Week 7 - Safety and Health Dimensions

Occupational Safety & Health
Dimension
The Role of engineers in Occupational Health
& Safety
The contributions of OHS Council in
enhancing safety culture in Hong Kong
OSH Developments & Legislations in HK
Accident Prevention Modeling Risk &
Safety Management
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dimension
In respect of the above dimension, discuss on the
following topic of interest:
Cost of safety
Legal responsibility
Risk assessment
Safety culture
Safety policy
Safety management system
Safety audit
Definition of Accident
Any undesired event that results in harm
to people, damage to property, or loss to
process
Risk Assessment
What is HAZARD?
What is RISK?
HAZARD ? RISK
=
- HAZARD is the POTENTIAL for a substance/

equipment/plant/process to cause ADVERSE
EFFECTS
- RISK is the LIKELIHOOD of an ADVERSE
EFFECT occurring in a particular situation
Hierarchy of Risk Control Measures

A hierarchy of control
1. Elimination This involves the complete
removal of that hazard
2. Substitution This involves the replacement
of hazardous substance/process/equipment by
less hazardous one of similar nature
Hierarchy of Risk Control Measures

3. Engineering Control
9 Isolation
9 Segregation
9 Local exhaust
9 Ventilation nature ventilation, forced ventilation
4. Administrative Control reduces the exposure to the
hazard by administration means such as job rotation,
rest breaks, etc.
5. Personal Protective Equipment the use of personal
protective gears and clothing
The Role of Engineers in

Occupational Health & Safety
To safeguard the public interest in matters of
safety and health and otherwise
Conduct of members of HKIE (Article 12)
Ensure safety and health of workers
Design of Scaffolds
Examination of Lifting Appliances, etc.
Ensure safety and health of public
Examination of lifts and escalators
Examination of slopes
The Role of Engineers in

Occupational Health & Safety
Identify and evaluate hazardous conditions
- Develop hazard control programs
- Administer and advise others on hazard
control programs
- Measure and audit the effectiveness of
hazard control programs
How to assess the risks in your

workplace
Follow the five steps
1. Identify the hazards[1]
2. Decide who might be harmed and how[2]
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution[3]
4. Record your findings and implement them[4]
5. Review your assessment and update if
necessary[5]
Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/fivesteps.htm
Electrical safety audio: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/talkingleaflets/indg231.mp3
Hazards
Physical hazards
Chemical hazards
Biological hazards
Ergonomic hazards
Fire
Electricity
Mechanical
Slip/fall
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Cost Avoidance
Injury & illness
cost
Hidden Cost:
Iceberg Theory
Loss of expertise
Clearing site
Source: Jimmy
YUEN, Occupational
Safety & Health
Council, Occupational
Safety & Health Talk
Material damage
Investigation
Overtime
Loss of business ...
11

Dimension
The Fundamental Canons
1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare
of the public in the performance of their professional duties.
2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their
competence.
3. Engineers shall continue their professional development
throughout their careers and shall provide opportunities for
the professional and ethical development of those engineers
under their supervision.
4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer
or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid
conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest.
12

Dimension
The Fundamental Canons
5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on
the merit of their services and shall not compete
unfairly with others.
6. Engineers shall associate only with reputable persons
or organizations.
7. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an
objective and truthful manner.
8. Engineers shall consider environmental impact in the
performance of their professional duties.
13

Stage 1
(1955 ~)
Workplace Precautions
(machine guarding, local exhaust)
Stage 2
(1989 ~)
Risk Control Systems

(Risk Assessment, Permit to Work)
Stage 3
(1999 ~ )
OSH-MS Arrangement
(OSH-MS and Audit)
15

Workplace Precautions:
Stage 1 1955~
(1) Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance

(Chapter 59)
Applies to industrial undertakings, i.e. factories,
construction sites, catering establishments, cargo and
container handling undertakings, repair workshops and
other industrial workplaces
(2) Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations
(Chapter 59)
Prescribe detailed safety and health standards on work
situations, plant and machinery, processes & substances
16

Risk control systems:
Stage 2, 1989~
Section 6 A and 6B of the Factories and Industrial

Undertakings Ordinance (Chapter 59)
Impose general duties on proprietors and persons employed
with regard to the safety and health at work in industrial
undertakings
General duties of proprietors are to ensure, so far as is
reasonably practicable, the safety and health at work of all
persons employed by him
e.g. The proprietor must provide machinery, equipment,
appliances and the system of work that are, so far as is
reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health
17

Dimension
OSH-MS Arrangement:
Stage 3, 1999~
Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety

Management) Regulation
Proprietors or contractors of certain industrial
undertakings are required to develop, implement and
maintain in respect of the undertakings a safety
management system which contains 14 key process
elements
They are also required to have the system regularly
audited or reviewed
18
Mandatory Basic Safety Training

The Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance
amended in 1999 to provide for Mandatory Basic
Safety Training
1-day safety course to all workers in the construction
and container handling industries
Training courses approved by Labour Department
Certificate will be issued upon satisfactory
completion of the training
Half-day refresher course to revalidate the certificate
every 3 years
22
Mandatory Basic Safety Training

Mandating safety training for workers engaged in
operating high-risk plant and machinery and
hazardous work processes
Crane operators, persons working on suspended
working platforms and in confined spaces, etc.
Extended to operation of loadshifting machinery,
gas welding and flame cutting work
More links to safety & health law in HK:
http://www.oshc.org.hk/eng/resource/law02.asp#1
23
Physical Hazards
Lighting (head aches/eyestrain)

Heat (heat stroke/cramp)
Noise (deafness)
Vibration (white finger)
Radiation (cancer)
Pressure (decompression sickness,
the bends)
Source: Jimmy YUEN, Occupational Safety & Health Council
24
Chemical Hazards
Acids/Alkalis (dermatitis/eye
injury)
Metal mercury/lead poisoning)
Non-metal (cyanide)
Gases (CO)
Organic compounds
Dust
25
Biological Hazards
Animal-borne (anthrax)
Human-borne (AIDS)
Vegetable-borne (farmers lung)
Air-con (legionnaire disease)

26
Ergonomic Hazards
Over exertion
Manual handling
Musculo-skeletal disorders
Work stress

27
Others
Fire/explosion
Electricity
Slip/fall
Mechanical
- entanglement
- friction/abrasion
- cutting
- shearing
- stabbing/puncturing
- crushing
- drawing-in
- fluid injection
- ejection
- impact

28
Further reading
Spurrier, N.; Hard lessons, IET Engineering &
Technology, Volume 4, Issue 7, 25 April-8 May
25 2009 Page(s):18 - 21 Full Text: PDF(1168
KB)
Hong Kong Government, Occupational Safety &
Health Information Centre
http://www.oshc.org.hk/eng/resource/law.asp
Ministry of Manpower, Singapore
http://www.mom.gov.sg
29
Contents
Introduction
Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance
Safety and Health Rules
Workplace
Work clothing
Personal Protective Equipment
Prevention of Unsafe Behaviour
Safety and Health Signs
General Safety Measures
A. Fire Prevention
B. Electrical Appliances Safety
C. Prevention of Accidents Caused by Hand Tools
D. Safe Use of Ladders
E. Dangerous Substances
F. Common Hazards at Work
i. Falling from Height
ii. Manual Handling Operations
iii. Working in Confined Spaces
iv. Organic Solvents
v. Dust / Harmful Gases
vi. Noise
Safe Operation of Machines

Machine Guard
Display Screen Equipment
Biological Hazards
Outdoor Work
Violence at Work
Work Stress
Responses to Emergency Situations
Introduction
No matter what industry we are in, we encounter various kinds of
occupational safety and health hazards, such as working at heights,
working in confined spaces, using machines or chemicals, or prolong
use of display screens equipment. If there is no safety and health
measures, we may be injured at work, maimed or even die.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and
other related legislation the employer is responsible for providing a
safe and healthy working environment as well as working facilities.
As far as employees are concerned, they should also cooperate with
their employer, and take good care of the safety and health of
themselves and other employees. This includes taking note of the
high risk procedures and facilities. They should also fulfil all safety
requirements and use necessary personal protection equipment.
This Work Safety and Health Handbook
introduces the common safety and health
hazards in the workplace and the related
safety issues to help employees understand
the potential hazards in various work
processes and the necessary safety measures.
Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the
employer, the Occupier of premise and the employee all have certain
legal obligations.
The employer should:

1. Provide and maintain plant and system of work that are safe and
without risks to health
2. Make arrangements for ensuring safety and absence of risks to
health in connection with the use, handling, storage or transport
of plant or substances
3. Provide information, instruction, training and supervision as may
be necessary to ensure the safety and health at work
4. Provide and maintain safe means of access to and egress from
the workplace
5. Provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environment.
The occupier of premise is responsible for maintaining the

safety and health of:
1. The premise
2. The means of access to and egress from the premise
3. Any plant or substances kept at the premises
The employee is responsible for:

1. Taking care the safety and health of himself and the other
people at the workplace.
2. Using the facilities provided by the employer, and complying
with the regulations and practices set by the employer.
Safety and Health Rules

The first thing an employee should remember at work is to comply
with all the safety and health rules at the workplace. Each company
or workplace has its own rules and every employee should comply
with them.
Taking the wearing of safety helmets
Safety Rules
as an example, if an employee fails to

comply, he will set a bad example to
other employees. Hence safety and
health rules should be complied with by
every employee without exception.
An employee should treat safety and health rules as an inseparable
part of the work regulations.
Workplace
There are many benefits in having a clean and tidy workplace, such as:
1. Reducing the operational costs.
2. Reducing the consumption of materials and components.
3. Increasing productivity.
4. Improving production management.
5. Using the workplace more effectively.
6. Reducing the accident rate.
7. Boosting staff morale.
8. Reducing fire hazards.
Work Clothing
1. Different types of work require different clothing. Hence
employees should wear appropriate work clothing.
2. Work clothes should be kept clean, otherwise they may induce
skin diseases.
3. Loose cuffs, ties and scarves can easily be caught by machines,
leading to an accident.
4. Long hair can easily entangle with machines, leading to head
injury.
5. If it is necessary to wear personal protection equipment such as
safety goggles, ear protector, gloves, as well as respirator, then
the employee should wear them properly.
6. If the workplace is subject to the hazard of falling objects, then
safety helmets can provide protection to a certain degree.
7. Safety shoes can protect the toes, and prevent the sole from
piercing by sharp objects. They can also prevent slipping on wet
and slippery floors.
8. If the work clothing
becomes contaminated
by chemicals, it should
be changed immediately
and thoroughly washed.
Personal Protective Equipment

A. Types
If the workplace requires wearing personal protective equipment,
all employees should comply.
1. Safety helmet.
2. Eye protector / face shield
3. Ear protector
4. Respirator
5. Gloves and protective clothing
6. Safety shoes
7. Safety harness / belt
8. Reflective vest / belt
B. Method of Use
The correct use of personal protective
equipment can prevent accidents or
reduce injury to employees to a minimum
severity in an accident.
1. The selection and method of use
should comply with the instructions of
the supplier and the employer.
2. The distributed protective equipment
should not be modified without
authority, for instance piercing a hole
in a safety helmet.
3. Take note of the validity period. If the personal protective
equipment is found to be defective, the employer must be
notified so that it can be changed.
Prevention of Unsafe Behaviour

Not only should the employee refrain from unsafe behaviour at
work, he also has the responsibility to alert other employees.
The following unsafe manners of behaviour are strictly forbidden.
Incorrect use of machines, unsafe method of support, and

incorrect method of transportation.
Approaching or entering dangerous zones, such as areas under

lifting objects and machines in operation.
Cleaning, refuelling or repairing machines in operation.

Carrying out dangerous acts without notifying others, such as
suddenly turning on certain machines or vehicles.
Wrongly selecting the machines needed, or using machines that

do not comply with the specifications or are damaged.
Leaving the workplace while the machine is in operation, or

placing machines or materials in an unsafe place.
Damaging or removing the safety installation, such as guarding

of machines.
Using inappropriate tools at work.

Refusing to use or wrongly use
personal protective equipment,
or wearing inappropriate work
clothing.
Working under the influence of

drugs / alcohol, or playing during
work.
Safety and Health Signs

Safety and health signs should be placed at dangerous areas, places
for storing dangerous substances, or places where workers can easily
encounter accidents.
1. Signs should be put up at prominent locations.
2. Workers should understand what the signs mean, and comply
with the requirements signified by the signs.
3. The signs should not be damaged or removed under any
circumstances.

A. Fire Prevention
Fire is caused when a fuel is heated to a certain temperature, and
it will continue when there is a sustained supply of oxygen and the
temperature is maintained at the ignition temperature. The burning
will continue until the fuel is exhausted.
To prevent fires, it is important to control the heat energy and fuel.
1. Keep the workplace tidy, prevent the accumulation of sundry
items and rubbish.
2. The quantities of stored flammable substances and the place of
storages should comply with legal requirements, and should be
away from heat sources or sources of ignition.
3. Ensure that the fire escape route is free from obstruction.
4. Provide adequate and
well-maintained fire
service installation and
equipment.
5. Participate in fire drills.
6. Familiarise yourself with
the characteristics and
method of use of fire
extinguishers.

B. Electrical Appliances Safety
Electric shocks are mainly caused by the human body coming into
contact with live parts of electrical appliances. The consequences
are usually very serious.
Preventing Electric Shocks

1. The installation, connection and maintenance of all electrical appliances
must be carried out by competent and authorised personnel.
2. The electrical appliances should be earthed.
3. Use double-insulated appliances.
4. Use residual current circuit-breaker.
5. Turn off power source before moving
any electrical appliance.
6. Electric shocks can also be prevented by using insulated mats and
wearing rubber boots.
7. When using electrical appliances, keep the body and the
workplace dry.
C. Prevention of Accidents Caused by Hand Tools

1. Select and use appropriate hand
tools, check regularly to ensure
the hand tools are not damaged.
2. If the hand tool is stained with oil,
it should be wiped away to avoid
accidents caused by slipping.
3. Use the tools appropriately
and not for other purposes.
4. Return the tools to the tool
box after use.
10

D. Safe Use of Ladders
1. Choose a ladder which is steady and of suitable height. The
ladder should meet relevant safety standard.
2. Use insulation ladders when carrying out electrical works.
3. Be sure the ladder is set on a firm and level ground.
4. When using a straight ladder, keep it at a 75 degree angle from
the ground. Unless the ladder is anchored or fastened, it is
necessary to get someone to help support the ladder.
5. In the case of folding ladders, it must be installed with ladder
hinges and fully spread
6. Before climbing the ladder, always check to see whether it is
steady and stable.
7. Maintain a three-point contact when
climbing a ladder, that is to contact the ladder
by at least 3 limbs for anytime.
8. Hand tools should be placed inside tool bag at
waist when climbing the ladder.
9. Wear appropriate footwear, e.g. anti-slip shoes.
10. When stand on the ladder, always reserve at least two rungs
length from the top for hands to catch.
The following unsafe conditions are absolutely forbidden:
Increase the ladder height by putting the ladder on boxes, bricks

or other unstable objects.
Carry heavy objects when climbing the ladder.
Stand at the top rang of the ladder.
Overstretch the body on the ladder.
Change position of ladder by body motion (e.g. to clip the
ladder by legs) but not climb down and relocate the ladder.
Wear sandals, slippers or climb bare foot.
11

E. Dangerous Substances
The risks that may be caused by chemicals can be divided into
seven categories explosive, oxidizing, flammable, toxic, corrosive,
harmful and irritant. Each kind of risk should be marked by a symbol
on a label. The containers for chemicals should be labelled with
the symbol of the category to which they belong, so as to directly
indicate the nature of the hazard.
General Safety Preventive Measures for Handling Chemicals

1. Safety system
appropriate labels
personal protective equipment
suitable working environment personal hygiene
training, guidance and supervision a p p r o p r i a t e d i s p o s a l o f
for the users
chemicals
2. Storage of chemicals
storing in a well-ventilated place
locking the storage room and supervision by competent personnel
people not trained in chemical safety are not allowed to enter
comply with the Fire Service Departments Dangerous Goods
Ordinance related regulations and the Labour Departments
Factory and Industrial Undertakings (Dangerous Substances)
Regulations.
3. Chemical labels and Material Safety Data Sheet
chemical containers must be appropriately labelled.
the label should indicate the name of the chemical,
its hazards as well as its safety precautions.
Provide Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of chemicals
for users to consult on the necessary safety measures
4. Preparation for emergency situations
installation of emergency equipment, including eyewashes,
showers, and equipment for handling leakage
12

F. Common Hazards at Work
I. Falling from Height
1 Work at heights should be avoided
as far as possible.
2 A safe working platform should be
available for work at heights.
3 Safe means of access, such as ladders, should be provided.
4 The working platform should have proper guardrails (one at height
between 900 mm and 1,150 mm; and another one between 450
mm and 600 mm) and toe-boards (no less than 200 mm in height).
5 Working platforms, including mobile access towers, should be
erected by trained workmen. Meanwhile, each platform should
be inspected by a competent person before use, once every 14
days and after modification. Form 5 should be signed.
6 If the suspended working platform and the elevated working
platform are to be used, the user should have been trained in
operations and safety.
7 If working higher than 2 metres but installation of working platform
is not practicable, safety belts must be worn. The safety belt should
be fastened to an independent lifeline or to a secure object.
II. Manual Handling Operations

Before Handling Objects
1. Consider whether auxiliary devices such as trolleys and lifting
appliances can be used to reduce the time for manual handling.
2. Wear appropriate work clothing and use suitable personal
protective equipment such as gloves and safety shoes.
13
3. Estimate the weight and size of the object. If it is too heavy or

difficult to hold due to its shape or size, assistance from others
should be sought.
4. Inspect the object to make sure there are no nails or sharp ends
that could lead to injury.
5. Be clear about the route and remove any obstacles as far as
possible.
When Handling Objects

6. When preparing to lift an object, the legs should be parted. One leg
should be next to the object, while the other leg should be at the
back of the object. The spine should be kept straight and vertical.
7. The object should be held firmly by the palm, not just the fingers.
This is to avoid the object slipping from the hand.
8. The weight of the body should fall on the feet. Keep near the object,
and lift it by using the strength of the legs, rather than of the back.
9. When moving heavy objects, move the feet rather than twist the
waist. If it is necessary to lift and move the object at the same time,
the feet should first point at the direction of the destination.
10. Do not lift the heavy object to waist level in one movement. First
move the object to a working platform or a place about half the
height of the waist, then adjust the location of the palm, and then
lift again.
14
Points to note:
1. Take extra care when handling objects on working platforms,
slopes, stairs or places where you can easily lose your balance.
When moving an object through a door, ensure that the door is
of an adequate width so as not to injure the palm or fingers.
2. When handling relatively light objects, do not take things lightly,
because a sudden twist of the waist can also result in waist injury.
3. When moving a long object, the front part should be slightly
raised so as not to injure the people around.
4. When passing an object to another person, you should first make
sure he/she has firmly grasped the object before you let it go.
5. When two or more persons are handling the same object, one
should take command to ensure that the steps are synchronised
and that you lift and lower the object at the same time.
III. Working in Confined Spaces

Working environments such as manholes and water tanks of
buildings are classed as confined spaces, and may contain toxic gases
or lead to dangerous conditions like lack of oxygen. Hence workers
should take note of the following when working in a confined space:
1. Before entering a confined space, you should appoint a competent
person to conduct a risk assessment and to recommend the safety
precautions.
2. Ensure that all the safety precautions recommended by the
risk assessment have been implemented. These may include
insulation, purging, atmospheric testing, ventilation, lighting
and the use of breathing apparatus, etc.
15
3. Based on recommendations from the risk assessment, issue a

work permit to prove that all the necessary safety precautions
have been taken, and to specify the duration in which the
worker can stay in that confined space.
4. Ensure that only the certified workers can enter that confined
space, and provide safe means of access and egress.
5. During the working period, arrange at least one person to stay
outside the confined space to maintain communication with the
worker(s) in the confined space.
6. Provide suitable rescue facilities, including certified breathing
aids, safety harness, lifeline, resuscitation aids, emergency
lighting, first aid boxes, stretchers, tripods and winches, and set
emergency procedures and appropriate rescue arrangements.
7. If a worker feels unwell or encounters unusual situations while
working in the confined space, evacuate immediately and notify
the supervisor.
8. If a person is found to have
fainted inside the confined
space, immediately start the
Ass Risk
essm
e
nt
contingency procedures. If
you are not equipped with a
suitable breathing apparatus
and rescue equipment and
have not been appropriately
trained, never enter the space
to carry out rescue.
16
Work
it
Perm
IV. Organic Solvents

Most organic solvents are inflammable, and if intoxicated, the victim
will experience headache, dizziness, nausea and loss of strength.
Characteristics:
1. Inflammable or explosive.
3. Irritation of the skin or the eyes.
2. Anaesthetic.
4. Damage to the liver and kidney.
Preventive measures:
1. The container must be covered with a lid.
2. Never use them to wash hands.
3. Never place them near the ventilation system.
4. Appropriate protective equipment must be used.
THINNER
THINNER
- Highly flammable
- Irritant to skin and
respiratory track
- Wear goggles, face
shield, chemical
resistant gloves and
apron
- Exhaust ventilation
V. Dust / Harmful Gases

Work processes like cutting, drilling, grinding and digging produce
dust of various sizes. Inhaling excessive mineral dust over an
extended period can lead to pneumoconiosis. Furthermore, welding
can also emit harmful gases.
Preventive measures:
1. Try to control the source of the dust and
harmful gases.
2. Activate the local exhaust system to remove
the amount of dust and harmful gases.
3. When the ventilation system fails to effectively control the dust or
harmful gases, the workers will need to wear suitable respirator.
4. Respirator can be categorised into two types filtering type and
breathing apparatus with air supply.
17
5. When using breathing apparatus, ensure that the air supply has
not been contaminated.
6. Regularly maintain the cleanliness and functionality of the
respirators.
VI. Noise
If a worker is exposed to a noisy environment for an extended
period, his hearing may be permanently damaged. The employer
should conduct an assessment on the noisy working environment,
and implement hearing protection measures based on the degree of
daily exposure of each worker.
Noise situation
Noise level
Hearing protection measures
Daily personal noise

exposure of 85 to 89
dB(A)
First action
level
- implement measures to reduce the daily

personal noise exposure of workers.
- provide adequate related information,
instruction and training.
- At the request of the employee, provide
approved ear protector
Daily personal noise

exposure of 90 dB(A) or
above
Second
action level
Peak sound pressure

level of 140 dB or peak
sound pressure of 200
Pa.
Peak action
level
- implement measures to reduce the daily

personal noise exposure of workers.
- p r o v i d e a d e q u a t e r e l a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n ,
instruction and training.
- set up ear protection zone or specify the
distance of the noisy machines or equipment,
and require workers working within the zone
or distance to wear approved ear protector
As for employees, if they need

to work inside the ear protection
zone, they must wear approved
ear protector.
18
Safe Operation of Machines

A. Pre-operation check
Before using a machine, it is necessary to ascertain that
it is in good condition. If the machine is worn, deformed,
cracked, or leaks oil and emits abnormal sounds, you
must notify the supervisor for repair. If these problems
are disregarded, accidents might happen.
B. Training and protection of operator

Machine operator must have received relevant training on operation
and safety. They must also use suitable personal protective
equipment.
C. Contact signals
In crowded or noisy working environments, manual signals are often
used for communication. Employees must be clear about what these
specific signals mean, and use them at the appropriate time.
D. Comply with operational procedures

Do not simplify the working procedures for the sake of expedience,
or contravene the guidelines for safe operation. Many accidents
occur under these circumstances.
E. Special issues
If special problems appear during work, such as the machines need
repair, inspection or testing, you need to notify your supervisor, who
will seek assistance from qualified personnel.
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Machine Guard
Machine hazards include the workers body being hit or entangled
by the moving part of the machine and brought into the danger
zone, or the worker is injured by the broken pieces emitted.
The function of the machine guards is to separate the operators
hand or other parts of the body from the dangerous parts of the
machine.
1. To ensure the normal operation of the machine guards, never
remove or damage them for the sake of expedience.
2. Regular maintenance and inspection can also extend the useful
life of the machine guards.
3. If a machine guard is found to be damaged, notify the supervisor
to have it repaired.
4. Before repairing the guard or other parts of the machine, you
must turn off the power source and make sure the machine
has completely stopped. Lock the switches and put up a sign to
prevent other people turning on the machine by accident.
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Display Screen Equipment

Optimal Display Screen Equipment Workstation
and Working Posture
If it is necessary to use display screen equipment such as a computer
over an extended period, the display screen workplace must be welladjusted to the users. Otherwise this may lead to musculoskeletal
problems. The employer must conduct a risk assessment for the users
and their workstations, and provide information and training to
safeguard the health of the users. The users should also maintain a
good working posture when using the display screen facilities.
A. First line of screen at about or just below the

eye level
G. Firm Footrest if required
B. Comfortable viewing distance (350-600mm)
I. Adequate wrist support
C. Forearm and arm at about right ngel
J. Screen at right angle to line of sight
D. Adjustable back rest height and inclination
K. Adjustable document holder
E. Adjustable seat height so that user can be able

to rest his/her thighs on seat pad and feet can
rest on the ground
L. Wrist kept slightly inclined
F. Firm base of chair with smooth castors for easy

movement
N. Rounded or scrolled edge seat pad
H. Adequate leg clearance
M. Screen support adjustable for rotation and titling

O. Adjustable table height preferable
21
Biological Hazards
Flower , bushes or places with stagnant water may breed
mosquitoes. Apart from affecting environmental hygiene,
mosquitoes can spread Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever and
other diseases. Not only can unhygienic refuse collection points
breed mosquitoes, they can also attract mice. Contact with the
excrement of mice may lead to leptospirosis, and if bitten by mice,
one may also contract rat-bite fever. Hence workers must try their
best to keep the environment hygienic in order to prevent biological
hazards.
1. Keep the environment clean and well-ventilated.
2. Remove stagnant water in the workplace. For water storage vessels
like vases, the water inside should be changed at least once a week.
3. Remove refuse as soon as possible to prevent it from breeding
mosquitoes.
4. Maintain personal hygiene by washing hands thoroughly after
work and before a meal.
5. Use appropriate personal protective equipment, such as
mosquito repellent creams, masks, and long sleeved clothing.
6. If mosquitoes are found to breed, or if mice are sighted, hire a
professional pest control company to handle the situation.
If workers need to work at a place where patients of infectious
diseases (such as influenza) are treated (such as hospital wards and
quarantine rooms), the following preventive measures need to be
taken to avoid contracting diseases though inflection:
1. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn. This
includes masks, goggles/ face shields, protective clothing, gloves,
shoe covers, etc.
22
2. Avoid contact with the eyes, nose or mouth

during work.
3. Avoid physical contact with patients unless
necessary.
4. Personal protective equipment should be
appropriately disposed of or cleaned and
sterilised (if not of the disposable type) after
use.
5. After work, use appropriate hand washing
method to wash the hands thoroughly.
6. If symptoms of infection appear, notify the
supervisor and seek medical assistance.
Outdoor Work
If a worker needs to work outdoors for an extended period, he/she
must take measures to prevent heat stroke under very hot weather.
1. Change the working procedures: consider the possibility of
changing the working environment, such as working indoors or in
a cool, shaded place, to avoid prolonged exposure under the sun.
2. Provide shelters: construct shelters at the workplace to reduce the
likelihood of workers being exposed to direct sunlight.
3. Alter the shifts or work types: avoid having to work when the sun
is at its hottest and brightest. Alternatively change the workers
job types to avoid doing outdoor work for extended periods.
4. Take a rest in a cool place at the appropriate time.
23
5. Drink more water.

6. Use personal protective equipment:
wear appropriate work clothing,
sunglasses, hats and use suntan
lotion etc.
Moreover, workers should watch out for
snakes, wild dogs or other dangerous
animals in the neighbourhood. If these
are spotted, stop work immediately
and seek assistance from the relevant
departments.
If adverse weather (such as strong winds and rain storms) is
encountered during work, workers should follow the relevant
guidelines issued by the government or the company, or consult
the supervisor to decide whether or not to continue work. If it is
decided that work will be suspended, immediately seek protection
in a safe place, and ensure that before leaving safety measures have
been taken (e.g. secure mobile racks, lower the suspended heavy
objects, etc. Never take the risk of continuing work in a dangerous
environment even the work is urgent to finish.
24
Violence at Work
Employees may come into conflict with colleagues or clients at
work. These incidents may be quarrels leading to emotional issues,
or in more serious situations become incidents of violence leading to
injury. Hence employees should stay calm at all times during work.
When there is conflict between colleagues and customers, you must
remain calm and handle the incident objectively, with the aim of
solving the problem well. Never be emotional. If the other party
refuses to settle the incident, you can consider the following skills to
calm the person down or reduce the intensity of the incident:
1. State that you understand the other partys feelings;
2. Stress that your authority is limited;
3. Use crowd pressure;
4. Frankly admit your mistake;
5. Take immediate follow-up action in
front of the person concerned;
6. Try to think from the point of
view of the interests of the person
concerned;
7. Remind the person concerned about similar past incidents;
8. Explain the policy of your company to the person concerned; or
9. Request your supervisor to handle the incident.
If the employee feels that he cannot solve the problem on his/her

own or the situation is likely to get out of control (may become a
violent incident), seek assistance immediately.
25
Work Stress
Work stress is a common issue in occupational safety and health,
because it may appear in various professions. The issue of work
stress is often neglected, but in fact it can inflict on the employee
various negative effects. In serious cases it may lead to health
problems.
1. Psychological problems anxiety, rashness, annoyance,
depression, loss of concentration, forgetfulness and confusion.
2. Behavioural problems dislike of social life, loss of peace
of mind, lack of appetite / eating without control, violent
behaviour, insomnia etc.
3. H e a l t h p r o b l e m s h e a d a c h e , s t o m a c h - a c h e / n a u s e a ,
constipation / diarrhoea, surge in blood pressure, muscle pain,
and frequent fatigue.
Employees can prevent and manage their own work stress in the
following ways:
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet.
2. Cultivate good psychological wellness and positive values. Be
optimistic and learn how to face success and failure, and avoid
excessive pursuit of material goals.
3. Maintain a happy mood, and dont waste your time on unnecessary
worries.
26
4. Voice your views to the management, eliminate or reduce

the source of pressure, and discuss with your supervisor and
colleagues how to solve the problems.
5. Plan your work and set priorities, and improve your time
management.
6. Relax, and make time for a short rest if possible.
7. Establish good relationships with your colleagues, your family
members and your friends, and set up a network of social
support.
8. When troubled or perplexed, share your feelings with people
you trust, or seek professional counselling.
9. If you display symptoms of anxiety and depression, seek medical
assistance as soon as possible.
27
Response to Emergency Situations

1. Stay calm, and notify your supervisor about the details of the
accident, such as location and the number of injuries.
2. Inform the police as soon as possible and call an ambulance.
3. Do not move the injured person(s) unless there is person trained
in first aid on site.
4. Maintain the status quo of the site as much as possible to
facilitate future investigation.
5. Even if there are no injuries in the incident, you should still
report to your department head so that an investigation can
be carried out and the recurrence of the incident avoided. An
incident without injury may turn to an accident with serious
injuries in future if without any attention.
6. There should be a detailed plan for responding to fires.
FIRE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

When there is a fire
1. Raise your voice and shout loudly.

2. Notify Companys Fire Emergency Unit.
3. Under safe circumstances, use the fire extinguishers and fire hoses etc to put out
the fire.
4. f the fire cannot be put out, the Fire Emergency Unit should press the alarm and
dial 999 to notify the Fire Services Department.
When hearing the fire alarm
1. Close all doors and windows.

2. Turn off all electrical appliances in operation. The Fire Emergency Unit should
turn off the main power switch (but should keep the daily lighting on).
3. Follow the instructions of the Fire Emergency Unit to evacuate the building on
the prescribed route, and assemble at the XXX entrance.
4. Report to the Fire Emergency Unit.
Please note:
DO NOT use the lift.

DO NOT hang around to collect your belongings
DO NOT re-enter the building until the relevant authorities announce that it is safe
to do so.
Fire Emergency Unit person in charge: XXX
Members: XXX XXX
Address: XX XXXX XX
28
Briefing of issues for discussion

hsb03 Cost of Safety
All of us wish to avoid accidents at work, to avoid the suffering which can result
from even quite minor accidents. Most of us also realise that accidents can lead
to substantial losses to the organisation for which we work. It sometimes comes
as a shock to realise just how much money is lost from causes which are almost
entirely avoidable.
An accident can be defined as an unplanned event which results in injury or ill
health to people, damage or loss to plant, materials, property or the environment,
or a loss of business opportunity. The relationship between the number of such
accidents leading to various outcomes, is often represented by the so-called
accident triangle. Studies have shown that for every accident resulting in
absence from work for more than three days, there may typically be ten times as
many minor injury accidents, (requiring first aid only) and several hundred non
injury accidents, which could for example, involve substantial property damage.
Furthermore, the cause of a minor accident may in other circumstances have led
to much more serious results. Each such near miss is a free lesson which, if
learnt, may not only reduce loss but also prevent more serious outcomes. For
example, a leak of oil from a machine can cause anything from a minor to a fatal
injury, but more frequently will lead to damage to the plant if it is not noticed and
rectified in time.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out studies with five
organisations in an attempt to calculate the true costs of accidents in the UK. The
results were surprising. One organisation - a transport company - found that
accidents amounted to 37% of its annual profits. In another example - a
construction site - costs amounted to 9.5% of the tender price of the project being
undertaken, and in a third organisation, accident losses amounted to 5% of
running costs. The HSE believed that a similar picture would emerge for other
industries. It was also noted that during the period of the study, there were no
fatal injuries, prosecutions or significant civil claims to the participating
organisations. Any major occurrence of this kind would, of course, have
increased substantially the losses calculated. Nonetheless, it was estimated that
nearly 10% of the accidents recorded had the potential for serious consequences
such as fatalities, multiple injuries or catastrophic loss. This made the point again,
that learning from relatively free lessons is of great importance.
The HSE have estimated that over 30 million working days are lost due to
workplace accidents, and that when all the costs are properly taken into account,
the total cost of work accidents and work related ill-health, to society as a whole,
is likely to be between 10 and 15 billion pounds sterling a year - equivalent to
between 1.75% and 2.75% of the GDP of the UK.
The Costs to Industry of Accidents and Ill-Health, The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET),
Health & Safety Briefing No.3, 04/2012
It is important to note that the cost of accidental loss must be deducted entirely
from potential profit. It is sobering to consider the extent to which turnover would
need to be increased to replace that lost profit.
The HSE study shows that there is a need to capture and act upon even
relatively minor accidents. Some of the ways of doing this will the subject of
another article in this series. Reducing the number of accidents at work will not
only minimise the human suffering involved and bad publicity which often arises,
but can play a surprisingly significant part in the continuing search for means of
reducing the costs in industry.
hsb04 Legal responsibilities and penalties

Did you know that.....
Section 2(2) requires employers to:
provide and maintain safe plant and systems of work

ensure safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use,
handling, storage and transport of articles and substances
provide information, instruction, training and supervision
maintain condition of places of work, and provide and maintain safe
means of access to and egress from them
provide and maintain a safe working environment and adequate facilities
and arrangements for employees welfare
Section 2(3) obliges employers to provide, and revise as necessary, a written

statement of their policy on health and safety
Section 2(6) calls upon employers to consult with employeesrepresentatives
Sections 3 and 4 impose general duties with regard to the safety of persons
other than employees upon employers and the self-employed and on persons
having control of non-domestic premises
Section 5 requires persons in control of certain premises to prevent the emission
of harmful substances into the atmosphere
Section 6 lays down specific duties on designers, manufacturers, importers and
suppliers in relation to the safety of articles(including fairground equipment) and
substances for use at work, as follows:
ensure articles are designed and constructed such that they will be safe
and without risks to health when they are being set, used, cleaned and
maintained, and carry out such testing and examination necessary for the
performance of this duty
provide adequate information about the use for which articles are
designed or have been tested and about any conditions necessary to
ensure that they will be safe and without risks to health when used for the
above purposes and when they are being dismantled or disposed of
provide revised information when anything about articles give rise to a
serious risk to health or safety
carry out any necessary research to discover and eliminate or minimise
any risks to health and safety to which the design or articles may give rise
ensure that there is nothing about the way in which articles are erected or
installed which makes them unsafe or a risk to health
ensure substances will be safe and without risks to health at all times they
are being uses, handled, processed, stored or transported, and carry out
such testing and examination necessary for the performance of this duty
provide adequate information about any risks to health or safety to which
the inherent properties of the substances may give rise, about the results
of any relevant tests which have been carried out on or in connection with
the substances and about any conditions necessary to ensure the
substances will be safe and without risks to health when used for the
above purposes and when they re being disposed of
provide revised information when anything about substances give rise to a
serious risk to health or safety
carry out any necessary research to discover and eliminate or minimise
any risks to health and safety to which substances may give rise
Sections 7 and 8 call upon employees to take reasonable care for the health
and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or
omissions
Section 21 requires persons served with an improvement notice by HM
inspectors of health and safety to remedy the contravention of one or more of the
relevant statutory provisions specified on the notice
Section 22 requires persons served with a prohibition notice by HM inspectors of
health and safety to cease the activity until the matters specified in the notice and
any associated contraventions have been remedied.
The next Health and Safety Briefing will give details of the penalties for health
and safety offences.
For more information consult the Health and Safety at Work (etc) Act 1974, as
amended by the Consumer Protection Act. Both are obtainable from:
hsb05a Risk assessment - Legal position and interpretation

Did you know that.........
There are a number of regulations that require common risks to be
assessed (very specialised risks such as major hazards, ionising radiation,
genetic manipulation etc. are outside the scope of this article), as follows:
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
Noise at Work Regulations 1989
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999
Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1999
All the above regulations require employers and the self-employed to assess
certain risks to identify what has to be done to protect people from harm.
However, in the case of the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999 they are required under Regulation 3 to make a suitable and
sufficient assessment of the risks created by their undertaking for the purpose of
identifying the measures they need to have in place to comply with their duties
under health and safety legislation. It is important to note that the assessment
provisions of these regulations are superimposed over all other workplace health
and safety law, including the general duties in the Health and Safety at Work etc.
Act 1974.
Regulation 3 does not set out the measures to be taken following a risk
assessment. The risk assessment guides the judgement of employers as to
measures they should take to fulfil their statutory obligations. Regulation 3 also
requires employers who employ more than 5 employees to record significant
findings of the assessment and any identified group of employees assessed as
being especially at risk. The assessment is also required to be reviewed if there
is reason to suspect it is no longer valid or there has been significant change in
the matters to which it relates.
Interpretation
The Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) accompanying the management of
Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 defines risk assessment as
identifying the hazards present in any undertaking and then evaluating the
extent of the risks involved, taking into account whatever precautions are already
being taken. It further defines hazard as something with the potential to cause
harm, risk as expresses the likelihood that the harm from a particular hazard is
realised and extent of risk as covers the population which might be affected by
Health & Safety Briefing No.5a, 05/2012
a risk; i.e. the number of people who might be exposed and the consequences
for them.
The above ACOP also describes the term a suitable and sufficient risk
assessment as meaning one that:
identifies significant risks arising out of work

enables the employer to identify and prioritise the measures that need to
be taken to comply with relevant statutory provision
is appropriate to the nature of the work
remains valid for a reasonable period of time
hsb05b Risk assessment - Practical application in workplace

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
employers and the self-employed are required to assess the risks created by
their undertaking for the purpose of identifying the measures they need to have in
place to comply with their duties under health and safety legislation. (Employers
can delegate assessments to a responsible employee, safety representative or
safety officer, but the legal duty remains with the employer).
Risk assessment for a small company with few or simple hazards should be a
straightforward task based on sound judgement. On the other hand, a large
complex chemical process plant may need to expand the assessment into a
safety case incorporating quantified risk assessment (QRA) and other risk
assessment techniques.
There are a number of practical steps to follow when carrying out risk
assessments:
First - identify the hazards
Observe what actually happens in the workplace and then identify the hazards
which can reasonably be expected to be present. Attention should be directed to
significant hazards which can result in serious harm or affect a number of people.
Employees or their representatives may be aware of hazards which may not be
immediately obvious to the assessor and they should be asked for their views.
Regulations specific to certain industries may be helpful in identifying hazards.
Second - identify who can be harmed by hazards
All employees, whether in groups or singularly, should be taken into
consideration during the assessment, including people who may not be present
at the workplace at all times, such as cleaners, visitors, contractors, maintenance
personnel, etc. Members of the public should also be included if there is a
chance they may be injured in workplace activities. Groups of workers who may
be particularly at risk should also be identified, such as newcomers to the
company, young, inexperienced people and disabled staff.
Third - evaluate the risks arising from the hazards and decide if the
precautions already in place are adequate
The intention here is to assess the likelihood, the chance, that harm from a
particular hazard may happen, taking into account the precautions already in
place. The risk may vary from nil where there are no hazards (with no need to
consider any precautions) to a potential high risk process, such as hand feeding
Health & Safety Briefing No.5b, 04/2012
a power press where the precautions need to be substantial and are enforced by
PUWER 1998. Here the hazard is trapping of the operators hand(s) between
closing tools and the risk is high, because of frequency of access (say 400 times
per hour) and the potential for severity of injury i.e. amputation of fingers or
hands. If the evaluation reveals that existing precautions are inadequate,
determine if the hazard can be eliminated. If this is not possible decide how the
risks can be controlled so that the possibility of harm being done to people is
minimised. The intention should be to reduce risks to a low level by adding, if
necessary, to the precautions already in place. Begin by checking that all
statutory obligations are being met, for instance, there are legal requirements for
guards to be fitted to machines to prevent access to dangerous moving parts of
machinery. Then determine if published guidance on industry practice is being
followed - membership of a relevant trade association normally gives access to
this type of information. Finally, as there is a legal obligations to do so, decide if
the precautions taken to keep the workplace safe are reasonably practicable.
Fourth - record significant findings
If 5 or more employees are employed, significant findings of the assessment
must be recorded by writing them down. Details on how the assessment was
made are unnecessary, provided it can be shown that a proper assessment was
carried out, all the significant hazards and groups of people identified as being
affected by these hazards were taken into account, the precautions were
reasonably practicable and any residual risk was low. In simple terms, show that
the precautions are reasonable and that a proper check was made.
Written documents should be kept for future reference as they may help to
demonstrate that legal obligations have been met.
Fifth - review assessment and revise if necessary
New processes or procedures introduced into the workplace can lead to possible
new hazards and significant changes in workplace activities need to be included
in the assessment. In any case, a review of all assessments should be carried
out at periodic intervals to keep them up to date with current practice.
hsb07 Safety culture

In recent years it has become fashionable to talk about Safety Culture but
what does this term mean...........?
The immediate causes of accidents are often identified as human error or
technical failure but the investigation and analysis of the circumstances
surrounding major accidents such as Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Kings Cross,
the Herald of Free Enterprise and Clapham have revealed issues beyond the
immediate causes. These issues relate to wider considerations of the
organisation as a whole. Two quotations from different enquiry reports illustrate
the point:
"...their belief in safety was a mirage, their systems inadequate, and operator
errors commonplace...From the top to the bottom, the body corporate was
infected with the disease of sloppiness."
It has become clear that basic faults in organisational structure, climate and
procedures may predispose an organisation to an accident. This background
environment is being increasingly described in terms of safety culture where
culture comprises the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that are generally shared
within the organisation. The term safety culture was first introduced by the
International nuclear Safety Advisory Group (INSAG) following the Chernobyl
accident. Many studies have been done which are relevant to a consideration of
safety culture. As well as the INSAG paper on safety culture the most useful
reference for further reading is the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear
Installations (ACSNI) - Organising for Safety. Another useful reference is the CBI
publication, Developing a Safety Culture.
Various definitions have been used for safety culture but it perhaps most
succinctly expressed by the CBI as ....the way we do things round here. It is
important to understand that safety culture is a sub-set of the overall culture of
the organisation. It follows that the safety performance of organisations is greatly
influenced by aspects of management that have not traditionally been seen as
part of safety.
The definition of safety culture suggested by the Health and Safety Commission
is:
"The safety culture of an organisation is the product of the individual and group
values, attitudes, competencies and patterns of behaviour that determine the
commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an organisations health and
safety programmes. Organisations with a positive safety culture are
characterised by communications founded on mutual trust, by shared
perceptions of the importance of safety, and by confidence in the efficacy of
preventative measures."
A positive safety culture implies that the whole is more than the sum of the parts.
The different aspects interact together to give added effect in a collective
commitment. In a negative safety culture the opposite is the case, with the
commitment of some individuals strangled by the cynicism of others. From
various studies it is clear that certain factors appear to characterise organisations
with a positive safety culture. These factors include:
The importance of leadership and the commitment of the chief executive

The executive safety role of line management
The involvement of all employees
Effective communications and commonly understood and agreed goals
Good organisational learning and responsiveness to change
Manifest attention to workplace safety and health
A questioning attitude and a rigorous and prudent approach by all
individuals
The ACSNI report contains a prompt-list of indicators of positive safety culture

intended to assist organisations in reviewing their own culture. Improving safety
culture is something which must be seen as a long term and systematic process,
based on an initial assessment of the existing safety culture, determining
priorities for change, the actions necessary to effect the change and then going
on to review progress before repeating the process indefinitely.
All organisations should note that a poor safety culture can prove very costly.
10
hsb08 Safety policy statement

Did you know that...
If you are an employer with 5 or more staff you should have a written Safety
Policy. If you do not, you are in breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act
1974 and liable to prosecution and a fine. The purpose is to ensure that the
management of health and safety is properly addressed and that health and
safety is not only about physical matters.
Anyone can prepare a Safety Policy, but it must contain three main elements.
The purpose is to demonstrate that the management is committed to the health
and safety of all its employees, and has developed the three elements of:
policy
organisation
arrangements
i.e. philosophy, people and responsibilities, and systems and procedures, to

ensure health and safety are protected.
The importance of the policy is not just that it is written down, but that the
hazards and safety needs of the workplace have been thought through,
appropriate persons designated, and arrangements worked out to achieve the
policy.
Policy
the
declaration
of
intent
The general statement of policy is a declaration of intent on the part of the
management: it should contain a commitment to the health and safety of all
employees, and reflect the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The commitment should be demonstrated by actions and provisions specific to
the organisation, for example:
Resources - sufficient to provide and maintain safe and healthy working

conditions
Training - in health and safety and first aid
Publicity - on availability of training
Data collection - collecting and analysing data on accidents, sickness and
injury
Promotion - of consultation and participation between all employees
Develop - safety awareness
The policy should also quote the name and designation of the person responsible
for overall implementation. This person should be a senior executive of the
company and he/she should sign and date it.
11
Organisation
the
formal
systems
and
procedures
The organisation for health and safety should reflect the organisational structure
and method of working of the company. Responsibility for health and safety
should be given at successive levels of management, from the top to individual
supervisors. Responsibilities should be clearly defined, and preferably included in
job descriptions, to prevent over-lapping and omission.
Particular clarity is required where the health and safety organisation cuts across
the company organisation lines. The input required from functional management
e.g. works engineer, chemist, safety advisor should also be described, as well as
the organisation for consultation between safety representatives and safety
committees.
Arrangements what has to be done to implement the policy

These are the broad headings describing the implementation of the policy. They
can be divided into two main categories, i.e. general such as first aid, fire safety,
welfare, etc. and specific relating to plant, processes, etc. Typical topics are:
maintenance of plant and machinery

procedures for storage, transport, handling
control of radiation, noise, dust, fumes
new articles, substances and products
training, instruction and information on hazards
written procedures for routinely hazardous jobs
housekeeping
protective clothing
emergency procedures
consultation procedures
statutory examination procedures
collection & analysis of information
The safety arrangements should cross-reference with the various Risk

Assessments which are required under various regulations such as the
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations, the Manual Handling
Operations Regulations, COSHH etc.
Monitoring
A system for monitoring the effectiveness of the arrangements and for reviewing
safety performance as a whole.
Conclusion
To sum up, a Health and Safety Policy is the essential framework for the
successful management of the health and safety function which should be
accorded the same priority and importance as other management functions.
12
hsb18 Safety Management Systems

Did you know that.....
....A health and safety management system consists of the arrangements and
processes used by an organisation to manage health and safety. Its objective is
to provide the necessary framework around which good performance can be
established and maintained and which will support the development of a safety
culture.
The nature of the system will depend on a variety of factors including the size of
the organisation and the hazards which need to be controlled. However, all
organisations should have a clearly defined system for managing health and
safety comprising several elements:
A clear statement of health and safety policy. This should specify the toplevel goals of the organisation and set the Corporate requirements for
health and safety in a way which in unambiguous. It should also commit to
provide the necessary resources to ensure that the goals can be achieved.
The structure and organisation by which the policy is to be achieved. This
will be concerned with establishing management control, securing cooperation, ensuring effective communication and specifying levels of
competence.
The planned and systematic approach to implementing policy. The
approach should be an integral part of the organisation's general
management systems. It will have the objective of assessing risks,
assigning priorities for the reduction of risk and establishing standards to
enable this to be achieved.
The measurement of performance against the standards which have been
set. This will provide a measure of achievement and reveal when and
where action is required to achieve further improvements.
The arrangements for audit and review of all the elements of the system.
This process of self-regulation will ensure that lessons are systematically
learnt and will enable performance to be compared with internal and
external standards in order to promote continuous improvement.
These key elements have been described fully by the Health and Safety
Executive in a publication "Successful Health and Safety Management" (HSG 65
- HSE Books 1998 ISBN 0 7176 1276 7) and the approach is summarised in the
figure below which is taken from this booklet. (Another useful reference is BS
8800: "Guide to Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems" BSI
1996)
Absolutely crucial to the success of any system for managing health and safety is
a demonstrable commitment at the top of the organisation. Actions at this level
should clearly be compatible with and reinforce the policy commitment since the
13
cue will be taken from the top. Nevertheless, all organisations aspiring to high
levels of health and safety performance, should ensure that they have present
within their organisations, all the elements of the management process described
above. These are not "bolt-on" extras. They will frequently be part of the existing
management systems designed to achieve quality and business excellence.
Commercially successful companies often have good health and safety
performance for this reason. Equally, achieving high levels of health and safety is
an important contributor to business success.
14
hsb25 Safety Audits
SAFETY AUDITS
Did you know that...
To manage safety objectively, Line Managers need arrangements to enable
them to monitor implementation of systems against the defined standards.
Often, managers assume that because the written procedures are in place and
staff are trained to use them compliance is automatic - this has been proven to
be a dangerously erroneous assumption in many cases, for example Kings Cross,
Piper Alpha, Clapham Junction, the Herald of Free Enterprise, etc. There is
always the danger of the 'short-cut' or 'custom and practice' being established
and very often this is only identified in public enquiries following serious
accidents rather than by routine monitoring before the accident occurs.
To manage any aspect of an organisations activity the manager must have
targets and regular feedback of information on performance. Safety management
is no exception, the performance feedback comes from monitoring and
incident/accident information.
There are varying levels of monitoring activities, and companies adopting best
practice in safety management will have in-house procedures for all of the
following:
Safety Audit
Safety audit is the part of a safety management system which subjects each area
of company activity to a systematic critical examination. Each component of the
total system is included: management policy, features of the process and design,
operating procedures, emergency procedures, training, etc. The aim is to
disclose the strengths and weaknesses and the main areas of vulnerability and
risk, with the objective of minimising loss through accident and/or plant damage.
The outcome of the audit will be a report, followed by an action plan agreed with
local management. The implementation of the action plan must be monitored. A
Safety Audit will be carried out by a team of people who are competent and with
a satisfactory degree of independence from the plant or unit under audit.
The frequency of the audit will be dependent on management policy. For
example, some companies may audit on an annual basis and use a scoring
system to monitor improvements. Others may consider that a full safety audit is
only necessary at five yearly intervals. The frequency of future audits is decided
by weighing the benefits gained against the more frequent checks of compliance
offered by an inspection program following the initial audit. Some companies
prefer to carry out integrated audits, which include not only safety but also
15
environment, quality and other business improvement processes. These audits

can only be conducted using the integrated approach when the management
systems have already been integrated.
All audits should be pre-planned and a documented checklist of the audit content
prepared.
Safety Surveys
These are an in-depth critical examination of one particular aspect of a company
activity. These in-depth surveys will be used in response to a concern over safety
or the adequacy of a particular activity and may be initiated as the result of an
incident, or following analysis of the results of an audit. The survey can be
carried out by one or more appropriately qualified persons who will produce a
report and action plan with local management. As in the case of audits, follow-up
in terms of monitoring is essential.
Safety Inspections
Good safety management demands a structured system of inspections, carried
out by different levels of supervisory and managerial staff.
Front Line Supervisors Inspections:
The Front Line Supervisor, because of his detailed knowledge of the work and
his position as the manager closest to the workforce is a key person in any
Safety Management programme. It is a part of the supervisors responsibilities to
be constantly aware of the safe working in his area of responsibility and he
should, as an integral part of his duties, correct any unsafe acts or conditions on
a daily basis. In addition, it is good safety management practice for a supervisor
to allocate a proportion of his working time to carrying out safety inspections.
These inspections should be pre-planned and an inspection checklist produced,
covering all tasks and areas under his responsibility, in turn, and can include
"hardware", i.e. machinery or conditions inspections and "software", i.e.
procedural compliance inspections.
Any of the workforce found to be in breach of the safety requirements should be
counselled and advised or retrained as required. Persistent transgressors should
be disciplined. Where these breaches are caused by non-existent, inadequate, or
out-of-date information, this must be reviewed and updated.
Line Management Inspections:
A vital element of Safety Management is for the Line Manager to be seen to be
actively involved and committed to safe working. He must take time to get into
16
the workplace, personally check that the safety requirements are being
implemented and communicate with his staff on the job regarding their safety
concerns.
It is the Line Managers attitude towards safety which will largely determine the
attitude of his workforce.
These Line Management Inspections should be planned and documented and
the outcome communicated to the workforce and action taken to rectify
inadequacies.
Senior Management Inspections:
The Safety Policy Statement will be issued by the chief executive of the
organisation, who must demonstrate his commitment to the safety policy by
personal involvement and communications with the workforce. Senior
management safety inspections are an ideal vehicle for demonstrating
commitment between workforce and senior managers.
Incident/Accident Investigation
In any activity in life human beings learn from past mistakes. The quality of the
Incident/Accident investigation system is very important to aid continued
improvement in safety performance and ensure there is no recurrence of the
incident. The incident/accident investigation should contain a number of elements:
All accidents/incidents should be communicated and all of them with

potential to cause personal injury or property damage should be
investigated.
All conditions that could cause injuries or damages should be investigated.
The outcome of any incident/accident investigation should be
communicated to everyone in the organisation.
Recommendations from incident/accident investigations should be
implemented as quickly as possible.
Investigators should be trained and competent.
Incident/Accident investigation recommendations should be fed back into
improving procedures and training where necessary.
Accidents are not caused simply by human error. There will always be a number
of fundamental or root causes. Investigations should seek these out and not stop
at the superficial. For example, an accident apparently caused by a failure to
observe working procedures might have more fundamental causes such as:
inadequate training; impractical procedures; excessive production pressures; or a
working group culture of ignoring formal methods.
17
Safety monitoring and Incident/Accident Investigation are vital constituents of

good practice in safety management.
18
hsb32 Safe systems of work

under Section 2(a) of the Health and Safety At Work etc. Act 1974 you are
legally obliged to provide and to maintain systems of work that are, so far
as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health?
What is a safe system of work? What indeed, is a system? In Common Law case
law, there is much written about systems of work and in the case of Speed v.
Swift (Thomas) and Co. Ltd., Lord Greene M.R. commented:
I do not venture to suggest a definition of what is meant by system, but it may
include:
the physical lay-out of the job

the sequence in which the work is to be carried out
the provision......of warnings and notices and
the issue of special instructions.
He went on to say:
A system may be adequate for the whole course of the job or it may have to be
modified or improved to meet circumstances which arise; such modifications or
improvements appear to me to equally fall under the head of system.
In more simple terms, the process is clarified under the duty of Care by Lord
McLaren in Bett v. Dalmaney Oil Co as early as 1905.
The obligation (on the employer) is threefold:
the provision of a competent staff of men

adequate material and a proper system (of work)
effective supervision.
These latter criteria are now embodied in Section 2 of the Health and Safety at
Work etc. Act so there is no reason for anyone to feel the principles are merely a
desirable standard to strive for.
Of course, latterly, people have come to refer to the use of Risk Assessment in
the development of Safe Systems of work and this approach has much to be said
for it. But again, it is not by any means new since in researching negligence
under the common law, the case of Webb v. Rennie comes under spotlight
where Cockburn C.J. said in 1865:
19
Although in general an employer was not liable unless he knew of the

danger......it was his business to know if by reasonable care and precaution he
could ascertain whether the apparatus or machinery were in a fit state or not.
(in other words the employer should assess the risks)
Safe Systems of Work
The process to follow in developing a modern safe system of work is:
Make a risk assessment

Determine what can be done to remove the identified hazards and do it.
Should hazards remain, develop a safe system of work
In cases of extreme hazard, formalise these systems of work into
procedures
Include in the procedures where necessary the use of permits to work
coupled with physical lock-off systems.
Monitor the observance of all parts of the procedure
Feed-back any information on weaknesses or failures in the system
Rectify these by modifying the system
Keep monitoring
20

Week 7 - Safety and Health Dimensions

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Week 7 - Safety and Health Dimensions

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Occupational Safety & Health

Occupational Safety & Health

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

- HAZARD is the POTENTIAL for a substance/

Hierarchy of Risk Control Measures

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hierarchy of Risk Control Measures

The Role of Engineers in

The Role of Engineers in

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

How to assess the risks in your

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Occupational Safety & Health

Occupational Safety & Health

The contributions of OHS Council in

Risk Control Systems

The contributions of OHS Council in

(1) Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance

The contributions of OHS Council in

Section 6 A and 6B of the Factories and Industrial

Occupational Safety & Health

Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety

Mandatory Basic Safety Training

Mandatory Basic Safety Training

Lighting (head aches/eyestrain)

Source: Jimmy YUEN, Occupational Safety & Health Council

Source: Jimmy YUEN, Occupational Safety & Health Council

Source: Jimmy YUEN, Occupational Safety & Health Council

Safe Operation of Machines

Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance

The employer should:

The occupier of premise is responsible for maintaining the

The employee is responsible for:

Safety and Health Rules

as an example, if an employee fails to

Personal Protective Equipment

Prevention of Unsafe Behaviour

The following unsafe manners of behaviour are strictly forbidden.

Incorrect use of machines, unsafe method of support, and

Approaching or entering dangerous zones, such as areas under

Cleaning, refuelling or repairing machines in operation.

Wrongly selecting the machines needed, or using machines that

Leaving the workplace while the machine is in operation, or

Damaging or removing the safety installation, such as guarding

Using inappropriate tools at work.

Working under the influence of

Safety and Health Signs

General Safety Measures

General Safety Measures

Preventing Electric Shocks

C. Prevention of Accidents Caused by Hand Tools

General Safety Measures

The following unsafe conditions are absolutely forbidden:

Increase the ladder height by putting the ladder on boxes, bricks

General Safety Measures

General Safety Preventive Measures for Handling Chemicals

General Safety Measures

II. Manual Handling Operations

3. Estimate the weight and size of the object. If it is too heavy or

When Handling Objects

III. Working in Confined Spaces

3. Based on recommendations from the risk assessment, issue a

IV. Organic Solvents