be safe! an introductory guide to health and...
TRANSCRIPT
Be Safe!An Introductory Guide to Health and Safety
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Be Safe!
Each day, many people areinjured at work. Some arepermanently disabled – someeven die.* Don’t let this happento you.
This booklet will help you findout how to avoid accidents andill health at work. It is only anintroduction and you will need
*In 2003 – approximately 925young people were injured and5 killed on work based learning.
to add other information relatedto your own occupation, course,programme and personalcircumstances.
Always find out who yoursupervisor/tutor is.
They will tell you how to worksafely and arrange training foreach job you do. Ask if you feelunsure about how to carry out a task.
Avoid hazards where you work –to stay safe you must be riskaware.
The exercises enclosed with thisbooklet can be used to help youprovide evidence if you aretaking a health and safetyqualification.
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Safety Policy and Risk Assessment
If your employers have five ormore people working for them,they will have their own safetypolicy, which will state theirorganisation’s commitment tohealth and safety.
It will spell out the procedureswhich are in place to ensurethat you are working in safeconditions.
The organisation should alsohave produced an assessment ofthe risks to your health andsafety.You should be told aboutthe results of this assessment.
You may be given a leaflet orfind copies of these documentson a noticeboard. Make sureyou understand them. If indoubt, ask.
You are responsible too – besmart – think before you act.
By law, you must not interfere with or misuse anythingprovided for safety.
Learn how to work safely andobey safety rules.
Use all equipment andprotective clothing provided.
Report things that seemdangerous, damaged or faulty.
Only use tools, machinery orsubstances after you havebeen trained and givenpermission to do so.
Never play practical jokes –they can kill.
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Tidiness and Hygiene
TidinessSlips, trips and falls are still themajor cause of accidents.
To help prevent them:
Don’t leave things lyingaround – keep work areas andgangways tidy and clear.
Clean up spills straight away.
Always close drawers.
HygieneDirt and contact withchemicals, oil, etc. can makeyou ill and can causeunpleasant skin complaints.
Always:
Wash your hands, using soapand water or a suitablecleanser, before you eat ameal and before and afterusing the toilets.
Dry your hands with thetowels or dryers provided.Don’t wipe them on rags or onyour clothes.
If they are supplied, usebarrier creams to protect yourskin when doing dirty jobs.You may also need to put on acream after washing when thejob is finished.
Get medical advice about anyskin complaints, rashes,blisters, ulcers etc, and followany treatment recommendedto you. Tell your supervisorabout your medical problemimmediately.
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Protective Equipment and Clothing
Protective equipment andclothing, such as ear defendersand eye protectors, dust masks,overalls, safety shoes or bootsand helmets, are supplied toprotect you.
Wear them.It may feel strange and youwon’t win any fashion contestsbut you’ll have a better chanceof keeping out of hospital.
Make sure you:
Know how to put protectiveequipment on correctly andhow to look after it. If indoubt, ASK.
Ask your supervisor toreplace anything that doesn’tfit properly or any item thatgets damaged or worn.
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Moving about the Workplace
Remember:
Walk, don’t run.
Use the gangways providedand never take short cuts.
Look out for and obey allwarning notices and safety signs.
You are only allowed todrive vehicles for which youhave been properly trainedand have passed anynecessary test.
Take particular care wherevehicles like fork-lift trucksare operating.
Never hitch a ride on anyvehicle not designed to carrypassengers.
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Lifting and Carrying
Back problems can cause a lotof pain, and may last a lifetime.
Always use trolleys,wheelbarrows or otherappropriate lifting equipmentif these are available.
You must be shown how tolift and carry items correctly.
Take care that you:
Only lift or carry what youcan easily manage.
Can see clearly where youare going.
Get help with anything thatyou think might be too heavyor awkward to manage onyour own.
If in doubt, don’t do it – askfor help!
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Falls, sometimes from quite low levels, can cause death orserious injuries. Following theserules can make you safer:
Make sure you are shown thecorrect way to place a ladder.
Do not use a ladder withsplit, missing or loose rungs.
Always make sure that theladder is placed in the wayyou have been shown andcannot slip. If you are unsure,have it checked.
Don’t overstretch. Keep yourbody within the frame of theladder. If necessary, comedown and move the ladder toa more convenient position.
Always use ladders,scaffolding or lift buckets toreach high places.
Never ride in a crane bucketor on the forks of a fork-lifttruck.
Working at Heights
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ElectricityElectricity can kill or causesevere burns. Treat it withrespect.
Make sure you:
Understand the instructionsbefore using any electricalequipment.
If you don’t understand, ASK.
Always switch off at themains before connecting ordisconnecting any electricalappliance.
Report any damagedelectrical tools or equipment,including cables andextension leads.
Safety around the Building
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RoofsRoofs may be fragile or haveloose tiles. Never go on a roofunless you have been trained touse the proper precautions. Tellthe supervisor if you feel giddy,faint or unsafe when at heights.
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MachineryBe
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Only operate a machine afteryou have been trained andgiven permission to use it.Follow exactly the safe way ofusing the machine, and use itonly for the job it is intended todo. Do not take short cuts tosave time.
Make sure that you knowwhere all the controls are andwhat they do. When using anymachine, know how to stop itin an emergency.
Safety guards are fitted tomachines to protect you. Theymust be used.
If you think that any movingpart could cause damage, askyour supervisor if there shouldbe a guard.
Always follow the systems setup for adjusting or cleaningmachines. Make sure that noone else can switch a machineon again while you are workingon it.
Don’t wear dangling chains orloose clothing, which couldget caught in moving parts.
Keep your hair tucked under acap or tied back.
Do not distract other peoplewho are using machinery.
Never use compressed air to clean machinery.
Tell your supervisor at once if you think a machine is notworking correctly or is unsafe.
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Hand Tools and Knives
Imagine how difficult life wouldbe if you lost one of yourfingers!
Ordinary, everyday things like hand tools and knives can bedangerous.You should betrained to use the correct knifeor tool for the particular job.
Never use worn or brokenequipment.
Never misuse tools.
Clean equipment after use and store it correctly.
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Working with Animals
Be aware of circumstances –animals under stress, who areill or who have young aremore likely to be dangerous.
Follow instructions exactly.
Do not enter areas containinganimals unless it is necessary.
Be careful with personalhygiene – always wash yourhands after contact withanimals.
Animals can pass on seriousor fatal diseases to humans.
Treat all living creatures –domestic and farm animals,birds and fish – with care andrespect. Both male and femaleanimals can cause death orinjury.You can avoid accidentsby taking the followingprecautions:
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Hazardous Substances
Do not transfer smallquantities of any liquids orsubstances into unlabelled orwrongly labelled containers –this is dangerous for everyone.
A dusty atmosphere can alsodamage your health – ask ifthere are any specialprecautions you need to take.
There are regulations (COSHH)to protect you from hazardoussubstances used at work. Someof the substances are socommon you may not realisehow harmful they can be.
Remember:
Follow the organisation’sinstructions – ask if you areunsure.
Read all hazard warning signsand the instruction labels oncontainers. They should tellyou if, for example, asubstance is poisonous, easilyset on fire, or can cause burns.
Before you use a substance,find out what to do if it spillsonto your skin or clothes.
Overalls or protectiveclothing which are soaked orbadly stained by hazardoussubstances must not be takenaway.
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Working with Computers
There is no evidence to suggestthat Display Screen Equipmentcan cause you harm, providedthat you:
Are trained how to use theequipment.
Adjust your chair correctly.
Use a footrest and a documentholder, if you need them.
Make sure that you haveregular breaks or change toother work away from thescreen.
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You must report any problemswith your eyes or any aches andpains in your wrists, arms orneck to your supervisor.
Sometimes health problems canoccur if you are carrying outrepetitive tasks using computers.
Use this checklist to make sureyou can work safely:
Can you adjust the equipmentor tools to suit your needs?
Is the work environment, forexample, heating, lighting,workspace, work position,suitable for you?
Can you change activities/tasksat regular intervals to usedifferent muscles?
Can you adjust the pace orspeed of the work you do?
Have you been shown how tocarry out the activitiescorrectly?
Do you know who to talk to ifyou have any concerns aboutthe tasks?
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FireBe
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Do you know:
What to do if there is a fire?
How to raise the alarm?
What the alarm sounds like?
Where the fire exits are?
Where the assembly point is?
Don’t take risks. If you don’t know – ask.
Know and understand theorganisation’s fire instructions.
Keep away from flames orsparks when handling petrol orother flammable substances.
Find out about the smokingpolicy and obey ‘No Smoking’rules.
Do not create a fire hazard bythrowing cigarette ends incorners or under benches.
Keep fire doors unlocked andfree from obstruction.
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First Aid
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Make sure you know aboutfirst aid arrangements.
Get to know the names ofthe first aiders and wherethey can be found.
Report to your supervisorsany injury or any ill effectsyou suffer.
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Personal Safety
Personal safety is alsoimportant. Learn to plan aheadand take practical precautionsto keep yourself safe.
Be aware – trust yourintuition and try not to beinfluenced by peer pressure.
Be alert – If you are goingout, find out how to get toyour destination and tellsomeone where you are goingand what time you expect to return.
Plan ahead – what will you doif you face violence – youraim should be to get awayfrom the situation quickly.Remember it is not weak towalk away.
Always report incidents – itmay help others in the future.
Further useful information isavailable from the SuzyLamplugh Trust onhttp://www.suzylamplugh.org/products/g23.shtml
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What Happens if I have an Accident or Contract an Industrial Disease?
If you have an accident orbecome ill as a result of yourwork, tell your school/college or training provider, who willinform the Learning and Skills Council.
The Department for Educationand Skills operates an IndustrialInjuries Scheme for non-employedstatus participants on somegovernment-fundedprogrammes.
If you satisfy certainconditions, the Departmentfor Education and Skills canmake payments of IndustrialInjuries benefits from the 15thweek after your accident.
Payments are made at thesame rates as the IndustrialInjuries Scheme for employees.
You may still be entitled tobenefit even if you are able toreturn to your programme.
If you are unable to continue onyour programme because youhave had an accident or havecontracted an industrial disease,you should first contact yourlocal Jobcentre Plus office, asyou may be able to claim otherbenefits immediately.
If you want to know more aboutthe Industrial Injuries Scheme,ask your programme provider ortelephone the Department forEducation and Skills on thefollowing freephone number:
0800 590 395
(The line is open Monday to Friday,10.00am.–12 noon and2.00pm.–4.00pm).
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Other Useful Sources of Health and Safety Information
www.lscdata.gov.uk/quality/health_and_safety/has_safe_learning.html
www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/employer_toolkit
www.young-worker.co.uk
www.hse.gov.uk/hsehome.htm
http://europe.osha.eu.int/
www.safetynews.co.uk/
http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~safejobs/
www.ohs.labor.net.au/youthsafe/
www.cdc.gov/niosh/adolespg.html
www.iosh.co.uk/index.cfm
www.rospa.co.uk/CMS/
www.riddor.gov.uk
Useful contacts:
Local Learning and Skills Council Tel No:
Jobcentre Plus Tel No:
Connexions Service Tel No:
Drugs/Substance Telephone Helpline:
Samaritans:
Smokers Quitline: 0800 002200
Health and Safety Executive InfoLine: 08701 545500
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Other useful numbers:
Suggestions on improvements to this guide are welcome and can bemade to the Learning and Skills Council National Office health andsafety team on: 024 7682 3265.
© LSC March 2004
Published by the Learning andSkills Council.Extracts from this publication may be reproduced for non-commercial educational ortraining purposes on conditionthat the source is acknowledgedand the findings are notmisrepresented.
This publication is available inelectronic form on theLearning and Skills Councilwebsite: www.lsc.gov.uk
Publication enquiries:0870 900 6800Reference: LSC/AA000/0912/04
Issued by:
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Notes
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