Accident Prevention

Controls can be
defined as processes,
procedures, or
method
changes that correct
existing health
problems and
prevent or minimize
the risk of health
hazards in the
workplace.
The hazard controls in the hierarchy are, in order of decreasing
effectiveness:
Elimination
Substitution
Engineering
Administration
Personal protective equipment
 Eliminating the hazard means physically
removing it
 It is the most effective hazard control.
 For example,
◦ Asbestos ban
◦ Benzene ban
◦ Hazardous manual work replaced by automatic or
semi automatic process.
◦ Laser cutting instead of punching
 It is not necessary to apply in all workplaces.
 the second most effective hazard control, involves replacing
something that produces a hazard (similar to elimination) with
something that does not produce a hazard
 For example,
◦ replacing lead based paint with acrylic paint.
◦ Replacing poly woven bag with paper bag for cement.
◦ Spraying paint replace with brush paint

 To be an effective control, the new product must not

produce another hazard.
 It is the method of choice because of their ability to isolate or
eliminate health hazards.
 By eliminating health hazards at the point of origin, eliminates
the release of the contaminant into the workplace environment,
ultimately preventing (or greatly reducing) employee exposure.
 Examples of engineering controls include
◦ the use of ventilation systems to reduce the concentration of contaminants
or enclosing and shielding hot work areas.
◦ Effective exhaust ventilation removes the hazard ‘‘at the source,’’ before it
can reach the worker’s breathing zone.
◦ Enclosures place a barrier between the employee and the health hazard
point of origin.

In both examples, the employee is separated, and thus protected,

from the health hazard in the workplace environment.
 It are those health hazard control methods that are employee oriented or
process management oriented. In other words, they are the control
methods that the management of a facility has influence over through
manufacturing method or employee work assignment activities.
 Job rotation, moving employees from one workstation or task to another
at regularly assigned intervals, is one example of an administrative
control.
 For example, if noise is the workplace health hazard of concern, it may be
possible to rotate the employee to a less noisy area during portions of the shift.
 Other administrative control options include substituting less toxic materials in the
manufacturing and work processing, and establishing training programs that make
the employee aware of the existing health hazard.
 The use of citric acid–based solvents in place of a cancer causing
agent like carbon tetrachloride or the use of enamel-based paint in
place of lead-based paint would be an example of the administrative
control method
 It is the last category of health hazard control available to the safety
professional.
 It is considered the last line of defense because the barrier separating the
employee from the health hazard must be worn correctly and consistently.
 If the employee does not wear the PPE or it fails, they will be at greater
risk for illness or injury.
 It is an unfortunate fact that for many occupational safety and health
programs, PPE is the symbol of the safety program rather than a last
resort.
 The main reason why administrative controls and PPE are not considered
the preferred methods for protecting worker health is that the health
hazards still exist in the workplace and can present a risk.
 In many instances, both administrative controls and PPE can be
circumvented.
 Employees, for example, may use the wrong respirator for a particular
hazard. This mistake will result in the employee inhaling toxic vapors or
dusts, thus increasing their risk of occupational disease.
 Examples of prevention and control measures per
hierarchy levels
Prevention and control measures
Psychosocial
System Machine Equipment Substance Radiation
risks
Hierarchy levels
E.g.
E.g. windows in E.g. noise E.g. negative
E.g. guillotine E.g. ladder halogenated
buildings from punch stress
solvents
No cutting of Cleaning by
Windows open sheets Maintenance vibration,subs Beneficial
Laser cutting
inside, no needed due control box titution with social climate,
Avoid, eliminate hazards instead of
leaning out for to new put down to non optimal work
punching
cleaning product floor level. hazardous organisation
design substances
a) substitute
a) use specially a) less a) optimal
a) move-able with less a) new
coated glass cutting, new equipment
by: technical scaffold hazardous punching
Reduce, b) use moveable machine b) optimal
measures b) safety substances machine
minimise elevating b) guards, lay-out of
ladder b) encasing, b) encasing
hazards platform encasings rooms
exhaust
AND
a) only a) only a) only
separate a) only
a) only qualified qualified qualified qualified a)
hazards qualified
specialists specialists specialists specialists participation
from specialists
organisational allowed to do allowed to allowed to allowed to in work
persons allowed to
measures the work operate use use organisation
(workers, work in area
b) health machine equipment substances b) health
visitors, b) health
monitoring b) health b) health b) health monitoring
etc.) monitoring
monitoring monitoring monitoring
personal Gloves, Shoes, Anti-stress
Harness Mask Ear protection
measures goggles harness training
Improve safe E.g. peer observation; preconditions: example-setting by managers and
behaviour supervisors, no-blame culture, feed-back.
 Legal
Reactive
Scientific

Management
Proactive
Operation
process
 Provisions included in legislation (As per
Labour Act – 2074 & Labour Regulation-2075)

 What is not specified is not regulated

 Secure minimum requirements of OSH

 Can also be instrumental in promoting

proactive approaches
 Scientific approach is always reactive, as problem
needs to be there for scientific study

 Control of occupational hazards through scientific

approach is costly

 Scientific knowledge and facilities required

 Good for cure and TLV

Proactive and Systematic approach to achieve
management goals
Continual
Initial status
 Developing OSH Policy improvements
review

 PDCA cycle approach OHS Policy

Management
 OSH management system review
Planning

(ISO 45001:2018) Checking and Implementation

corrective action and operation
Materials Desired
Output
Auxiliary (income)
materials Operation
Process Damage to
Unwanted Environment
Energy Waste
(cost) Public Health
Human
resources
Unwanted Workers Health
Risk & Hazard
(cost)
Accidents
 Requires the creation and maintenance of a safe
working environment, and the promotion of safe
behaviour.
 Originally a reactive process - waiting for accidents
or ill health to happen and then devising and
implementing a prevention control.
 Accident

Investigate accident – process and outcome

steered by the pre-conceptions of the
investigators about accident causation.

Attribute primary cause to Attribute primary cause to

shortcomings in the behaviour of the shortcomings in the physical working
injured person (unsafe acts) environment (unsafe conditions)

Devise a RULE forbidding the Devise a TECHNICAL solution (e.g.

behaviour identified to prevent a re- guards, PPE) to make the conditions
occurrence of the unsafe act. safe to protect people from the
hazard.
 Unsafe Acts
 Operating equipment at
improper speeds
 Operating equipment with
authority
 Using equipment improperly
 Using defective equipment
 Failure to wear PPE
 Taking and improper working
position
 Servicing equipment in motion
 Defeating safety devices
Unsafe Conditions
 Inadequate guards
 Defective tools or equipment
 Congestion of working area
 Poor housekeeping
 Excessive noise
 High Heat
 Poor illumination
 Poor ventilation
 Most common form of control measure
 In some cases the only practical way of managing a particular
risk.
 Should allow for methodical execution of tasks.

 Should address the hazards that have been identified in the

risk assessment.
 Requirement of law : it is ‘the duty of the Project manager to
ensure that rules and procedures are in place for reasons of
health and safety’.
 Eliminates identified hazards and controls
others.
 Plans to achieve the controlled completion of
the work with minimum risk.
 Fundamental to accident prevention.
 Should fully document the hazards, precautions
and safe working methods.
1. Safe design.
2. Safe installation.
3. Safe premises and plant.
4. Safe tools and equipment.
5. Correct use of plant, tools and equipment. Framework for
6. Effective planned maintenance of plant and equipment.
7. Proper working environment ensuring adequate lighting, heating and ventilation.
Safe System of
8. Trained and competent employees. Work
9. Adequate and competent supervision.
10. Enforcement of safety policy and rules.
11. Additional protection for vulnerable employees.
12. Formalised issue and proper utilisation of all necessary clothing.
13. Continued emphasis on adherence to the agreed safe method of work.
14. Regular annual reviews of all systems of work to ensure:-
 Compliance with current legislation.
 Systems are still workable in practice.
 Plant modifications are accounted for.
 Substituted materials are allowed for.
 New work methods are incorporated into the system.
 Advances in technology are exploited.
 Proper precautions in light of any accidents are taken.
 Continued involvement in and awareness of the importance of written safe systems of
work.

15. Regular feedback to all concerned.

 Concerned with the reliability of machines
or equipment.

 Formal ‘safe system of work’

 Not generally used for low risk operations.
 Permit to Work Systems are required by Regulation
The essential elements of a PTW scheme
are:
 Full explanation of the hazards involved to the workforce.
 The work to be carried out is properly detailed and
understood by both sides.
 The area in which the work to be carried out is properly
detailed and understood by both sides.
 The area is which the work is to be carried out is clearly
identified and made safe, or the hazards are highlighted.
 The workmen must sign the permit to say that they fully
understand the work that is to be carried out, and the
hazards and potential risks to be faced.
 When the work is finished, the workmen must sign off the
permit to say that they have completed the specified work
and left the operation in a suitable state.
Training helps people acquire the skills,
knowledge and attitudes to make them
competent in the health and safety aspects of
their work.

There are generally two types of safety training:-

 Specific safety training (or on the job training) for tasks of

a specific nature.
 Planned training, such as general safety training,
induction training, management training, skill training or
refresher courses, that are planned by the organisation.
Personnel protective equipment (PPE) may be
broadly divided as follows:
◦ Hearing protection.
◦ Respiratory protection.
◦ Eye and face protection.
◦ Protective clothing.
◦ Hand and Foot Protection

PPE does nothing to stop the hazard at source,

but simply provides protection to reduce the
severity of the potential accident.
It is only an effective control if worn and so
any organisation which provides for the
issue of PPE should:

◦ Carry adequate stock.

◦ Enable accessibility at appropriate times.
◦ Respond to changing demands.
◦ Have a system for exchanging equipment.
◦ Be managed to ensure its effective running.
 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
WHERE Eye
NEEDED Where machines or
operations present a
danger from flung objects,,
hazardous liquids, or
injurious radiation.
TYPES OF Goggles, full face shields,
PROTECTION safety glasses, side-
shields, welders’ lenses
(should meet standards).
FITTING Comfortable fit (not
REQUIREMENT interfere with movement).
SUGGESTED Date issued, reissued,
RECORDS type issued, instructions
given
EXAMINATIONS Visual acuity, depth
NEEDED perception.
Head
Where there is danger
from impact and
penetration from falling or
flying objects or from
limited electric shock.
Safety hats full brim,
brimless, limited voltage
protection, no voltage
protection, (should meet
standards).
Comfortable, proper fit.
Date issued, type issued,
instructions given (need to
wear, maintenance,
disciplinary action).
Foot/Toe
In areas where there is a
potential for foot or toe
injuries.
Impact and compression
resistance, metatarsal
protection, puncture
resistance, electrical
hazard resistance,
conductive
Proper fit.
Date issued, amount
reimbursed, instructions
given (need to wear,
maintenance, disciplinary
action).
 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS (2)

WHERE Hand Hearing Respiratory

NEEDED Danger of cuts, or from Noise exposure that equals In areas that present a
handling corrosives, solvents, or exceeds 85 dBA in an 8- limited breathable
or other chemicals. hour time-weighted period. environment

TYPES OF Cotton/leather gloves; Full muffs, disposable Air-purifying respirators,

PROTECTION gauntlets; heat-resistant
gloves; barrier creams; chain
mail gloves; haly-gloves;
rubber gloves. (Should meet
standards).
plugs, Swedish wool, non-
disposable plugs. (Should
meet standards).
chemical cartridge
respirators, air-supplied
respirators, combination
respirators, self contained
breathing devices. (Should
meet standards).

FITTING Proper fit. Proper fit, correct type for Significant fitting
REQUIREMENTS noise exposure. requirements.

SUGGESTED Date issued, reissued, type Audiometric exam, date Date issued, reissued, type
RECORDS issued, instructions given, issued, instructions given issued, instructions given
(need to wear, maintenance, (need to wear, effects of (respiratory hazards
conservation, disciplinary noise, cleaning, present; functions; fit
action.) conservation, fitting, testing; proper utilisation,
disciplinary action.) cleaning and maintenance;
conservation, disciplinary
action).
EXAMINATIONS Audiometric Pulmonary function.
NEEDED (baseline and annual).
A. Fall Hazards
1. Building Structures
2. Exterior Construction Areas
3. Scaffolds
4. Stairs
5. Ladders
B. Accident Prevention
1. Guardrail Systems
2. Warning Lines
3. Personal Fall Arrest Systems
4. Floor Covers
 Fall
hazards can be
found on every
construction site:
• Building structures
• Exterior construction
areas
• Scaffolds
• Stairs
• Ladders
 Work conditions 6’ or more
above lower level require the
use of fall protection:
• Unprotected sides,
edges
• Leading edges
• Excavations
• Walking/working
surfaces
 Regardless of height, fall
protection must be used
when working above:
• Dangerous equipment
• Sharp objects
• Piercing objects
 Thisworker is
working 6’ above
the lower level
without using fall
protection.
 When working at a
height of 6’ above
the lower level you
must use fall
protection:
• Personal fall arrest
systems
• Guardrail systems
 When working at a
height of 6’ above
the lower level you
must use fall
protection.

 These workers are

not utilizing a
personal fall arrest
system.
 Guardrail
systems must
be maintained
when working
6’ above lower
level, or when
working above
dangerous
equipment and
sharp objects.
 Damaged or
missing guardrails
must be fixed
immediately.
 When materials can
be kicked off or
pushed out and fall
on any worker
below, toe boards,
screens and/or
netting must be
used.
 Falls
from a short
distance can result
in serious injury.
 Allworkers must be
protected from
falling onto sharp
materials or onto
dangerous
equipment.
 All
open
excavations and
pier holes must be
guarded or
protected.
 Scaffoldsare
elevated, temporary
work platforms:
• Supported scaffold
• Guardrail Systems
• Access ladders
• Powered work
platforms
• The role of the
competent person
during erection
 Scaffoldsare
elevated, temporary
work platforms:
• Supported scaffold
• Guardrail Systems
• Access ladders
• Powered work
platforms
• The role of the
competent person
during erection
 Scaffold bases
must rest on a
base plate and a
mud sill.

 The base plate

is designed to
level and
support the
scaffold.
 Onlywork from
scaffolds that
are properly
constructed
and supported.
 Scaffolds used in
stair wells must be
properly
constructed.
 When working
on scaffolds 6’
above lower
level, guardrail
systems must
be installed.
 Never use
scaffolds that do
not have a
proper guardrail
system installed.
 Scaffold
platforms
must be fully and
properly planked.
 Never stack blocks,
bricks, or use
ladders on top of
scaffolds for extra
height.
 Workers must
have a safe way
to access the
scaffold.
 Never use blocks,
bricks, walk
boards, and other
unsafe methods to
access a scaffold.
 Scaffolds
 Useonly ladders
designed for use
with scaffolds.

 The ladder must be

firmly secured to
the scaffold.
 Powered platforms
include:
• man-baskets placed
on a forklift,
• aerial lifts, and
• scissor lifts.
 Always make sure
you have proper fall
protection and
training before
using a powered
platform.
 Onlyuse equipment that is designed for lifting
personnel and suitable for the assigned task.
 Stairwaysmust
have a stair rail
along each
unprotected side or
edge.
 Stairsthat have
walls on both
sides must have
at least one hand
rail on the right-
hand side when
climbing down.
 Never use
stairs that
are not
complete or
unsafe.
 Laddersmust be
inspected prior to
use.

 Ladders must be
kept in a good
condition and
safe location.
 Donot stand on the
top of a ladder.
 Read labels on
ladders for
instructions to
ensure proper
use.
 Always maintain
good footing on a
step ladder.

 Usethe correct size

ladder for the work
that is to be done.
 Always
use the right
equipment for the
job:

• Ladders
• Lifts
• Scaffolds
 Neverstraddle or sit on top of a step
ladder.
 An A-Frame ladder
must be fully
opened and locked
into position.

 Use ladders only

for their designed
purpose.
 Onlyuse ladders
on stable and level
surfaces to prevent
accidental
movement.
 Laddersmust be
positioned at a
safe angle to
avoid potential fall
hazards when
climbing.

 Extension ladders
must extend 3’
over the landing
for safe access.
 When using a
portable ladder for
access to an upper
landing surface, the
side rails must
extend at least 3’
above the upper
landing surface.
 Properuse vs.
improper
application
 Maintain contact
with the ladder
using both hands to
keep a safe grip.

 Faceladder when
going up or down.

 Never climb a
ladder while
carrying any
materials.
 Job
made ladders
must be properly
constructed:
• Steps equally spaced
• No missing steps or
rungs
• No sharp edges or
nails sticking out
 Never use a job
made ladder that is
damaged or missing
steps.

 Onlyuse a job made

ladder that has been
properly built.
 Jobmade ladders
must also be
constructed so that
no nails protrude or
sharp edges exist.

 Nails and sharp

edges can catch on
clothing and cause
falls.
A willing, positive
attitude towards safety
will help make a safer
work environment.
 Construction work
performed at 6’ or
higher above a lower
level requires fall
protection.
 Somefall protection
methods include:
• Guardrail systems
• Warning lines
• Fall arrest systems and
• Floor covers
 Guardrail
systems must
have a top rail, a
mid rail and a
toe board.
 Thetop rail must
be at least 42”
from the working
surface.
 All guardrail systems
must be constructed
with a top rail and a
mid rail.
 The top rail must
support 500 kg of
force downward and
outward.
 The mid rail must
support 350 kg of
force.
 Cable
guardrails
must meet the
same rules as
wood guardrails.

 The top rail must

be at least 42
inches high and
resist up to 500
kg
 Steelcable
guardrails
must have
the top rail
flagged every
6 feet.
 The
clamps used for a steel cable system
must be placed correctly.
Dead end
U-bolt

Saddle

Dead end
 Warning lines
are used to
keep workers
away from an
unsafe edge.

 The warning
line must be at
least 6’ away
from the edge.
 Warning lines
must withstand
16 lbs. of tipping
force.

 Thewarning line
must be at least
34” from the
ground.
 Warning lines
must be
maintained.
 Report any
unsafe
condition to
your
supervisor.
 Never work in an
area if the
warning line has
been knocked
down or
damaged.
 The fall arrest
system
components
are:
• body harness,
• lanyard, and
• anchorage point.
 Bodyharness must
be worn properly. Chest
strap

 D-ring must rest

between the
shoulders and the
chest strap must be
secured. D-ring
 Bodyharness
must be:
• inspected before
use,
• adjusted to fit the
worker, and
• free from other
visible damage.
 Lanyardsmust be in good condition and
free from visible damage.
 Lanyardmust
attach to the
D-ring on the
body harness.
Never anchor or tie
off to pipes, wood
structures, electrical
wires, or other areas
not designed for
anchorage points.
The anchorage
point is the place
where you tie off
to or hook to.
The anchorage
point must support
the force of a
person falling.
A life line is
used to allow a
worker to stay
tied off while he
moves through
the work area.
 Workersmust
always be
tied off
when working
with a
personal fall
arrest
system.
 The cover must
be marked to
make sure
everyone knows
it is a safety
device.
 Thecover
must be
marked to
make sure
everyone
knows it is a
safety device.
 All
floor holes
where an
employee
could fall
through must
be covered or
guarded.
 Sky-lightsare
another form of
floor holes.
 Never sit, stand,
or place any
materials on sky-
lights.
 Pier holes must be
guarded or
protected.
 Either a guard rail
system or floor hole
cover can be used.
“THE END”