Design of Health and Safety Control Systems - Assignment Example

Design of Health and Safety Control Systems According to the Health and Safety Executive, the Health and Safety Act of 1974 requires all employers provide a workplace free from hazards to employees or workers. Risk Assessment According to HSE, risk assessment is an important step for protection of workers and businesses, and complying with regulatory requirements. Risk assessment is the examination of what could cause harm to people so that an evaluation can be made as to whether adequate precaution have been adopted or more should be done to prevent harm. The Health and Safety Act of 1974 requires that workers have a right to be protected from harm caused by the failure to adopt adequate health and safety measures. Accidents or ill health can cause loss in output, damage of machinery, higher insurance costs, or convictions. The HSE has outlined five steps to assess risks in the workplace. These include identification of hazards; decision on who might be at risk; evaluation of risks and decision on precautions; recording on findings and implementation; and review assessment an update them as necessary. While conducting risk assessment it must be remembered that a hazard is anything that may cause harm. This includes chemicals, electricity, working at heights, etc. Risk is the probability that someone could be harmed by the presence of hazards along with an indication about the seriousness of the harm. Each of the three operations have been assessed for hazards and associated risks and a health and safety control system designed for the operations. Operation 1 The HSE has defined confined space as a place that is substantially enclosed and serious injury could result from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby. The operation is governed by the Confined Spaces Regulations Act of 1997. Risk associated with confined spaces include lack of oxygen; toxic gas, fume or vapour; liquids and solids that can suddenly fill in the space or release gases into it; fire and explosions; residues left in tanks, vessels etc, or remaining on internal surfaces; dust that may be present in high concentrations; or hot conditions. Lack of oxygen could occur from reaction between soils and oxygen in the atmosphere; action of groundwater on chalk or limestone that can produce CO2 and displace normal air; or formation of rust. Toxic gases, fumes or vapours can occur from build-up in sewers and in pits connected to the system; enter tanks or vessels from connecting pipes; leak into trenches and pits in contaminated land. Gas, fume, or vapour can be given off from residues left in tanks, vessels, etc. or remaining on internal surfaces. The Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999 require an assessment of the task; working environment; working materials and tools; suitability of those carrying out the task; and arrangements for emergency rescue. In the presence of dangers duties from the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 require avoiding entry to confined spaces; follow a safe system of work if entry to confined spaces unavoidable; and put in place adequate emergency arrangements before start of work. A check should be made as to whether the intended work is really necessary; or modify the confined space; have work done from outside; remote operation; inspection, sampling and cleaning operations; or use of remote cameras for internal inspection of vessels. Safe System of Work The HSE has advised that if it is not possible to avoid entry into a confined space there must be a safe system for working inside the space. The risk of injury must be reduced. The safe system must be developed and put into practice. All participants have to be properly trained and instructed to ensure that they know what is to be done and how to do it safely. The elements for preparing a safe system of work includes appointment of a supervisor; determination of whether the person is suitable tow work; isolation; cleaning before entry; checking the size of the entrance; provision of ventilation; testing the air; provision of special tools and lighting; provision of breathing apparatus; preparation of emergency arrangements; provision of rescue harness; communications; checking how the alarm is raised; use of permit-to-work; and emergency procedures. In the current operation a supervisor will be given the responsibility for ensuring that necessary precautions are taken and safety at each stage will be checked. The person responsible for the work will be assessed to determine whether the person has sufficient experience. Before entry into confined space a cleaning should be performed. An air-line breathing apparatus is desirable for the operation instead of self-contained breathing apparatus as the space is narrow. The air inside the space should be tested for presence of toxic or flammable vapours. A competent person should use a suitable gas detector to make the determination. Protected lighting should be provided for the operation, and preparation should be made for emergencies. A mechanism for communication should be devised to enable communication between the operator inside the space and people outside in case of an emergency. Emergency preparedness includes contingency plans. The operator should be briefed about associated risks and action to be taken in case of emergencies. Also, since the field is used for grazing, the area around the operation should be barricaded. Operation 2 According to HSE the use of powered vehicle is associated with risks including people being struck over or run over by a vehicle; struck by something falling from a vehicle; people falling from vehicles; or vehicles overturning. Other risks include driver being struck by strong light; bad visibility; effect of strong gusts of wind on people working high up outside of vehicles; or heavy rain, mist, snow, ice or frost. The person at risk is the driver or operator of the vehicle. Other people at risk include visitors or other members of the public. Hazards associated with the use of mowers include ejected blades, flails or attachments; ejected debris; moving blades or flails; moving drive mechanisms; clearing blockages while in motion; crush and other hazards while moving with the mower; working beneath raised machine wile replacing blades or carrying out maintenance activities; or overturning while mowing slopes or banks. Hazards associated with working at heights include falls and are governed by the Working at Height Regulations 2005. Safe System of Work The operator of the vehicle must have competency to operate the vehicle and be trained to use the vehicle and working equipment as safely as possible. Also, personal protective equipment must be used. While operating the vehicle a standard operating procedure must be followed to minimize the risks. Separate pathways for pedestrians must be used; road humps used; and vehicles with speed limiters must be used. Speed limits must be followed in the use of the vehicle. The area must be surveyed to determine the exact nature of hazards posed by the trees. The mower must have stand-off guard and protective skirts. The mower must not be operated if there are bystanders. When the engine is running any maintenance work must not be attempted. Any blockage must not be attempted unless the engine has been switched off, blades are stopped, and the ignition key has been removed. Any maintenance work must not be carried out beneath a mower that is not supported. The operator must have competency in the operation of the equipment; parts such as conditioners should be guarded; guards must be in position to be correctly fitted before starting work; devices must be in position to stop projectiles; proper procedures are followed in the operation of the vehicle and equipment; and proper protective equipment must be used in the operation and maintenance of equipment. General precautions like following manufacturer`s instructions and procedures are followed for maintenance activities. While working at height caution must be exercised so that the operator is trained to use equipment safely; it is regularly inspected and maintained; and the work is supervised to ensure that the operator is working safely. The use of personal protective equipment is important to minimize risks associated falls hazards. For dealing with unlawful activities, general precautions must be followed, and any suspicious activity or materials found in the area reported to the appropriate authorities. If confronted by gangsters it is not advisable to resist their demands and wait for the calamity to subside. Operation 3 The operation involves cleaning after school hours on a daily basis during terms. The task involves removal of bagged waste from the premises and placement in wheelie bins in the school playground. There are several multi-storey buildings with chemistry, physics and biology laboratories besides metalworking activities from lathes, milling machines and other manufacturing equipment. Hazards associated include wastes disposed. These include materials that have toxic properties. Hazards could be chemical or biological depending on the laboratory activities. Chemicals at work are governed by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. Chemicals and other hazardous substances can put people`s health at risk causing diseases such as asthma, dermatitis or cancer. The Environmental Agency and HSE have developed guidance on the disposal of chemicals at work. Risk involves handling of substances that could be hazardous. An assessment should be conducted to determine the properties of substances and the hazards posed by those substances. Hazardous substances are governed by regulations and many substances have disposal requirements. The women involved in the disposal activity may be at risk of being exposed to hazardous materials. After determination of the substances, an exposure assessment may be required to determine the levels of exposure and whether they exceed permissible exposure levels. An assessment of material handling must be conducted to determine whether proper lifting and material handling techniques are being used. Hazards associated from metalworking waste include exposure to metals, fine metals, fumes and other substances. An exposure assessment is required to determine the levels of exposure to hazardous substances and where there are any risks associated with the levels of exposure. Safe System of Work A chemical hazard management program should be developed. This includes adherence to allowable levels of exposure to various substances generated in the laboratories and the metalworking activities. Many of the substances have specific disposal requirements. This includes segregation of hazardous waste and labelling requirements. The program must include procedures to address these shortcomings. The workers must be trained in the safe handling of hazardous materials. They must be trained in the use of personal protective equipment. The program must be reviewed on a periodic basis to address any shortcomings or changes in regulations or circumstances. An indoor air quality management program is desirable to determine the quality of ambient air in the laboratories and workshops. Indoor air quality if often a determinant of effective work besides providing a workplace free from indoor air pollutants. References Health and Safety Executive. (2010). Health and Safety at Work. Available: http://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm. Last accessed May 05 2010. Read More