Health and Safety at the Workplace - Coursework Example

Health and Safety at the Workplace By student’s name Course code+ name Professor’s name University name City, state Date of submission Task 1 Introduction Employers have a responsibility to manage the health and safety of the workplace environment for the benefit of the employees. The employer has to think about what might cause harm to the employees and decide to take steps to prevent or minimize the risk (Victorian Government 2012, 16). Risk assessment is the process that involves the identification of the hazards at the workplace followed by analysis or evaluation of the risk associated with the hazard and finally, determining the right methods to control the hazard. The process requires the employer to conduct a thorough assessment of the workplace and identify the things, situations or processes that may cause harm to people (Health and Safety Executive 2014, 1). There are a variety of risk factors that exist such as dealing with difficult customers, manual handling (also referred to as lifting or moving heavy loads or things), performance of similar tasks repetitively, cold temperatures in the workplace, localized pressure on certain body parts, constant vibration of the body or of some body parts, exposure to harmful chemicals and exposure to several of these risk factors. Choice of Risk This paper focuses on manual handling as a risk factor in workplaces. Manual handling refers to any activity that requires the use of force which is exerted by a person for the purpose of lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving a person or thing. Manual handling also includes any activity that involves making repetitive of forceful movements such as using a screwdriver. It also includes activities that require an employee to maintain constrained or awkward postures while working (Health and Safety Authority 2002, 2). Manual handling results in injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders. These disorders include sprains and strains and damage to the back. These injuries result from damage to the joints, wear and tear and damage to the muscles and ligaments that occur in the process of manual handling activities. Sudden damage may result from manual handling that is intense or strenuous and awkward lifts. Direct trauma may also result from unexpected events such as when an employee walks on the uneven ground carrying a heavy load, trips and falls (Health and Safety Authority 2002, 3). Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Statistics (WRMSDS) 2014/2015 Source: Health and Safety Executive 2015, 2 There are several factors that can increase the risk of injury as a result of manual handling. The shape and size of the objects the employees are required to carry increases the risk of injury due to the force (either pulling or pushing) that is required. Where the work requires the employee to make awkward movements, the risk of injury is increased. Movements such as bending, twisting or over-reaching increase the risk of injury especially when to combine with carrying or handling heavy loads. Static postures such as holding parts of the body or the whole body in fixed positions for a long time and personal factors such as age and disabilities also increase the risk of injury (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work 2012, 3). In cases where employees carry out manual handling tasks while exposed to high air temperatures such as in laundries and bakeries, the risk of injury increases. Further, exposure to radiant heat such as from the sun, high humidity resulting from processes such as steam cleaning, low temperatures such as in cold stores also increases the risk of injury to employees (Victorian Government 2012, 23). Factors that Reduce the Possibility of Exposure to the Risk The elimination or reduction of the exposure to the risk of injury resulting from manual handling requires the employer to implement certain measures meant to improve the working conditions of the employees. One of the factors to consider in reducing the exposure to the risk is by reducing or eliminating the manual handling tasks that expose the employees to the risk. The employer needs to consider if the manual handling is necessary and if not, the task should be eliminated entirely. Where the lifting or moving manual loads is necessary, the employer should consider if there are alternative ways of performing the task that does not involve the lifting of heavy loads. In food manufacturing companies, for example, the use of pallet containers can be used to dispense ingredients instead of using employees to lift the heavy bags that contain the ingredients such as flour. In cases where the lifting is not necessary, it is important to implement a “no lift policy’ as a way of ensuring the health and safety of the employees. In situations where the heavy lifting is necessary, the company can opt to outsource the task to a company that has the machinery to perform the task mechanically (Victorian Government 2012, 31). In circumstances where the task can only be done manually, it is important to alter the workplace or environmental conditions where the heavy lifting or pulling is carried out as a way of reducing the risks. The workplace layout should be altered such as the height and placement of the equipment, plant and the objects used in the heavy lifting to reduce the risk of injury. It is also important to ensure that there is enough space for the task to be performed in an upright posture. The designing of handles on the objects being lifted or on the controls involved in manual handling can also help reduce the risk of injury (Victorian Government 2012, 32). Where the manual handling is done in an open area under the sun, such conditions should be altered by creating shades such that it is more conducive to lift heavy loads. The objects involved in the manual handling should also be changed as a way of making it easy for the employees to lift the heavy loads. The workplace can also be redesigned to reduce the risk of injury. The use of a pallet turntable can be useful in reducing twisting when carrying heavy loads. Measures can also be put in place to ensure that employees do not reach above shoulder height or handle loads with one hand. The use of mechanical equipment is also an important way of reducing the risk factor. The use of mechanical aids which are compatible with the surrounding in the work environment is also an important step. The use of large wheels, for example, can help to reduce the amount of force that is required in pushing or pulling of heavy loads (Health and Safety Authority 2010, 25). Engineering techniques can also be used to reduce the risk of injury. Natural ventilation in workplaces is important because it provides the employees with a healthy and comfortable environment. It ensures that any contaminants that are present in the workplace are diluted by the free flow of air into the offices or building. Such a measure ensures sufficient oxygen for breathing and removes excess heat and provides heat when conditioned during the cold seasons. Where employees are lifting heavy loads in hot or cold places, natural ventilation can be used to reduce the occurrence of injury (Health and Safety Executive 2000, 5). Local Exhaustive Ventilation (LEV) also referred to as dust or fume extraction is necessary to remove airborne contaminants in the workplace. LEV is an engineering tool designed to reduce the exposure of employees to airborne contaminants such as dust and fumes. The system captures the emission from the source and transports it to a safe emission filter. In a workplace environment where there is the lifting of heavy loads, LEV is necessary to protect the employees from injuries that may result from fumes or dust (Health and Safety Authority 2014, 4). Work Related Injuries In the year 2014/2015, 1.2 million people who had worked during the past one year were suffering from an illness that was caused or made worse by their work. This means that workplace risks account for a large number of illnesses affecting workers. According to the Healthy and Safety Executive (HSE), there are more than 3.5 million people who work as shift workers in the UK. Where workers are overworked or work for excessive hours, they suffer from fatigue. In the UK, 20% of workers get injured as a result of fatigue. This means that approximately 700,000 workers get injured due to being tired. In 2014, there were 177 new cases of asthma that were reported due to work-related factors. There are approximately 200 cases of workers injured as a result of working excessive hours (Health and Safety Executive 2015, 1). Current estimated annual deaths resulting from work-related diseases Source: Health and Safety Executive 2015, 2 The effect of Excessive Heating, Noise and Lighting Levels in a Work Environment In some workplaces, excessive heating may be an issue all year round such as in smelting operations or bakeries. This may also affect other places of work during hot summer months. Excessive heating in the workplace leads to heat stress where the body’s ability to control the internal temperature starts to fail. Once an employee suffers from heat stress as a result of excessive heat, the possible effects include the inability to concentrate, heat rash, fainting, fatigue, heat stroke and muscle cramps. All these conditions increase the risk of injury, especially where the employees are involved in activities that require the lifting, pulling or pushing of heavy loads (Healthy and Safety Executive 2016, 1). During the risk assessment stage, employers should consider the effect of noise on the ability of the employee to perform his/her job. Excessive noise in workplaces affects the ability of the employees to engage in safety-critical communications. Further, the exposure to noise also increases an individual’s stress levels. Where it becomes difficult for employees to engage in safety-critical communications, the risk of injury is high (Healthy and Safety Executive 2016, 1). Lighting is essential in workplaces and should be designed for the tasks for the tasks being performed by employees. Where the employees are involved in carrying out different activities, they will need control over their local lighting to ensure that they match the lighting conditions with the work they are doing. Where there is a poor lighting system, the ability to perform tasks is affected and the risk of injury is high. A process control room, for example, should be lit at an illuminance of 300 lux. Where the lighting is lower than that, the likelihood of accidents happening is high (Healthy and Safety Executive 2016, 1). Task 2 Implications of the Risk The lifting, pulling or pushing of heavy loads is known as a major cause of musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders are disorders, injuries or illnesses that arise, whether in whole or part, from manual handling in the workplace. In the UK, the number of workers who reported being suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2014/2015, were approximately 383,000. This means that the number of people with illnesses that arise from performing tasks that involve manual handling are still high. Manual handling that is unsafe or that is conducted in workplaces that are unsafe may cause a variety of injuries such as abdominal hernias, muscle sprains and strains, injuries to muscles, ligaments and intervertebral discs, chronic pain and injuries affecting soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons and nerves in the shoulders, legs, neck or arms (Victorian Government 2012, 5). Injuries caused by manual handling result from gradual wear and tear that is caused by prolonged periods of activities that involve lifting, pushing or pulling heavy loads. Such injuries can result, for example, where a store man handles stock between deliveries for a continuous period. The injuries may also result from sudden damage where the manual handling activities are intense or strenuous. This may occur, for example in the case where a glacier lifts a pane of large glass from the ground. Such a strenuous activity may result in injuries. There are certain unexpected events which may also cause sudden trauma to the affected person or worker. Such an event may occur where a worker is carrying a heavy load trips and falls. In most cases, the day to day activities of the worker results in the musculoskeletal conditions where manual handling is poor (Health and Safety Authority 2002, 3). Other than the illnesses caused by manual handling, injuries resulting from such activities can be fatal. Where a worker is injured due to falling while carrying a heavy load, the injuries may be fatal. This can be the case where the fall causes other objects to fall resulting in further injuries to the worker. Musculoskeletal conditions can also be fatal where the injury that leads to the illness majorly affects the person’s nervous system in an adverse way. In other cases, the injuries can be such that the worker has to have some part of their body amputated. In some cases, complications arise due to the amputation leading to the death of the affected person (Health and Safety Authority 2002, 25). Other than the effect on workers, tasks that involve the lifting, pushing or pulling heavy loads also have an effect on the property in the company. Where certain property requires lifting or pushing, the company may design it in such as the way it can be easily held by the employee. This means creating proper handles to ensure that the worker can have a good grip on it. In other cases, other properties such as mechanical tools have to be purchased to make the work easy for the employee. The use of wheeled machines is usually employed to assist in carrying heavy loads such that the employees can carry the loads more easily. The property or thing being carried can also be modified by changing its shape to ensure that the workers can find it easier to carry. Manual handling activities also have an impact on the work environment. Due to the effects of manual handling activities on the health and safety of the employees/workers, companies may decide to redesign the workplace environment to make it safer for the workers and, therefore, prevent future injuries. The workplace environment where the heavy lifting is done can be redesigned such that excessive bending by the employee when lifting the load is reduced. This reduces the strenuous effect, especially where the load is heavy. For heavy equipment, the load can be modified by using mechanical aids such as wheels such that pushing or pulling of the load becomes easy. The environment can be modified further by using pallet turntables whose effect is to reduce twisting when the worker is carrying the load (Health and Safety Authority 2002, 45). Redesigning of the workplace environment also means changing the placement of the plant, objects, and equipment which are involved in the task so as to reduce the risk of injury is reduced. The space required for carrying or moving the objects may also need to be increased to ease the work of the employees. The space has to be enough to carry out the task in an upright posture where the object being carried is close to the body. Where the task requires the employee to be seated, space has to be created for adjustable swivel chairs. The workstation of the employees also has to be designed in such a way that the employee can do most of their tasks while in an upright position with the shoulders lowered. Where the task is one that requires both physical movement and visual work, proper lighting has to be provided (Victorian Government 2012, 34). Where the task in question involves constant vibration, the employer ought to adjust any existing vibration damping mechanisms to reduce the impact of the vibration. The employer ought to replace powered hand tools to ensure that the employee is exposed to as minimum vibration as possible. In situations where employees work in hot or cold conditions, measures should be taken to reduce the temperature or relocate the employees to another place away from sources of heat (Victorian Government 2012, 35). Regarding the impact of manual handling tasks on the company, there are numerous suits that have been instituted against companies that have exposed workers to injuries resulting from poor manual handling activities. In 2014/2015, there were over 728 prosecution cases that were heard in the UK involving companies that failed to provide a safe and healthy working environment for the employees. In the same year, 1,211 offences were prosecuted, mostly against owners of companies (Health and Safety Executive 2015, 22). These statistics show that where an employee suffers injury as a result of manual handling, legal action is taken against the responsible company or employer. In such circumstances, the company is required to compensate the employee and to rectify the conditions in the workplace environment. In other cases, the company or factory has to be closed until the employer, or the owner has met the required safety and health conditions stipulated by law regarding that specific industry (Scottish Qualifications Authority 2010, 13). All companies/employers have a responsibility to ensure that they provide a safe and healthy environment for the employees. Where a company has been penalized for failure to discharge this responsibility, other companies are also affected such that they have to ensure that their policies and practices comply with the set regulations to prevent legal action being taken against them. Task 3 Employers also have to ensure that the safety procedures implemented in the workplace also protect other persons other than employees such as new contractors working in the factory and also the new staff. This requires the company to take certain measures to ensure that such people are safe from injuries resulting from manual handling. To ensure the protection of new contractors, staff and any other persons who may be working at the company, the employer must have factory rules regarding manual handling that have to be brought to the attention of the new staff. Factory rules provide for information regarding the guidelines that have to be followed when an employee is required to lift a heavy object. Such factory rules contain information relating to how to lift heavy objects safely and provide guidelines such as the position one ought to stand when lifting, the requirement that the person has to check whether the item has handles and how to place the item down (Health and Safety Executive 2015, 27). Such rules ensure that the new staff is protected while performing their tasks. The factory rules will also contain guidelines such as the maximum weights that men and women can lift. The rules forbid lifting of heights that exceed the specified weight. These rules may also consist of safe working procedures that require the company or the employer to take into account the individual capability, environmental conditions, training and the nature of the load as the procedure before allowing an employee to lift heavy loads (Health and Safety Executive 2015, 27). There is also the code of practice that is developed to guide employers and employees in identification, assessment, and control of hazards as well as risks that are associated with manual tasks. Such codes of practice also stipulate the legal requirements relating to hazardous manual tasks. The code of practice for manual tasks in the UK provides information regarding the interpretation of manual tasks to help employees and employers to know whether or not the code binds them. The code also provides for the ways that injury can result from manual handling such as when an employee falls while carrying a heavy load. The code further stipulates the duty of every employer and employee to ensure that the risks involved in manual handling are addressed. The code also covers the responsibility of the employer to the new staff and contractors (Department of Commerce 2010, 28). Other than providing factory rules and following the code of practice, an employer must conduct a hazard identification process. This process involves sifting through the tasks performed by employees, new staff, and new contractors to find out which one increase the risk of injury as a result of manual handling. The employer has to look at the tasks in the workplace to identify whether or not they involve hazardous manual handling activities such as repetitive sustained use of force, sustained awkward posture, repetitive movement and exposure to sustained vibration (Victorian Government 2012, 13). Once these activities have been identified, the employer has a responsibility to implement safety procedures that either eliminate or reduce the risks. One important factor in this process is the use of a hazard identification checklist. The list is meant to provide a guideline on how employers should conduct the process of hazard identification. The checklist is also important because it also provides guidelines on how the employer can manage the risks identified. This is crucial in implementing management strategies such as training the new and existing staff and contractors on safe manual handling (Victorian Government 2012, 15). The use of data sheets is also important in managing the risks associated with manual handling. A safety data sheet is a document containing information on hazardous chemicals or activities that affect the health and safety of workers and other personnel in the Workplace (Health and Safety Authority 2015, 2). The data sheet contains information regarding the hazardous chemicals, safe handling procedures and disposal considerations. In relation to manual handling, the data sheet will have information regarding the hazardous activities and the way to manage the risks involved. The fact that the data sheet contains all information regarding hazardous activities on manual handling means that once all staff have access to the document, they will know how to manage the risks. Once the workers understand the information in the data sheet, they will ensure that they use the risk management procedures listed in the data sheet to ensure that they are protected (Health and Safety Authority 2015, 2). Task 4 Minimizing Risk Minimizing. Reducing and controlling risks in manual handling is important to ensure the health and safety of the workers. As discussed above, manual handling can cause musculoskeletal conditions which have adverse effects on the life of the employee. Further, accidents resulting from manual handling such as tripping and falling can result in permanent or fatal injuries. This means that controlling or minimizing the risk of injury to the employees involved in manual handling tasks is important for their wellbeing. Risk can be minimized in different ways. The control of known risks means managing the risks involved to eliminate or reduce injuries or accidents. As discussed above, risks associated with manual handling can be controlled by redesigning the work environment to make it safer for carrying out the tasks. This also covers design out strategies where the work environment and the layout is modified to design the hazard out. Further, the equipment being carried can also be modified to make it easier for the employee to carry. Guarding of machinery at the workplace is also an important step in minimizing risks. Guarding means fitting machinery with appropriate controls and ensuring routine inspection where machines are used to lift heavy loads. This prevents accidents. Covering of the equipment at the workplace also ensures that in the case of an accident when an employee is carrying a load, the risk of injury is minimized since the sharp objects, and other objects in the workplace are well covered. Screening of employees taking part in manual handling tasks is also important to ensure that they are physically fit for such tasks. The property or items being lifted can also be encased such that even if they are dropped while being lifted, they are protected from destruction. Another important strategy in minimizing risk is by disaster contingence planning. Disaster contingency planning is meant to prepare an organization to respond well in case of an emergency (IFRC 2012, 7). Contingency planning consists of five steps; prepare, analyze, develop, implement and review. The planning stage involves identification of the risks and identifying the ways to get prepared in case such risks occur. The analysis stage requires the company to identify what is going to happen in the event the risk occurs. It also covers the impact the risk, manual handling, will have on people or the employees. The developing stage requires the company to identify the ways to respond if there is an injury resulting from manual handling (IFRC 2012, 23). The implementation stage requires the company to implement the strategies identified in the developing stage to control the risk. The review stage means that the company has to keep updating and evaluating the plan to ensure that it caters for all eventualities (IFRC 2012, 47). The five main steps for contingency planning Implementation The implementation of the strategies identified for risk management requires proper planning by the company. Risk management policies are important in ensuring the implementation of the strategies to control the risk of injury due to manual handling. A risk management policy outlines the approach taken by the company in the identification of risks arising from manual handling and the methods to be used to control such risks to ensure a healthy and safe environment. In this case, such a policy will include all issues regarding the covering, guarding, designing out, screening and the establishment of a disaster contingency plan (Stubbe 2009, 60). It will also provide what employees are supposed and what they are not supposed to do. Other than the risk management policy, the process of communication at the workplace must be clear. effective communication strategies should be incorporated to ensure that the employees are aware of their rights and duties. Further, communication is also necessary to ensure that employees have knowledge of the policies and regulations that ensure their safety. Morning briefing meetings, for example, are important to ensure that each employee knows what to do to avoid the chaos that may increase the likelihood of the manual handling risks (Stubbe 2009, 61). Source: Stubbe, 2009 Safety committees are also integral in implementing health and safety strategies in the workplace. Safety committees are committees that are established to promote safety and health in the place of work. They consist of both the management and the employees who work together to ensure safety. The safety committee will come up with the policies, implement them, recommend training of staff and ensure that there are proper dispute resolution systems on matters related to manual handling risks (Health and Safety Executive 2016, 1). Safety committees can also work hand in hand with trade unions to conduct training for employees on safety measures to be taken in the course of work. Such training also covers education on the relevant legislations, rules and regulations on safety and health. Trade unions also take collective action against employers who do not protect employees from risks (Building and Wood Workers’ International 2006, 4). Task 5 Successful implementation of methods or strategies meant to manage the risks arising from manual handling does not only include the setting up of management policies and safety committees but also requires compliance with codes of practice and rules and regulations on safety at the workplace. Employers must ensure that the policies set out and the systems meant to ensure the safety of the employees and other personnel working in the company are in line with legal provisions on safety in the workplace. Other than ensuring compliance with the legal provisions on health and safety at the workplace, employers must also ensure that the employees are notified about these policies and guidelines to ensure their safety. They should also ensure that the workers are aware of their rights and responsibilities in ensuring health and safety of the work environment (University of Southern Queensland 2014, 1). All employees have a responsibility to comply with the workplace health and safety policies, instructions and procedures to ensure that the workplace environment is safe. This means that they have an obligation to take corrective action to protect themselves against hazards in the course of performing their tasks or report the hazards where the corrective action does not eliminate the risk. Such an obligation on the part of the employee also extends to a duty towards other employees and personnel in the place of work (University of Southern Queensland 2014, 1). Where employees are aware of the policies, procedures and instructions regarding health and safety in the place of work, the implementation of the strategies to prevent hazards and the risks associated with them becomes easier. In situations where employees are aware of legal provisions relating to health and safety, they can demand compliance with such regulations by the employer for their safety either directly or through their trade unions. Legal provisions in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty on all employers to make the place of work health and safe as is reasonably possible. The Act also requires employers to ensure safe operation and maintenance of the systems and plant. Further, employees should also be trained on health and safety (National Health Service 2014, 1). This means that the way to ensure compliance with the rules and regulations on health and safety is by empowering employees with the knowledge on safety. It also makes it easier to implement health and safety policies when employees understand such provisions. Other than ensuring safety where risks arise from manual handling activities, employers must also be guided by the Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act 1972 which prohibits the deposit of poisonous waste on land which could give rise to an environmental hazard. Further, if, other than the risks arising from manual handling tasks, there are risks from electronic equipment causing or being disturbed by electromagnetic interference (EMI), the employer must also comply with the EMC Directive. The Directive requires the employer to limit the electromagnetic disturbance caused by the equipment or make the equipment immune from such disturbance. The compliance with such legislations makes it easy to implement risk management policies and ensure the health and safety of the employees (National Health Service 2014, 3). References Building and Wood Workers’ International 2006, Protecting health and safety at work, Building and Wood Workers’ International, Geneva. 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University of Southern Queensland 2014, Work health and safety risk management procedure, Regional Universities Network, Queensland. Victorian Government 2012, Code of practice for manual handling, Available at: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/9426/COP25_manualhandling.pdf [Accessed 12 June 2016] Read More