Fitting and Turning – Worksite health and safety practices

Health and safety practices are the rules that you need to follow on a worksite to make sure that your workplace is healthy and safe. In South Africa these rules are described in the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) act 85 of 1993. All employers and employees in South Africa must follow these rules. It is therefore important that you know the rules and understand what they mean.

The responsibility of the Employer:

The employer is the person or company that pays people to work for them. The employer must:-

·         Make sure that employees have all the right equipment and machinery, and that this equipment and machinery is working properly and is safe to use.

·         Make sure that there are no dangers at the worksite that can affect the health and safety of employees.

·         Take all safety steps needed to protect the health and safety of employees at the worksite.

·         Take care and train the employees to make sure they are healthy and safe at the worksite.

·         Make sure that no employee operates machinery or equipment or does any task without taking the right safety steps.

·         Make sure that all employees follow the rules in the OHS Act.

·         Make sure that all the required safety signs are put up in the right areas at the worksite.

·         Stop people from entering the worksite unless they have received permission from the employer or user of the machinery.

·         Make sure that no one who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol enters or stay on the worksite or operate any machinery on the worksite.

·         Make sure that the employee can get first aid treatment for any injuries that might happen at the worksite.

·         The employee must supply a first aid where everybody can see it if there are more than 5 employees on the worksite. In addition, if there are more than ten employees on the worksite the employer must make sure that at least one person at the worksite is trained in first aid, has a first aid certificate and get first aid training every year.

 The responsibility of the employee:

 The employee is a person that works for the employer. The employer must:-

·         Look after his or her own safety, as well as the safety of of others in the worksite.

·         Obey the health and safety rules, and follow orders given by the employer regarding health and safety I n the worksite.

·         Report any unsafe conditions or situations in the worksite to the employer or the safety representative.

·         Report any incidents, accidents or injuries as soon as possible

·         Wear the required safety equipment at all times.

Applicable environmental procedures

Lighting:  How light or dark is it where you work. The lighting in the worksite should be sufficient to allow you to see properly so that you can work efficiently, effectively and safely. If there are not enough windows to let in natural light, you need to make sure that lamps or lights are put into the worksite in such a way that everybody can see properly. Lights should not shine directly into your eyes.

Ventilation:  ventilation should be enough so that the air is kept fresh and safe to breath in the worksite. All work sites should be properly ventilated by either open windows or air conditioning. If areas contain dangerous gases or dust the employer must provide every employee with respiratory equipment.

Areas that have large amounts of dust must also have a dust extraction system. Welding bays should also be equipped with an extraction system because of the dangerous gases.

Noise levels:  Noise levels mean how loud the noise from all the machines in the workplace is. Noise levels louder than 85 decibels can damage your ears. If the noise levels are higher than 85 decibels, signs must be put up to worn employers and visitors to wear ear protection supplied by the employer. The employer must train the employees to make sure they know how to use the ear protection properly.

Fire exits:  A fire exit, or emergency exit, is a safe open passage or staircase that you can use to exit the building in case of a fire or other emergency. All workplaces must have a fire exit and it must be kept open and clean. It must also open easily to the outside of the building and be made of non-combustible material.

General rules for working safely:

·         Don’t wear loose-fitting clothing or jewelry, as this can get caught in the moving parts of equipment and can cause serious injury.

·         Make sure that long hair is tied back, as it can get caught in the moving parts of equipment and can cause serious injury.

·         Make sure the work area is suitably ventilated when working with dangerous gases. Flammable gases can ignite and start a fire while poisonous gases can make you sick or kill you if breathed in.

·         Make sure that all equipment is kept in good condition. Report any faulty equipment to your supervisor so that accidents can be prevented.

·         Put enough fire-fighting equipment where people can see them.

·         Fire-fighting equipment should be inspected regularly by safety inspectors to make sure they are in good working condition.

·         Make sure you know where the fire-fighting equipment is kept and that you know how to operate them.

·         Make sure that you know how to use each piece of equipment in the workshop correctly. If you are not sure how to use something, ask for training.

·         Check that you use the correct safety clothing and safety equipment for the job.

·         Check that the safety equipment is in good working condition and not damaged or faulty.

Working safely with tools:

·         Make sure you are using the right tool for the job. Using the wrong tools can damage the job as well as the tool.

·         Don’t carry sharp tools in your pocket.

·         Only keep the tools you need for the job close at hand. Pack the other tools away so that they don’ get in the way.

·         Make sure the handle of the hammer is fixed to the head. If the head flies of while you use the hammer it can seriously injure you or a fellow worker.

·         Don’t use a file without a handle.

·         Don’t use a chisel with a mushroom head. A small piece of metal can break off and seriously damage your eyes if you are not wearing safety goggles.

·         Don’t leave tools with sharp edges sticking out over the edge of the work bench, as it can cut you or some-one else.

Working safely with machines:

·         Check that all the moving parts of the machinery are covered and protected by the correct safety guards or devices.

·         Check that all safety equipment is in good working condition.

·         Never lean against a machine or sit on it, because the moving parts can injure you.

·         Make sure that you know the dangers of using the machine and that you follow the safety precausions.

·         Don’t leave a machine running unattended

·         Do not let anyone else operate the machine you are working on without the permission of your supervisor.

·         If a machine looks unsafe to use, switch it off and inform your supervisor immediately before someone gets hurt.

·         Don’t do maintenance or repairs to a machine while it is operating.

·         Check that no one is working close to the machine before you turn it on.

·         Make sure all work pieces are clamped firmly in position.

·         Don’t touch the work piece while the machine is operating.

·         Don’t try to stop the machine with your hands.

·         Check the floor for oil or grease. Slippery floors can lead to serious injury.

·         Don’t wear open-toed shoes or sandals in the workshop. Wear safety boots.