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Physical injury is injury that resulted by the exposure to hazards which generated
from energy and matter, and the interrelationships between the two.
Physical
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to overlook the economic and humanitarian implications for their failure to ensure
safety and health at their workplaces. The focus on this topic are:
to numerous reasons.
Generally, there are three (3) major arguments that validate why
occupational safety and health to be managed, namely:
- Legal arguments;
- Economic arguments; and
- Humanitarian arguments.
3.1.1
Legal Arguments
There are two (2) main legal provisions governing occupational
safety and health in Malaysia.
-
Compounded.
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Economic Arguments
Affected Parties:
Humanitarian Arguments
It is the moral duty of every man to ensure the general well being of our
fellow men.
This place an onus on all parties (the common law duty of care) to ensure
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3.2
Construction Work
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is essential that the work is monitored to ensure the precautions are implemented.
The contractor should supply all plant and materials needed for the contract.
Typical of the points to be considered are:
Falls from heights:
working platforms:
* above 2m from ground/floor, must be provided with hand rail at 1m, intermediate
rail at 0.5m and toe board 150mm high
for roof work, provide:
* edge protection
* safety harness
crawler boards if a fragile roof (such as asbestos sheeting)
ladders must:
* be in good condition
* be inspected regularly
* be lashed at top end to structure. (If this is not possible post someone
at bottom to foot the ladder)
* if used as access, project at least 1m above platform served unless safe
handhold provided
* be set no steeper than 75, i.e. 1 unit out for every 4 units rise
Falling objects:
hard hats must be worn
when material stored at high level, ensure platform is:
* wide enough to allow access past storage position
* strong enough to support the weight
* provided with hand rails, toe board and netting or similar to retain materials
Trenches and excavations deeper than 1.2 m (4 ft) should:
have sides:
* battered (sloping) or
* benched (stepped) or
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Noisy equipment
used only during social hours (7am to 7pm)
provide hearing protection to operators and those working nearby
Overhead power lines
indicate by lines of bunting or flags
post warning notice
Underground services
check with local authority and gas, water, electricity and telephone companies
before excavating
check for service runs with suitable instrument
Scaffolding
must be erected by competent certificated (CITB) erectors
must be inspected:
* before use
* every week
* after damage or alterations
Asbestos
check type local analytical chemist can do this
get atmosphere monitored to determine concentrations
if chrysotile (blue) or amosite (brown) arrange for an approved contractor to strip it out
if other types, decide action, i.e. remove, seal or encase
use specialist contractor
Pneumatic tools
breakers, chisels, etc.
risk of vibration white finger (VWF)
if diagnosed move worker to other work
check with supplier of tools for availability of attachments to reduce the
vibration effect (insulated handles, etc.)
provide hearing protection for operator and those working nearby
Mobile cranes
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Equipment
each contractor should provide their own
if contractor wants to use anothers equipment:
* agree in writing
* contractor to give written statement that equipment is in good order
* if equipment needs driver, either owner provides one or contractors
driver must prove competence (by training certificate)
* contractor must sign indemnity accepting responsibility for any
damage caused by or to equipment during period of hire/loan
Pits, openings, and platform edges to be provided with a substantial barrier
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Electrical Work
Electricity is one of the most common power sources in our home and workplace
environment. Electrical equipment, which uses electrical energy, forms a system
which needs to be treated with respect. In other words, users and those in the vicinity
of electricity are required to be safety aware. Electrical equipment used in workplace
environments and tasks needs to be considered for safety management. This
includes such areas as the type of equipment used, handling of equipment, and
maintenance of systems in place to reduce the risks from electrical faults.
When electrical equipment is being used, if system faults occur electrical energy can
severely injure or kill a person who is in contact with a live conductor. The danger is
not apparent in the size of equipment, as a small hand-held electrical device can be
just as damaging as industrial equipment, if faulty. It has been found through
experience that the following current magnitudes are likely to affect a recipient in the
way shown if contact is made with a live conductor
:
Current
13mA
1015Ma
2530mA
Potential
generally cannot be felt
difficult to let go or be pushed away
contraction of chest muscles is affected, resulting in heart fluttering
and an inability of the heart to pump blood effectively.
These levels must not be taken as more than indicative. Other possible effects from
shock include burns (contact, arc, radiation, vaporized metal), arc eye and other
injuries resulting from a fall.
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Faulty electrical equipment can result in fires and explosions. When a short circuit
occurs on any system, the resulting current is limited only by the electrical constraints
of the system (including the fault) and can reach a value as high as 20 times the
normal load current for the plant item concerned. Thus, in many cases, conditions at
the fault are rather like the explosion of a bomb. Metals melt and very hot gases are
liberated, often in a small confined space, so that there is a great risk of damage and
injury to persons. Electrical equipment which has the possibility of generating heat, or
sparking with use, requires special consideration. See the section below on
flammable atmospheres.
3.4
Mechanical Work
Mechanical work refers to any powered means for moving or lifting loads. The more
common means are:
lifts, including hoists
cranes, including lifting tackle
conveyors
powered trucks, including driverless trucks.
Lifting equipment covers any equipment used in raising or lowering any load,
including people. It ranges from the massive tower cranes used on construction sites
to a dumb waiter in a restaurant, and includes a bath hoist in a nursing home, a
scissor lift, elevating conveyors, lorry tail lifts, a passenger lift, fork lift trucks, etc.
Cranes are lifting equipment that have no restraint on the direction of movement.
Typical cranes are:
chain blocks
mono rails
tower cranes
jib cranes
Conveyors are used to carry a flow of goods or materials, and can present a number
of hazards. There are two broad types of conveyor: roller conveyors and belt
conveyors. A common hazard is that of trapping, either between adjacent rollers or
under the belt.
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A common requirement for the safe use of all powered trucks is that the drivers are
fully trained and competent.
The training of drivers should:
be by qualified instructors check their credentials. If a training centre
they should be members of the Industrial Truck Training Assocation
be held in-house or at accredited training centre
cover:
driving theory, especially for fork trucks with rear-wheel steering and
other specialized trucks with multi-wheel steering
use of basic controls
practical driving techniques
practical experience in the workplace
test of theoretical knowledge and practical competence.
Candidates for fork-lift truck training should:
be over eighteen years of age
have a medical check before training starts
have stereoscopic vision. If monocular (one-eyed) they should be referred
for a medical check on their vision
not be colour-blind
if epileptic or diabetic, be referred to doctor for medical check
not be known drug users.
3.5
Chemical Work
Chemicals vary in how toxic (poisonous) they are. Toxicity is a chemical property
which causes damage to a tissue, organ or system in the body. A chemical can be a
hazard because of its toxicity. How much of a risk the hazard presents depends on
the circumstances, e.g. is anyone nearby? is the chemical in powder, liquid, mist,
vapour or gas form? We also talk of risk how likely is it that the hazard will result in
an accident of something unplanned and unwanted occurring. A chemical can also be
a hazard in other.
This involves firstly recognizing chemical hazards and identifying them. This will
mean surveying the use of chemicals in the workplace. The next step is to use data
sources to identify hazards associated with individual chemical compounds (where
they are known) or using MSDS to identify hazards associated with trade name
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chemicals. Other documentation which may help includes stock records; the
chemical register; emergency services manifest; placards; and container labels.
The key information sources to use in controlling chemical hazards in the workplace
are:
your national and local OHS and dangerous goods authorities
materials safety data sheets (MSDS)
substance labels
chemical registers
emergency procedure guides
UN/ILO/EU/NIOSH International Chemical Safety Cards (on CD-ROM, and
Internet, www.ilo.org)
the UN Recommendations
dangerous goods and occupational safety and health acts and regulations in your
jurisdiction.
The above sources will allow supervisors, health and safety officers, and health and
safety committees to have a basis for controlling hazards.
If the hazardous chemicals are dangerous goods, i.e. listed in or otherwise covered
by The CPL Regulation, the Regulation includes the requirements for:
classification of the chemical
assignment of packing group
marking of packages
vehicles and transport containers documentation
packing
transport in bulk
stowage and compatibility of different dangerous goods requirements,
procedures for transport
construction and testing of packages, intermediate bulk containers, large packages
and portable tanks.
Once the identification or recognition phase is complete, the next step is to assess or
evaluate the hazards.
Assessment involves these questions:
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1. Is anyone exposed to the chemical hazard? If so, who? How often? How
much? The last question may require expert assistance with air sampling, but
in many cases this will not be necessary. For instance, many substances may
not result in airborne exposure from dust, vapour, gas, fume or mist. Instead,
any potential contact may be with the skin. The substance may or may not be
absorbed via the skin. Does the substance act on contact or is it absorbed to
go on and affect other target organs? Poor personal hygiene could result in
ingestion (swallowing) if the chemical is on hands and the worker bites nails
or eats or smokes with unwashed hands.
2. What form is the chemical in? This affects the degree of risk. Is it solid, liquid,
paste, gas, vapour, fume, mist, dust or fibrous dust? Will it be heated and give
off vapour or fume? For instance, low hydrogen electrodes in welding give off
fluoride fume, a toxic hazard, during use. The possibility of exposure may
depend on process control, for example maintaining the correct pH of cyanide
solutions in a gold recovery plant. If the pH is too low, hydrogen cyanide gas
is given off.
3. Are workers close to or distant from the source of the hazard? Is the work
area open, closed, ventilated? Are there heavier-than-air vapours which can
flow elsewhere? Will airflow carry vapour or dust away from the source
towards workers?
4. Is process control a critical factor? For example, brick kiln vapours may
normally be led away to proper filtering equipment and high level exhausts,
but emergency vents may open to assist process control and so expose
workers.
5. Is unexpected contact from spillage of containers due to poor handling
practices
(climbing ladders, pouring instead of pumping) a possibility?
6. How toxic is the chemical? Which parts of the body are affected? Is the
danger
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After assessing and evaluating the hazard against accepted standards, the basic
approach to control of chemical hazards can be summed up in what is called the
preferred order (or hierarchy of control measures). It is shown here:
MANAGEMENT
T
R Elimination
A Substitution
I Segregation
N Engineering controls
I Work practices
N Personal protective equipment
G
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Operators
Theory
poor
communication
and
incompetent operators.
- Flawed Design Theory - very unstable at low power levels and
prone to sudden increase of energy production to dangerous
level if the temperature rises.
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REFERENCES
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