Basic Safety Awareness

APPLICATION OF SAFETY
PRINCIPLES

Occupational Health & Safety Legislated Employee Induction

 Module 1

Fundamentals of Safety

1. Definition of Safety

Safety means free from hazard or threat which may lead to:

a. Injury / Illness of person.

b. Damage to property / Equipment.
c. Loss of materials / Resources

2. What is an Incident?

An Incident is an undesired / unplanned event that could result in:

a. Injury / Illness
b. Damage / Loss

Incidents are caused by unsafe acts and unsafe conditions

Unsafe Acts

May be defined as a departure from an accepted norm, or correct procedure or

practice, an unnecessary exposure to a hazard, or conduct jeopardizing the
degree of safety normally present.

Unsafe Conditions

May be defined as any physical condition that, if left uncorrected, may lead to an
incident.

The sources of Incidents

There are four sources

1. People

This element includes both employees and employers. It is said that people are
responsible for more than 80% of incidents through unsafe acts.
2. Equipment

By “Equipment” we mean anything used by the employee to carry out his work,
ex, such as angle grinders, hoists, cranes, dumpers, etc.

3. Material

The material person use, work with or make provides another major cause of
incidents. Materials can be sharp, heavy, hot, toxic etc.

4. Environment

Environment is usually associated with such items as lighting, noise levels, heat,
cold dust fumes humidity, gases, water etc.

Injuries

Injuries to workers are classified into “Fatal”, “Disabling”, “Non-Disabling” or “First

Aid only” incident and includes cases where workers health is impaired through
poor conditions in the workplace such as poor lighting ventilation, control of
harmful dusts and vapours, vibrations, radiation etc.

Property Damage Incidents

The property damage incidents is very important. In 1969 a study of industrial

accidents was undertaken by F. Sird in America.

The study of over 1,7 million industrial accidents reported by nearly 300
companies employing some 1,1 million employees revealed that for every
“serious or disabling” injury reported, there are approximately ten injuries of less
serious nature. Also for every single ”serious or disabling” injury there were
approximately thirty incidents of property damage and 600 incidents with no
visible injury or property damage (No less Incidents or “Near Misses”).

No Loss Incidents

The bulks of incidents are experienced in this category and normally receives the
least attention. These are however, as important as any of the other two
categories mentioned above as the degree of loss or damage caused by any
incident is normally fortunes and is usually the outcome of a set of circumstances
coming together or not.

If a person is standing next to a building and a brick falls from the top of the
building it just depends on where the person is standing as to of it is a “Near
miss”, “non disabling injury (if he is wearing a safety helmet) or a disabling injury
(if he is not wearing a safety helmet and is standing where the brick falls).
Serious or Disabled Injury

Minor Injuries

Property Damage

Incident with no visible Injury

Or Damage

The effects of incidents include PRODUCTION INTERRUPTON and PROFIT

REDUCTION, so the accidental loss involves People – Property – Production –
Profit. The effects may range from insignificant to major or catastrophic, from a
scratch to a dent to multiple deaths or complete loss of plant (see sketch REAL
COSTS OF ACCIDENTS).

The above ratio can vary from 1: 3 to 1: 1000 depending on the sophistication of
the operation.

Unsafe Acts

An employee might perform an unsafe act because of:

1. Lack of knowledge.
2. Lack of ability.
3. Incorrect attitude.
4. Physical or mental defects.

Unsafe Acts are classified as:

♦ Operating without authority

♦ Failure to isolate or secure
♦ Operating at improper speed
♦ Making safety devices inoperative
♦ Using defective equipment
♦ Using equipment improperly
♦ Failure to use personal protective equipment
♦ Improper loading or placing
♦ Improper lifting
♦ Taking an unsafe position or posture
♦ Horseplay
♦ Drinking alcohol or taking drugs
♦ Etc.
Unsafe Conditions are classified as:

♦ Inadequate support
♦ Defective tools, equipment, or materials
♦ Inadequate working, storage and traveling space
♦ Fire and explosion hazards
♦ Poor housekeeping
♦ Hazardous atmospheric conditions, dust, gases, fumes and vapours
♦ Excessive noise
♦ Radiation exposure
♦ Inadequate illumination or ventilation
♦ No personal protective equipment
♦ Poor lighting
♦ Etc.

These unsafe conditions, aswell as being caused by personal factors, also

result from:

♦ Poor standards
♦ Poor designs
♦ Misuse
♦ Normal wear and tear
♦ Incorrect equipment and tool

Unsafe conditions are also caused by persons not doing something they should,
or doing something they should not.
 Knowledge Yourself

Directions.

1. Evaluate your work by answering the following items.

2. Write your answers next to the appropriate number on the separate
Answer sheet provided. Page 10.
3. Check your answers with those on the Answer Key. Page 11.
4. For those answers missed or incorrect review Instruction sheet No 1 or
consult your Instructor.
5. 100% Mastery must be achieved.

Missing Words
(Write the word that you think is missing on the line provided.)

1. What is the definition of safety?

Safety means free from hazard or threat that may lead to:

a. ________________________________
b. ________________________________
c. ________________________________

2. What is an Incident?

An Incident is an undesired / unplanned event that could result in:

a. ________________________________
b. ________________________________
c. ________________________________

3. An unsafe condition may be defined as any _______________ condition

that, If left ________________, may lead to an incident.

4. There are four major sources of undesired events :

4.1 This includes both employees and employers Yes / No

4.2 By equipment we mean anything used by employees to carry out their
work and include _____________, _____________, _____________,
________________.
4.3 The ________________ people use, work with, or make, provide another
major cause of incidents.
4.4 ________________ is usually associated with such items as lighting,
noise levels, heat etc.

5. The effects of incidents include _______________ and _______________.

6. An employee might perform an unsafe act because of:

a. Lack of _____________________.
b. Lack of _____________________.
c. Wrong _____________________.

7. Unsafe acts can be classified as:

a. Operating without __________________.

b. Failure to ______________________ or _____________________.
c. Operating at improper _____________________.
d. Using ___________________ equipment.

8. Unsafe acts can be classified as:

a. Inadequate _____________________.
b. Defective ________________, _______________or______________.
c. Poor ____________________.
d. Excessive ___________________.
e. No personal ________________________ equipment.
f. Poor _____________________.
 Module 2

Good Housekeeping

Learning Activities:

1. Read Instruction Sheet No 2 describing good Housekeeping.

2. When completed evaluate you work using Self Check No 2.
3. Proceed to Learning Objective No 3.

Resources:

1. Instruction Sheet No 2.
2. Knowledge Self Check No 2.
Good Housekeeping

Good Housekeeping is the cornerstone of any Safety Management Programme.

Proper planning and a good layout facilitate good housekeeping, and this in turn,
creates greater efficiency. Clean and clear working, stacking and storage areas
can only improve production and prevent injury and loss incidents.

Sites, factories, workshops and yards giving ongoing attention to such matters as
tidiness, scrap and refuse removal systems, demarcation of roadways, aisles,
storage areas and proper storage or stacking practices will benefit.

This is because:

1. Time is saved.
2. Material waste is reduced.
3. Damage to plant and equipment is reduced.
4. There is greater work output.
5. Movement of vehicles and plant become easy.
6. Fewer hazards are encountered.

No one likes working in a dirty, untidy or cramped situation. Regardless of the

industry or operation.

This makes the task extremely difficult and unpleasant, apart from inviting the
obvious problems of fire risk. Stock control of stored material , theft etc.

On site, for instance, if the timber, bricks and other materials are correctly
stacked, the task of the person requiring such an item is considerably eased.

Time is not waste in searching under a mound of haphazardly piled material for
something, which may not be there. With good housekeeping there is less
material and equipment damage.

Remember: “GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MEANS A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

AND EVERYTHING IN IT’S PLACE”
 Knowledge Yourself

Directions

1. Evaluate your work by answering the following items.

2. Write your answers next to the appropriate number on the separate
Answer Sheet provided.
3. Check your answers with those on the Answer Key.
4. For those answers missed or incorrect review Instruction Sheet No2 or
consult your instructor.
5. 100% Mastery must be achieved.

Missing Words
(Write the word that you think is missing on the line provided.)

1. Sites, factories, workshops and yards giving ongoing attention to such

matters as _______________, ______________ and refuse removal
systems, demarcation of _______________, _____________, and storage
areas will benefit.

2. Practicing the above the following benefits will result:

a. _________________ is saved.
b. Material ________________ is reduced.
c. _________________ to plant and equipment is reduced.
d. _________________ and ________________ are improved.
e. There is greater _________________ output.
f. Movement of ________________ and _______________ become easy.
g. Less _________________ are encountered.

3. On site, for instance, if the timber, bricks and other materials are
correctly _______________, the task of the person requiring such an
item is considerably eased.

4. With good _________________ there is less loss of material and

equipment damage.

5. What does good housekeeping mean?

“ Good housekeeping means ________________________________________”

 Module 3

Mechanical Safety

Learning Activities:

1. Read Instruction Sheet No 3.

2. When completed evaluate your work using Self Check No 3.
3. Proceed to Learning Objective No 4.

Resources:

1. Instruction No 3.
2. Knowledge Self Check No 3.
Introduction:

Mechanical hazards are one of the biggest contributors to the cause of injuries
on a building site. It causes cuts, bruises, amputations, and fractures. It is fairly
easy to discover most of the basic mechanical hazards by regular visual
inspections and the elimination thereof is fairly simple.

Machine Guarding

Most machines have moving parts, which needs to be guarded to prevent

persons from coming into contact with these moving parts and be injured. Drive
belts, rotating shafts, cutters and cutting blades are some examples.

Moving Machinery

Maintenance and adjustments should never be carried out on machinery that is

running or moving and machinery must be stopped and “locked out” before any
repair or maintenance work is carried out. “Locked out” means that any
electricity, steam, air pressure or anything else that drives the machine is
diconnected or disabled so that the machine being worked upon cannot be
accidentally started and so injure the person carrying out the work.

Maintenance

Mechanical equipment must be maintenanced and kept in good order to ensure

efficient and smooth operation. Poorly maintained machinery will produce poor
quality, place greater strain on the machine, the material and the operator and
lead to early failure. Cutting edges must be kept sharp, moving parts must be
well lubricated, air filters kept clean, loose parts with bolts and nuts and not tied
with wire etc.
Inspection

The operator of any machinery must be trained to inspect the machinery that he
intends using daily before use. Inspections must include the checking of oil and
water levels, air filters, drive belt tension, sharpness of blades, chisels, controls
etc, as applicable.

Hand Tools

Hand tools must be kept in good condition. Mushroomed chisels must be ground
down and chisel cutting edges kept sharp. Hammer handles must be without
cracks or splinters fixed with correct wedges, where applicable and no welded
galvanized piping used as handles. Files must be provided with handles and
screwdriver handles must be tight. The bits of screwdrivers must be square and
sharp. Pick handles must be splinter free and fitted properly so that it will not
slide down onto the workers hands of fly off the end.

Ladders

Ladders must be inspected by the use before use and any defects rectified
immediately.

Knowledge Yourself

Directions

1. Evaluate your work by answering the following items.

2. Write your answers next to the appropriate number on the separate
Answer Sheet provided.
3. Check you answer with those answers on the Answer Key.
4. For those answers missed or incorrect review Instructions Sheet No 3
or consult your Instructor.
5. 100% Mastery must be achieved.

Missing Words
(Write the word that you think is missing on the line provided.)

1. Mechanical hazards cause amongst other the following injuries on a building

site:

a. _________________.
b. _________________.
c. _________________.
d. _________________.

2. Machines need machine guards to prevent ________________ form coming

into contact with _______________ and ________________.
3. ______________ and ______________ should never be carried out on
moving machinery. Running machinery should be _____________________.

4. Mechanical equipment must be _______________ properly to ensure

______________ and ______________ operation.

5. The operation of any machinery must be trained to _________________ the

machinery that he intends using.

6. ________________ must be kept in good condition.

7. ________________ chisels must be ground down.

8. Files must be provided with __________________.

 Module 4

Electrical Safety

Learning Activities

1. Read the Instruction Sheet No 4 describing electrical safety.

2. When completed evaluate your work using Self-Check No 4.
3. Proceed to Learning Objective No 5.

Resources

1. Instruction Sheet No 4.
2. Knowledge Self Check No 4.

Introduction:

Unlike many other hazards, which can be seen or heard, there is no advance
warning of danger from electricity, AND ELECTRICITY CAN KILL. Averages of
one in thirty of all electrical accidents are fatal.

Electric shock is a major hazard. The severity of the shock will depend on the
level of current and the length of time it is in contact with the body. At very low
levels of current the effect may only be an unpleasant tingling sensation, but this
may be enough to cause a man to lose his balance and fall. Higher levels of
shock can cause fibrillation of the heart, which is almost always fatal. An electric
shock can also cause burning of the skin at the point of contact.

Electricity on sites should always be treated with the utmost care. Electrical
installations should be under the supervision and control of an experienced and
competent person.

Cables, Plugs and sockets

♦ Check that all cables are insulated, and undamaged. Do not allow cables to
lie across pathways or come in contact with sharp edges or hot objects.

♦ Check that plugs and sockets are in good sound condition, and that the
correct plugs are fitted and the wires are connected correctly, (Brown to live,
blue to neutral and yellow to earth).

♦ The earth wire must be connected!

♦ If the cables are buried, they should be least 450mm below the surface and
covered.
♦ If the cables are suspended, they should be at least 5 meters above ground
level and properly supported.

Power Tools

♦ Do not plug or connect power tools to light circuits.

♦ Power tools should be of double insulated type, a square on the casing will
indicate this.

♦ Never carry a portable electric tool by its cable or lower it to the ground by its
cable.

♦ Do not stop or start a portable electric tool under load.

♦ Make sure that all electrical equipment is undamaged before it is plugged in.

♦ Power tools must be checked regularly by an electrician.

Lighting

♦ Always provide sufficient light for the job.

♦ Keep the bulb and shade clean.

♦ Always use the right globe for the light fitting.

♦ Keep any windows clean.

♦ Lighting supply lines must have an earth wire included and connected.

General

♦ Ensure tat earth leakage protection devices are operating correctly.

♦ Keep electrical cables, fittings, tools, etc dry and away from water.

♦ Keep distribution boards cover plates and doors in position and closed.

♦ So not connect extension leads without the correct plugs.

 Knowledge Yourself

Directions

1. Evaluate your work by answering the following items.

2. Write your answers next to the appropriate number on the separate
Answer Sheet provided.
3. Check your answers with those on the Answer Key.
4. For those answers missed or incorrect review Instruction Sheet No 4 or
consult your Instructor.
5. 100% Mastery must be achieved.

Missing Words
(Write the word that you think is missing on the line provided.)

1. Unlike many other hazards, which can be seen or heard, there is no advance
________________ of ________________ from electricity.

2. Higher levels of shock cause fibrillation of the _______________.

3. Electricity on site should always be _______________ with utmost care.

4. Check that all cables are _________________ and undamaged.

5. Check that cables are not in contact with ___________ edges and protected
against ___________ objects.

6. Cables should be buried at least ___________mm below the ground surface.

7. If cables are suspended they should be at least __________meters above

ground level and properly supported.

8. Do not use light circuits for _____________ power tools.

9. Power tools should be ________________ insulated.

10. Never carry a portable electric tool by its ______________.

11. Inspect equipment for _______________ before you plug it in.