Introduction to Occupational

Safety & Health (OSH)

Presented By:
LCdr (E) SANP Karunarathne
 Introduction

1 Occupational safety and health (OSH) is generally defined as the science of the
anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of hazards arising in or from
the workplace that could impair the health and well-being of workers
2 A wide range of structures, skills, knowledge and analytical capacities are
needed to coordinate and implement
3 The goals of occupational safety and health programs include fostering a safe
and healthy work environment. OSH may also protect co-workers, family
members, employers, customers and many others who might be affected by the
workplace environment

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 Content

1 What is Safety?

2 What is Hazard?

3 What is Risk?

4 What is Incident?

5 What is Accident?

6 What is near miss?

7 Hierarchy of hazard control

8 Conclusion

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What is Safety?

The condition of being safe from suffering and causing hurt, injury or loss.
 

3
What is Hazard?

A Hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm. For a hazard to
 

cause to harm hazardous event must happen.

Examples of Hazards and Their Effects
Workplace Hazard Example of Hazard Example of Harm Caused
Thing Knife Cut
Substance Benzene Leukemia
Material Mycobacterium tuberculosis Tuberculosis
Source of Energy Electricity Shock, electrocution
Condition Wet floor Slips, falls
Process Welding Metal fume fever
Practice Hard rock mining Silicosis
Behaviour Bullying Anxiety, fear, depression

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What is Risk?

Risk is the combination of the likelihood of a hazardous event

 

occurring and the consequence of the event.

Risk = Likelihood × Consequence

 

5
What is Incident?

Undesired circumstance that produces the potential for an accident.

 

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What is Accident?

An accident is unplanned event, which could result in to persons or

 

in damage to plant and equipment or both.

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What is near miss?

A near miss is an unplanned event that had the potential to result in

 

injury, illness or damage – but fortunately it did not.

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Hierarchy of hazard control

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 Hierarchy of hazard control

If a hazard cannot be eliminated altogether, there are several other

 

ways to limit worker exposure to the hazard.

1 Elimination
 
- Most Effective Control
2 Substitution
 

3 Engineering Controls
 
- Safeguarding Technology
4 Administrative Controls
 
- Training and Procedures
5 Personal Protective Equipment - Least Effective Control
 

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 Elimination

The best way to control a hazard is to eliminate it and remove the

 

danger.
1 Substituting a non-toxic chemical for a toxic substance
 

2 Having workers perform tasks at ground level rather than working at

 

heights

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Substitution

The second best way to control a hazard is to substitute something

 

else in its place that would be nonhazardous or less hazardous to

workers. For example, a non-toxic (or less toxic) chemical could be
substituted for a hazardous one.

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 Engineering Controls

If a hazard cannot be eliminated or a safer substitute cannot be

 

found, the next best approach is to use engineering controls to keep

the hazard from reaching the worker.
1 Using noise dampening technology to reduce noise levels
 

2 Enclosing a chemical process in a Plexiglas "glove box“

 

3 Local exhaust ventilation that captures and carries away the

 

contaminants before they can get in the breathing zone of workers

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 Administrative Controls

If engineering controls cannot be implemented, or cannot be implemented

 

right away, administrative controls should be considered. Administrative

controls involve changes in workplace policies and procedures. They can
include such things as:
1 Warning alarms
 

2 Labeling systems
 

3 Reducing the time workers are exposed to a hazard

 

4 Training
 

5 Written operating procedures

 

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Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is the least effective method for

 

protecting workers from hazards. PPE should be used only while

other more effective controls are being developed or installed, or if
there are no other more effective ways to control the hazard.

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Thank You