exit door leading to the street on the left side of the building. A green “Fire Exit” sign was placed on the top of the door and a no smoking sign at the back of one leaf. At the end of the hall, there was another door marked by an unlighted ‘Fire Exit’ sign and a green plastic fire exit sign with an arrow pointing towards the other side of the door. There was also a printed reminder that say “Please help keep this place clean and tidy” on the right side of the door. Just a few meters away from this door is another door with a sign “Please keep this door lock shut”. Opposite to this door is another double leaf door, located on the same side of the first double leaf exit door mentioned earlier, that is locked and blocked by a small lifting equipment. The door is apparently is an exit door but used as a wall to provide space for a whiteboard. There were other safety signs and reminders on the wall and in equipments- safety goggles required, emergency stop button, danger, etc. Fire Exit doors are safety installations and the more you have these doors the better. The workplace obviously has three but one was closed and locked for other purpose. Evidently, the management has no intention of using that door in an emergency since a small but heavy lift equipment was positioned right in front of it. Only one of these exit doors has a fully compliant exit sign because the other exit signs do not have directional arrows. The Health and Safety at Work regulations requires that exit sign on doors should be provided. In addition, signs on exit routes should have directional arrow. When the workplace is in use, it must be possible to open all doors easily and immediately from the inside. Evidently, this is not complied with the locked doors found during the observation. More importantly, the Health and Safety at Work regulation clearly required that there should be no obstructions on escape routes1. The possible intervention to this issue is to recommend that locked doors should be open during working hours. Suitable signs should be installed and removed any obstruction from the exit doors. Management should rectify this problem immediately since escape routes is a critical safety issue. 2.2 Trip Hazards There are few trip hazard found and one of them is a cutting torch hose that is haphazardly coiled in the walk way. Another is electrical cables attached to a welding machine improperly placed across the floor inside a curtained room. The based of the small lifting equipment blocking the closed fire exit door is also a trip hazard. These hoses and cables must be removed to avoid accident and management should have a clear policy on this issue. In safety and health standards according to Reese & Eidson2 , hoses, cables, and other equipment are to be kept clear of passageway, ladders, and stairs. An effective solution to this problem is to have reel for this hoses and install these cables on the wall where it cannot cause any accident. 2.3 Sharp Objects in Machine and Workbenches Noticeably, almost all workbench and machines used for cutting metal are littered with waste material fro m cutting. For instance, one of the machines near the rear exit door is littered with thin coiled sharp metal sheets. In addition, an approximately 1 foot long 2 inches wide piece of metal sheet was noticed resting on the edge of one of the working table in the right side of the work area. Disposal of such waste material or sharp objects produced from cutting should be a regular activity within the work area. The work area must be kept clean to avoid cuts and related accidents. 2.4 Full and Uncovered Waste Bin A total of 3 waste bins were found in the work area but all them are full of waste and do not have any cover. Aside from hygiene issues, these waste bins may become the source of fire that can spread through the building. Management should consider disposing content waste bin regularly and ensure that all of them are properly and securely covered to protect the health of their works. According to Hughes & Ferrett, “never underestimate the potential of a fire”3. This is because what may seem as a small fire in a waste bin if not dealt correctly will quickly spread. Management must raise staff awareness of the need to manage waste responsibly. According to Furness & Muckett4, considering the high number of fires that involve waste materials, a waste management system must be seen as a high priority for reducing the risk from fire. 2.5 Disorganized Working Practices Considering the appearance of the very fist workbench noticed in the work area, workers are not familiar with organized working. Tools are commonly scattered on top of the table and the floor. Safety equipments like goggles, gloves, and other tools were just left anywhere. Ladders are stored between machines. There were tool boxes but tools are kept on top of tables, surfaces of machines, and the floor. Disorganized and unsafe working practices happen because of the lack of training. Management therefore should consider giving their employees some training on workplace safety. Monitoring the safety of the workplace not only includes assessment of physical conditions in the workplace but also providing education to the employees concerning safety practices. In addition the responsibility for workplace safety is shared by employers and employees. Therefore, employee’s obligation is to comply with health and safety provisions5. 2.6 Insufficient Working Space Particularly the area in this picture, it is inconceivable that a worker can efficiently and safely work here. Slips, trips, and falls are amongst the most common causes of non-fatal injuries thus employers are expressly required to ensure that sufficient working space is provided to allow persons to work safely6 . 2.7 Hazardous steel pipes placed on top of steel cabinet Just opposite to the closed and blocked fire exit door mentioned earlier, long rounded steel pipes are piled on top of a steel cabinet. These pipes are definitely life threatening since they may cause sever head injury to whoever is near when they rolled and fall. This is obviously a product of unsafe working practices due to lack of training. Management should provide safety training immediately to rectify this critical occupational health and safety issue. 2.8 Hazardous Chemicals in the Open There are two locations identified as unsafe storage for hazardous chemicals. At least six containers of acid and other toxic chemical just a few metres from the main door. Exposures to toxic chemicals can lead to both reversible and irreversible health effects7. In safety and health regarding the use of chemicals at work, the quantity of the chemical at or near the workstation should reduced to that required for daily use. The remainder should be kept in a safe chemical storage area8. The management must therefore move these toxic chemicals to a safe storage area ideally outside of the building. 3. Inspection Sheet Content Observations List hazards, unsafe practices and good practices Action to be Taken List of any actions requires Priority Short, Medium, Long-term Exit doors, warning signs and safety instructions available and posted Some of the signs are taped on doors (see location (20). Some needs cleaning. Signs should be installed permanently and readable. Long-term Tripp Hazards posed by host, tools, materials left on the floor Workers should coil the hoses, return tools in toolbox, and materials returned to store. Long-term Sharp objects (metal sheet cutting) left in machine and workbenches – see location (10) & (18) Waste materials such as sharp objects from cutting should be disposed properly and should not be left on machine or workbenches to avoid accident, Long-term Waste Bin full and no Cover- see location (16) Management should disposed waste materials in bin and provide a cover to ensure health and safety of workers Medium Workbench disorganized. Tools are everywhere. Waste material were not disposed properly –see location (3) Workbenches should be always in order and cleaned after work. Waste material should be disposed properly and all tools must be in toolboxes Long-term Tools and Materials Left at the floor –see location (18) It is very common to see tools and materials left on the floor and this is bad practice Medium Suitable Lighting No rectification required Some parts of the workplace are too tight to move around. See location (7) in the map The work area must be arranged where workers can move freely. Long-term Lifting equipment blocking the two lead door and equipment based hazardously positioned. A potential trip hazard and escape route obstacle. (see location (6) in the map) Lifting equipment must be relocated in a safe location. Doors should be unblocked. Long-term Round pipes placed hazardously on top of steel cabinet- see location (9). Pipes and other objects that have he potential to role or fall must be removed and store in a safe place. Short Aluminium ladder placed near lever of cutting equipment. Work area must be clear from any obstacle particularly when an object is potentially hazardous to the operation. Ladder must be stored somewhere safe. Short Trip hazard (Hoses used for cutting torch at walkways and electrical wires at the floor) –see location (13) & 14 Hoses and electrical wire must be coiled or placed on the side of the work area or where it cannot cause tripping. Long-term Working tables are disorganized. Tools are not returned to toolbox after work.- see location (14) Working tables must organize in such a way that other objects would not interfere or pose hazard. Table must be cleaned, waste materials disposed, and tools returned to toolbox. Long-term Containers filled with hazardous chemicals placed on open space very near to work area.- see location (15) & (19) Hazardous materials must be stored in a secured place. Long-term Big fan probably used for cooling the area, blade exposed.- see location (4) Fan must be removed or install a safety grill. Medium Fire extinguisher installed properly but insufficient number Installation of additional fire extinguisher is advised particularly near doors and critical area. Long-term 4. References Brent N. J. Nurses and the law: a guide to principles and applications. Elsevier Health Sciences, US, 2000 Hughes P & Ferrett E. Introduction to Health and Safety at Work: The Handbook for the NEBOSH National General Certificate. Butterworth-Heinemann, Slovenia, 2007 Furness A. & Muckett M. Introduction to Fire Safety Management. Butterworth-Heinemann, UK, 2007 Man A.B. & Gold D. Safety and health in the use of chemicals at work: a training manual. International Labour Organization, Switzerland, 1993 Reese, C & Eidson J. Handbook of OSHA construction safety and health. CRC Press, US, 2006 Smith M. & Christiani D. Chemical risk assessment and occupational health: current applications, limitations, and future prospects. Greenwood Publishing Group, US, 1994 Tooma M. Safety, Security, Health and Environment Law. Federation Press, New South Wales, 2008 Read More