Element 8: General Workplace Issues

8.1 Health, Welfare and Work Environment Requirements

Welfare Provision

ILO C120 - Hygiene (Commerce and Offices), Convention, 1964 (No. 120)

ILO C167 - Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167)

• Drinking water.

• Sanitary conveniences.

• Washing facilities.

• Changing rooms.

• Accommodation for clothing.

• Rest and eating facilities.

• First Aid

Welfare Provision

Drinking water

Wholesome, labelled if not.

Sanitary conveniences

Sufficient numbers.

Separate for men and women.

Protected from weather.

Clean, lit and ventilated.

Provision for the disabled.

Washing facilities

Close to toilets and changing rooms.

Showers if required.

Hot and cold water, soap, towels.

Means of drying.

Work Environments

Space

Adequate space to allow workers to perform task safely.

Seating

Appropriate seating.
Stable, backrest and footrest where appropriate.

Ventilation

Sufficient supply of fresh or purified air.

Heating

Reasonable temperature indoors:

Sedentary work 16oC (inactive or seated).

Manual work 13oC.

Lighting

Lighting -Hazards

• Inadequate light

• Glare

• Reflections

• Shadows

• Mains Power Failure

• Flickering

Lighting

• Minimum levels achieved (measured in ‘lux’).

• Natural light is best.

• Lighting adjusted to the level of detail required.

• Local lighting on critical areas.

• No reflections or glare.

• No creation of shadows.

• No flickering.

• Emergency lighting should be provided if mains power fails.

Effects of Exposure-Hot environments:

• Dehydration.

• Muscle cramps.

• Heat stress.

• Heat exhaustion.

• Heatstroke.
 • Burns/skin damage.

Controls

• Ventilation.

• Insulate/shield heat sources.

• Provide cool refuges.

• Drinking water.

• Frequent breaks.

• Job rotation.

• Appropriate clothing.

Effects of Exposure-Cold environments:

• Hypothermia.

• Frostbite.

• Slip injuries (on icy floors).

• Freeze burn injuries.

Controls

• Prevent or protect from draughts.

• Shield/lag cold surfaces.

• PPE – insulating.

• Provide warm refuges.

• Frequent breaks.

• Job rotation.

• Access to warm food and drinks.

• Treat icy floors.

8.2: Working at Height

Introduction to Working at Height

Controlling the Risks of Work at Height

Welfare Provision

Work Environment Requirements

Lighting -Hazards
 • Inadequate light

• Glare

• Reflections

• Shadows

• Mains Power Failure

• Flickering

Lighting

• Minimum levels achieved (measured in ‘lux’).

• Natural light is best.

• Lighting adjusted to the level of detail required.

• Local lighting on critical areas.

• No reflections or glare.

• No creation of shadows.

• No flickering.

• Emergency lighting should be provided if mains power fails.

Effects of Exposure-Hot environments:

• Dehydration.

• Muscle cramps.

• Heat stress.

• Heat exhaustion.

• Heatstroke.

• Burns/skin damage.

• Ventilation.

• Insulate/shield heat sources.

• Provide cool refuges.

• Drinking water.

• Frequent breaks.

• Job rotation.

• Appropriate clothing.

Effects of Exposure-Cold environments:

 • Hypothermia.

• Frostbite.

• Slip injuries (on icy floors).

• Freeze burn injuries.

• Prevent or protect from draughts.

• Shield/lag cold surfaces.

• PPE – insulating.

• Provide warm refuges.

• Frequent breaks.

• Job rotation.

• Access to warm food and drinks.

• Treat icy floors.

8.2: Working at Height

Introduction to Working at Height

Controlling the Risks of Work at Height

Avoiding Work at Height

• Modify the work process:

‒ E.g. work from ground level.

• Modifying a design:

‒ E.g. change design of structure so that steel is assembled at ground level and
craned into place.

• May not be possible to achieve.

Guardrails and Toe Boards

Guardrails:

• Fully enclose the unprotected edge.

• Robust.

• Securely fixed.

• High enough.

• No large gaps.

Toe boards:

• Toe board fitted at edge.

 • Brick guards.

Fall Arrest

• Collective protection systems – nets, airbags, soft bags:

‒ Best systems.

‒ Protect all workers.

• Personal protective systems – fall arrest harness:

‒ Full-body harness.

‒ One or two lanyards.

‒ Anchor point.

‒ Training.

‒ Inspection of equipment.

Ladders

Intended for short-duration work.

Risks:

• Falls from height:

‒ Falling off the ladder.

‒ The ladder toppling sideways.

‒ The ladder base slipping out from the wall.

• Objects falling from height.

• Contact with live overheads.

Ladders

• Sited away from live overheads.

• Solid, flat base.

• Weight supported on stiles, never on rungs.

• Correct angle (1:4 rule – 75o).

• Top of the ladder against solid support.

• Ladder secured at the top; or:

‒ guy ropes attached or;

‒ ladder should be ‘footed’.

Ladders
 • Top of the ladder should extend 1m (five rungs) above stepping off point if used as a means
of access.

• Only one person on ladder at any one time.

• Nothing should be carried in the hands while climbing.

• Maintain three points of contact.

• Wooden ladders should not be painted.

Stepladders

Intended for short-duration, light work.

Precautions:

• Daily inspections before use.

• Fully open.

• Locking devices in place.

• Firm, level ground.

• Don’t work off top two steps.

• Avoid overreaching.

• Avoid side-on working.

Independent Tied Scaffolds

Key Scaffold Hazards

Falls from scaffold during erection

Falls from work platform

Falling objects

Collapse

A scaffold has collapsed in a busy town centre.

Give reasons why this might have happened.

Reasons For Scaffold Collapse

• Overloaded work platform.

• Soft ground.

• Scaffold not tied in.

• Insufficient bracing.

• Standards not upright.

 • Standards bent or damaged.

• High winds.

• Incorrect couplers.

• Scaffold struck by mobile plant.

• Scaffold erected by incompetent workers.

• Scaffold not inspected prior to use.

Mobile Tower Scaffolds

Risks:

• Falls from the work platform.

• Objects falling.

• Collapse of the structure.

• Overturn (toppling).

• Unintended movement of the wheels.

• Contact with live overheads.

Mobile Tower Scaffolds

• Guardrails.

• Not overloaded.

• Wheels locked.

• Firm, level ground.

• People, materials off mobile tower when moved.

• Avoid overheads.

• Outriggers used.

• No climbing outside of tower.

• Training (e.g. PASMA).

• Tower not exceed relevant base-to-height ratio.

• Tower inspected prior to use and routinely during use.

Mobile Elevating Work Platforms

Risks:

• Falls.

• Objects falling.
 • Collapse.

• Overturn (toppling).

• Contact with live overheads.

• Entrapment of the cradle/platform against adjacent structures.

• Shearing against adjacent structures.

• Unauthorised use.

Mobile Elevating Work Platforms

Safety precautions:

• Firm, stable ground.

• Clearance of obstructions and overheads.

• Barriers to exclude vehicles and people, etc.

• Guardrails not removed or modified.

• Harness and lanyard used (subject to risk assessment).

• Not driven with the cradle raised unless designed to do so.

• Not be overloaded.

• Correct use of outriggers.

• Inspected and maintained as items of lifting equipment.

• Trained, authorised staff only (e.g. IPAF).

Prevention of Falling Materials Through Safe Stacking and Storage

If housekeeping is not properly managed, it can:

• Affect safe movement around the workplace.

• Block light.

• Block access to essential services.

• Cause obstructions

• Cause fire

Safe Storage

Sufficient space needed for storage of materials:

• Storage areas clearly defined.

• Separate areas for different items.

• Segregation of certain materials and substances, e.g. gas bottles.

• Clean and tidy areas routinely inspected.

 • Appropriate warning signs.

• No work activities in storage areas.

Safe Stacking

When stacking:

• Each stack for one material only.

• Set maximum stack height.

• Stacks should be vertical.

• Use pallets to keep materials off the ground.

• Allow space between stacks for safe movement.

• Protect stacks from being struck by vehicles.

End of Module 8.2 Exercise

1. What are the main hazards when carrying out roof work?

2. What are the steps in the hierarchy of control when working at height?

3. What are the main safety precautions when using ladders?

4. What factors might cause the collapse of an independent tied scaffold?

8.3: Working in Confined Spaces

Introduction to Confined Spaces

“any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar
space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified
risk”….

Introduction to Confined Spaces

…the foreseeable specified risks are:

• Fire or explosion.

• Loss of consciousness from gas,

fumes, vapour, lack of oxygen.

• Drowning.

• Asphyxiation/ entrapment in free-flowing solid.

• Loss of consciousness from increased body temperature.

Safe System of Work for Entry

• Do not work inside a confined space if possible.

• Carry out a risk assessment.

• Develop safe system of work.

 • Develop emergency arrangements.

• Use permit to work.

• Use only trained, competent personnel.

• Conduct Oxygen test

• Conduct poisonous gas test

8.4: Lone Working

Risk Assessment Factors for Lone Working

Workers who are separated from their work colleagues.

Lack assistance if things go wrong.

▪ No help in case of emergencies

▪ There can be violence from others

▪ Difficult to conduct certain tasks like lifting of heavy loads

▪ Difficult to perform certain safety critical tasks which needs at least two persons.

▪ Communication with colleagues more difficult, i.e.:

• Out of eyesight.

• Out of earshot.

Safe System of Work for Lone Working

• No lone working for high-risk activities, e.g. confined spaces.

• Remote supervision.

• Logging workers’ locations.

• Mobile phones or radios.

• Lone worker alarm systems.

• Procedures for lone workers.

• Emergency procedures.

• Training for workers.

8.5: Slips and Trips

Group Exercise 4

What is the difference between:

• a slip hazard, and

• a trip hazard?
Give examples of each.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Reasons for slip Hazards:

• The inherent grip of floor materials

• Contamination

[water / dust / pellets / plastic / paper/fat / leaves]

• Frost and ice

• Type of footwear

• The type of cleaning activity

• Many people using the floor

• Wear and tear

• Environmental conditions-rain

Spillage Control and Drainage

• inspection.

• Maintenance and

• Stopping spills and leaks

‒ E.g. bunds for containers

• Behavioural controls like banning of eating anddrinking in work areas

• Drainage for:

‒ Outdoor walkways.

‒ Wet floors, e.g. showers.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Trip Hazards:

• Uneven or loose floor surfaces

• Trailing cables

• Objects on the floor

• Poor footwear

• Poor light

• Steps and stairs

• Poorly laid floor mats

Slips, Trips and Falls

Trip Hazard Controls:

• Remove obstructions

• Good House keeping

• Control Trailing cables and hoses

• Better design of steps and stairs

• Use signs and warnings

• Use adequate lighting

Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision

• Information- Awareness about what are hazards and consequences.

• Instructions – Work rules and procedures

• Trailing cables

• Training- How they can apply it in practice

• Supervision – Monitoring whether workers do the work as trained. It ensures

correct behaviour, and prompts disciplinary action in case of violations.

Housekeeping and Maintenance of a Safe Workplace

• Floors and walkways cleaned.

• Spill procedure.

• Housekeeping standards.

• Floors, walkways, guardrails and fencing, access and egress inspected and repaired.

• Emergency exits kept clear.

• Lighting checked and maintained.

8.6: Safe Movement of People and Vehicles in the Workplace

Typical Risks Relating to Vehicle Movements

• Loss of control:

Due to driver error, environmental or mechanical reasons.

• Overturning:

Laterally or longitudinally.

• Collisions:

With other vehicles, pedestrians or fixed objects.

Group Exercise

What could cause a forklift truck to overturn?

Loss of Control and Overturning

• Cornering while being driven too fast.

• Uneven loading of the forks.

• Driving over potholes.

• Driving with the load elevated, especially cornering.

• Uneven tyre pressures.

• Driving across a slope (rather than straight up/down the fall line).

• Excessive braking.

• Collisions, especially with kerbs.

Risk Factors

Factors that can increase the risk of collisions:

• Driving too fast.

• Inadequate lighting.

• Reversing without the help of a banksman.

• Blind spots, such as corners and entrances.

• Bad weather conditions (e.g. rain).

• Obstructed visibility (e.g. overloaded forklift truck).

• Poor design of pedestrian walkways and crossing points.

• Lack of vehicle maintenance.

• Silent operation of machinery.

Non-Movement-Related Hazards

Typical non-movement-related hazards arise from:

• Loading: manual and mechanical.

• Overloading: exceeding the safe working load of the vehicle.

• Unloading: tipping operations, etc.

• Securing: to sheet a lorry.

• Coupling: attaching trailers.

• Maintenance work: working at height.

Risk Assessment

Measures necessary to control risks created by vehicle operations can be grouped under:

• Workplace environment.
 • Vehicle.

• Driver.

Safe Workplace Environment

• Vehicle-free zones.

• Pedestrian-free zones.

• Traffic route layout.

• Segregation.

• Marked walkways and crossings

• Separate access points.

• Speed limits.

• Vehicle movements managed.

• Good visibility.

• Signage.

• Well lit, maintained roads/pathways.

• Avoid gradients.

• Barriers at changes in levels, e.g. loading docks.

Group Exercise

What controls could reduce the risks in areas where vehicles are reversing?

Reversing

• Avoid reversing by using one-way systems.

• Segregate pedestrians and vehicles.

• Good visibility from vehicles.

• Reversing alarms and beacons.

• Mirrors to reduce blind spots.

• High-visibility clothing.

• Good lighting.

• Banksmen.

• Training for drivers and pedestrians.

Parking

Site rules for safe vehicle parking of a forklift truck:

• Apply the handbrake.

 • Lower the forks and tip the mast forwards.

• Remove the key.

• Do not obstruct a traffic route.

• Do not obstruct a pedestrian route.

• Do not obstruct emergency escape routes.

Safe Driver

Competency:

• Drivers’ licences checked.

• Experience and ability.

Training:

• Advanced or defensive driving courses.

• Vehicle safety, pre-use inspection.

Fitness and health:

• Medical examination.

• Eyesight checks.

• Drugs policy.

Safe Vehicles

• Suitable for their intended use.

• Suitable for the environment and conditions of use.

• Maintained in safe working order.

• Only driven by trained, qualified staff.

• Inspected routinely before use.

Safe Vehicles

• Seat for the driver (and any passengers).

• Seat belt(s).

• Roll bar or roll cage.

• Guard to protect the driver in the event of falling objects.

• Horn.

• Mirrors and/or cameras to aid vision.

• Audible reversing alarm.

• Beacon or flashing light.

8.7: Work-Related Driving

Evaluating the Risks

Safe Driver

Competency:

• Drivers’ licences checked.

• Experience and ability.

Training:

• Advanced or defensive driving courses.

• Vehicle safety, pre-use inspection.

Fitness and health:

• Medical examination.

• Eyesight checks.

• Drugs policy.

The Vehicle

Suitability:

• Minimum requirements, standards.

• Insurance and valid regulatory certificate if private vehicles used.

Condition:

• Maintained.

• Pre-use inspections.

• Defect reporting.

The Vehicle

• Safety equipment:

‒ Seat belts, airbags, head restraints.

‒ Emergency triangles, first-aid kit, spare tyre.

‒ Fire extinguisher.

• Safety-critical information:

‒ Tyre pressures, headlight and restraint adjustments, etc.

• Ergonomic:

‒ Adjustability of seat position and posture.

• Mobile phone use

Safe Journey

Routes

• Avoid hazards,
e.g. town centres.

• Select low-risk roads,

e.g. motorways.

• Avoid roadworks.

Scheduling

• Avoid peak times.

• Avoid fatigue times,

e.g. 2–6am, 2–4pm.

• Flexible deadlines.

Hazards of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

• Silent operation.

• Unexpected engine start-up.

• High-voltage electricity.

• Charge retention.

• Batteries.

• Manual handling.

• Magnetic forces.

Complicated by remote key operating systems – the key does not need to be in the ignition for the
vehicle to be operational.