MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL

HEALTH & SAFETY PRESENTATION

CASTLEBLAYNEY TIDY TOWNS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS

Cathal Flynn BEng MIEI 24th MARCH 2004

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

‘I haven’t got time for Safety. I’ve a job to do’

‘Accident? I’ve never had an accident in my life’

‘Everyone takes the odd shortcut now and again’

‘But I’ve always done it this way’

Why do we need Health & Safety?

Reduce number of Accidents

Reduce Insurance Costs

Reduce Lost Time Accidents - Increases Productivity

Increased Morale in Workforce

It’s the LAW!

Primary Legislation

Safety, Health & Welfare (General Application) Regulations 1993

– Statute Law made under the Powers of an Act

– Detailed Rules Concerning Specifics eg. Electrical

– Also referred to S. I.’s Statutory Instruments

Secondary Legislation

Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 1989

– Passed by the Oireachtas

– General Rules Concerning Health & Safety

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work

Act 1989

General Principles of Safety Health and Welfare Applicable to all places of work

General Duties Imposed on Employers, Self-Employed, Employees, Builders etc..

Emphasis on the Management of Health & Safety including the Preparation of a Safety Statement.

Safety Statement to be based on an identification of hazards.

Established the Health & Safety Authority with new powers of Enforcement

Authorised the Authority to Establish Standards.

Employer Responsibilities

To protect the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees

– Ensure safe place of work

– Ensure safe plant and equipment

– Ensure the provision of safe systems of work

– Ensure the provision of information, training and supervision

– Ensure the provision of suitable PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

– Ensure the prevention of risk to health in connection with the use of any substance

– Ensure the provision of welfare facilities eg. first aid

– Ensure the notification of accidents

– Comply with legislation with respect to all regulations made under the act

Employee Responsibilities

Take reasonable care for his/ her own Safety, Health and Welfare and that of any other person who may be affected by his / her acts or omissions while at work

Co-operate with his / her employer

Use the PPE provided. (Personal Protective Equipment)

Report to his / her supervisor without unreasonable delay any defects in plant, equipment place of work or system of work, which might endanger Safety, Health and Welfare.

Report all accidents or near misses

Safety Statement Safety Management System in Writing

Health & Safety

Policy

Implementation

&

Operation

Planning

Reviewing

Performance

Auditing

Feedback loop to

Improve

performance

Control

link

Information

link

Measuring

Performance

Initial Review

Accidents & Incidents

An accident is an unplanned event that causes personal injury or damage to property, equipment, products or the environment.

An incident is an unplanned event that could have but did not cause injury or damage.

Pyramid of Accident Ratios

600

30

10

1

Near Misses

Damage Accidents

Minor Injuries

Serious Injury / Death

Managing Safety at Work Risk Management

A risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm or loss, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or do more.

RISK

The Likelihood of the Harm or Loss together with the Severity of the Harm or Loss.

RISK ASSESSMENT

STEP 1: Identify the hazards.

STEP 2: Assess the risk.

STEP 3: Action

ELIMINATE IT

FIND A SUBSTITUTE

CONTAIN IT

PROTECT YOURSELF

OR RUN…………!

Hierarchy

of Control (

Hazards Potential to cause harm

Physical eg. noise, temp, fire, manual handling

Chemical eg. acids, weedkillers, paints solvents

Biological eg. viruses, bacteria

Mechanical eg. moving parts

Psychosocial eg. poor supervision, stress, repetitive strain

Noise

Duration & Intensity

Must take Action at any level over 85dB

Watch Ticking 20dB

Conversation 60dB

Rock Concert 100dB

JackHammer 120dB

Tiny Hair Cells damaged depending on Intensity & Duration. No longer flexible. Particular hairs for certain frequencies. Brain unable to distinguish Signal.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

Tinnitus

Threshold Shift

Wear PPE – Ear Plugs - in ear canal

Ear Muffs - External

Warm Weather

Warm weather provides pleasant working conditions.

– Be aware of the hazards that await

– Dehydration (Dry Mouth) Loss of water and body salts.

– Heat Fatigue

– Sun Exposure (Burns) UV Rays contain enough energy to damage DNA in living skin and eye cells.

– Overexposure to sunlight causes premature aging of the skin, preparing the skin for episodes of skin cancer.

– 90% Skin cancers as a result of the sun

– Control measures:

Wear a hat and Sunglasses

Apply Sunscreen

Drink Water and Fluids

MELANOMA

32,000 U.S. Citizens will be told they have Melanoma this year

FIRE

The Fire Triangle

Extinguishment

– Starve (- Fuel)

– Smother (-Oxygen)

– Cooling (-Heat)

Make sure you use the right type of extinguisher on the fire

eg. Water on Electrical Fires

Pull the ring

Aim

Squeeze

Sweep

HEAT

OXYGEN

FUEL

Manual Handling

30 - 40 % of all workplace accidents are due to lifting and handling

Back pain affects 80% of the population of the Western World.

Back pain may vary from a mild twinge to a crippling injury.

Few people ever bother to consult a doctor

Manual Handling Cntd.

You can reduce the risk of accidents by:

– not lifting loads that are too heavy

– not bending forward for prolonged periods

– not twisting the trunk unduly

– not using sudden movements

– being aware of posture

Correct Manual Handling

STEP 1 Assess Task, Area & Load

STEP 2 Broad, stable base - feet flat

STEP 3 Bend the Knees

STEP 4 Back Straight

STEP 5 Firm Grip

STEP 6 Arms in line with Trunk

STEP 7 Weight close to centre of gravity

STEP 8 Turn feet in direction of movement

Chemical Hazards

Acids

Weedkillers

Paints

Detergents

etc..

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL

Refer to Material Safety Data

Sheet

Dangerous Substances

Dangerous substances can cause many different types of harm. Some cause cancer, others can affect the ability to reproduce or cause birth defects. Other substances may cause brain damage, harm to the nervous system, asthma and skin problems. The harm done by a dangerous substances can occur from a single short term exposure or by long term accumulation of substances in the body

Hazard Symbols

EXPLOSIVE

Criteria Symbol Precaution

This container

will explode if it

is heated or if a

hole is punched

in it. Metal or

plastic can fly

out and hurt your

eyes or other

parts of your

body

Avoid impact,

Knocks,

sparks,

friction, fire

and heat

HARMFUL

Criteria Symbol Precaution

Certain

substances in

contact with

human body

cause acute or

chronic damage

to health. There

is risk of

sensitisation by

inhalation.

All contact with

the human skin

must be

avoided.

FLAMMABLE

Criteria Symbol Precaution

Liquids with a

flash point

below 0oC and

a boiling point

of 35oC and

below are

Extremely

Flammable.

Liquids with a

flash point of

21oC or more

and below or

equal to 55oC

are Flammable.

Keep away

from naked

flames, sparks

and sources of

heat.

CORROSIVE

Criteria Symbol Precaution

Certain

substances

cause total

damage to

living tissues.

Take special

measures to

protect eyes,

skin and

clothes. Do not

inhale vapours.

Seek medical

advice, if

unwell.

IRRITANT

Criteria Symbol Precaution

Certain

substance which

are in prolonged

or repeatedly in

contact with the

skin may cause

inflammation.

All contact

with the

human skin

must be

avoided

POISIONOUS

Criteria Symbol Precaution

If you swallow or

lick this product,

you could

become very

sick or die. Some

products with

this on the label

can hurt you

even if you

breathe (or

inhale) them.

All contact

with human

body should

be avoided.

Seek medical

advice, if

unwell.

HAZARD SYMBOLS

Biological Hazards

Eg. Weil’s Disease

– Infection passed by contact with rats urine

– Passed on by Brown Rat

– Also known as Leptospirosis

– Symptoms similar to common cold

Precautions consist of routine personal hygiene. All workers should wear appropriate protective clothing and avoid exposing the skin, as infection can enter through abrasions. Even the smallest scratch should be washed and covered with antiseptic dressing.

Eating, drinking and smoking must not be allowed until the personnal hygiene rules have been observed.

Routes of Entry

Skin Contact - Adsorption by Skin

Direct Entry - Through Cuts & Abrasions

Swallowing

Breathing

Mechanical Hazards

1993 Regs

– Work Equipment must be suitable for the job and the environment

– Work Equipment must be maintained and safe

– Users must be given information, training etc..

– Access to moving parts must be prevented

Mechanical Hazards

– Traps (Rollers, Cogs) Drawing In

– Impact (Pushes)

– Contact (Blades, Saws)

– Entanglement (PTO’s, Rotary Bits, Drills)

– Ejection (Bits Flying Off)

– GUARDS MUST BE IN PLACE

SAFE WORK PRACTICES

EG1 Lawnmowers

EG 2 Weedkilling / Spraying Pesticidies

Lawnmowers

Wear steel capped and steel mid-sole safety boots

Check grass area for stones before mowing commences

Do not attempt to clear clogged mowers when engine is running

Learn how to stop engine quickly in an emergency

Do not mow whilst children are nearby

Disengage all blade and drive clutches before starting

Wear goggles, ear muffs and other protective clothing

Start the engine carefully with feet well away from blade

Stop the engine whenever you leave the mower

Stop the engine before pushing mower across gravel drives, walks or roads.

On slopes and wet grass be extra careful of your footing.

Never cut grass pulling a mower towards you.

Never pick up a mower when it is operating

Report all defects in equipment and do not use defective equipment.

Weedkillers / Insecticides Wear waterproof overalls to cover personal clothing with snug fit at

neck and wrists. Hood to protect head.

No gap between sleeves and gloves

Wear chemical proof gloves. Pesticide supplier to specify glove types.

Wear face shield to protect against splashes when opening containers or pouring concentrate

Wear rubber boots for knapsack spraying

Wash hands before eating. Change clothes before eating. Shower at the end of each day’s work.

Store chemicals away from eating areas.

Do not eat, drink or smoke during spraying work

Store material in its own container. Make sure it is labelled correctly.

All chemicals should be handled and stored in accordance with the Manufacturers instructions

If chemicals are swallowed, follow manufacturers procedures and seek medical attention.

Personal Protective Equipment

High Vis Clothing

Steel Capped Boots

Steel Mid-sole

Safety Wellingtons

Masks

Gloves

Goggles

Safety Helmets

etc...

Don’t forget your

FIRST AID KIT

Accident Statistics - 2002

61 Fatalities at Work 2002

– Construction 21

– Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 16

– Transport, Storage 8

Does not include RTA’s

– Manufacturing 7

– Other 9

Injury Statistics - 2002

Reported to H.S.A.

In Excess of 3 Working Days Absence from work as a result of injury.

– Manual Handling 32.2%

– Slips, Trips & Falls 19.4%

– Hand Tools 6.3%

– Fall from a height 5.3%

– Moving Machinery Parts 4.6%

MAKE

SAFETY

YOUR

GOAL

THANK YOU