1) Housekeeping:

a) Observation:

Effective housekeeping can help control or eliminate workplace hazards. Poor housekeeping
practices frequently contribute to incidents. There are several signs which reflect poor
housekeeping and cleanliness at the workplace. Some of these signs are:

- Cluttered and poorly arranged work areas.

- Untidy or dangerous storage of materials (such as materials stuffed in corners and
overcrowded shelves etc.).
- Dusty and dirty floors and work surfaces.
- Items lying on the floor which are in excess or no longer needed.
- Blocked or cluttered aisles and exits.
- Tools and equipment left in work areas instead of being returned to proper storage
places.
- Broken containers and damaged materials.
- Overflowing waste bins and containers.
- Spills and leaks.

b) Action:

Aware employees that effective housekeeping is an ongoing operation: it is not a one-time

or hit-and-miss cleanup done occasionally. Periodic "panic" cleanups are costly and
ineffective in reducing incidents.

Poor housekeeping can be a cause of incidents, such as:

 tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms

 being hit by falling objects.
 slipping on greasy, wet or dirty surfaces
 striking against projecting, poorly stacked items or misplaced material
 cutting, puncturing, or tearing the skin of hands or other parts of the body on
projecting nails, wire or steel strapping

Effective housekeeping results in:

 reduced handling to ease the flow of materials.

 fewer tripping and slipping incidents in clutter-free and spill-free work areas
 decreased fire hazards.
 lower worker exposures to hazardous products (e.g. dusts, vapors)
 better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies
 more efficient equipment cleanup and maintenance
 better hygienic conditions leading to improved health
  more effective use of space
 reduced property damage by improving preventive maintenance
 less janitorial work
 improved morale
 improved productivity (tools and materials will be easy to find)

2) Procedure not followed / inadequate (unknown) procedure (PTW):

a) Observation:

The Permit to Work (PTW) Process, a formal written process, is also a means of
communication between responsible persons, such as supervisors, operators, contractors,
and others involved in the planning and execution of work tasks. It is vitally important that
each individual knows his/her own responsibilities and duties and carries them out properly.

In ORPIC, there are five types of permits: Cold work permit, Confined Space Entry permit, hot
work contained permit, breaking containment work permit, hot work open flame permit.

The major observations related to PTW were either working without permit (PTW is not
available at the worksite), working with incorrect one or some sections / required
documents are not filled / attached.

b) Action:

In most cases, we make the workers aware that the issue of a permit does not, by itself,
make a job safe. It should be noted also that we have daily PTW field audit.

If the PTW is not available or its type is incorrect, the work should be held until providing the
correct permit type with all the documents required within timeframe and ensuring that the
PTW holder / supervisor are all available at the worksite.

In other cases, we observed that the TBT section was not filled in the PTW and we noticed
that the supervisor did not conduct it. Therefore, we stopped the work and aware the
supervisor that the TBT is important to build a strong safety culture.

3) Slip / Trip hazard:

a) Observation:

There are various factors that contribute to the risk of slips and trips. Slips usually occur
when there is a loss of grip between the shoe and the floor. This commonly occurs when
there is a contaminant between the shoe and the floor. Trips occur when a person’s foot hits
a low obstacle in the person’s path, causing a loss of balance. Often, the obstacle is not easily
visible or noticed.
There are varieties of situations that may cause slip / trip hazards:
- Wet or greasy floors.
- Dry floors with wood dust or powder.
 - Uneven walking surfaces.
- Transition from one floor type to another.
- Missing or uneven floor tiles, bricks, grating...
- Damaged or irregular steps; no handrails.
- Sloped walking surfaces.
- Shoes with wet, muddy, greasy or oily soles.
- Electrical cords or cables.
- Damaged ladder steps.
- Weather hazards: rain.

b) Action:

It is important to understand how slips and trips happen, how to identify hazards, and how
to eliminate or minimize these hazards. This demonstrates the importance of training and
educating employees about the hazards. It is very important that all workers and employers
be trained on recognizing hazards related to slips and trips in their workplace. A typical
example of a worker creating hazards through work habits is leaving a mess behind after
completing a task by not following workplace housekeeping standards after receiving
training to do so.
Selecting suitable walking surfaces is important also: the quality of walking surfaces is critical
in preventing slips and trips. Flooring should be regularly maintained to eliminate tripping
hazards. However, it is important to remember that improving the quality of the flooring
also requires good housekeeping practices to be effective. Good housekeeping is very
important when working to prevent falls due to slips and trips. Without having good
housekeeping practices, preventive measures (e.g., specialty footwear or floor surfaces) will
not be fully effective.
Another critical factor is wearing proper footwear to prevent slips and trips. When selecting
proper footwear, it is important that it be appropriate safe footwear for the work
environment (e.g., slip-resistant safety shoes or boots in an agricultural work environment,
factory or warehouse). Footwear that fits properly, increases comfort and helps to prevent
fatigue, which also improves safety for employees.
4) Improper tools / equipment:

a) Observation:

Almost every industry in the world uses some type of tools from hammers and screwdrivers
to Stihl saws and cutting discs. We use this equipment every day, without even considering
the associated hazards, but with thousands of minor and major accidents caused by
improper use and poorly maintained tools, it’s easy to see why these tools are one of the
biggest causes of workplace injuries.
The greatest hazards posed by hand tools result from misuse, use of the wrong tool for the
job, and improper maintenance. Some of the hazards associated with the use of hand tools
include but are not limited to the following:

 Using a screwdriver as a chisel may cause the tip of the screwdriver to break off and
fly, hitting the user or other employees.
 If a wooden handle on a tool such as a hammer or an axe is loose, splintered or
cracked, the head of the tool may fly off and strike the user or another worker.
 A wrench must not be used if its jaws are sprung, because it might slip.
 Impact tools such as chisels, wedges or drift pins are unsafe if they have
mushroomed heads which might shatter on impact, sending sharp fragments flying.

b) Action:

Workers who use hand and power tools and who are exposed to the hazards must be
provided with the appropriate personal equipment necessary to protect them from the
hazard. All hazards involved in the use of these tools can be prevented by workers following
five basic safety rules:

- Keep all tools in good condition with regular maintenance.

- Use the right tool for the job.
- Examine each tool for damage before use.
- Operate tools according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Select and use appropriate protective equipment.

Employees and employers have a responsibility to work together to maintain established

safe work practices.

5) Equipment failure:

a) Observation:

Equipment failure refers to any event in which any equipment cannot accomplish its
intended purpose or task. It may also mean that the equipment stopped working, is not
performing as desired, or is not meeting target expectations.

Examples of equipment failure include engine failure, power failure or fuel supply failure
(this happened in high-pressure air compressors).

In the other side, we have observed many employees working with improper or even
without PPE which can damage their health. One of the most significant forms of PPE failure
is employers not providing workers with proper PPE or not requiring them to wear it. For
example, working next to the high-pressure air compressor without wearing earplugs,
working without gloves…
 b) Action:

Equipment failure leads to loss of asset availability, deviation from standard procedure, not
meeting the quality and expected target quantity, loss of time, labor and money, and loss of
integrated system. Equipment failure can be prevented or reduced through proper
maintenance management, inspection, timely finding of problems, rectification of problems,
and repair.

Employees should be provided with the proper personal protective equipment (PPE),
equipment that workers wear to minimize exposures to hazards that can cause serious
injuries and illnesses in the workplace.