Health and Safety Control Systems - Essay Example

? [Manager] HEALTH AND SAFETY 27 May HEALTH AND SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEMS Operation 1. Hazards: The main junction of the subterranean chamber of a sewer system has developed some cracks in its walls which need to be sealed to prevent further damage. The method to temporarily remedy the cracks is to seal the cracked walls is by painting on a sealant with a spray gun. Failure to apply a sealant can lead to the total breakdown of the main junction, pertaining to the subterranean chamber. 2. Who may be harmed: The persons who can be harmed in case the chamber totally breaks or in the event that it explodes will be the private owner of the farm where the chamber is located, or any person who shall access the manhole leading to the bottom of the chamber. The workers in the farm shall also be seriously exposed to danger if the cracks in the chamber will not be secured. The cattles and sheeps which are positioned in the field will also be endangered once the chamber totally breaks or explodes. The people who will be passing the road near the chamber, which has a distance of 1 mile from the main road, can also be seriously affected by the faulty sewer system. 3. Evaluation of Risks: Since there is a high risk or probability that the condition of the cracks will worsen any time soon, it is deemed best that the appropriate measures should be taken to seal the cracks of the main junction chamber by applying a sealant. In the event that no action is taken to seal the existing cracks in the walls of the chamber, it is expected that the condition of the chamber which can lead to its total breakdown. 4. Implementation: Since sealant fumes are known to cause drowsiness and are known to be heavier than air, toxic and highly inflammable, it is recommended that all persons working in the farm, even the farm animals should be taken to a safer place while repair of the main junction chamber is on-going. It is recommended that this procedure be done immediately and not wait for the scheduled month of repair sometime between November and June. 5. Review of assessment: The safety, health and welfare of all living things including the farm workers and the animals inside the field where the subterranean chamber is located should be the primordial consideration in the temporary repair and total replacement of the chamber. The application of the sealant must be done immediately in order to prevent the build-up of cracks to worsen. However, this is only a temporary solution. It is highly recommended that a total replacement of the main junction chamber should be implemented so that the solution is long-term. The goal of this precautionary measure is to foster a safe working environment for the workers and shall serve as a protection for the whole community, including the animals, living within the vicinity where the chamber is situated. Establishing a risk assessment plan will result to controlled risks. “Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures. Accidents and ill health can ruin lives and affect your business if output is lost, machinery is damaged, insurance costs increase or you have to go to court”. Details on risk assessment can be found at the Health and Safety Executive website which can be viewed at < http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/fivesteps.htm>. Operation 2 1. Hazards: The maintenance of the grass verge, trees and hedgerows which is adjacent to the highway and within the vicinity of a junior school, should be done regularly as the local police suspects that drug traders have been operating in the area and can be hide-out for criminal activities. 2. Who may be harmed: The students who go to the school within the vicinity can be the potential victims if the grass, trees and hedgerows are not well-kept. The gardener who is tasked to do the clearing and maintenance operation is also seriously at risk since he is the only person tasked to complete the job. He can be exposed to danger if during the operation, he is attacked by a group of drug traders/dealers staying inside the premises. 3. Evaluation of Risks: If the maintenance of the trees, grass and hedgerows will not be implemented regularly, i.e. on a monthly basis, there is a greater probability that drug traders will continue to use the vicinity as a hide-out to conduct illegal activities. Since the grass cutter, a ride-on mower is too large and heavy to be transported to the public highway; it is highly recommended that smaller grass cutters should be used during the clearing operation. 4. Implementation: Since at present, only one person is tasked to complete the task, the local council should hire 5 to 10 persons to perform the clearing operation. In addition, the council should add more pieces of equipment, and not just rely on a single mower or chainsaw to complete the job for trimming the branches of high trees. During the scheduled operation, the public highway should also be closed and no vehicle should be allowed to pass as to minimize danger. 5. Review of assessment: The maintenance of the growing grass, hedgerows and trees should not be done in monthly intervals. It should be done more frequently like twice a month to ensure that safety of the public and prevent drug traders to use the vicinity for any illegal activity. Operation 3 1. Hazards: The daily cleaning of the school’s garbage comprising of waste materials which originate from the school laboratory are placed in the wheelie bins of the school’s playground by the cleaning staff. The toxic chemical which are used in the laboratory during Chemistry Physics and Biology class. 2. Who may be harmed: The children who are playing in the school playground are highly exposed to toxic chemicals as the garbage is transported in the playground’s premises. The women who are part of the cleaning staff can be exposed to health risks if they are exposed to toxic chemicals during the collection of garbage from the school laboratory. 3. Evaluation of Risks: The school must designate a proper place for waste disposal coming from the school laboratory and must be in a place that is far away from the students and young children. The playground is not a safe place to store the garbage. In addition, the waste materials are highly toxic as they are waste materials from the school’s laboratory. 4. Implementation: The cleaning task should not be assigned to female staff as they can also be exposed to danger due to the toxic substances from the laboratory. Women have a weaker immune system compared to men. The school administration should assign the cleaning job to male employees. 5. Review of assessment: The school administration should improve their health and safety policies in order to ensure that the students and the school staff are protected from health and safety risks. According to Montague (1997, p.152) “Reducing the risks of hazards involves designing safety into the process at the onset or the design of modifications to enhance safety. It also involves providing operating procedures and establishing a control system, which recognize hazard possibilities and taking steps to avoid them from occurring”. References: Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Five steps to risk assessment. Viewed on May 23, 2011, from, < http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/fivesteps.htm>. Montague, G, 1997 Monitoring and Control of Fermenters, IChemE Publishing, UK. Read More