Mechanical Hazards Analysis - Literature review Example

Mecahical Hazards Case Analysis Report Name College Mechanical Hazards Case Analysis Report Introduction The failure to identify hazards present in workplace is the root cause of workplace accidents and mechanical injuries resulting from machines being operated.Different harzadous mechanical action or motion types are basic in varying combinations to all machines. They must therefore be recognised first in order to protect the operators (OSHA, 2016). Movable devices, tools, machinery parts, materials and objects processed may cause harm to the body, they are refered to as mechanical hazards. Analysis of job safety when carried out within the workplace and also a recap of the past accident incidences form the basis of hazard identification.Mechanical hazards occur in different aspects including injuries caused when one come into contact with running nips that is rolling drums conveyor systems, chain and belt drives. A worker may have his/her hands or loose clothes catched by moving parts of a machine and this can resut to injuries (Workplace Safety and Health Council, 2014). Quantification of mechanical hazards is vital in risk assessment programs. This enhances the practice of preventive measures after an associated risk has been determined. Entanglement hazard is one of example of mechanical hazards and it involves meeting of loose items that are worn out with the moving parts of a machine (HSE, 2016).The operators’ body part may also meet the moving parts. We also have crushing mechanical hazards that takes place when a body part stucks between a fixed and moving machine part or between two parts of a machine in motion.It damages the logded body part. Shearing mechanical hazards also occur whereby machines parts moving past each other can causes cuts. There is also cutting hazards that mostly occur from machines that cut materials for example metals. The cutting machines especially when they are moving can cause serious cuts to the operator. Sharp materials that come out in the process of machine operation also cause cuts. Impact hazards that occur when the body is struck by objects also causes injuries even without penetration.Injury is due to the speed and force by which the object reaches the human body (HSE, 2016). Various preventive strategies must therefore be put in place to ensure that people in workplace do not get harmed during machine operation process. This helps to evade injuries or death posed by mechanical hazards as the risks are reduced to the lowest level possible (Soomro, 2014). Proper and regular service/maintainace of machines must be practised to ensure their proper functioning. Proper supervision and training should be given to new operators so as they can be competent enough to work with the machines without directions (Worksafe Victoria, 2007). Personal grooming among the operators is vital as it ensures no loose cloths or hairs gets trapped by the moving machines.To add, everyone in the workplace must wear the required personal protective gears that helps to minimize injuries. Machines should only be operated with authorized pesonnel and not just untrained staff. Discussed below are two cases of mechanical hazard that took place in real life set ups. The actual cause of the accident, resulting damage and preventive measures are highlighted. Drilling Machine Severes Worker’s Left Thumb at Auto Wrecking Workshop in Newton The worker injured was given a task to fit the fuel tank of a vehicle within the workshop. In the process of fitting up the tank, he did not find any grounding cable (Choon, 2014). He was unable to find a correct sized terminal lug to be used with the grounding cable, the worker decided to use a nearest size lug that was present whereby he wanted to enlarge its hole using a round file. He filled it for 10mins and made no progress, he again decided on using a bench drilling machine so as he could enlarge the opening (Choon, 2014). The worker held the grounding cable using a self–gripping plier while wearing on both hands, cotton gloves. In the drilling process, the bit of the rotating drill caught his left hand’s glove which severed his left thumb.Prior tothe accident, his employer had inducted him briefly on health rules and generic safety to new employees; he did not induct him on job-specific risk assessment (RA) and Safety Work Procedures (SWP) of the work. The worker’s employer however established SWP and RA for drilling task and other activities but he was not aware of RA and SWP. The injured worker had no clue about the risks, hazards and preventive measures required for bench drilling machine. Majority ofother engineers also had no awareness of workplace SWP and RA oreven the mitigation of injuries. The chuck and rotating spindle of the drilling machine also had no safety guards (Choon, 2014). Damage The worker’s left thumb was severed and he experienced a lot of pain. He was not able to continue with the work he was assigned. The workshop therefore lost also skilled labor during the time he was out of job due to injury. The injured worker also damaged the small sized lug he was trying to enlarge to an extent it can’t be used again. The cotton gloves also got tiered. The company therefore will have to incur some cost in replacing the damaged equipment. Failure of the employer to induct the employee on resistant job description meant that the company catered for nursing cost for the damaged thumb. It therefore incurred reputation damage as it did not take into consideration procedures and safety practices within the workplace (Choon, 2014). Other workers also lost confidence in working with the drilling machine for the fear that it could cost the injury to them. Preventive Measures The company should ensure the use of safety guards to prevent the dangerousmachine parts from causing injuries in workplace. This includes guarding the drilling machine’s chuck and spindle. Employer must ensure all employees are aware and have knowledge of all possible mechanical hazards and their preventive measures. Proper briefing or communication of required SWP andRA to all operators at risk due the activities they perform within the workplace should be done by the employer. This enhances the implementation of safe work procedures (Worksafe Victoria, 2007). RA and SWP briefing should be documented to be available to all workers. Warning notices should be displayed on the machines to warn the operators of the ‘don’ts and dos’ to ensure their safety. The guard provided for the drill should be below its tip when raised in topmost position.Ensure In addition, proper machine/equipment selection for specific tasks, and its correct use must always be ensured (Workplace Safety & Health Council, 2014). Power Press Machine Accident at a Manufacturing Company in Warwickshire The accident occurred when a worker was operating a full-revolution type power press to stamp metal work-pieces (Choon, 2014). Method adopted was to first place the work-piece onto the press’ die; depress 2-hand control buttons to actuate and descend the tool to stamp the work-piece; retrieve the work-piece after stamping action. During operation, the worker decided to shift his chair nearer to the power press. He rested his left hand on the die, and jerked his chair towards the power press (Choon, 2014). During jerking, he accidentally stepped on the power press’s electric footswitch, thereby causing the punch to descend and crush his left fingers. The power press machine was modified with its mechanical foot-pedal disconnected from its linkage, and thereafter to be activated in other multiple modes. One of which is 2-hand control mode for small work pieces, and another mode is operated via an electric foot-switch for large pieces. On the day of the accident, the foreman had switched the power press machine to 2-hand control mode; however, he had forgotten to disconnect the electric footswitch. The electric foot-switch was accidently activated when IW shifted his chair forward. The power press’s electric foot-switch was not shrouded to prevent accidental activation from any cause (Choon, 2014). No safety guard was provided to prevent the worker’s hands from coming into contact with the power press’s moving punch and the stationary die during operation. The power press’s flywheel, pulley and belt were not adequately guarded.The worker was not instructed on the hazards arising from the operation of the power press and the appropriate precautions to be observed. The foreman and worker had not attended the “supervisors’ required industrial Health and Safety Course and “metal workers’ Safety Course” respectively (Choon, 2014). Damage The worker crushed his middle, ring and index fingers, he suffered severe pain. The loss of the fingers is regarded to be irreparable. This brought problems even to his family because there are some duties he cannot perform and need assistance from a nearby person. The company also lost a determined worker since he could not be able to continue with his job without the fingers. The failure of the Company to provide safety guard that could have prevented the worker’s hand from getting into contact with the moving punch implies that, the company was liable for his injury and compensated him financially and health wise. It also brought a lot of concern from other employees who saw the accident as a major risk to them in the future. The modification made on the power press machine was removed and the machine made to function normally. This lowered its efficiency and hence led to low production. The manufacturing company also incurred extra cost in purchasing safety guards to prevent further accidents. This altered the Company’s expenditure program (Choon, 2014). Preventive Measures Occupier/employer should assess the machinery used in the workplace and ensure its safe use. The machine’s dangerous parts must also be securely guarded. The electric foot-switch was properly shrouded to prevent accidental activation. The electric foot-switch was disconnected from the electrical control box when the power press was operated by the 2-hand control.Therefore all modifications to existing machine should be approved by the manufacturer (Worksafe Victoria, 2007). All employees must be instructed and informed by their employer on the dangers machine operation causes and at the same time educate them on the various preventive measures they need to observe before they start the operation process(Workplace Safety &Health Council, 2014). Employers should also ensure its employees have attended the mandatory safety and health training so that they can be in a position to nurse minor wounds and perform first aid on serious injuries. Generally, competency of users and operators of machinery must be ensured. Conclusion A lot of danger and harm are seen to be caused by mechanical hazards. They are majorly caused by moving machine parts when they are operated.This occurs especially when such parts are not controlled properly or are not fixed in a safe position. The main categories of mechanical hazards are shearing hazards, crushing hazards, entanglement hazards, impact hazards and cutting hazards. At times such hazards cause death to the operator within the workplace. To prevent them, risk assessment programs are performed which involve their quantification and identification.Job specific inductions are also vital in preventing injuries and damages for example for the case of the worker injured by the drilling machine.Provision of safety guards and use of safe machines must also be ensured at all cost within the workplace. All unsafe machines found within the working environment may increases chances of getting injured or killed. This causes severe suffering and pain to the workers themselves, their employers and even their loved ones. References Choon, C.B. (2014). Accident Case Studies: A Great Workforce- A Great Workplace, OSHI 201 Nov 2014 HSE.(2016). Mechanical hazards and other common hazards. Retrieved on 21 April 2016 from http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/machinery/mechanical.htm OSHA.(2016). Safeguarding equipment and protecting employees from amputaions.https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3170/3170-02R-2007-English.html#Hazards Soomro, A. (2014). Mechanical Hazard Control, 20 September 2014. Workplace Safety & Health Council.(2014).workplace safety and health guidelines. Retrieved on 21 April 2016 from https://www.wshc.sg/files/wshc/uploads/cms/fille/WSH_Guidelines_ Work safe BC. (2015). Investigation reports-manufacturing Workers hand crushed in unguarded machine rolls. Retrieved on 21 April 2016 from http://www.2.worksafebc.com/Topics/accidentsInvestigations/IR Worksafe Victoria. (2007) Machinery and Equipment Safety- An Introduction, 1st Ed. July 2007. Read More