Definition of Terms
- Clean Air Act- the constitutional law designed to make sure that all Filipinos have air that is safe to breathe.
- Corrosive wastes- are acidic or alkaline (basic) wastes that can readily corrode or dissolve materials they come into contact with.
- Earthquake- is the perceptible shaking of the surface of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's Crust that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can be violent enough to toss people around and destroy whole cities.
- Ergonomic Hazards- include improperly designed tools or work areas, improper lifting or reaching, poor visual conditions, or repeated motions in an awkward position which can result in accidents or illnesses in the workplace.
- Fire Drills- intended to ensure by means of training and rehearsal, that in the event of fire.
- Fire Safety- a set of pecautionary measures that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire that may result in death, injury, or property damage.
- First Aid- the provition of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by expert.
- Hazardous Eqiupment- refers to plant equipment which by their very nature has the potential of causing severe or fatal injury to the worker or operator.
- Hazardous work processes- refer to work operations or practices performed by a worker in the establishment or workplace in conjunction with or as an incident to such operations or practices and which expose the employees to hazards likely to cause any disabling injury, illness, death or physical or psychological harm.
- Hazardous materials or substance - refers to substances which upon exposure results ormay result in adverse effects on health and safety of humans in an occupational setting.
- Ignitable waste- liquids with a flash point below 60°C or 140°F.
- Imminent danger- refers to a condition or practice in any workplace that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm before abatement until the enforcement procedures can be accomplished.
- Mitigation Activities- done to eliminate or reduce the probability of disaster occurrence, or reduce the effects of unavoidable disasters.
- Occupational hazard- refers to various environmental factors or stresses that can cause sickness, impaired health, or significant discomfort in workers and can be classified as chemical, physical, biological or ergonomic.
- Occupational health services- the continuous, systematic use of routinely collected health data to guide OSH decisions and actions.
- OHS training- interventions conducted to facilitate learning on occupational safety and health, the results of which can contribute to the attainment of better and improved OSH conditions.
- Personal Protective Equipment- refers to devices worn by workers to protect them against hazards in the work environment including but not limited to safety helmet, safety spectacles, face shields, ear plugs/muffs, respirators, chemical gloves, safety belt/harness, working clothes, and safety shoes.
- Preparedness programs - done to achieve a satisfactory level of readiness to respond to any emergency situation through programs that strengthen the technical and managerial capacity of governments, organizations, and communities.
- Primary Prevention Program on OSH - the promotion of health by personal, workplace and community-wide efforts.
- Reactive wastes - those wastes that are unstable, explosive, and capable of detonation or react violently with water.
- Recovery - a measure that augments the affected population who is capable of undertaking a growing number of activities aimed at restoring their lives and the infrastructure that supports them.
- Response - aims to provide immediate assistance to maintain life, improve health and support the morale of the affected population.
- Safety device – refers to mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or other device which prevent or restricts the dangerous or harmful influence on a person that can be caused by the machinery, the processed materials and their surroundings.
- Technical Services - refer to occupational safety and health services extended to workplaces such as but not limited to health examinations, safety audits, work environment measurement, testing of personal protective equipment, environment assessments as these relate to work conditions and procedures.
- Threshold Limit Value - refers to the Philippine Occupational Safety and Health Standards set for airborne concentrations of substances and represents conditions under which workers may be repeatedly exposed for an 8-hours workday at a total of 48 hours per week, without adverse health effects; (OSHS).
- Toxic wastes - chemicals that pose a hazard to health or the environment.
- Waste management - the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal of waste Material.
- Work Environment Measurement - shall mean sampling and analysis carried out in respect of the atmospheric working environment and other fundamental elements of working environment for the purpose of determining actual conditions therein.
Learning Outcome 1: Identify/ Evaluate Hazards and Risks
Information Sheet 1.1
Philippine Occupational Health and Standards
Occupational Safety and Health is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work. The goal of all occupational safety and health programs is to foster a safe work environment. As a secondary effect, it may also protect co-workers, family members, employers, customers, suppliers, nearby communities, and other members of the public who are impacted by the workplace environment. It may involve interactions among many subject areas, including medicine, occupational well-being, public health, safety engineering / industrial engineering, chemistry, health physics and others.
The Occupation Safety and Health Center in the country is established by Executive order No. 307. The implementing rules and regulations are issued by the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC).
These Implementing Rules and Regulations are issued pursuant to the authority of the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) under Section 8 of Executive Order No. 307 establishing the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC).
The main objectives of the OSC are follows:
Coverage of Services
The Services of the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) covers the
preventive (primary, secondary, tertiary prevention) aspects of occupational safety and health in every workplace, public or private.
The Center serves as the authority on Occupational Safety and Health in the areas of research, training, and information dissemination and technical services.
The Center undertakes studies and research in all aspect of occupational safety and health. It focuses and studies:
II. HAZARDS AND RISKS AND ITS EFFECTS
A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most hazards are dormant or potential, with only a theoretical risk of harm. However, once a hazard becomes "active", it can create an emergency situation. A hazard does not exist when it is not happening. A hazardous situation that has come to pass is called an incident. Hazard and vulnerability interact together to create risk.
Hazards are sometimes classified into three modes:
TYPES OF HAZARDS
One of the most basic health practices in any workplace is having it free from common workplace hazard. Workplace hazards vary from one working environment to another. Because there are so many types of hazards, the three that will be discussed are mechanical hazards, biological hazards, and chemical hazards.
Effect of Hazards in Workplace
Hazard vs. Risk
The terms hazard and risk are often used interchangeably, however, in terms of risk assessment, these are two very distinct terms. As defined above, a hazard is any biological, chemical, mechanical, or physical agent that is reasonably likely to cause harm or damage to humans or the environment with sufficient exposure or dose. Risk is defined as the probability that exposure to a hazard will lead to a negative consequence, or more simply, Risk = Hazard x Dose (Exposure).
The Occupation Safety and Health Center in the country is established by Executive order No. 307. The implementing rules and regulations are issued by the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC).
These Implementing Rules and Regulations are issued pursuant to the authority of the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) under Section 8 of Executive Order No. 307 establishing the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC).
The main objectives of the OSC are follows:
- prevent, eliminate or reduce work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths
- implement effectively occupational health and safety programs that will promote the health, efficiency and general well-being of the Filipino workers through the improvement of the quality of his working life that will enhance significantly the productivity of industries and business
- maintain an expert intelligence and training center for industrial disease and occupational safety
Coverage of Services
The Services of the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) covers the
preventive (primary, secondary, tertiary prevention) aspects of occupational safety and health in every workplace, public or private.
The Center serves as the authority on Occupational Safety and Health in the areas of research, training, and information dissemination and technical services.
The Center undertakes studies and research in all aspect of occupational safety and health. It focuses and studies:
- To prevent and reduce occupational and work-related injuries and illnesses;
- To continuously review and support the updating of the list of occupational illnesses as prescribed in PD 626, Employees’ Compensation and State Insurance Fund; and
- To aid standard setting and enforcement of OSH Standards.
II. HAZARDS AND RISKS AND ITS EFFECTS
A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most hazards are dormant or potential, with only a theoretical risk of harm. However, once a hazard becomes "active", it can create an emergency situation. A hazard does not exist when it is not happening. A hazardous situation that has come to pass is called an incident. Hazard and vulnerability interact together to create risk.
Hazards are sometimes classified into three modes:
- Dormant - The situation has the potential to be hazardous, but no people, property, or environment is currently affected by this. For instance, a hillside may be unstable, with the potential for a landslide, but there is nothing below or on the hillside that could be affected.
- Armed - People, property, or environment are in potential harm's way.
- Active - A harmful incident involving the hazard has actually occurred. Often this is referred to not as an "active hazard" but as an accident, emergency, incident, or disaster.
TYPES OF HAZARDS
- Biological- A biological hazard is one originating from an organism that is foreign (in presence or concentration) to the organism being affected. Many biological hazards are associated with food, including certain viruses, parasites, fungi, bacteria, and plant and seafood toxins. Pathogenic Campylobacter and Salmonella are common food borne biological hazards. The hazards from these bacteria can be avoided through risk mitigation steps such as proper handling, storing, and cooking of food. Disease in humans can come from biological hazards in the form of infection by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
- 2. Chemical-A chemical can be considered a hazard if by virtue of its intrinsic properties can cause harm or danger to humans, property, or the environment. Some chemicals occur naturally in certain geological formations, such as radon gas or arsenic. Other chemicals include products with commercial uses, such as agricultural and industrial chemicals, as well as products developed for home use. Pesticides, which are normally used to control unwanted insects and plants, may cause a variety of negative effects on non-target organisms.
- Mechanical-A mechanical hazard is any hazard involving a machine or process. Motor vehicles, aircraft, and air bags pose mechanical hazards. Compressed gases or liquids can also be considered a mechanical hazard.
- Physical-A physical hazard is a naturally occurring process that has the potential to create loss or damage. Physical hazards include, but are not limited to, earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes. Physical hazards often have both human and natural elements. Flood problems can be affected by climate fluctuations and storm frequency, both natural elements, and by land drainage and building in a flood plain, human elements. Another physical hazard, X-rays, are naturally occurring from solar radiation, but have been utilized by humans for medical purposes; however, overexposure can lead to cancer, skin burns, and tissue damage.
- Ergonomic-It is a physical factor within the environment that harms the musculoskeletal system. Ergonomic hazards include uncomfortable workstation height and poor body positioning. Ergonomic hazards are caused by poorly designed workplaces or processes. Examples are poor lighting, or a job that requires you to repeat the same movement over and over. An office receptionist that has to type an abundant amount of documents may be affected by ergonomic hazards. If she/he is not seated they will have back pain, neck pain, bad eye sight and leg cramps.
One of the most basic health practices in any workplace is having it free from common workplace hazard. Workplace hazards vary from one working environment to another. Because there are so many types of hazards, the three that will be discussed are mechanical hazards, biological hazards, and chemical hazards.
Effect of Hazards in Workplace
- Mechanical Hazards-The severity of the injury depends on mostly how the accident happens like slips, falls and entanglement. It is the responsibility of the company to make sure all risks are minimized.
- Chemical Hazards-Everywhere around us see chemical and mixture of chemicals. Some chemicals are acidic while some are extremely volatile. The workplace health risks involved any particular chemical is hard to determine without first knowing what exactly the chemical is and what environment it is in.
- Biological Hazards-Viruses, diseases and other forms of sickness and biological hazards are the hardest to manage when it comes to the workplace. The most common areas of transmitting disease are in public areas and at work so workplace health is seriously threatened by biological hazards. One more reason why biological hazards are hard to manage is their ability to travel from place to place.
Hazard vs. Risk
The terms hazard and risk are often used interchangeably, however, in terms of risk assessment, these are two very distinct terms. As defined above, a hazard is any biological, chemical, mechanical, or physical agent that is reasonably likely to cause harm or damage to humans or the environment with sufficient exposure or dose. Risk is defined as the probability that exposure to a hazard will lead to a negative consequence, or more simply, Risk = Hazard x Dose (Exposure).
Learning Outcome 2: Control Hazards and Risks
Information Sheet 2.1
SAFETY REGULATIONS
1. The Philippines Clean Air Act of 1999 The Clean Air Act is the constitutional law designed to make sure that all Filipinos have air that is safe to breathe. Public health protection is the primary goal, though the law also seeks to protect our environment from damage caused by air pollution. In 1999, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act, a landmark legislation setting a comprehensive air quality management policy and program which aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for all the people in the Philippines.
The Clean Air Act is guided by the following principles:
a. Protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature;
b. Promote and protect the global environment while organizing the primary responsibility of local government units to deal with environmental problems;
c. Recognize that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and environment is primarily area-based; and
d. Recognize that a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all and should therefore be the concern of all.
2. Waste Management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials. Waste Management program helps manage hazardous chemical, radioactive, medical and other wastes safely and legally.
Types of Waste
Waste includes all items that people no longer have any use for, which they either intend to get rid of or have already discarded. Many items can be considered as waste like household rubbish, sewage sludge, wastes from manufacturing activities, packaging items, discarded cars, old televisions, garden waste, old paint containers and others. Thus all our daily activities can give rise to a large variety of different wastes arising from different sources.
A. Solid wastes- Solid waste is defined as any waste that is dry in form and is discarded as unwanted. It can describe the solid waste from general housekeeping as residential waste, refuse, household waste or domestic waste. Examples are plastics, styrofoam containers, bottles, cans, papers, scrap iron, and other trashes.
B. Liquid Wastes- Liquid waste includes human waste, runoff (storm water or flood water), sullage, industrial wastewater and other forms of wastewater from different sources. Examples are chemicals, oils, waste water from ponds.
Classification of Wastes According to their Properties
A. Bio-degradable- Biodegradable wastes are those that can be broken down (decomposed) into their constituent elements by bacteria and other microorganisms. The term can be applied to both liquid and solid waste. Examples are Human and animal wastes, food waste, paper, and agricultural wastes.
B. Non-biodegradable- Non-biodegradable trash is any discarded item that cannot be broken down by living organisms. Non-biodegradable trash accumulates in the environment because it cannot return to its origins. Examples are plastics, bottles, old machines, containers and others.
Classification of Wastes According to their Effects on Human Health and the Environment
A. Hazardous wastes – are unsafe substances used commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically. Examples are paint, motor oil, pesticide, drain opener, prescription drugs, air fresheners, batteries.
B. Non-hazardous – are safe substances used commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically. Examples are papers, cardboard, linings, wrappings, paper packaging materials or absorbents.
Process Flow of Waste Management
The process flow refers to the 3 (or 4) Rs of reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover which classify waste management strategies according to their desirability. The Rs are meant to be a hierarchy, in order of importance. However, the waste hierarchy has 5 steps: reduce, reuse, recycle, recovery, and disposal.
Reduce - to buy less and use less.
Reuse - elements of the discarded item are used again.
Recycle - discards are separated into materials that may be incorporated into new products.
Recover - capturing useful material for waste to energy programs.
The Clean Air Act is guided by the following principles:
a. Protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature;
b. Promote and protect the global environment while organizing the primary responsibility of local government units to deal with environmental problems;
c. Recognize that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and environment is primarily area-based; and
d. Recognize that a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all and should therefore be the concern of all.
2. Waste Management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials. Waste Management program helps manage hazardous chemical, radioactive, medical and other wastes safely and legally.
Types of Waste
Waste includes all items that people no longer have any use for, which they either intend to get rid of or have already discarded. Many items can be considered as waste like household rubbish, sewage sludge, wastes from manufacturing activities, packaging items, discarded cars, old televisions, garden waste, old paint containers and others. Thus all our daily activities can give rise to a large variety of different wastes arising from different sources.
A. Solid wastes- Solid waste is defined as any waste that is dry in form and is discarded as unwanted. It can describe the solid waste from general housekeeping as residential waste, refuse, household waste or domestic waste. Examples are plastics, styrofoam containers, bottles, cans, papers, scrap iron, and other trashes.
B. Liquid Wastes- Liquid waste includes human waste, runoff (storm water or flood water), sullage, industrial wastewater and other forms of wastewater from different sources. Examples are chemicals, oils, waste water from ponds.
Classification of Wastes According to their Properties
A. Bio-degradable- Biodegradable wastes are those that can be broken down (decomposed) into their constituent elements by bacteria and other microorganisms. The term can be applied to both liquid and solid waste. Examples are Human and animal wastes, food waste, paper, and agricultural wastes.
B. Non-biodegradable- Non-biodegradable trash is any discarded item that cannot be broken down by living organisms. Non-biodegradable trash accumulates in the environment because it cannot return to its origins. Examples are plastics, bottles, old machines, containers and others.
Classification of Wastes According to their Effects on Human Health and the Environment
A. Hazardous wastes – are unsafe substances used commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically. Examples are paint, motor oil, pesticide, drain opener, prescription drugs, air fresheners, batteries.
B. Non-hazardous – are safe substances used commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically. Examples are papers, cardboard, linings, wrappings, paper packaging materials or absorbents.
Process Flow of Waste Management
The process flow refers to the 3 (or 4) Rs of reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover which classify waste management strategies according to their desirability. The Rs are meant to be a hierarchy, in order of importance. However, the waste hierarchy has 5 steps: reduce, reuse, recycle, recovery, and disposal.
Reduce - to buy less and use less.
Reuse - elements of the discarded item are used again.
Recycle - discards are separated into materials that may be incorporated into new products.
Recover - capturing useful material for waste to energy programs.
3. Disaster Preparedness and Management aims to reduce, or avoid the potential losses from hazards, assure prompt and appropriate assistance to victims of disaster, and achieve rapid and effective recovery.
Disaster Management Cycle
Disaster Management Cycle
- Mitigation - Minimizing the effects of disaster.
- Preparedness - Planning how to respond.
- Response - Efforts to minimize the hazards created by a disaster.
- Recovery - Returning the community to normal.
Information Sheet 2.2
CONTINGENCY MEASURES AND PROCEDURES
A contingency plan is a written emergency procedures plan which describes what actions must be taken to minimize hazards from fires, explosions or unplanned releases of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents to air, soil or water.
What Must a Contingency Plan Include?
Evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or approaching weather system. In situations involving hazardous materials or possible contamination, evacuees may be decontaminated prior to being transported out of the contaminated area.
Isolation refers to various measures taken to prevent contagious diseases from being spread from a patient to other patients, health care workers, and visitors, or from others to a particular patient. Various forms of isolation exist, some of which contact procedures are modified, and others in which the patient is kept away from all others.
Forms of Isolation
a. Strict isolation is used for diseases spread through the air and in some cases by contact.
b. Contact isolation is used to prevent the spread of diseases that can be spread through contact with open wounds.
c. Respiratory isolation is used for diseases that are spread through particles that are exhaled.
d. Blood and body fluids precaution is used when there is concern about communicable diseases found in a patient's body fluid.
e. Reverse isolation is a method to prevent a patient in a compromised health situation from being contaminated by other people or objects.
Decontamination is the reduction or removal of chemical agents. It may be accomplished by removal of these agents by physical means or by chemical neutralization or detoxification.
What Must a Contingency Plan Include?
- A description of the emergency procedures to be followed by facility personnel in response to fires, explosions, or any unplanned sudden or non-sudden release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents to the air, soil or water;
- A description of arrangements agreed to by local police departments, fire departments, hospitals, contractors, and state and local emergency response teams;
- An up-to-date list of names, addresses and phone numbers (office and home) of all persons qualified to act as emergency coordinator. When more than one person is listed, one must be designated as primary emergency coordinator and the others must be listed in the order in which they will assume responsibility as alternates;
- An up-to-date list of all emergency equipment at the facility, including the location and physical description of each item, along with a brief outline of its capabilities. Examples of emergency equipment include, but are not limited to, fire extinguishing systems, communications and alarm systems, personnel protective equipment, spill containment or clean-up equipment, and decontamination equipment; and
- An evacuation plan for facility personnel.
Evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or approaching weather system. In situations involving hazardous materials or possible contamination, evacuees may be decontaminated prior to being transported out of the contaminated area.
Isolation refers to various measures taken to prevent contagious diseases from being spread from a patient to other patients, health care workers, and visitors, or from others to a particular patient. Various forms of isolation exist, some of which contact procedures are modified, and others in which the patient is kept away from all others.
Forms of Isolation
a. Strict isolation is used for diseases spread through the air and in some cases by contact.
b. Contact isolation is used to prevent the spread of diseases that can be spread through contact with open wounds.
c. Respiratory isolation is used for diseases that are spread through particles that are exhaled.
d. Blood and body fluids precaution is used when there is concern about communicable diseases found in a patient's body fluid.
e. Reverse isolation is a method to prevent a patient in a compromised health situation from being contaminated by other people or objects.
Decontamination is the reduction or removal of chemical agents. It may be accomplished by removal of these agents by physical means or by chemical neutralization or detoxification.
Information Sheet 2.3
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing , helmets, goggles, or other garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury by blunt impacts, electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, and job-
related health purposes.
related health purposes.
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A steel-toe boot (also known as a safety boot, steel-capped boot or safety shoe) is a durable boot or shoes that has a protective reinforcement in the toe which protects the foot from falling objects or compression, usually combined with a mid sole plate to protect against punctures from below.
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses (formal), spectacles or simply specs (informal), are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. They are normally used for vision correction or eye protection. Safety glasses are a kind of eye protection against flying debris or against visible and near visible light or radiation. Sunglasses allow better vision in bright daylight, and may protect against damage from high levels of ultraviolet light Other types of glasses may be used for viewing visual information (such as stereoscopy). A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot while doing various activities. Lineman’s Boots are worn both for their functionality – protecting the foot and leg from water, snow, mud or hazards or providing additional ankle support for strenuous activities. A jacket or ordinary cold weather gear is a hip- or waist-length garment for the upper body. A jacket typically has sleeves, and fastens in the front. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which is outerwear. A logging boot is a type of footwear and a specific type of shoe. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. A raincoat is a waterproof or water-resistan coat worn to protect the body from rain. The term rain jacket is sometimes used to refer to raincoats that are waist length. A rain jacket may be combined with a pair of rain pants to make a rain suit. Back belts, or lumbar support belts, are generally lightweight belts worn around the lower back to provide support to the lumbar. A long-sleeved shirt is a type of shirt, of a style and fabric similar to a T-shirt, although, of course, with long sleeves. A long-sleeved t-shirt is sometimes worn underneath a short-sleeved shirt for warmth, typically during cold season. Long pants or long trousers, pants (usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately. A dust mask is a flexible pad held over the nose and mouth by elastic or rubber straps to protect against dusts encountered during construction or cleaning activities, such as dusts from drywall, concrete, wood, fiberglass, silica(from ceramic or glass production), or sweeping. |
Learning Outcome 3: Maintain Occupational Health and Safety Awareness
Information Sheet 3.1
OPERATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURE, PRACTICES AND REGULATION/EMERGENCY-RELATED DRILLS AND TRAINING
Fire Safety
This refers to precautions that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire that may result in death, injury, or property damage, alert those in a structure to the presence of an uncontrolled fire in the event one occurs, better enable those threatened by a fire to survive, or to reduce the damage caused by a fire. Fire safety measures include those that are planned during the construction of a building or implemented in structures that are already standing, and those that are taught to occupants of the building.
In our country, Fire Prevention Month is being observed in March of every year led by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). The purpose of the month-long observance is to heighten the fire safety consciousness of the Filipino people and reduce incidence of fires that result to property losses.
Most fires start in the kitchen because people are too negligent about loose valves of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks. There are other several causes of fire, they are as follows:
Fire drills are conducted at the frequencies specified by the Fire Code and involve all of the following activities and considerations:
Earthquake
It is the shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity.
The following activities are to be undertaken:
During the Earthquake
Indoors
After the Earthquake
Personal Safety
Home
First Aid
It is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed.
A good first aider must possess the following characteristics:
General Directions for First Aid
1. Give immediate action. Action taken needs to be careful not to cause panic. The first – aider must remain calm all the times.
2. Keep the victim on its position; if possible lay him/her down.
3. Assess the situation. Examine the victim from injuries.
4. Plan action to be taken. It involves seeking expert assistance.
This refers to precautions that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire that may result in death, injury, or property damage, alert those in a structure to the presence of an uncontrolled fire in the event one occurs, better enable those threatened by a fire to survive, or to reduce the damage caused by a fire. Fire safety measures include those that are planned during the construction of a building or implemented in structures that are already standing, and those that are taught to occupants of the building.
In our country, Fire Prevention Month is being observed in March of every year led by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). The purpose of the month-long observance is to heighten the fire safety consciousness of the Filipino people and reduce incidence of fires that result to property losses.
Most fires start in the kitchen because people are too negligent about loose valves of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks. There are other several causes of fire, they are as follows:
- Overheated appliances, like failure to switch off water heater and unplug flat iron after use
- Worn-out electrical connections
- Left unattended lighted candles
- Overheated lights (Christmas lights to be specific) and lanterns
- Sudden surge of electricity
Fire drills are conducted at the frequencies specified by the Fire Code and involve all of the following activities and considerations:
- The fire alarm system is activated as part of the drill (activated in a manner to assess the response of supervisory staff and participants to the alarm condition, or alternatively activated by an individual participating in a given fire scenario situation which is an expected response during the drill)
- Supervisory staff operates emergency systems and equipment as they would in the event of an actual fire, (where applicable the voice communication or paging system, elevator protocol, smoke control equipment protocol, etc.)
- All supervisory staff that have specific duties identified in the fire safety plan participate (notification of the fire department, provisions for access for firefighting, evacuating endangered occupants, closing doors, notification of supervisory staff who may be off site and an assessment of their timely response, etc.).
- The fire drill runs long enough to adequately assess the expected responses of supervisory staff and the emergency procedures relative to the scenario expectations (if the drill is too short, it may not be possible to adequately assess whether sufficient staff have or will respond, etc.)
- The fire drill outcomes are documented and where concerns are identified, corrective measures are implemented.
- The desirable degree of occupant’ participation is taken into account.
Earthquake
It is the shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity.
The following activities are to be undertaken:
During the Earthquake
Indoors
- Stay inside
- Drop, cover and hold on. Move only a few steps to a nearby safe place. Take cover under and hold onto a piece of heavy furniture or stand against an inside wall. Stay indoors until the shaking stops. Stay away from windows and doors.
- If you are in bed, hold on, stay and protect your head with a pillow Outdoors
- Find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines.
- Drop to the ground until the shaking stops.
After the Earthquake
Personal Safety
- Expect aftershocks. Each time you feel one, drop, cover and hold on.
- Check yourself for injuries. Protect yourself by wearing long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and work gloves.
- Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for the latest emergency information.
- Check others for injuries. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.
- Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Home
- Inspect your home for damage. Get everyone out if your home is unsafe.
- Fires: Look for and extinguish small fires.
- Gas: Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and leave building. Turn off the gas at the valve.
- Electricity: Look for electrical system damage. Turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker if you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if smell hot insulation. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box orcircuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
- Sewage, Water: Check for sewage and water lines damage.
First Aid
It is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed.
A good first aider must possess the following characteristics:
- Watchful – pay strict attention to the situation.
- Resourceful – ability of devising ways and means.
- Gentle – having a kind and calm characteristics.
- Diplomatic – careful in saying a word not to upset other people.
- Sympathetic – a mutual association or feeling to be shown to the victim.
- Gladsome – possessing a good spirit, likely to display gloom.
General Directions for First Aid
1. Give immediate action. Action taken needs to be careful not to cause panic. The first – aider must remain calm all the times.
2. Keep the victim on its position; if possible lay him/her down.
3. Assess the situation. Examine the victim from injuries.
4. Plan action to be taken. It involves seeking expert assistance.