SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE

Definitions

Health
The word health refers to a state of complete emotional and physical well-being.

Safety
Safety is a concept that includes all measures and practices taken to preserve the life, health, and bodily
integrity of individuals.
In the workplace, safety is measured through a series of metrics that track the rate of near misses, injuries,
illnesses, and fatalities. In order to improve these metrics, employers and safety officials must also conduct
investigations following any incident to ensure that all safety protocols and measures are being followed or
to implement new ones if needed.
Ensuring the safety of workers is both necessary and beneficial for any organization.

Welfare
The meaning of welfare is the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-
being, or prosperity.
Welfare: Statutory procedure or social effort designed to promote the basic physical and material well-being
of people in need.

This ensure that workers are well cared for, it’s both a collective responsible of both the employer and
employees

Proper building at workplace to protest against weather, they should be of sound construction and kept in
good state of repair.

Workplace should be kept clean by removal of accumulated dirt and refuse.

Proper housekeeping

Workplaces should have suitable working temperature buildings with proper ventilation and air movement.

Employers should be able to reduce overcrowding at Workplace.

Suitable lighting and illumination should be maintained at workplaces

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Provisions for adequate sanitary conveniences for each sex and must be maintained and kept clean

Provision of adequate wholesome drinking water at suitable points at the workplaces

Provision of adequate washing facilities, cloakrooms

Facilitations for meals e.g. eating places chairs and tables

Provision of First Aid, First Aid rooms at workplaces

What is Employee Welfare?

Employee welfare is a term that encompasses a broad range of benefits and services that an employer may
offer to its employees. It can include things like health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and
paid time off among others. Employee welfare can also include things like on-site daycare, fitness centers,
and subsidized meals.

What are the benefits of Employee Welfare?

There are many benefits to employee welfare, including:

1. Improved employee morale and productivity - When employees feel appreciated and have their
basic needs met, they are more likely to be productive and happy at work.
2. Reduced staff turnover - Happy employees are less likely to leave their jobs, which can lead to
reduced staff turnover and increased stability within the company.
3. Enhanced company image - A company that takes care of its employees is often seen as more
compassionate and caring, which can improve its image in the eyes of the public.
4. Cost savings - Investing in employee welfare can actually save the company money in the long run,
through decreased staff turnover and increased productivity.
5.

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How do you build an Employee Welfare system?

There is no single blueprint for how to build an Employee Welfare system, as the best approach will vary
depending on the specific needs and culture of your organization. However, some key steps for creating a
successful Employee Welfare system include:

1. Define your goals and objectives. What do you hope to achieve with your Employee Welfare
system? Are you looking to improve employee morale, increase productivity, or reduce staff
turnover? Define your goals and objectives upfront, and make sure they are measurable so you can
track your progress over time.
2. Establish a committee or task force to design and implement the system. This committee should
include representatives from all levels of the organization, as well as outside experts if necessary.
3. Create a policy framework. The policy framework should include guidelines for eligibility,
benefits, and administration.
4. Develop a communications strategy. The Employee Welfare system should be communicated to all
employees, and the committee should be available to answer any questions or concerns.
5. Implement the system and track progress. Once the system is in place, it is important to track
progress and make necessary adjustments to ensure that it is meeting the goals and objectives set
out initially.

Assignment

Explain how the following affect employee safety; discrimination (sex, tribe, disability), working
hours, drug abuse, employee conflict (work violence and aggression)

What is ergonomics? Why is ergonomics important?

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Occupational Health and Safety

Are means of controlling aspects of work that involve any degree of risk or danger that may cause injury or
harm, it’s a process that eliminates such elements to ensure employee safety & health. Occupational health
and safety encompass the social, mental and physical well-being of workers that is the “whole person

Why health and safety in Industry important?

Work plays a central role in people's lives, since most workers spend at least eight hours a day in the
workplace, whether it is on a plantation, in an office, factory, etc.

To organization

 Improved staff moral

 Improve productivity
 Save money in terms of healthcare / insurance cost and disruption
 Improves Product quality
 Reduced absenteeism
 Help employee become more efficient;
 Improve your business profile with customers, clients, insurers, enforcers etc.
 Reduces staff turnover
 Reduced fines and litigations

To employee

 A safe and healthy work environment

 Enhanced self-esteem
 Reduced stress
 Improved moral
 Improved job satisfaction
 Improved health
 improved sense of well-being
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  Prevents death and injury
 Loyalty of employees’ workers feel safe

Results of an unsafe and unhealthy workplace

There are lots of results of an unsafe and unhealthy workplace. The important results are

• Injury and Disease: For example, every year a lot of employees have back pain, fractures, cuts that
reduce their job performance. And millions of Ugandan Shilling is spent each year to treat work place
injury.

• Mental Health: Mental health is just as important as physical health. Depressive disorders, stress
fatigue represent one of the most common health problems of adult workforce.

• Death: Sometimes, workplace injuries result in death. The most common workplace deaths are
transportation accidents and contact with objects and equipment.

• Economic Costs: The economic cost to businesses of workplace deaths and injuries remains high.

• Closure of Industry

• Loss of reputation

Below are the most common causes of injury and illness in industry:

 Falls from height;

 Unguarded machinery;
 Falling objects;
 Working in confined spaces;
 Moving machinery, on-site transport, forklifts and cranes;
 Exposure to controlled and uncontrolled energy sources;
 Inhalable agents (gases, vapors, dusts and fumes);
 Skin contact with chemicals (irritants (acids, alkalis), solvents and sensitizers);
 Contact with hot metal;
 Fire and explosion;

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  Extreme temperatures;
 Radiation (non-ionizing, ionizing);
 Noise and vibration;
 Electrical burns and electric shock;
 Manual handling and repetitive work;
 Failures due to automation;
 Inadequate accident prevention and inspection;
 Inadequate emergency first-aid and rescue facilities;
 Lack of medical facilities and social protection.
Hazards

Hazard is an unsafe condition or activity that if left uncontrolled can contribute to an accident.

A health hazard can affect the entire body or many organs, or affect only specific tissues, organs, or parts of
the body.

Examples of health conditions and illnesses from exposure to chemical hazards: Headaches, Confusion,
Loss of consciousness, Dermatitis, Lung irritation, Cancer, Liver damage, Sterility.

Types of Hazards

1. Physical
2. Chemical
3. Biological
4. Ergonomics
5. Safety

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

Noise; Exposure to noise levels or duration of exposure exceeding those set by the competent authorities
may result in noise-induced hearing loss. Exposure to high noise levels may also interfere with
communication and may result in nervous fatigue with an increased risk of occupational injury.

Workers who may be exposed to noise levels exceeding occupational standards should receive regular
audiometric testing.

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Cautions

Employees should have effective use of hearing-protection devices

Proper signage showing areas of high noise levels.

Vibration; this can be classified into two

(1) Whole-body vibration, when the body is supported on a surface that is vibrating, which occurs in all
forms of transport and when working near vibrating industrial machinery; or

(2) Hand-transmitted vibration, which enters the body through the hands and is caused by various processes
in which vibrating tools or work pieces are grasped or pushed by the hands or fingers.

Cautions

Identification of vibrating machines needed, workers must be informed about the vibrating machine,
modification using suitable damping techniques, regular maintenance of machines, job rotation to give
regular rest periods.

Heat and cold stress; these are unusually high or low temperatures, high humidity, unusually high wind
speeds of >5m/s. High temperature make the wearing of PPE uncomfortable. And heavy clothing in cold
temperatures make mobility difficult.

Cautions

Workers need to acclimatize, incorporate and increase rest periods, encourage physical fitness, encourage
sufficient drink of fluids and dietary intakes like salts and electrolytes. Appropriate designed weather
sensitive PPE

Radiation is produced when atoms break up. The energy released in this process takes a number of forms
which have typical wavelength and frequency, energy and penetrating power. Alpha, beta and gamma
radiation have sufficient energy to alter other atoms and are termed ionizing radiation. damage caused by
radiation may be permanent, and that there is a significant increase in the incidence of cancer and some types
of malignancies, as a consequence of even low doses of radiation
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CHEMICAL HAZARDS

A chemical substance is a compound or mixture which may be present in the workplace in the form of a
liquid, solid (including particles) or gas (vapour). These substances may present a hazard as the result of
contact with the body or absorption into the body. Absorption can occur through the skin, by ingestion or by
inhalation.

Caution

Proper storage of chemicals by:

(i) Storing separately chemicals which react with one another;

(ii) Minimizing volumes of stored chemicals;
(iii) Providing for containment of spills; and
(iv) Ventilating storage areas;
Where hazardous chemicals are used, handled or stored, measures are in place to minimize workers’
exposure (e.g. ventilated fume hoods, remote handling);

Where necessary, appropriate PPE is provided and workers are trained in its correct use, and it is used
properly;

Emergency showers and eyewash stations are available where hazardous chemicals are used and/or stored;

Proper Labels should have; signal word or symbol; identification information, including the manufacturer,
product and ingredients, risks and safety phrases, first-aid and disposal procedures; and date of issue

BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

Exposure to Germs, bacteria and viruses that may occur during factory/ office works like demolition works,
renovation, cleaning, sewer works, air systems, Air conditioning systems or contact with contaminated or
disease currying surfaces. E.g. soil, waste water, remains, insects (mosquitos, ticks), bird/bats droppings,
animals etc.

Caution

Personal hygiene and good housekeeping

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What is Workplace Safety?

Workplace safety is a composite field related to safety, health and welfare of people at work. It narrates
the strategy and methods in place to ensure health and safety of employees within a workplace.

Workplace safety includes employee awareness related to the knowledge of basic safety, workplace
hazards, and risks relating to hazards, implementation of hazard preventions, and putting into practice
necessary safer methods, techniques, process, and safety culture in the workplace.

It also includes safety rules and regulations designed mostly on the basis of existing government policies.
Every organization puts in place a number of safety rules and regulations for its people. Safety training and
education for employees is imparted periodically with a view to making them aware about and updating
them with latest safety measures

Workplace safety is about putting a stop to injury and sickness to employees in the workplace. Therefore,
it is about safeguarding assets and health and life of the employees. It also features in cutting down the cost
of lost-work hours, time spent in putting short-term help and the schedule and services that may fall off due
to less of service providers, pressure on those providers who are selecting the absent employees portion or
poor case, having to shut out or shut down a program due to lack of providers.

Need for Workplace Safety

Before analyzing various aspects of workplace safety, it is pertinent to know the reasons for ensuring
safety in life. We attach top priority to safety and security in places we live, stay, visit or work in.

• To Say no to Accidents − Accidents are fallouts of recklessness and lack of responsibility. When we
don’t follow required safety norms we end up in getting injured or even in ending our valuable lives. It is
true with regard to our home and workplace alike.

• To Stay Healthy and Energetic − we should have a healthy food habit, which is itself a safety measure,
to keep us healthy and lively for work at home and in workplaces.

• To have Longevity in Life − we should take care of ourselves everywhere we are and of others for
leading a safe and meaningful life.

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• To create Public Awareness − Promotion of safety norms everywhere creates public awareness and
discipline. It is true of workplaces and motivates new employees to take up safety measures necessary for
their safety.

• To avoid loss of Property and Life − The basic aim of safety measures is to prevent the occurrences of
mishaps and hazards that sometimes cause heavy loss of life and property.

• To Devise Planning for Safety − Need for safety paves the way for devising an effective planning for
all-round safety of employees in an organization.

Basic Objectives of Workplace Safety

The basic objectives of workplace safety are as follows −

• Preservation of and assistance for employees’ or workers’ health and well-being

• Enhancing workability of employees by ensuring a safe and congenial work environment

 Growth of the organization that remains free from prospective hazards and mishaps
• Encouraging a favorable social climate in the organization that motivates the employees to work
efficiently towards organizational progress and prosperity

• Secure the health and safety of workers and workplace by eliminating or minimizing risks

• Achieve higher productivity among the employees by providing a safe and secure environment

• Focus on employees’ safety and health arising from chemicals and hazardous elements used at
workplaces.

Workplace Safety - Importance

Maximum employees spend at least eight hours a day in the workplace. Therefore, the workplace domain
should be safe and healthy. Everyday employees all over the universe are experiencing a lot of health
problems emerging from various sources such as −

• Dust

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• Gases

• Noise

• Vibrations

• Excessive Temperatures

Workplace safety and health surrounds the social, mental and physical well-being of employees in all
professions. Imperfect and unhygienic working situations have the possibility to upset an employee’s health
and safety. Harmful and risky working conditions can be found anywhere, whether the workplace is in a
building or in a house or in other country.
Regrettably some employers don’t have a bit of common sense for the prevention of risks and hazards to
employees’ health and safety. In fact, some employers are not even aware of the fact that they have the legal
responsibility to safeguard the employees from work-related hazards and risks. As a result of this problem,
and a shortage of knowledge and attention given to health and safety, work-related mishaps are usual in all
parts of the world.
Work-related hazards and illnesses are usual in almost all the parts of the world and often have many
personal and secondary negative results for employees and their families. A single hazards and sickness
can mean extensive financial loss to both the employees and the employers.

Successful workplace safety and health programmers can assist to protect the lives of employees by
lessening risks and their results. Productive programmers can also have constructive influence on both
employees’ self-confidence and production, and can save employers a great deal of penny.

In carrying out this promise safety scopes are as follows.

 Expand and execute successful policies, strategy and programs which give a safe and healthy work
location and encourage the health and safety and well-being of their staff and that of their clients
and the public.
 Permission to use professional health and safety policies and programs and strategies on a daily
basis.
 Take every safety measure to make sure that their work does not cause a danger or an injury or
sickness or environmental trouble to the employees and the customers or the general public.
 Observe and obey all Health, safety and environmental laws and regulations.

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  Educate of the newly recruited employees of their health, safety and environmental responsibilities
and the accidents and dangers related to work and about the safety exercises in the workplace they
execute.
Safety scopes contemplate health, safety and environmental safeguards of initial importance and
acknowledge the rights of every employee to work in a safe and healthy work location.

Workplace Safety - Planning

Every employer needs to concentrate on the employees’ health and also the safety and security in the
surrounding they are a part of. The surroundings could be home, workplace or anything where they live.
These surroundings need to be clean, hygienic, safe and secured for employees to live their life happily. As
we live in our home, we definitely take care of our surroundings, but what about the work place? This is a
big question, which everyone should think about.

Most of our peak time is spent in office or at work than the time we stay at home.

Hence, being safe and healthy at the workplace is very important. So, workplace safety is one of the very
important aspects of any organization. Being an employer, the organization should provide a safe
workplace for any employee keeping in mind the health and security of the employee.

What is Workplace Safety Planning?

Safety planning is a set of preparatory approaches and policies to meet safety and health challenges and
needs. Generating a safety plan includes picking out actions to enhance the safety and health of employees,
especially, of those who work in hazardous and risky places and are expected to fall victim to dangers.

As an employer, it is your accountability to handle a safe and healthy workplace. A safety and health
management system, or safety program, can assist you to redirect your efforts to upgrade your work
environment. Whatever you call it, your plan narrates what the people in your organization do to prevent
injuries and illnesses at your workplace.

Your organization will have its own distinctive system, indicating your way of doing business, the risks of
your work, and how you handle the safety and health of your employees –

 If you manage a small business in a low-risk industry, your system may generally involve listening

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 to your employees' concerns and responding to them. Put in place necessary safety measures and
ensure a healthy place for the workers or employees to work in.
 The larger the organization the greater the risks for safety and health issues. A large business in a
dangerous industry may have notepads full of written policies and methods and a full-time safety
director.

What's most important is that your system works for your organization. It's up to you to decide how best you
can do to run a safe and healthy workplace, and to put your plan into practice.
Workplace Safety and Health Legislations
Occupational health and safety legislation manages the quality of workplace hygiene and safety with the
objectives to stop workplace accidents, injuries and diseases, and make laws against violation of those
standards. It features responsibilities of employers, supervisors, and employees.
Normally, the legislation needs that the employers do everything they can fairly do to safeguard the health
and safety of their employees in the workplace.
This includes, but is not restricted to: providing suitable training for picking up possibly dangerous
equipment and/or material, informing employees of possible dangers in the workplace, and setting up safe
work exercises.
A health and safety committee is an assembly for upgrading workplace health and safety. A committee
consisting of both employee and management representatives is needed to look after the safety and health
factors in the organization.
Generally, the role of the committee is to recognize and help in stopping or preventing any untoward
incidence and hazards form occurring in the workplace, endorsing solutions to any issues, and encouraging
and maintaining health and safety in the workplace.
Health and safety are important issues in all workplaces and as such, organizations are required to obey
with health and safety regulations and acts. Health and safety is generally controlled by provincial or
territorial legislation. Organizations fall within the federal or central jurisdiction have separate
legislations to deal with health and safety issues.
While all provinces and territories have same legislations, there is contrast among them. It is very
significant to visit your province or territory’s health and safety website for information that is applicable
to you and your organization
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Roles and Responsibilities

We have now understood that workplace safety is very important and plays an important role in any
organization. Let us understand then the roles and the responsibilities which are to be followed for
creating a healthy and safe workplace.
Employers have a number of duties under the Act. The different needs are divided into the following
headings −
 Common duties of Employers
 Supplying Information to Employees
 Lessons, Training & Administration of Employees
 Emergencies and serious and close dangers
 Securing and Obstructive Measures
 Hazard Recognition & Risk Evaluation
 Safety Statement
 Mutual Effort
 Health Observation & Medical fitness to work
 Safety Agent
 Employee Discussion
 Punishment

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Let us now discuss in brief about each responsibility in detail.
Common Duties of the Employer

 To protect the safety, health and welfare at work of the employees.

 To supply systems of work that are planned, organized, performed, preserved and rethought as
appropriate so as to be safe and risk-free.
 To supply and maintain opportunities and arrangements for the welfare of employees at work.
 To give information, instruction, training and management, where necessary.
 To execute the safety, health and welfare plans necessary for protection of employees.
 To construct and review emergency plans and procedures.

Information to Employees
 When giving information to employees, employers must safeguard that it is given in such
perfect form, manner and language that it is suitable to be understood by the employees
concerned.
 Where persons from other organization are engaged in work activities as per an employer’s
agreement, the employer must protect that the person’s employer receives the above details.
 The employer must ensure that very capable persons are appointed as safety agents of officers.
 The employer must provide details relating to the following before a fixed term or temporary
employee start to work.

Lessons, Training and Administration of Employees

The employer must ensure that −
 All details, training and management is given in a manner, form and language that is honestly
suitable to be understood by the employee(s) concerned.
 Employees receive, during time off from their work but without loss of pay, sufficient health,
safety and welfare training including, in details, information and order relating to the particular
work to be executed and measures to be taken in an emergency.
 Training must be modified to take account of new or changed risks in the workplace.
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Emergencies and Serious and Close Dangers
The employer must give sufficient plans and procedures to be followed and measures to be taken in the
case of emergency or serious and close danger.
These plans should –
 Provide measures for first aid, fire-fighting and property eviction taking into account of the
nature of the work being carried out and the size of the place of work.
 Set out essential contacts with accurate and dependable emergency services.
 Appoint employees who are needed to apply these plans, procedures etc.
 Protect that all appointed employees have sufficient training and equipment available to them.

Securing and Obstructive Measures

The employer must −
 Nominate a sufficient number of capable persons to carry out the functions related to the
protection of employees and give them sufficient time and means to do those functions.
 Make arrangements for co-operation between the capable persons and the safety agent.
 Give favor to capable persons within their employment period by nominating a capable person to
higher position or by rewarding him/her.

Hazard Recognition and Risk Evaluation

The employer must −
 Locate the risks and hazards (Risk or Hazard Identification).
 Assess the potential threats from the Risks or Hazards (Risk Assessment).
 Bring improvements or changes in the situation involving the risks (Risk Control).
 Evaluation of the control measures to reduce risks.

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Safety Statement

Employers must have a written Safety Statement, which is a document that outlines how an organization
deals with safety and health of the workplace and the employees.
Usually, Safety Statement should be two-fold, such as −

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Health and Safety regulations in workplaces

The government has made laws that demand that employers have to look after the workforce and provide
safety equipment and other things for them.

Organizations have a legal obligation to prevent accidents and ill-health at the places of work.

Health and Safety Legislation in the Uganda consists of a number of Acts that are supported by subordinate
legislation in the form of Regulations.

The principal act is the OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT, 2006. This Act sets in place a
system based on self-regulation with the responsibility for accident control placed on those who create the
risks in the first instance.

It also sets goals and standards for specific hazards and industries. Any breach of this statutory duty can
result in criminal proceedings

Some common Workshop safety rules

Before you can use equipment and machines or attempt practical work in a workshop you must understand
basic safety rules. These rules will help keep you and others safe in the workshop.

The purpose of workshop rules or safe practice is to give guidance to all those who have a responsibility for
controlling the work undertaken in a workshop and the environmental conditions under which such work is
performed; and to all those who are to use the tools, plant, equipment and facilities offered by the various
workshops.

The word “must” imply a legal reference and the instruction is mandatory, the word “should” imply a
recommendation but recognizes that some discretion is appropriate in the particular circumstances, which
may exist.

All employees have a duty to maintain high standards in safety practice as an example to less experienced
workers.

Whatever task is being undertaken in the workshop, it should be just as natural to consider the safety first of
the persons and equipment and facility.

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Workshops must always be regarded as places of relatively high risk, where machinery is readily available
which can kill or maim in a split second, if not used with the greatest care at all times and with the fullest
regard for its potential for causing serious injury. Such hazards exist with portable power tools, as well as
with fixed machinery.

Assignment

List seven workshop rules and regulations each that apply to employees, employers and visitors to
workshop of your respective trade.

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

PPE is a supplementary protection against exposure to hazardous conditions, where the safety of workers
cannot be ensured by other means, such as eliminating the hazard, controlling the risk at source or minimizing
the risk.

Rules concerning PPE

Appropriate or suitable and sufficient PPE should be used by the worker and provided and maintained by
the employer, without cost to the workers.

All PPE provided should comply with the relevant national standards and criteria approved or recognized by
the competent authority.

PPE should be examined periodically to ensure that it is in good condition.

PPE should not be shares

PPE should be ergonomically designed, and to the extent practicable, should not restrict the user’s mobility
or field of vision, hearing or other sensory functions.

Employers should ensure that the workers who are required to wear PPE are fully informed of the
requirements and of the reasons for them, and are given adequate training in the selection, wearing,
maintenance and storage of this equipment.

The PPE should not be used for longer than the time indicated by the manufacturer.

Workers should make proper use of the PPE provided, and maintain it in good condition, consistent with
their training and be provided with the proper means for doing so.

TYPES OF PPE

Head protection

Helmets, hard hats intended for use to protect the head from damage caused by blows etc

Face and eye protection

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Face shields or eye protectors (goggles) should be used to protect against flying particles, fumes, radiation
in case of welding dust and chemical hazards.

Upper and lower limb protection

Protective gloves or appropriate barrier creams and suitable protective clothing to protect upper and lower
limbs, as required, should be worn when exposed to heat radiation or while handling hot, hazardous or other
substances which might cause injury to the skin. Hands and feet should be protected against physical,
chemical and other hazards.

Burns of the lower limbs from molten metals, sparks or corrosive chemicals, heavy or sharp objects may
occur in the iron and steel industry. Safety footwear and other leg protection should be used where
appropriate. The height to which safety footwear covers the ankle, knee or thigh depends on the hazard,
although comfort and mobility should be considered. Shoes or boots should be without tongues and trouser
legs should be pulled over the top of the boot and not tucked inside. Slip-resistance properties should be
taken into account when choosing footwear. Rubber or metallic spats, gaiters or leggings should be used to
protect the leg above the shoe line, especially from risks of burns.

Respiratory protective equipment

When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being implemented or evaluated,
respirators, appropriate to the hazard and risk in question, should be used to protect the health of the worker.
When the hazard and risk cannot be assessed with sufficient accuracy to define the appropriate level of
respiratory protection, employers should make positive pressure air-supplied respiratory protective devices
available or dust masks

When selecting respirators, an appropriate number of sizes and models should be available from which a
satisfactory respirator can be selected. Different sizes and models should be available to accommodate a
broad range of facial types. Workers should be fit-tested for respirators.

Respirators should be cleaned and sanitized periodically. Respirators intended for emergency use should be
cleaned and sanitized after each use.

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The user should be sufficiently trained and familiar with the respirator in order to be able to inspect the
respirator immediately prior to each use to ensure that it is in proper working condition. Inspection may
include the following:

(a)tightness of connections; (b) the condition of the respiratory inlet and outlet covering; (c) head harness;
(d) valves;(e) connecting tubes; (f) harness assemblies; (g) hoses; (h) filters; (i) cartridges; (j) end of service
life indicator; (k) electrical components; (l) shelf life date; (m) the proper function of regulators, alarms and
other warning systems.

Respirators should be properly stored. Damage may occur if they are not protected from physical and
chemical agents such as vibration, sunlight, heat, extreme cold, excessive moisture or damaging chemicals.

Hearing protection

When effective engineering controls are not feasible or while they are being implemented or evaluated,
hearing protection should be used to protect the health of workers.

Hearing loss of speech frequencies may occur with elevated long-term exposure to noise. The use of hearing
protectors gives the best results to users who are well informed of the risks and trained in their use. If earplugs
are used, special attention should be paid to the proper fitting technique.

Hearing protectors should be comfortable, and the users should be trained to use them properly. Special
attention should be paid to possible increased risk of accidents due to the use of hearing protectors. Earmuffs
reduce the capacity to locate sound sources and prevent warning signals from being heard. This is especially
true for workers with considerable hearing loss.

No model is suitable for all persons. Those wearing hearing protectors should be able to choose from
alternative products that meet the attenuation criteria. Earplugs should not be the only solution as not all
people can wear them.

Hearing protectors should be made available at the entrance to the noisy area and they should be put on
before entering the noisy area. Noisy areas should be indicated by appropriate signs.
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The attenuation of hearing protector’s works well only if they are well maintained. Good maintenance
consists of cleaning, changing replaceable parts such as cushions, and overall monitoring of the state of the
hearing protector. Hearing protectors should be evaluated through an audiometric test programme for
exposed workers.

Protection from falls

When other measures do not eliminate the risk of falling, workers should be provided with and trained in the
use of appropriate fall protection equipment, such as harnesses and lifelines. Workplaces and traffic lanes in
which there are fall hazards or which border on a danger zone should be equipped with devices which prevent
workers from falling into or entering the danger zone.

Devices should be provided to prevent workers from falling through floors and openings. Safety harnesses
should be worn where required and the lifeline should be attached to an adequate anchor point.

Harnesses should be chosen that are safely used with other PPE that may be worn simultaneously.
Appropriate and timely rescue should be provided when using fall-arrest equipment to prevent suspension
trauma.

Work clothing

Where required on the basis of a risk assessment, workers should wear the appropriate protective clothing
provided by the employer. The selection of protective clothing should take into account:

(a) The adequacy of the design and the fit of the clothing, allowing freedom of movement to perform tasks,
and whether it is suitable for the intended use;

(b) The environment in which it will be worn, including the ability of the material from which it is made to
resist penetration by chemicals, minimize heat stress, release dust, resist catching fire and not discharge static
electricity; and

(c) The special requirements of workers exposed to molten metal and associated hazards, such as the need
for reflective clothing or insulated clothing with reflective surfaces during exposure to high radiant heat and
hot air.

Work clothes contaminated with a chemical substance or substances should be washed (if reusable) or
disposed of in a workplace facility.

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Before reissuing the clothing, employers should provide for the laundering, cleaning, disinfecting and
examination of protective clothing which has been used and may be contaminated by materials that are
hazardous to health. The employer should ensure that a worker removes protective clothing before leaving
the containment area or any workplace exposed to asbestos dust, or any other substance that may pose a risk
outside the containment area. Contaminated clothing should be disposed of safely. Inspection of protective
clothing should be performed by the user before each use.

Contractor safety responsibilities:

Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 specifies that employers are to ensure the health,
safety and welfare of all employees. A part from the generalized duty, employers have detailed
responsibilities:

 To develop systems which are practicable, safe and have no risk to health;

 To provide plant to facilitate this duty, and this general requirement is to cover all plant
used at the work place;
 To provide training in the matter of health and safety; employers must provide the
instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure a safe working environment;
 To provide a working environment which is conducive to health and safety;

 To prepare ~written statement of safety policy and to establish an organizational framework

for carrying out the policy; the policy must be brought directly to the attention of all
employees.

However, employees also have specific duties namely:

 To take care of their health and safety and that of other persons who would be affected by
acts or an omission at the work place;
 To cooperate with the employer to enable everyone to comply with the statutory
provisions.

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The types of safety and health hazards experienced at construction sites include the following:

 Collapse of pits, shafts, tunnels and trenches;

 Collapse of buildings and structures;

 Flooding of excavations;

 Flying of materials due to use of explosives;

 Generation of dust and fumes during building/demolition operations and similar works;

 Accumulation of fumes and gases in excavations and tunnels, from vehicles transporting
materials;
 Overloading of scaffolds with materials;

 Unfenced platforms, gangways, runs and stairs;

 Poor stability of lifting appliances;

 Unprotected excavations, pits shafts or opening in the ground;

 Poor ventilation in excavation, pits, holes, tunnels, shafts and in any other enclosed or
confined space at the site;
 Workers driving vehicles and trucks at site in insecure positions;
 Live electricity cables;

 Unguarded rotating parts of machinery;

 Lifting, carrying and moving excessive loads;

 Poorly constructed and maintained scaffolds, ladder and working platforms;

 Projecting nai1~id loose materials

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 Falling materials, tools, objects or articles from height;

 Obstructed plat forms, gangways, runs or stairs with materials, rubbish and projecting
nails and;
 Working on or near fragile materials.

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In view of the above hazards usually encountered on construction sites, some measures are put in
place to ensure safety and health of workers. The safety measures include:
 Enforcement of the Factories Act and Building Construction Rules which provide guide
lines on safe work practices during building operations and work of engineering
construction;
 Registration of construction sites, to enable regular visiting of the sites;

 Awareness by contactors that when undertaking building operations or work of‘

engineering, the department of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) should be notified
of the intention to commence work at the site for the purpose of registration and to enable
regular inspection of the site;
 All lifting equipment should be subjected to thorough inspections periodically and
examination certificates issued. All defects be attended to immediately and rectified;
 In addition to local authorities approving architectural building plans, the department of
OSH should also review and approve them i.e. plans of major buildings;
 Any workplace with excavation, pit, hole or enclosed space with fumes, dust that may be
dangerous or injurious to health must be rendered harmless and suitably tested before
workers enter herein;
 There must be adequate ventilation to prevent workers from inhaling dust or fumes.

 Materials should be stacked safely and correct quantities to reduce obstructions. Materials
for immediate use only should be evenly distributed around the scaffold to prevent
overloading
 Fix warning notices/posters to highlight hazardous points or areas on site for the benefit
of workers and visitors;
 There should be regular inspections of platforms, runs, gangway, stairs, guard-rails,
excavated tunnels by competent persons;
 There should be suitable safety nets or safety sheets well designed, constructed and
installed to prevent injury to persons falling on them;
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  All excavations, pits, holes to be fenced to prevent people falling therein; and

 Well stocked First Aid Box should be in place.

Additional measures for Preventing Construction Accidents

Construction sites are dangerous places filled with heavy machinery, large structures, and moving
objects. These conditions mean that construction workers do not have control over every
circumstance at their worksite. Like any accident, a construction accident can occurunexpectedly
at any moment. There are, however, some ways to help prevent construction accidents:
 Attend safety training sessions

 Double-check all harnesses and safety equipment before use

 Get adequate rest in order to stay alert on the job

 Wear protective clothing and equipment

 Follow all rules posted at the construction site

 Remain aware of equipment conditions and report unsafe or damaged equipment

 Use extra caution when working with electrical equipment

 Create a rescue plan when working in trenches

 Work with your employer to ensure that construction safety regulations are observed

 Report accidents that do occur to help prevent them from happening again

Construction Safety costs

To many managers who have been brought up to the importance of construction scheduling, and
controlling costs, the economic aspect of safety is the most forceful. In construction the costs
associated with an accident can be immense. For material losses in which no injury occurs the
accounting of loss can be easily assessed; but where human loss is concerned, the costing becomes
more difficult since life or a physical facility cannot crudely be financially evaluated, yet it has
been widely recognized that monetary compensation to either the injured party or relatives in the
event of fatality has to be paid. Most compensation payments are paid by the contractor‘s insurance

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 company. Insurance companies will base their premiums upon historical evidence and a poor
safety record will inevitably be reflected in insurance premiums.

However, the loss to a company by an accident can be broken into:

 Lost working hours of an injured employee.

 Cost of repair or replacement of property damage, whether it is equipment or an element

of the permanent construction.
 Insurance premiums increase.

 Rescheduling costs or even delay costs in some cases.

The following are general costs of construction related accidents on sites:

a) Economic cost;

 Loss of wages

 Cost of labour replacement/training

 Time loss in helping the injured; accident investigation and reporting

 Accidents resulting in failed infrastructure mean loss of investment, retardedeconomic

growth and bad economic situation.
 Cost in establishment of safety programmes

b) Social cost;

 Construction accidents usually result in injury or loss of life

 Hardships brought about by reduced earnings

 Human suffering and sorrow that no amount of compensation can wipe out

c) Political cost;

 An accident-prone economy is bad publicity for a company and country at large.

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d) Environmental cost;

 failed infrastructure often lead environmental hazards

Causes of the common construction related accidents and possible remedies;

a) Work equipment and plant;

 Inadequate mechanical safeguards to prevent contact with dangerous objects,

 Lack of maintenance of work equipment and vehicles (defective plant and equipment,

 Unsuitable machines for the job

 Cuts and splinters from blades, corners, sheet metal, tool edges etc.

 Electrical hazards (not properly insulated)

b) Workplace (environment);

 Poor housekeeping (bad organization),

 Poor visibility in areas where vehicles and lifting equipment are working,

 Untidiness, poor stacking of materials,

 Mixing of people and vehicles especially at entrances and exits.

c) Workforce;

 Inadequate training of workers,

 High labour turn- over,

 Monotony of work resulting in ignoring safety precautions,

 Lack of information, instruction, supervision,

 Poor communication of orders regarding safety.

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d) Workplace transport;

 Uncontrolled movement of objects,

 People being struck or run over by moving vehicles/equipment or vehicles

overturning.
e) Careless handling of dangerous substances at work

f) Psychosocial factors such as stress, fear, worry, mental tension, emotional attitude,
impulsiveness (without proper thinking), overconfidence, carelessness.
g) Physiological causes; poor eye sight for workers handling machinery like cranes, vehicles
etc, overwork, poor health, old age, intoxication and physical hand cup.

Accidents caused by the above hazards can be reduced through regulation and support of the
construction industry by the government as follows:
 Strict enforcement of existing laws;

 Urgent revision of relevant laws;

 Urgent consideration of the proposed Occupational Safety and Health Bill;

 Development and enforcement of standards;

 Operationalization of the local construction industry policy;

 Education and training of technical managers and operatives;

 Strengthening of the insurance sector; and

 Building capacity to respond to national emergency situations of major accidents.

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 Construction Regulations

The construction industry falls within the scope of the Factories Act despite its nature ofoperations
being widely different to those pertaining in a factory. It was recognized that the whole of the
1961 Act could not apply to construction, but it enabled specific regulations for construction
to be incorporated i.e. the Construction Regulations of 1961 and 1966. They includethe following
regulations:
 Construction (General Provisions) Regulations 1961

 Construction (Lifting Operations) Regulations 1961

 Construction (Working Places) Regulations 1966

 Construction (Health and Welfare) Regulations 1966

In any situation covered by the Regulations, an employer will owe duties under Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974, the Factories Act 1961 and the Regulations. The same breach of duty could
therefore, constitute an offence under all of these different provisions.
In the constriction industry statistics show that many accidents are caused by; falls from ladders;
scaffolds, roofs or materials falling, lighting equipment and machinery, employees strikingagainst
objects, excavations and tunneling etc. To take account of these special notes there are several sets
of regulations in the construction industry:

General Provisions Regulations

These regulations apply whenever there are building operations or works of engineering
construction (well defined and Factories Act 1961). Building operations — construction,
structural alterations, repair, or maintenance of building, demolition of a building and
preparation for and laying the foundations of an intended building. Works of engineering
construction — construction of railway lines or sidings or the construction, structural alteration
or repair or demolition of things like docks, tunnels, reservoirs, sewers, or gasholders. The
Regulations principally cover:
 Excavations, shafts, and tunnels

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  Cofferdams, caissons

 Use of explosives

 Work in dangerous or unhealthy atmospheres

 Dangers connected with transport

 Miscellaneous protection e.g. fencing, protection from falling materials, lifting excessive
weights.

Lifting operations Regulations 1961

These rules cover:

 Lifting appliances — these must be of good mechanical construction, sound materials,

adequate strength, properly maintained.
 Chains; ropes and lifting gear

 Hoists

 Carrying people on lifting appliances

 Secureness of loads

 Keeping of records

7.0.1 The Working Places Regulations 1966

Scaffolding is one of the principal matters covered by the9e regulations. Their scope alsoincludes
building operations and works of engineering construction. Among the duties imposed are:
 Providing safe and suitable access to places of work so far as is reasonably practical,

 Providing scaffolds or ladders where work cannot be safely done from the ground or from
another part of the building,
 Erecting and dismantling scaffolding under the supervision of a competent person,

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  Providing scaffolds of good construction, suitable and sound material and adequate
strength for their purpose,
 Properly maintaining scaffolds and ensuring that they are stable,

 Platforms, gangway and runs should be closely boarded, planked or plated with material
of specified thickness and width resting on sufficient supports and if the boarding projects
at one end, precautions should be taken to prevent tipping,
 Duties relating to working on sloping roofs, and

 Duties with regard to safety nets and belts.


7.0.2 The Health and Welfare Regulations 1966

The main duties under these regulations relate to such matters as:

 First aid equipment and training in first aid treatment

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