Workplace Safety

Psychological aspects Technical aspects

Social safety involving Operational safety involving
Organizational Environment Physical Environment

Nilesh J. Vasa
Department of Engineering Design
Email: njvasa@iitm.ac.in
Organization: Human being, Services,
Manufacturing, Equipment

Workplace Psychological
safety Goals safety
Performance

Organization
High Performance Team Needs Psychological
safety
Give and receive feedback Raise issues and concerns
Ask difficult question Ask for help
Creativity Collaboration
Via Embracing conflict Via Team work

Trust Confidence

Via freedom of expression Via overcoming failures

Ask for clarifications Disagree
Admit errors Offer solutions to problems
Avoiding Psychological Danger and related
vicious circle
Fear of admitting
mistakes

Adverse group
Blaming
dynamics affects Blamingothers
others
decision making
DANGER

No sharing of
information
Reversing Physical Danger

Honestly, admitting
mistakes

Effective decision Learningothers

from
Blaming
making High performance failures
team

Openly sharing of
ideas
 1. Framing the work
accurately
High
Psychological safety

Comfort zone Learning zone
2. Embrace messengers
3. Acknowledge limits
4. Invite participation
5. Set boundaries and hold
people accountable

Apathy zone Anxiety zone

Low

Low High

Accountability/Motivation to attain
Reference: Professor Amy Edmondson’s
demanding goals work at Harvard Business School.
 Four important points for the team leader
and members
• Admitting that you are wrong when there is a mistake committed
• Asking for the team’s feedback
• Responding positively to question and doubts
• Forgiving employee’s mistakes as there is something new to
learn

Question: Psychological safety at work when we are working remotely, virtually.

Workplace safety
Hazard management
• Recognize Hazards
• Assess Risks
• Minimize Risks
• Prepare for Emergencies
Chemical Hazard
Hazardous materials
harmful oxidizing corrosive

dangerous for toxic very toxic

environment
inflammable highly flammable extremely
flammable
reproduction- mutagenic explosive
endangering
irritating sensitizing
 Laboratory safety signs

First aid sign Safety shower Emergency Meeting Point AED or Defibrillator

Fire Extinguisher Do Not Touch Prohibition Food and Drink Prohibited Prohibition
 Current level Hazard
(A)
Electrical safety 0.001 -- <0.01 Threshold of sensation >> Mild
sensation
>0.01 Severe shock, muscular
contraction
0.02 to 0.075 Breathing becomes difficult
0.1 – 0.2 Ventricular fibrillation of the
heart occurs, uncoordinated
twitching, DEATH
> 0.2 above 200 mA, the muscular
contractions are so severe that
the heart is forcibly clamped
during the shock. This clamping
protects the heart from going
into ventricular fibrillation, and
the victim's chances for survival
The skin resistance may vary from 1000 ohms for wet skin to are good.
over 500,000 ohms for dry skin. But results in sever burns,
stopping of breathing (hence
artificial respiration is essential)
 Electrical Hazards and safety aspects
1. Do not remove a plug from an electrical outlet without switching it off.

2. Disconnect the power cord when the equipment is not in use.

3. Ensure that your hands are dry when handling electrical equipment.
Also, do not bring metallic objects such as rings, bracelets, etc., in
contact with the exposed wires.

4. Always wear shoes.

5. If you find any faults such as loose contact, damaged wiring, electrical
shocks, etc., report them to the technician immediately.

6. Always double check your circuit for proper connections and polarity
before you power it on.

7. Use the proper tools for performing the necessary task.

Fire Hazard

Fire extinguisher: Cooling (limiting heat), Smothering

(limiting O2), Starving (limiting the fuel), Stop chain
reaction (foam, blanket)
Class of Fire and Fire Extinguisher
 Laser Safety
LASER : Light Amplification by
Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Characteristics of lasers:
Monochromatic, Coherent, Directional and low divergence
Lasers are widely used light source :
Industrial (cutting, welding), Commercial (communication,
scanners, CDs), Medical (eye surgery, skin surgery),
Research

Lasers beam intensity is much higher than solar beam

Damage due to laser

Most concerned sensitive areas: EYES and SKIN
(Thermal, photochemical, acoustic effect)
 Hazards : to eyes and skin
UV Visible Near IR IR

Photokeratitis Retinal burns Corneal burns

Cataracts Cataracts

Erythema Vision
degradation

Thermal skin burns

Photokeratitis : Damage to outer corneal layer, similar to welder’s flash
Cataract : Loss of transperancy of the eye lens, resulting in partial or
total blindness
Erythema : Redness of skin
Main reasons : Thermal radiation (heat)
Photochemical reaction, Acoustic
UV : Ultraviolet, IR : Infrared
Human eye

Cornea Lens

Retina

Fovea

Optic nerve

Blind spot

Aqueous humor Iris

Vitreous humor
 100 W
with frosted Lens
glass Retina
Cornea
0.1 m 340 m
E=134 W/m2

5m 17 mm

Laser Spot size: 2 m

1 mW HeNe laser Assuming perfect
Gaussian beam
(diffraction limited)
E=300 MW/m2
If the irradiance entering the eye is 1 mW/cm2, then the irradiance at the retina will be
about 100 W/cm2.
Estimated flux of the Sun radiation at the sea level :1 kW/m2
The image of the sun on the retina has a power density of about 300 kW/m2
Laser safety classification
Basic rules: When accident occurs
• i) Keep calm and avoid panic reactions!
• ii) Remove injured persons from immediate danger. Thereby pay
attention to your own safety. Inform your Co-workers and possibly
guests and staff of external companies. Check the completeness of
the coworkers.
• iii) Inform following persons:
• Security officer No. 9999 / 8263
• Group leader or supervisor

Warn others Know the locations of :

Pull alarm 1. The nearest exit.
2. A secondary route of escape.
Get our 3. The location of fire extinguishers.
Call for Help 4. The location of fire alarm pull stations.
 अभियाांत्रिकी अभिकल्प वििाग, आई आई टी मद्रास, Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras

Typical आपातकालीि कॉल Emergency calls

example Head of the Department 4706 / 6706 9444444661
Laboratory Supervisor (NAME) Office / Resi. Telephone Mobile Telephone

Technical Staff In-charge (NAME) Office / Resi. Telephone Mobile Telephone

Electrical Maintenance/Mr.Manickavasagam 8189/8169 9444008137
Civil Maintenance 8188/8196 9444396151
AC Maintenance/Mr.Ravichandran 8170 9444008133
Water Supply 8190
Lift / Elevator 9444008133
Security, 24 hours Duty Room 9999
Chief Security Officer 8262 9444008105
Adyar IN/OUT Gate 8268/8269
Velachery Gate 8271
Institute Hospital 8331 9444008721
Institute Hospital Ambulance 8888

अग्निशामक दल / Fire: 112 / 101

पुललस / Police: 112 / 100 / Traffic police: 103
एम्ब्युलेन्स /Ambulance: 112 / 102 /108 / 28150700
Emergency call
• An EMERGENCY CALL must be made in accordance with the following
pattern:
• WHERE has the accident occurred location
• WHICH kind of accident occurred fire, corrosion, fall etc.
• HOW MANY injured people number
• WHICH violations type and part of body
• WAIT, until the call is finished by the emergency service.
• Perhaps it is necessary to answer another important questions.
• Switch off all the electrical appliances when it
is not in use
• Ensure before leaving the work spot that all
the switches are kept off
• Do not dump any combustible materials any
where in the office room.
• PLEASE REMEMBER: IT IS YOUR
ORGANIZATION/LABORATORY!!! HENCE
PLEASE KEEP IT CLEAN AND SAFE FOR
YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

Work Safe Be Safe

THANK YOU