IN YOUR OWN WORDS

Theyre invisible but you spotted them anyway

ust because theyre out of sight, doesnt mean chemical hazards should be out of mind as well. In our November/December 2010 Whats wrong with this photo contest, which featured a worker inside a paint spray booth, readers from a wide range of occupations were quick to identify the subtle dangers associated with chemical spraying. WorkSafeBC occupational hygiene officer Bessam Alhashimi spotted the following offences in this months photo: This scenario requires the use of material safety data sheets (MSDS). Housekeeping is an issue, with pails of paint near the work area, a spray hose on the floor, and a box near the paint storage area, etc. The worker is spraying outside the spray booth. The baffles in the spray booth are not installed properly. The worker is wearing a dust mask and should be wearing a half-mask respirator with organic vapour cartridges, at a minimum. The proper respirator is hanging outside the spray booth. The worker is not wearing eye protection, such as safety goggles. The worker should be wearing face protection, such as a face shield. The worker is not wearing coveralls to protect his clothing. He is wearing street clothes while spraying. A hat worn backwards is not enough to protect his head.

Ergonomics is an issue: the worker is leaning over his work and using the wrong wrist position. Wood strips on the floor of the spray booth present a tripping hazard. A number of fire hazards are present: the electrical cord inside the spray booth looks like it has been patched up and is not safe to use. A pail of flammable material without a lid is near the work area. The sprayer cart contains a jug of flammable solvent.

Now its your turn. See our centre-spread, pullout poster for a closer look at commercial kitchen hazards.

Electrical employees excited about spotting hazards

Editor, WorkSafe Magazine (Re: November/December issue, Whats wrong with this photo?) GE-Hitachi Toronto employees were motivated by their EHS (environmental health and safety) department to participate in your contest. They were excited to contribute to an exercise aimed at improving workplace conditions and reducing and eliminating hazards. This section is now part of our monthly quizzes; our employees think this is a fun way to learn about hazards in the

The employees of GE-Hitachi Toro nto win a car safety kit for their letter!

WorkSafe Magazine January / February 2011

workplace and how to keep themselves safe. The following list reflects the most common answers from our employees. If we win the contest, we will do a raffle for the prize. We would like to keep encouraging participation in these types of activities. Safety first! Our group includes, as follows: Cosimo Zaffinom, production operator; Joe Budgell, decontamination operator; Vishnu Dhanbir, production operator; Lester Allen, production operator; Mira Novacic, quality assurance inspector; Alina Olejnik, production operator; Ally Layacen, decontamination operator; Zvonko Djuric, production operator; Owen Hamilton, production operator; Mohammed Awais, production operator; Brian Greenslade, millwright; Earl Sinclair, production operator/ group leader/JHSC member; Jose Ramondino, decontamination operator; Khalid Rabbani, decontamination operator; Charles Purrier, group leader; Rocco Giovanniello, decontamination operator; Al Ramondino, production operator/JHSC member; Denis Enright, millwright; Fahim Sachedina, production operator.

No grounding is provided for flammable containers Safety shoes are needed; its not clear the worker is wearing these The MSDS (material safety data sheets) station is inappropriate The gloves are on the bench instead of the operators hands; safety gloves are not being used Open, loose clothing while working: coveralls are required for this type of work No WHMIS (workplace hazardous materials information system) is available in the workplace No control of chemicals is being used at the workplace; no MSDS binder/electronic system is in place, either No labels have been affixed to the containers stored on the shelves; there is no associated WHMIS Judging by the way the operator is performing his painting task, the worker has received no education or training about WHMIS Earplugs are not being used while painting, even though the area would be very noisy while working with air compressors No safety signs exist for required PPE. (Ear protection is required, a half-face respirator is required, hard-toe shoes/boots are required, etc.) The area is inadequate for a painting job; an enclosed area/paint booth is required Electrical hazards: electrical cords are behind the operator; this is an inadequate location for these cords Does the workplace have a hazardous waste procedure? Paint, paint removers, and other chemicals used at a painting workshop require proper chemical disposal procedures No fire extinguisher is present in the area; an appropriate extinguisher is required in case of fire Does the workplace have a spill response procedure? Spill response procedures are required to address potential chemical spills or accidents in the workplace

Here are the hazards we identied:

The half-face respirator is not adequately stored; it should be kept in a sealed bag Inadequate respiratory protection: a half-face respirator is required for a painting task, instead of a dust mask The operator is using prescription glasses instead of safety glasses with side shields An inadequate workstation is creating an awkward position to perform a painting job Poor housekeeping practices: working around clutter The chemical storage methods are incorrect Trip and slip hazards Dark areas indicate the need for proper lighting Does this place have proper ventilation? No ventilation is observed No safety poster has been posted in the area regarding the type of PPE (personal protective equipment) required, and the working area offers limited access Ergonomic hazards: the storage system is inappropriate and the cabinets are too low and have an inappropriate design Fire hazard: the wooden cabinets are used to store flammable, five-gallon pails instead of metal shelves

Maria E. Urdaneta EHS specialist GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. Toronto, Ontario

January / February 2011 WorkSafe Magazine

Watch out for wildly unpredictable air hoses

Editor, WorkSafe Magazine (Re: November/December issue, Whats wrong with this photo?)

The lighting is very poor

Worker issues:
No hearing protection is provided, yet an air gun is in the work space It looks like the worker has runners on his feet, not steel-toed safety boots The workers shirt is untucked: a possible catch hazard; plus, his skin is exposed to spray The worker is not wearing gloves He is not wearing a proper respirator; this is a particle mask The worker is not wearing safety glasses He is wearing improper head gear The employee should be in a paint suit that covers him head to toe, and wearing gloves and a face shield respirator The respirator is hanging on a hook in an exposed environment. This needs to be worn or in lock-up in a sealed, airtight container, so it will not absorb chemicals into the filter system There is no explosion cabinet There is a trip hazard behind the worker in the form of cardboard, some wood planks, and perhaps, a metal object The worker is outside the spray area and no ventilation is apparent. The spray booth door is open partially; this may be a ventilation system. If it is, the pleated door should be closed

Worksite issues:

The back wall has an opening, which could cause paint fumes to escape The MSDS (material safety data sheets) station has no information available, and if there were, this location is not accessible or suitable Open chemical containers have been placed on the bench Poor storage practices are being employed for all paints/chemicals; no explosion-proof containment is provided No fire extinguishers are present, and all chemicals are flammable The paint spray hoses are all over the place: tripping hazards The air-line hose hanging over the plank could fall and cause an air leak, or the hose could separate from the air nozzle, causing high pressure air to disturb matter on the floor and also causing the air-line to swing around wildly Two extension cords are unsecured and present a tripping hazard, plus evidence is visible regarding the need for repairs An unknown object is hanging with an unsecured extension cord on the beam behind the worker Large chemical/paint cans are all over the floor and in a direct line to the pressure pot, so the worker would need to walk around or over them, or move them to refill the pot. Some are open and one is on its side

Chris Young Facilities manager and co-chair of the district occupational health and safety committee School District #47 Powell River, B.C.

Fire, electrical, exposure, and tripping hazards abound

Editor, WorkSafe Magazine (Re: November/December issue, Whats wrong with this photo?)

The shop in general:

The sawhorse is old and contaminated, and banded together with a surface texture that looks like incompatible chemicals have mixed (the wood surface is crusty and bubbly) The drywall on the back wall is buckling, and the black mark indicates possible water damage and mould Half-face respirators with cartridges are stored incorrectly, allowing for cartridge loading and contamination The yellow, electrical extension cord has been repaired in at least two places, as is evident from the duct tape. The cord should be taken out of service. It also appears that the cord is frequently used; a wired outlet is required, rather than an extension cord The worksite might need explosion-proof light fixtures
WorkSafe Magazine January / February 2011

The overhead ballasts lack a protective cover for fluorescent tubes; this could present a potential hazard if ladders are used in this area There is no ventilation in the shop and no exhaust hood; as well, the windows do not open There is a tripping hazard behind the worker (wood, etc.) The area shows a general lack of any safety signage or information The work space doesnt show the best housekeeping

The worker:

Is not wearing safety glasses or goggles Is using a sprayer with a pistol grip and significant supination with ulnar deviation Is using the wrong respirator (he should be using a half-mask with cartridges) Is incorrectly wearing a N95 respirator (straps) Is performing work in an unventilated area Is wearing loose clothing Is not wearing gloves (but is painting them with overspray) Looks clean-shaven

Chemicals in the shop:

There is no sign of an appropriate storage cabinet for flammables There is no sign of WHMIS labeling on the plastic container of gold liquid resting on the bench surface The MSDS (material safety data sheets) station is empty. Where is the binder or other safety resource? Open pails of flammable chemicals have been placed on the floor A combustible box has been placed in front of flammable chemicals Paint brushes are sitting in an old pail with what looks like paint thinner close by; its likely that the open pail contains flammable liquid

Thanks. This was fun! Rebecca Chow, CRSP, CDMP Manager, health and safety Human Resources City of Victoria Victoria, B.C.

Correction
Readers expressed a lot of interest in Basic training, a story we published in the November/December issue on injury prevention for employees with developmental disabilities. However, the story incorrectly states that copies of the new WorkSmart training video are available through WorkSafeBC. In fact, those interested in ordering the DVD should contact Kirsti Inglis, video creator and assistant director of Employment Services at the Developmental Disabilities Association. She can be reached at 604 273-9778 or KInglis@develop.bc.ca.

Compressed air issues:

The paint-mixing vessel is on a rolling cart with a charged, compressed line on the floor with the tip still attached Another charged, compressed air-line is sitting on one of the sawhorses; the nozzle on the end indicates the worker will likely use this inappropriately to clean off his clothes after the task is done

Picture imperfect
Ever since we began running our Whats wrong with this photo contest, weve been inundated with requests from readers wanting to use this feature to educate their employees or co-workers. This month, weve responded accordingly. Turn to our centre-spread to see a spot-the-hazard feature thats grown in size and scope, ideal for placing on a worksite wall or bulletin board. Its your chance to spread the word about what constitutes dangerous work habits, and to remind everyone that workplace safety is a shared responsibility.

January / February 2011 WorkSafe Magazine