Safety Regulations for Virtually Every Aspect of Life - Research Paper Example

PROPERTY ASSESSMENT PROJECT PAPER Property Assessment Project Paper Introduction The ment “there is danger everywhere” is perhaps the reason for the establishment of safety regulations for virtually every aspect of life. Safety authorities have analyzed common human interaction areas and come up with regulations that ensure they are able to stay safe while in those areas (Reese & Eidson, 1999). It is common to witness family and friends get injured because some aspect of safety regulation was not carefully implemented. Some of these injuries could be potentially fatal leading to even loss of life. It is because of this that potential risks in a living area need to be carefully identified and the necessary steps taken to ensure that these threats are diminished or averted completely. Bottles containing no labels Figure 1 contains an image of bottles that have not been given any labels. They have been placed at a strategic point, perhaps a table, for human use. Some of the bottles look similar in nature and have possibly been made out of the same materials. However, their contents differ depicting that they could indeed contain different items. Figure 1: bottles that have not been given any labels These bottles contain something that is meant for human consumption. It is likely that various types of injuries could result if consumers gain access to such products. It is likely that should a consumer seek to consume these products, they could consume a potentially wrong product. There are consumers who are sensitive to certain products. This could be in the form of allergies, intolerances or simply aversions. Allergies could lead to potentially life threatening conditions such as anaphylaxis that require immediate medical attention. A consumer could have an allergy to some of the products used to design the items contained in these bottles making it potentially risky for them to consume (Grissinger, 2008). Intolerances and aversions can also lead to mild symptoms that could lead to mild irritation that could leave a completely bad taste in the consumers mouth. There are various regulations that have been stipulated as relates to food labeling. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, it is imperative that food companies label their products with the exact ingredients that have been used to formulate their products. In addition, any product that has been developed using a set of stipulated allergens must be labeled appropriately. This ensures that consumers are aware of the products they are consuming beforehand (Grissinger, 2008). Failure to comply with these regulations could mean a law suit. People can seek damages against the food company for any damages, injury or deaths that may be incurred as a result of consumption of their products. In the case of ConAgro, the producers of peanut butter, a class action suit was brought up against them by Marcel Clark for their production of peanut butter that caused Salmonella poisoning to thousands of consumers. In order to prevent such cases from occurring again, it is essential that staff be educated on the importance of food labeling. Any products that the place on the table for consumption must be clearly labeled with an appropriate expiration date and list of ingredients. Pool lid not tacked into the ground Figure 2 shows a pool lid that has not been properly tacked into the ground and is thus allowing water to flow freely onto the pool deck. There are several people on the pool deck who are sitting now but will probably move about later on. This presents a hazard because as water from the pool oozes into the deck, the surface becomes wet and becomes a potential accident area. Figure 2: A pool lid that has not been properly tacked into the ground A person could sustain a dangerous fall from such water spills. By slipping onto water that is on the deck a person could get head, neck and spine injuries that could be potentially life-threatening. Slips are the leading cause of accidental falls among adults. And it can even get worse among children because while adults are a bit careful, children are often oblivious of the danger they may be in. they tend to run around freely without a care. As a result, they are more exposed to such type of injuries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration section 1910.22(a)(1), it is essential that companies put into place measures that ensure that harm does not come to a consumer as a result of any spills that may have been left on the floor by management. In the case of Walmart, a woman sued the chain store over allegations of damages that were incurred as a result of injury while she was shopping in the supermarket. The woman who was in the produce section, slipped and fell as a result of a puddle of water that had been left unattended to in the supermarket. She was awarded compensation for the injuries she had acquired as a result of this fall. It is essential that employees be educated on the potential risks that clients may face as a result of their actions. Leaving the supermarket isle wet and unattended is irresponsible behavior which they should understand. Stiff penalties should also be imposed on those who flaunt these rules to ensure they are aware of the loss that they risk having should they fail to adhere to these principles and guidelines. Implementation of these rules and regulations is especially important. Management should ensure that there are sufficient amounts of labels that can be used by staff to label wet areas. This will prevent potential slips because consumers will already be wary of the area and will walk carefully. In addition, management should also implement these guidelines by placing sufficient staff in the cleanup department. This will ensure that any spills are cleaned promptly before they become life threatening. Floors made of material that becomes slippery when wet Figure 3 shows a person stepping on a floor that looks slippery possibly because it has been waxed over. Floors are designed from different types of materials and given a variety of finishes in order to improve their appearance. Some of these finishes include smooth waxing that leaves the floor shiny and soft. However, when water comes into contact with such floors, they become slippery; a factor that can make them potentially dangerous. The use of these materials in areas that are likely to have human traffic and a lot of water is negligent. Figure 3: A person stepping on a floor that looks slippery People frequenting such areas could suffer from slips and falls that can be dangerous because it can lead to injury. A person could break their hip, neck or arm as a result of slips from such places. This could result in a variety of lawsuits that can bring an entire business down. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration standards section [1910.22(a) (1), floors should be maintained clean and dry to prevent slips and falls. In addition, designers should include the safety aspect in floor design (Reese & Eidson, 1999). Despite the fact that floors can be made beautiful, they should also be made slightly rough to prevent the risk of falls during movement in such areas. In the case of Sipple v. Sears, Roebuck & Company, 553 F. Supp. 908 (D. Kan. 1982), a woman fell in a supermarket after she slipped on an unknown object. They were not able to determine what the object that she slipped and fell on was, and how long it had been lying there but the fact is that she had slipped and fell. The court awarded them compensation not because they could identify what she had slipped on but because the court has placed liability on businesses for any injuries that a person may sustain while within their premises. It is argued that this is because businesses are fully aware of the potential dangers that are present in their premises. As such, it is their obligation to protect ordinary people who come into their premises (Soule, 2009). Staff should be educated properly on the type of floors that are suitable for each living area. In addition, they should be made aware of potential areas where clients could slip and fall as a result of structural components that have been used to design the area. In doing so, staff are able to be more aware of their work environments and take precautions not only to protect themselves but also their clients (Mcdermott, 2010). Implementation of rules and regulations as regards slippery floors would include the use of signs on various areas that are slippery. They could label them as slippery with warning signs that clients should walk properly. In addition, mats and other rough covering can be placed on the slippery area to reduce the effect of the slippery floors. As such, clients can walk over the rough carpet with the business still maintaining the aesthetic value of its floors in certain other areas. Stairs without hand rails Figure 4 shows a staircase that does not have handrails. Handrails are common safety features that are placed on stairs to provide users with a place to hold as they are moving up the stairs. This staircase presents a potential danger for falls because should a person slip while on it, they would not have any place to hold on to. While moving up or down the stairs, especially while carrying other objects, it is common to lose balance slightly. This loss on balance can lead to a fall that can be dangerous should it occur in such raised areas like this stair case. Supermarkets, daycares and other business areas can be designed with various stair designs to enhance the beauty and design of the house (Maniscalco, 2010a). These designs can however be dangerous if they do not take into account various safety components. Falls from such high areas can lead to fractures of the bones in the entire body. In addition, internal bleeding could occur in places such as the brain which can be deadly. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration Subpart X, Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1926.1050 through 1926.1060, stairs should be designed in a manner that ensures they are safe for human use. They should be fitted with hand rails of a certain diameter, shape and size to ensure users are able to hold onto them for safety while using them. Staff within an organization should understand the risks of using such kind of stairs. They should be educated on these dangers and appropriate measures taken to identify such stairs within the premises. Management should make attempts to repair such stairs by installing hand rails so that persons using the premises can do so safely (Maniscalco, 2010b). Using a straight ladder to reach a high shelf Figure 5 shows a straight ladder being used to reach the top shelf. Ladders are useful in reaching high areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. They are used from time to time therefore exposure to their risks is constant. There are a variety of ladders in the market, each with its own purpose. As such, straight ladders should not be used to access objects from the top shelf and especially without support or supervision. Improper use of ladders can lead to serious injuries due to falls from high places. This can lead to bone fractures that will take time to heal thereby making the person unable to work for some time. According to Occupational Health and Safety Administration Subpart X, Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1926.1050 through 1926.1060, it is essential that ladders meet the required standards for design. The steps are supposed to be of a certain height between each other. In addition, straight ladders are to be avoided in areas where a person is supposed to use the ladder alone (Reese & Eidson, 1999). A polish builder sued the owner of the home he was working in after he fell from a roof he was working on. It was stated that the ladder was too short for the job leading to a fall that resulted in numerous injuries. Employees should be educated on the proper use of ladders so that they can understand the proper type of ladder to use when trying to reach top shelves in a supermarket. In addition, management should ensure the availability of these ladders in the workplace so that employees can stop improvising ladders to reach the top shelves. References Grissinger, M. (2008). A Loud Wake-up Call: Unlabeled Containers Can Lead to Fatalities. Pharmacy & Therapeutics, 33(12), 686, 732. Maniscalco, M. (2010a). Minimize Damages in Slip-and-Fall Cases. PropertyCasualty360. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2010/05/10/minimize-damages-in-slipandfall-cases Maniscalco, M. (2010b). Slip and fall cases: What businesses need to know to minimize the damages. Chain Store Age (CSA). Retrieved April 24, 2014, from books.google.com/books?id=aOsdhB2y6zkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Occupation+Health+and+Safety+Administration&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XClYU_umMaiGywOK1YDIDw&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Occupation Health and Safety Administration&f=false Mcdermott, N. (2010, September 22). Polish builder who fell off ladder sues homeowner for not letting him traipse through home in muddy boots to get to roof. MailOnline. London. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1314209/Polish-builder-fell-ladder-sues-homeowner.html Reese, C. D., & Eidson, J. V. (1999). Handbook of OSHA Construction Safety and Health. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Soule, S. (2009). Sipple v. Sears, Roebuck & Company, 553 F. Supp. 908.  Read More