Health and safety LO2

Unit 57

Objective 2

Health and Safety

Demonstrate knowledge of health and safety:

1.       What are the objectives of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)?

The objectives of the Health and Safety act 1974 state:

• Securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work;
• Protecting persons, other than persons at work, against risks to health or safety arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work;
• Controlling the keeping and use of explosive or highly flammable or otherwise dangerous substances, and generally preventing the unlawful acquisition, possession and use of such substances.

2.       What are the duties of employers towards substances used at work?

The duties employers have towards substances at work include:

• Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the substance will be safe and without risks to health at all times when it is being used, handled, processed, stored or transported by a person at work or in work premises;
• Perform such testing and examination as may be necessary to ensure safety;
• Take such steps as are necessary to secure that persons supplied with the substance are provided with adequate information about the any risks to health or safety to which the inherent properties of the substance may give rise, about the results of any relevant tests which have been carried out on or in connection with the substance and about any conditions necessary to ensure that the substance will be safe and without risks to health at all such times.
• Take such steps as are necessary to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons are provided with all such revisions of information as are necessary by reason of its becoming known that anything gives rise to a serious risk to health or safety.

3.       What are the objectives of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations

COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. You can prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous substances by:

·         finding out what the health hazards are;

·         deciding how to prevent harm to health;

·         providing control measures to reduce harm to health;

·         making sure they are used ;

·         keeping all control measures in good working order;

·         providing information, instruction and training for employees and others;

·         providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases;

·         planning for emergencies

4.       What industries does the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations cover?

The industries that COSHH cover include:

·         Agriculture^[1]
e.g. dusts, chemicals, diseases, toxic gases.

·         Baking^[2]
e.g. dusts, enzymes, flavour concentrates, cleaning products.

·         Beauty^[3]
e.g. products that cause skin irritation, allergies and asthma, acrylic fumes.

·         Catering^[4]
e.g. products that cause dermatitis, skin allergies, asthma, and fumes.

·         Cleaning^[5]
e.g. products that cause dermatitis, allergies and asthma, corrosive products.

·         Engineering^[6]
e.g. dusts, fumes, chemicals, germs in metalworking fluids.

·         Hairdressing^[7]
e.g. products that cause dermatitis, allergies, asthma.

·         Offshore oil and gas^[8]
[Sub-line]

·         Printing^[9]
e.g. products that can cause dermatitis, skin allergies and asthma, corrosive products, solvent vapours, ingredients that can cause damage to internal organs over a long period of time.

·         Motor vehicle repair^[10]
e.g. paints, fuels, brake fluid, lubricants, degreasing fluids, cleaning products, welding and cutting fumes, dusts, battery acid.

·         Welding^[11]
e.g. fumes, dust, chemicals, work in confined spaces, inert gases.

·         Woodworking^[12]
e.g. dusts, adhesives, paints, stripping fluids, lubricants, disinfectants to treat water systems.

5.       What is a substance hazardous to health as defined by the COSHH?

COSHH covers substances that are hazardous to health. Substances can take many forms and include:

·         chemicals

·         products containing chemicals

·         fumes

·         dusts

·         vapours

·         mists

·         nanotechnology

·         gases and asphyxiating gases and

·         Biological agents (germs). If the packaging has any of the hazard symbols then it is classed as a hazardous substance.

·         Germs that cause diseases^[1] such as leptospirosis or legionnaires disease and germs used in laboratories.

6.       What advice does COSHH give to protect yourself when working with hazardous materials?

COSHH Advice against hazardous materials include, explaining which materials can be harmful and why, what kind of damage the materials can inflict upon people and how people can become exposed to them and in what conditions. They also give suggestions on how to avoid and to get rid of a hazardous disease that could be caught from these materials.

7.       What are the aims of the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

The aims of the DSE regulations is to inform people about the dangers of the display screen on your computer and what type of injuries you can sustain if you use it incorrectly.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

8.       What problems are associated with display screen equipment?

Some workers may experience fatigue, eye strain, upper limb problems and backache from overuse or improper use of DSE. These problems can also be experienced from poorly designed workstations or work environments. The causes may not always be obvious and can be due to a combination of factors.

9.       What advice do they give to make working with display screen equipment more comfortable

They give different ways of preventing any injuries or problems, they include:

Getting comfortable

The following may help users:

·                     Forearms should be approximately horizontal and the user’s eyes should be the same height as the top of the screen.

·                     Make sure there is enough work space to accommodate all documents or other equipment. A document holder may help avoid awkward neck and eye movements.

·                     Arrange the desk and screen to avoid glare, or bright reflections. This is often easiest if the screen is not directly facing windows or bright lights.

Working with display screen equipment (DSE)

·                     Adjust curtains or blinds to prevent intrusive light.

·                     Make sure there is space under the desk to move legs.

·                     Avoid excess pressure from the edge of seats on the backs of legs and knees. A footrest may be helpful, particularly for smaller users.

Well-designed workstations

Keyboards and keying in (typing)

·                     A space in front of the keyboard can help you rest your hands and wrists when not keying.

·                     Try to keep wrists straight when keying.

·                     Good keyboard technique is important – you can do this by keeping a soft touch on the keys and not overstretching the fingers.

Using a mouse

·                     Position the mouse within easy reach, so it can be used with a straight wrist.

·                     Sit upright and close to the desk to reduce working with the mouse arm stretched.

·                     Move the keyboard out of the way if it is not being used.

·                     Support the forearm on the desk, and don’t grip the mouse too tightly.

·                     Rest fingers lightly on the buttons an