Lesson 5
Practice Occupational Safety And Health
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this Lesson you are expected to do the
following:
LO 1. Identify and evaluate hazards and risks;
LO 2. Control hazards and risks;
At the end of this Lesson you are expected to do the
following:
LO 1. Identify and evaluate hazards and risks;
LO 2. Control hazards and risks;
Definition of Terms
Biological - bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals, and humans, etc.
Chemical - depends on the physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemical.
Environment – The circumstances or conditions that surround one
Ergonomic - repetitive movements, improper set up of workstation, etc.,
Exposure – the condition of being exposed, especially to severe weather or other forces of nature
Health - The overall condition of an organism at a given time.
Industry – a specific branch of manufacture and trade.
Injury - Damage or harm done to or suffered by a person or thing
Harmful – Causing or capable of causing harm
Obligations – The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie
Physical - radiation, magnetic fields, pressure extremes (high pressure or vacuum), noise,etc,
Protective – giving or capable of giving protection
Psychosocial - stress, violence, etc.,
Responsibility – the ability or authority to act or decide on one's own, without supervision
Safety – Freedom from danger or risk of injury
Textile - A cloth, especially one manufactured by weaving or knitting; a fabric.
Workplace - A place, such as an office or factory, where people are employed
Biological - bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals, and humans, etc.
Chemical - depends on the physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemical.
Environment – The circumstances or conditions that surround one
Ergonomic - repetitive movements, improper set up of workstation, etc.,
Exposure – the condition of being exposed, especially to severe weather or other forces of nature
Health - The overall condition of an organism at a given time.
Industry – a specific branch of manufacture and trade.
Injury - Damage or harm done to or suffered by a person or thing
Harmful – Causing or capable of causing harm
Obligations – The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie
Physical - radiation, magnetic fields, pressure extremes (high pressure or vacuum), noise,etc,
Protective – giving or capable of giving protection
Psychosocial - stress, violence, etc.,
Responsibility – the ability or authority to act or decide on one's own, without supervision
Safety – Freedom from danger or risk of injury
Textile - A cloth, especially one manufactured by weaving or knitting; a fabric.
Workplace - A place, such as an office or factory, where people are employed
Acronyms
PPE – Personal Protective Equipment
OSH – Occupational Safety and Healthy
RADHAZ - Radiation Hazard
HERP - Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel
HERO - Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance
HERF - Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Fuel
PPE – Personal Protective Equipment
OSH – Occupational Safety and Healthy
RADHAZ - Radiation Hazard
HERP - Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel
HERO - Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance
HERF - Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Fuel
What is a HAZARD?
A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work.
It can cause harm or adverse effects (to individuals as health effects or to organizations as property or equipment losses).
A hazard is referred to as being the actual harm or the health effect it
caused rather than the hazard. For example, the disease tuberculosis (TB) might be called a hazard by some but in general the TB-causing bacteria would be considered the "hazard" or "hazardous biological agent".
What are examples of a Hazard?
General examples include any substance, material, process, practice, etc that has the ability to cause harm or adverse health effect to a person under certain conditions
A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work.
It can cause harm or adverse effects (to individuals as health effects or to organizations as property or equipment losses).
A hazard is referred to as being the actual harm or the health effect it
caused rather than the hazard. For example, the disease tuberculosis (TB) might be called a hazard by some but in general the TB-causing bacteria would be considered the "hazard" or "hazardous biological agent".
What are examples of a Hazard?
General examples include any substance, material, process, practice, etc that has the ability to cause harm or adverse health effect to a person under certain conditions
As shown in Table 1, workplace hazards also include practices or conditions that release
uncontrolled energy like:
uncontrolled energy like:
- an object that could fall from a height (potential or gravitational energy),
- a run-away chemical reaction (chemical energy), the release of compressed gas or steam (pressure; high temperature),
- entanglement of hair or clothing in rotating equipment (kinetic energy), or
- contact with electrodes of a battery or capacitor (electrical energy).
What is Risk?
is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse health effect if exposed to a hazard. It may also apply to situations with property or equipment loss
For example: The risk of developing cancer from smoking cigarettes could be expressed as"cigarette smokers are 12 times (for example) more likely to die of lung cancer than nonsmokers".
Another way of reporting risk is "a certain number ,"Y", of smokers per 100,000
smokers will likely develop lung cancer" (depending on their age and how many years they
have been smoking). These risks are expressed as a probability or likelihood of developing a
disease or getting injured, whereas hazards refer to the possible consequences (e.g., lung
cancer, emphysema and heart disease from cigarette smoking).
Factors that influence the degree of risk include:
What is a risk assessment?
Risk assessment is the process where you:
What is an adverse health effect?
A general definition of adverse health effect is "any change in body function or the
structures of cells that can lead to disease or health problems".
Adverse health effects include:
Will exposure to hazards in the workplace always cause injury, illness or other adverse health effects?
Not necessarily. To answer this question, you need to know:
hand, longer delays are possible: mesothelioma, a kind of cancer in the lining in the lung
cavity, can develop over 20 years or more after exposure to asbestos.
Once the hazard is removed or eliminated, the effects may be reversible or irreversible. For
example, a hazard may cause an injury that can heal completely (reversible) or result in an
untreatable disease (irreversible).
is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse health effect if exposed to a hazard. It may also apply to situations with property or equipment loss
For example: The risk of developing cancer from smoking cigarettes could be expressed as"cigarette smokers are 12 times (for example) more likely to die of lung cancer than nonsmokers".
Another way of reporting risk is "a certain number ,"Y", of smokers per 100,000
smokers will likely develop lung cancer" (depending on their age and how many years they
have been smoking). These risks are expressed as a probability or likelihood of developing a
disease or getting injured, whereas hazards refer to the possible consequences (e.g., lung
cancer, emphysema and heart disease from cigarette smoking).
Factors that influence the degree of risk include:
- How much a person is exposed to a hazardous thing or condition,
- How the person is exposed (e.g., breathing in a vapor, skin contact), and
- How severe are the effects under the conditions of exposure.
What is a risk assessment?
Risk assessment is the process where you:
- Identify hazards,
- Analyze or evaluate the risk associated with that hazard, and
- Determine appropriate ways to eliminate or control the hazard.
What is an adverse health effect?
A general definition of adverse health effect is "any change in body function or the
structures of cells that can lead to disease or health problems".
Adverse health effects include:
- Bodily injury,
- Disease,
- Change in the way the body functions, grows, or develops,
- Effects on a developing fetus (teratogenic effects, fetotoxic effects),
- Effects on children, grandchildren, etc. (inheritable genetic effects)
- Decrease in life span,
- Change in mental condition resulting from stress, traumatic experiences, exposure to solvents, and so on, and
- Effects on the ability to accommodate additional stress.
Will exposure to hazards in the workplace always cause injury, illness or other adverse health effects?
Not necessarily. To answer this question, you need to know:
- What hazards are present,
- How a person is exposed (route of exposure, as well as how often and how much exposure occurred),
- What kind of effect could result from the specific exposure a person experienced,
- The risk (or likelihood) that exposure to a hazardous thing or condition would cause an injury, or disease or some incidence causing damage, and
- How severe would the damage, injury or harm (adverse health effect) be from the exposure.
hand, longer delays are possible: mesothelioma, a kind of cancer in the lining in the lung
cavity, can develop over 20 years or more after exposure to asbestos.
Once the hazard is removed or eliminated, the effects may be reversible or irreversible. For
example, a hazard may cause an injury that can heal completely (reversible) or result in an
untreatable disease (irreversible).
Types of Hazard
1. Chemical
is any substance that can cause harm, primarily to people. Chemicals of all kinds are stored in our homes and can result in serious
injuries if not properly handled. Household items such as bleach can result in harmful chlorine gas or hydrochloric acid if carelessly used. Gasoline fumes from containers for lawnmowers or boats can result in major health hazards if inhaled.
2. Electrical
a dangerous condition where a worker could make electrical contact with energized equipment or a conductor, and from which the person may sustain an injury from shock; and/or, there is potential for the worker to receive an arc flash burn, thermal burn, or blast injury
3. Ergonomic
Ergonomic hazards impact employers and workers and their families. Poor workplace design, awkward body mechanics or postures, repetitive movements, and other ergonomic hazards induce or contribute to a staggering number of cumulative trauma disorders.Cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) affect hands, wrists, elbows, arms, shoulders, the lower back, and the cervical spine area. Structures involved include tendons, muscles, bones, nerves, andblood vessels.
4. Psychological
Psychosocial hazard has recently been acknowledged in legislation as a workplace hazard. This type of hazard relates to mental health
and behavioural disorders.
5. Radiation
Describes the hazards of electromagnetic radiation to fuels, electronic hardware, ordinance, and personnel. In the military these hazards are segregated as follows:
1) Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel (HERP)
2) Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO)
3) Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Fuel (HERF)
6. Biological
A biological hazard, or biohazard, is anything coming from living organisms (i.e. pollen, fungi, animals, insects, bacteria and viruses) that could be a threat to someone's health. It is represented by ☣, the biohazard symbol, which is used everywhere in the world. When people see this sign they know to take precautions, and to follow proper conduct for science labs.
7. Physical
Physical hazards are those substances which threaten your physical safety. The most common types of physical hazards are:
* Fire
* Explosion
* Chemical Reactivity
1. Chemical
is any substance that can cause harm, primarily to people. Chemicals of all kinds are stored in our homes and can result in serious
injuries if not properly handled. Household items such as bleach can result in harmful chlorine gas or hydrochloric acid if carelessly used. Gasoline fumes from containers for lawnmowers or boats can result in major health hazards if inhaled.
2. Electrical
a dangerous condition where a worker could make electrical contact with energized equipment or a conductor, and from which the person may sustain an injury from shock; and/or, there is potential for the worker to receive an arc flash burn, thermal burn, or blast injury
3. Ergonomic
Ergonomic hazards impact employers and workers and their families. Poor workplace design, awkward body mechanics or postures, repetitive movements, and other ergonomic hazards induce or contribute to a staggering number of cumulative trauma disorders.Cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) affect hands, wrists, elbows, arms, shoulders, the lower back, and the cervical spine area. Structures involved include tendons, muscles, bones, nerves, andblood vessels.
4. Psychological
Psychosocial hazard has recently been acknowledged in legislation as a workplace hazard. This type of hazard relates to mental health
and behavioural disorders.
5. Radiation
Describes the hazards of electromagnetic radiation to fuels, electronic hardware, ordinance, and personnel. In the military these hazards are segregated as follows:
1) Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel (HERP)
2) Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO)
3) Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Fuel (HERF)
6. Biological
A biological hazard, or biohazard, is anything coming from living organisms (i.e. pollen, fungi, animals, insects, bacteria and viruses) that could be a threat to someone's health. It is represented by ☣, the biohazard symbol, which is used everywhere in the world. When people see this sign they know to take precautions, and to follow proper conduct for science labs.
7. Physical
Physical hazards are those substances which threaten your physical safety. The most common types of physical hazards are:
* Fire
* Explosion
* Chemical Reactivity
Pre- operational Safety
1.Always check that the sewing machine and its cord are in good working order.
2.Check all adjustments and settings carefully before commencing any sewing operation.
3. The workplace should be clean and free of equipment ,rubbish and other obstacles.
Operating Safety Precautions
1.Always check that the sewing machine and its cord are in good working order.
2.Check all adjustments and settings carefully before commencing any sewing operation.
3. The workplace should be clean and free of equipment ,rubbish and other obstacles.
Operating Safety Precautions
- Make sure all other students keep away from the workplace at all times.
- One person only is to operate a sewing machine at any time .
- Do not touch a sewing machine while another person is sewing.
- Do not wear loose clothing ,especially long sleeves and neck ties.
- Turn the power off when making adjustments to the sewing machine such as changing the presser foot and needle .
- Never race the sewing machine at high speed .
- Take care not to machine over pins .
- Make sure the take- up lever is in the upper position before pulling out the fabric and cutting threads .
- It is important to keep the machine as free of lint as possible .
- Do not push or pull the fabric while sewing .Let the machine do the work –your hands should guide the fabric without forcing it .
LEARNING OUTCOME 2
Control Hazards And Risks
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) procedures for controlling hazards and risk are strictly
followed.
Materials:
Sample of hazardous materials (ask your teacher)
Control Hazards And Risks
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) procedures for controlling hazards and risk are strictly
followed.
Materials:
Sample of hazardous materials (ask your teacher)
What Do You Need To Know?
Read the Information Sheet 1.1 very well then find out how much you can
remember and how much you learned by doing Self-check 1.1.
ORGANIZATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AND PROTOCOL
Will exposure to hazards in the workplace always cause injury, illness or other
adverse health effects?
Not necessarily. To answer this question, you need to know:
poison ivy may cause red swelling on the skin two to six hours after contact with the plant. On the other hand, longer delays are possible: mesothelioma, a kind of cancer in the lining of the lung cavity, can develop over 20 years or more after exposure to asbestos. Once the hazard is removed or eliminated, the effects may be reversible or irreversible. For example, a hazard may cause an injury that can heal completely (reversible) or result in an untreatable disease (irreversible).
Hazards and risks in the textiles sector
The textiles sector contains many hazards and risks to workers, ranging from exposure to noise and dangerous substances, to manual handling and working with dangerous machinery. Each processing stage — from the production of materials to the manufacturing, finishing, colouring and Occupational safety and health in the textiles sector packaging —poses risks for workers, and some of these are particularly dangerous for women‘s health.
Exposure to chemical agents
Many different groups of chemical substances are used in the textiles sector, including dyes, solvents, optical brighteners, crease-resistance agents, flame retardants, heavy metals, pesticides, and antimicrobial agents. They are used in dyeing, printing, finishing, bleaching, washing, dry cleaning, weaving slashing/sizing, and spinning. Respiratory and skin sensitizers can be found in the textiles industry, for example textiles fibres, reactive dyes, synthetic fibres, and formal dehyde. The textile industry has been evaluated as a sector with an increased carcinogenic risk. Several studies have showed an increased risk of nasal, laryngeal and bladder cancer in women.
Read the Information Sheet 1.1 very well then find out how much you can
remember and how much you learned by doing Self-check 1.1.
ORGANIZATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AND PROTOCOL
Will exposure to hazards in the workplace always cause injury, illness or other
adverse health effects?
Not necessarily. To answer this question, you need to know:
- what hazards are present,
- how a person is exposed (route of exposure, as well as how often and how much exposure occurred), what kind of effect could result from the specific exposure a person experienced,
- the risk (or likelihood) that exposure to a hazardous thing or condition would cause an injury, or disease or some incidence causing damage, and
- how severe would the damage, injury or harm (adverse health effects) be from the exposure.
poison ivy may cause red swelling on the skin two to six hours after contact with the plant. On the other hand, longer delays are possible: mesothelioma, a kind of cancer in the lining of the lung cavity, can develop over 20 years or more after exposure to asbestos. Once the hazard is removed or eliminated, the effects may be reversible or irreversible. For example, a hazard may cause an injury that can heal completely (reversible) or result in an untreatable disease (irreversible).
Hazards and risks in the textiles sector
The textiles sector contains many hazards and risks to workers, ranging from exposure to noise and dangerous substances, to manual handling and working with dangerous machinery. Each processing stage — from the production of materials to the manufacturing, finishing, colouring and Occupational safety and health in the textiles sector packaging —poses risks for workers, and some of these are particularly dangerous for women‘s health.
Exposure to chemical agents
Many different groups of chemical substances are used in the textiles sector, including dyes, solvents, optical brighteners, crease-resistance agents, flame retardants, heavy metals, pesticides, and antimicrobial agents. They are used in dyeing, printing, finishing, bleaching, washing, dry cleaning, weaving slashing/sizing, and spinning. Respiratory and skin sensitizers can be found in the textiles industry, for example textiles fibres, reactive dyes, synthetic fibres, and formal dehyde. The textile industry has been evaluated as a sector with an increased carcinogenic risk. Several studies have showed an increased risk of nasal, laryngeal and bladder cancer in women.
Exposure to dusts and fibres
The exposure of workers to dusts from material such as silk, cotton, wool, flax, hemp, sisal, and jute can occur during weaving, spinning, cutting, ginning, and packaging. Division of tasks along gender lines may mean that women are exposed to organic dusts more than
men, with respiratory diseases being diagnosed more often in women than men. Exposure to fibres and yarns may cause nasal or bladder cancer .
Exposure to biological agents
In some activities, such as carding and willowing, workers may be exposed to biological agents such as anthrax, clostridium tetanus (the causative agent for tetanus), and coxiella burnetti (which causes Q fever). Exposure to biological agents can result in allergies and respiratory disorders.
Exposure to physical agents
Workers may be exposed to noise and vibrations, for example during weaving, spinning, sewing, twisting, and cutting. Exposure to loud noise can result in permanent hearing damage such as noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Exposure to vibration, particularly together with risk factors for MSDs, can lead to long-term harm. Electromagnetic fields may also be found in some workplaces in the textiles sector. Accidents in the textiles sector. The textiles sector has many hazards that can cause injury to workers, from transport in the workplace (lift truck), dangerous large work equipment and plant, to the risk of slips from a wet working environment. Workers being struck by objects, such as moving machinery parts and vehicles are a significant cause of injury in the sector. There also exists the risks of fire and explosions, for example from heating plants used for vapour generation.Psychosocial issues in the textiles sector. Work-related stress has been defined as being experienced when the demands of the work environment exceed the workers‘ ability to cope with or control them. Work-related stress may be an issue in some areas of the textiles
sector, being associated for example with repetitive and fast paced work, and where the worker has no influence on how the job is done.
Hazard Management
One of the most important duties required by OHS law of all workers, including volunteers, is to keep the workplace as safe as possible. A good way to do this is to use the 4 = SAFE‘ steps:
The exposure of workers to dusts from material such as silk, cotton, wool, flax, hemp, sisal, and jute can occur during weaving, spinning, cutting, ginning, and packaging. Division of tasks along gender lines may mean that women are exposed to organic dusts more than
men, with respiratory diseases being diagnosed more often in women than men. Exposure to fibres and yarns may cause nasal or bladder cancer .
Exposure to biological agents
In some activities, such as carding and willowing, workers may be exposed to biological agents such as anthrax, clostridium tetanus (the causative agent for tetanus), and coxiella burnetti (which causes Q fever). Exposure to biological agents can result in allergies and respiratory disorders.
Exposure to physical agents
Workers may be exposed to noise and vibrations, for example during weaving, spinning, sewing, twisting, and cutting. Exposure to loud noise can result in permanent hearing damage such as noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Exposure to vibration, particularly together with risk factors for MSDs, can lead to long-term harm. Electromagnetic fields may also be found in some workplaces in the textiles sector. Accidents in the textiles sector. The textiles sector has many hazards that can cause injury to workers, from transport in the workplace (lift truck), dangerous large work equipment and plant, to the risk of slips from a wet working environment. Workers being struck by objects, such as moving machinery parts and vehicles are a significant cause of injury in the sector. There also exists the risks of fire and explosions, for example from heating plants used for vapour generation.Psychosocial issues in the textiles sector. Work-related stress has been defined as being experienced when the demands of the work environment exceed the workers‘ ability to cope with or control them. Work-related stress may be an issue in some areas of the textiles
sector, being associated for example with repetitive and fast paced work, and where the worker has no influence on how the job is done.
Hazard Management
One of the most important duties required by OHS law of all workers, including volunteers, is to keep the workplace as safe as possible. A good way to do this is to use the 4 = SAFE‘ steps:
Spot the hazard
Assess the hazard
Fix the hazard
Evaluate the result
Assess the hazard
Fix the hazard
Evaluate the result
Read the Information Sheet 2.2 very well then find out how much you can remember and how much you learned by doing Self-check 2.2
Information Sheet 2.2
CONTINGENCY MEASURES AND PROCEDURES
Safety in the Sewing Room
Note: This is an excellent article on sewing room and craft room safety with some wonderful ideas for safe storage along with guidelines on how to use common tools and items found in your sewing and craft room.
When my mother first started teaching me to sew, she told me about one of her earliest sewing mishaps. She was about five years old, and was playing with her mother's treadle machine (even though she knew she wasn't allowed to). Sure enough, she turned the flywheel while her finger was under the needle. But she knew if she cried out, she would be punished for playing with the machine, so she had to back the needle out and bandage the wound herself. Her mother never found out about the accident, and my mother never had another machine mishap again.
Mom's story made a big impression on me; I have always been a cautious sewer. So far (knock wood!) I have avoided any serious sewing injury, but thousands of other sewing enthusiasts every year are not as fortunate.
Sewing involves lots of opportunities for injury. Some of these are obvious, but some are less so. Sewers can injure their bodies in almost imperceptible ways.
The most obvious injuries are those caused by sharp implements, such as needles and cutting tools. In addition to puncture wounds, sewers are at risk for slicing wounds (from scissors and rotary cutters) and burns (from irons). Taking basic precautions will reduce the risk of injury in the sewing room.
Information Sheet 2.2
CONTINGENCY MEASURES AND PROCEDURES
Safety in the Sewing Room
Note: This is an excellent article on sewing room and craft room safety with some wonderful ideas for safe storage along with guidelines on how to use common tools and items found in your sewing and craft room.
When my mother first started teaching me to sew, she told me about one of her earliest sewing mishaps. She was about five years old, and was playing with her mother's treadle machine (even though she knew she wasn't allowed to). Sure enough, she turned the flywheel while her finger was under the needle. But she knew if she cried out, she would be punished for playing with the machine, so she had to back the needle out and bandage the wound herself. Her mother never found out about the accident, and my mother never had another machine mishap again.
Mom's story made a big impression on me; I have always been a cautious sewer. So far (knock wood!) I have avoided any serious sewing injury, but thousands of other sewing enthusiasts every year are not as fortunate.
Sewing involves lots of opportunities for injury. Some of these are obvious, but some are less so. Sewers can injure their bodies in almost imperceptible ways.
The most obvious injuries are those caused by sharp implements, such as needles and cutting tools. In addition to puncture wounds, sewers are at risk for slicing wounds (from scissors and rotary cutters) and burns (from irons). Taking basic precautions will reduce the risk of injury in the sewing room.
How to Avoid Injury Using a Sewing Machine
Sewing machines make quick work out of piles of mending, but many people take for granted that a sewing machine is a potentially harmful instrument! Each year people accidentally harm themselves at home or at work while sewing on a machine. Here are a few guidelines to minimize your chance of injury.
1. Examine the sewing machine to make sure that it is fully assembled and well maintained. Depending on your model of sewing machine or serger, the manufacturer has guards on various parts of the machine. Make sure that these guards are fully in place before using the machine.
2. Evaluate the ergonomics of your workspace. Is your chair ergonomically correct in terms of height, tilt, back support, etc.? Do you need a footrest? Does your chair or stool adjust? proper furniture can go a long way in combating repetitive stress disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
3. Clear your surroundings of clutter and debris. Besides the psychological stress of a cluttered workspace, sewing machines can overheat. Extra flammable materials in your work area increase the danger. Also, extra threads, scraps, etc., can become lodged in moving parts, causing jams or unpredictable operation.
4. Turn on a light. Eyestrain is a common injury for anyone performing the fine detail work of sewing. Good lighting also helps reduce the chance of unwanted material being drawn into the machine.
5. Follow the instructions! Take some time to familiarize yourself with the sewing machine, as well as the manufacturer's recommended best practices.
6. Wear protective eyewear. You could accidentally sew over a pin or break a needle. Why take the chance of an eye injury?
7. Learn how to sew correctly. Improper habits such as sewing over the same area repeatedly can lead to needle breakage or trip other hazards.
8. Avoid using fingers to feed fabric into the machine. Develop healthy habits of keeping fingers away from the feeder, as well as using chopsticks to hold fabric up close.
Sewing machines make quick work out of piles of mending, but many people take for granted that a sewing machine is a potentially harmful instrument! Each year people accidentally harm themselves at home or at work while sewing on a machine. Here are a few guidelines to minimize your chance of injury.
1. Examine the sewing machine to make sure that it is fully assembled and well maintained. Depending on your model of sewing machine or serger, the manufacturer has guards on various parts of the machine. Make sure that these guards are fully in place before using the machine.
2. Evaluate the ergonomics of your workspace. Is your chair ergonomically correct in terms of height, tilt, back support, etc.? Do you need a footrest? Does your chair or stool adjust? proper furniture can go a long way in combating repetitive stress disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
3. Clear your surroundings of clutter and debris. Besides the psychological stress of a cluttered workspace, sewing machines can overheat. Extra flammable materials in your work area increase the danger. Also, extra threads, scraps, etc., can become lodged in moving parts, causing jams or unpredictable operation.
4. Turn on a light. Eyestrain is a common injury for anyone performing the fine detail work of sewing. Good lighting also helps reduce the chance of unwanted material being drawn into the machine.
5. Follow the instructions! Take some time to familiarize yourself with the sewing machine, as well as the manufacturer's recommended best practices.
6. Wear protective eyewear. You could accidentally sew over a pin or break a needle. Why take the chance of an eye injury?
7. Learn how to sew correctly. Improper habits such as sewing over the same area repeatedly can lead to needle breakage or trip other hazards.
8. Avoid using fingers to feed fabric into the machine. Develop healthy habits of keeping fingers away from the feeder, as well as using chopsticks to hold fabric up close.
Employer OHS obligations
Employers and management have responsibilities to:
• provide a safe environment to work in, for example, safe equipment ,
Materials and safe ways to work
• provide information, instruction, training and supervision to employees as needed to ensure they can work as safely as possible
• identify unsafe situations before problems arise, and take corrective action to make them as safe as possible
• take action to investigate any accidents, and to prevent them from happening again
• ensure that the work done does not cause harm to any person
Your OHS obligations
Employees have duties that support the employer, and provide responsibility for
things they have control over.
Employees have responsibility to:
• obey all reasonable safety instructions
• take reasonable care of their own health and safety, and for the safety of
others in the workplace
• report any dangerous situation
• work with the employer to improve safety at the workplace.
Safety Groups
Most workplaces have people or groups of people with specific roles relating to
Workplace Health and Safety. For example there may be:
• Health and safety representatives
• Supervisors
• Safety Officers
• Health and Safety Committees
Employers and management have responsibilities to:
• provide a safe environment to work in, for example, safe equipment ,
Materials and safe ways to work
• provide information, instruction, training and supervision to employees as needed to ensure they can work as safely as possible
• identify unsafe situations before problems arise, and take corrective action to make them as safe as possible
• take action to investigate any accidents, and to prevent them from happening again
• ensure that the work done does not cause harm to any person
Your OHS obligations
Employees have duties that support the employer, and provide responsibility for
things they have control over.
Employees have responsibility to:
• obey all reasonable safety instructions
• take reasonable care of their own health and safety, and for the safety of
others in the workplace
• report any dangerous situation
• work with the employer to improve safety at the workplace.
Safety Groups
Most workplaces have people or groups of people with specific roles relating to
Workplace Health and Safety. For example there may be:
• Health and safety representatives
• Supervisors
• Safety Officers
• Health and Safety Committees
1. Health and safety representatives
Health and safety representatives are the important links between employees and employers. Health and safety representatives are people elected by co-workers to act on their behalf, telling employers about safety and health concerns and cooperating with employers to implement and maintain workplace health and safety.
2. Supervisors
Supervisors need to make sure that the people they are looking after are given the safety instructions they need, and are able to perform their jobs safely. Portfolio record - OHS organizations If you are planning to apply for RCC you need the information gained from the learning activities you undertake. Wherever you see this icon there will be an action needed in the Work Record Portfolio. Complete OHS organizations in the Work Record Portfolio.
3. Safety Officers
Safety officers are trained people who are hired by the employer to help with the management of health and safety at the workplace. Some of the tasks Safety Officers may do are:
• organize OHS trainings
• investigate accidents
• provide first aid
• do risk assessments at the workplace.
4. Health and Safety Committees
Health and safety committees bring together workers, managers and representatives of other important groups to help improve safety at the
workplace. Health and Safety Committees can assist with health and safety planning, and in the development of safety plans, procedures and
documentation. They can also serve as a good place for discussion, and can recommend solutions to more complex OHS problems. Safety committees can be formed at the request of the employees at the workplace, or an employer can organize to help form one.
What are the legal requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE)?
PPE should be provided to workers wherever there are health (or safety) risks that cannot be adequately controlled in other ways. PPE can reduce or prevent a worker's exposure to a health hazard in the workplace and can include respirators, hearing protectors, protective clothing, footwear ,face and eye shields. PPE is also required in specific situations and dealt with in regulations made under OHSA.
How can the risks posed by health hazards be controlled?
The best methods of controlling exposure to a particular hazard will depend on
what it is. In general, methods of control can be placed in four categories:
Engineering controls are methods of designing or modifying plants, processes and
equipment so as to minimize workers' exposure to the hazard. They are preferred
because they work independently of workers.
Employers
Employers have the duty to provide appropriate protective wear. There are some exceptions, for instance some soft-toe protective footwear and prescription safety glasses, which the employee may be expected to provide. The employer must ensure that the PPE is clean and fit for purpose. She must ensure that is replaced if it is worn or damaged. If the employee needs to be trained to use it, she must ensure that he is given this training.
Employee
The employee has a duty to wear PPE correctly when she is required to do so. She
should report any damage to it, though she should not have to pay for this. She should also
attend any training provided on how to correctly wear or use PPE.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
A contingency plan is a plan devised for an exceptional risk that, though unlikely,
would have catastrophic consequences. Contingency plans are often devised
by governments or businesses. For example, suppose many employees of a company
are traveling together on an aircraft which crashes, killing all aboard. The company could
be severely strained or even ruined by such a loss. Accordingly, many companies have
procedures to follow in the event of such a disaster. The plan may also include standing
policies to mitigate a disaster's potential impact, such as requiring employees to travel
separately or limiting the number of employees on any one aircraft.
Health and safety representatives are the important links between employees and employers. Health and safety representatives are people elected by co-workers to act on their behalf, telling employers about safety and health concerns and cooperating with employers to implement and maintain workplace health and safety.
2. Supervisors
Supervisors need to make sure that the people they are looking after are given the safety instructions they need, and are able to perform their jobs safely. Portfolio record - OHS organizations If you are planning to apply for RCC you need the information gained from the learning activities you undertake. Wherever you see this icon there will be an action needed in the Work Record Portfolio. Complete OHS organizations in the Work Record Portfolio.
3. Safety Officers
Safety officers are trained people who are hired by the employer to help with the management of health and safety at the workplace. Some of the tasks Safety Officers may do are:
• organize OHS trainings
• investigate accidents
• provide first aid
• do risk assessments at the workplace.
4. Health and Safety Committees
Health and safety committees bring together workers, managers and representatives of other important groups to help improve safety at the
workplace. Health and Safety Committees can assist with health and safety planning, and in the development of safety plans, procedures and
documentation. They can also serve as a good place for discussion, and can recommend solutions to more complex OHS problems. Safety committees can be formed at the request of the employees at the workplace, or an employer can organize to help form one.
What are the legal requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE)?
PPE should be provided to workers wherever there are health (or safety) risks that cannot be adequately controlled in other ways. PPE can reduce or prevent a worker's exposure to a health hazard in the workplace and can include respirators, hearing protectors, protective clothing, footwear ,face and eye shields. PPE is also required in specific situations and dealt with in regulations made under OHSA.
How can the risks posed by health hazards be controlled?
The best methods of controlling exposure to a particular hazard will depend on
what it is. In general, methods of control can be placed in four categories:
Engineering controls are methods of designing or modifying plants, processes and
equipment so as to minimize workers' exposure to the hazard. They are preferred
because they work independently of workers.
- Work and hygiene practices are on-the-job activities that reduce the potential for exposure.
- Administrative controls are things like job rotation schedules, work-rest cycles and timing of maintenance procedures, which can be used to limit the amount of time an individual is exposed to a hazard.
- Personal protective equipment includes items like respirators, hearing protectors, safety clothing and protective clothing. It can reduce a worker's exposure but must be used properly to be effective.
Employers
Employers have the duty to provide appropriate protective wear. There are some exceptions, for instance some soft-toe protective footwear and prescription safety glasses, which the employee may be expected to provide. The employer must ensure that the PPE is clean and fit for purpose. She must ensure that is replaced if it is worn or damaged. If the employee needs to be trained to use it, she must ensure that he is given this training.
Employee
The employee has a duty to wear PPE correctly when she is required to do so. She
should report any damage to it, though she should not have to pay for this. She should also
attend any training provided on how to correctly wear or use PPE.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
A contingency plan is a plan devised for an exceptional risk that, though unlikely,
would have catastrophic consequences. Contingency plans are often devised
by governments or businesses. For example, suppose many employees of a company
are traveling together on an aircraft which crashes, killing all aboard. The company could
be severely strained or even ruined by such a loss. Accordingly, many companies have
procedures to follow in the event of such a disaster. The plan may also include standing
policies to mitigate a disaster's potential impact, such as requiring employees to travel
separately or limiting the number of employees on any one aircraft.