Protection for clothing
You normally wear overalls over your normal clothes to protect them from getting soiled with grease and dirt.
Make sure that your overalls fit propperly. If it is too long you may trip over it and too loose may get caught in working machinery causing accidents.
Overalls should not have loose buttons or holes in the pockets.
Overalls should always be clean because chemicals and oil on overalls can cause a fire.
Other protective clothing includes spats and leather aprons.
Spats cover the front of your legs and fit over your safety boots while leather aprons protects your clothes from welding.
Protection for your head
If you visit a worksite or work on a worksite where falling bricks and other material can hit you on the head you must wear a hard hat to protect your head.
Protection for your ears
Some workplaces have very high noise levels because of running machines. It is therefore very important to protect your ears while working there.
There are diffirent types of ear protection available.
Soft ear plugs. (made of sponge)
Wax earplugs. (made of wax that form to fit your ears)
Plastic earplugs (relatively soft and cheap)
Ear muffs (they cover your whole ears like old fasion
earphones)
Protection for your feet
To protect your feet you can wear rubber boots or boots with steel toecaps.
If you are working in water or chemicals PVC gumboots will protect your feet.
In an engineering workshop you must wear boots with steel toecaps to protect your feet from falling objects.
Protection for your hands
You can use diffirent types of gloves to do this.
1. flameproof gloves (Protects you hands and arms from arcs, sparks and hot metal)
2. insulating gloves. (protects your hands while working with live wires)
3. rubber gloves (protect against dangerous liquids and chemicals)
4. Leather gloves (they protect against sharp objects, metal chips and heat)
Breathing protection:
A mask will prevent you from breathing in chemicals and fumes.
Staying safe at work
Using general tools safely.
Some typical general tools:
Hammers; Pliers; saws; knives; spanners; chisels and Rasps.
1. Never use tools when you are in a hurry.
2. Hold tools propperly and correctly
3. Use tools for the purpose they were made for.
4. Store tools correctly and neatly.
5. Keep tools clean and in good working order
6. Keep tools sharp
7. handles must be tightly fitted.
Using Power tools and Machines safely.
Because they are powered by electricity or fuel, these tools are very dangerous and should always be handled with care.
Never use power tools or machines while you are under the influance of alcohol or drugs.
Portable Tools
Hand held with a power cord. Used for tasks like cutting, drilling and grinding
Stationary Tools
Fixed to a workbench, a stand or the floor.
Types and uses of Power tools.
Impact wrench - Replace nuts quickly and to certain torque
Angle Grinder - Cut steel and remove sharp edges on steel
Arc Welder - Join metal for repair work and steel fabrication
Nibbler - cuts thin steel into different shapes
Lathe - Manufacture cylindrical parts
Compressor - store compressed air in a reservoir
Drilling machine - drill holes in wood, PVC, metal and other material
Power saw - cut through wood, PVC, soft metal and other material
Working safely with Power tools.
1. Make sure the power tool is correctly wired insulated and earthed.
inspect the wires for cuts or damage.
2. Make sure machine is switched off and all fittings are secure before plugging it in to the mains.
3. Make sure the STOP button on the machine is clearly visible and within reach
4. Before you adjust or replace fittings or blades on machine switch it off and unplug from the mains.
5. Always be aware of where the electric cord is.
6. Do not operate in whet conditions to prevent electrical shock.
7. Wear rubber shoes while operating the tool to prevent electrical shock
8. wear PPE and eye protection while operating tool.
9. Make sure the work area is well lit and ventilated.
10. When not in use , turn off the power and unplug the tool
11. When working with power tools always be aware of your hands. Make sure you know where they are in relation to blades and other dangerous parts.
Safety while using POWER DRILLS
1. Always wear appropriate safety glasses
2. Ensure start/stop button is within reach
3. Use a clamp or drill vice to secure work piece
4. Make sure drill-bit or cutting tool is locked in the chuck
5. Keep drill-bits sharp and clean
6. Keep working area clean of scraps, tools and materials
7. Shut off the power before removing the drill bit
8. Do not use bent or damaged drill bits
9. Remember to remove chuck key before starting drilling.
10. Always drill small pilot holes before drilling big holes
11. Do not lift or lower the drill by its power cord.
12. Do not use the drill in wet or muddy locations
13. Do not use excessive force on drill while drilling
Safety while using Grinding Machine
1. Always wear appropriate PPE
2. Ensure start/stop button is within reach
3. Fasten grinders securely
4. Keep grinding discs sharp and clean
5. Stand to one side of the grinder until disc reach operating speed
6. Make sure the disc does not exceed the operating speed marked on the side of the disc.
7. Shut off the power before removing the grinding disc
8. Do not use cracked or damaged grinding discs
9. Do not exceed maximum cutting depth for the grinding wheel.
10. Use proper wheel guards on all grinding machines.
11. Do not use excessive force when tightening the nut, you might crack the wheel.
12. Do not use the grinder in wet or muddy locations
13. Do not use excessive force on grinder while grinding
14. Use the correct type of disc
15. Clamp the work piece if it cannot remain stationary
16. Hold the grinder with both hands
17. Allow the grinder to stop before laying it down.
Unsafe acts in the workplace
1. Using machinery or vehicles at high speed
2. Not wearing your PPE
3. Wearing loose clothing while working with power tools
4. Not using your safety equipment correctly or at all
5. Doing work that you are not trained to do
6. Working on faulty machines
7. Working on machines with faulty safety devices
8. Using the wrong equipment
9. Using the right equipment in a wrong way
10. Leaving tools and equipment lying around
Unsafe conditions in workplace
Not enough ventilation in the workplace will affect concentration negatively
Not enough light in the workplace. You will not be able to read instructions or instruments propperly
Dangerous chemicals are stored incorrectly can cause accidents
Protective equipment is not available (hard hats and masks) you coulD be injured
Machine gaurds are not in place or defective. You can cut yourself or even lose your hand
Workshop is overcrowded leading to accidents
Slippery floors
Objects and materials not stacked or stored correctly.
Safety signs and demarcation signs can not be seen.
Exits are blocked or cluttered.
Wires, cables and other items on the floor
Using chemicals, solvents, gases and explosives in the workplace
We often use these elements in the workplace. All of them are dangerous and should be treated with respect.
They can be poisonous and harmful to your skin, eyes and lungs.
Chemicals can be swallowed or absorbed through your skin. You can also inhale the gasses from chemicals.
Chemicals, solvents, gases and explosives that are commonly found in workshops.
Chemicals: acetic acid, sulphuric acid, diffirent paints, petrol and diesel.
Solvent: paint strippers, turpentine and photographic solutions.
gas: hydrogen, methane, nitrogen.
General duties of employers regarding listed work
1) Subject to such arrangements as may be prescribed, every employer whose employees undertake listed work or are liable to be exposed to the hazards emanating from listed work, shall, after consultation with the health and safety committee established for that workplace -
a) identify the hazards and evaluate the risks associated with such work constituting a hazard to the health of such employees, and the steps that need to be taken to comply with the provisions of this Act;
b) as far as is reasonably practicable, prevent the exposure of such employees to the hazards concerned or, where prevention is not reasonably practicable, minimize such exposure; and
c) having regard to the nature of the risks associated with such work and the level of exposure of such employees to the hazards, carry out an occupational hygiene program and biological monitoring, and subject such employees to medical surveillance.
2) Every employer contemplated in subsection (1) shall keep the health and safety representatives designated for their workplaces or sections of the workplaces, informed of the actions taken under subsection (1) in their respective workplaces or sections thereof and of the results of such actions: Provided that individual results of biological monitoring and medical surveillance relating to the work of the employee, shall only with the written consent of such employee be made available to any person other than an inspector, the employer or the employee concerned.
General duties of employees at work
Every employee shall at work -
a) take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions;
b) as regards any duty or requirement imposed on his employer or any other person by this Act, co-operate with such employer or person to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with;
c) carry out any lawful order given to him, and obey the health and safety rules and procedures laid down by his employer or by anyone authorized thereto by his employer, in the interest of health or safety;
d) if any situation which is unsafe or unhealthy comes to his attention, as soon as practicable report such situation to his employer, or to the health & safety representative for his workplace or section thereof, as the case may be, who should report it to the employer; and
e) if he is involved in any incident which may affect his health or which has caused an injury to himself, report such incident to his employer or to anyone authorized thereto by the employer, or to his health and safety representative,as soon as practicable but not later than the end of the particular shift during which the incident occurred, unless the circumstances were such that the reporting of the incident was not possible, in which case he shall report the incident as soon as practicable thereafter.
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