8. Draw your instructor’s or your supervisor’s attention to any potential hazard you have noticed
1.10 Hazards in the workplace
infection. The cream is water-soluble and can be easily removed by washing your hand with ordinary soap and water at the end of the shift. Removal of the barrier cream also carries away the dirt and sources of infection.
1.9.5 Foot protection
The injuries that you can suffer when wearing lightweight, casual shoes in a work- shop environment are shown in Fig. 1.13 . This fi gure also shows some examples of safety footwear as specifi ed in BS 1870. Such safety footwear is available in a variety of styles and prices. It looks as smart as normal footwear and is equally as comfortable.
are the more dangerous as they may have long term and deep-seated effects on the major organs of the body. They may cause infl ammation, ulceration, internal bleed- ing, poisoning and the growth of cancerous tumours. Internal irritants are usually air pollutants in the form of dusts (asbestos fi bres), fumes and vapours. As well as being inhaled, they may also be carried into your body on food handled with- out washing. Even the cutting oils used on machine tools can be dangerous if you allow your overalls to become impregnated with the spray. Change your overalls regularly.
Systemic effects
Toxic substances, also known as systemics , affect the fundamental organs and bodily functions. They damage your brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, your central nervous system and your bone marrow. Their effects cannot be reversed and thus lead to chronic ill-health and, ultimately, early death. These toxic substances may enter the body in various ways.
■ Dust and vapour can be breathed in through your nose. Observe the safety codes when working with such substances and wear the respirator provided, no matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable.
■ Liquids and powders contaminating your hands can be transferred to the digest ive system by handling food or cigarettes with dirty hands. Always wash before eating or smoking. Never smoke in a prohibited area. Not only may there be a fi re risk, but some vapours change chemically and become highly toxic (poisonous) when inhaled through a cigarette.
■ Liquids, powders, dusts and vapours may all enter the body through the skin:
a) directly through the pores
b) by destroying the outer tough layers of the skin and attacking the sensitive lay- ers underneath
c) by entering through undressed wounds.
Again it must be stressed that regular washing with soap and water, the use of a bar- rier cream, the use of suitable protective gloves, and the immediate dressing of cuts (no matter how small) is essential to proper hand care.
1.10.2 Personal hygiene
Personal hygiene is most important. It ensures good health and freedom from industrial diseases and can go a long way towards preventing skin diseases, both irritant and infectious. Your employer’s safety policy should make recommen- dations on dress and hygiene and they should provide suitable protective meas- ures. As previously mentioned, dirty and oil-soaked overalls are a major source of skin infection. Correct dress not only makes you look smart and feel smart, it helps you to avoid accidents and industrial diseases. This is why overalls should be regularly changed and cleaned. Finally, you must always wash your hands thoroughly before handling and eating any food, and when going to the toi- let. If your hands are dirty and oily it is essential to wash them before as well as after .
1.10.3 Behaviour in workshops
In an industrial environment reckless, foolish and boisterous behaviour such as pushing, shouting, throwing objects and practical joking by a person or a group of persons cannot be tolerated. Such actions can distract a worker’s attention and break his or her concentration which could lead to:
■ Scrapped work, serious accidents and even fatalities.
■ Incorrect operation of equipment or inadvertent contact with moving machinery or cutters.
■ Someone being pushed against moving machinery or factory transport.
■ Someone being pushed against ladders and trestles upon which people are work- ing at heights.
■ Someone being pushed against and dislodging heavy, stacked components.
■ Contact with electricity, compressed air or dangerous chemicals.
1.10.4 Hazards associated with hand tools
The time and effort taken to fetch the correct tool from the stores or to service a worn tool is considerably less than the time taken to recover from injury. Figure 1.14 shows some badly maintained and incorrectly used hand tools. Chipping screens, as shown in Fig. 1.15 , should be used when removing metal or arc welding slag with a cold chisel to prevent injury from the pieces of metal fl ying from the cutting edge of the chisel. For this reason, goggles should also be worn and you should never chip towards another worker.
Loose hammer head and shaft
Chipped, cracked and mushroomed hammer head (a)
Figure 1.14 Hand tools in a dangerous condition and misused: (a) hammer faults; (b) chisel faults;
(c) spanner faults; (d) fi le faults (e) do not use oversize spanner and packing – use the correct size spanner for both the nut or bolt head; (f) do not use a fi le as a lever
Newcomers to industry often overlook the fact that, as well as machine tools, badly maintained and incorrectly used hand tools can also rep- resent a serious safety hazard
Damaged and blunt cutting edge, chipped and mushroomed head
(b)
Strained and cracked jaws caused by extending the handle with a tube
(c)
Tang not protected by a suitable handle
(d)
Packing
(e) (f)
1.10.5 Hazards associated with machine tools
Metal cutting and forming machines are potentially dangerous.
■ Before operating any machinery make sure that you have been fully instructed in how to use it, the dangers associated with it, and that you have been given permis- sion to use it.
■ Do not operate a machine unless all the guards and safety devices are in position and are operating correctly. Guards should only be fi tted and adjusted by a quali- fi ed person.
■ Make sure you understand any special rules and regulations applicable to the par- ticular machine you are about to use, even if you have been trained on machines in general.
■ Never clean or adjust a machine whilst it is in motion. Stop the machine and isolate it from the supply.
■ Report any dangerous aspect of the machine you are using, or are about to use, immediately and do not use it until it has been made safe by a suitably qualifi ed and authorized person.
■ A machine may have to be stopped in an emergency. Learn how to make an emergency stop without having to pause and think about it and without having to search for the emergency stop switch.
Transmission guards
By law, no machine can be sold or hired out unless all gears, belts, shafts and coup- lings making up the power transmission system are guarded so that they cannot be touched when they are in motion. Figure 1.16 shows a typical transmission guard fi tted to a motorized guillotine shear. Sometimes guards have to be removed in order to replace, adjust or service the components they are covering. This must only be done by a qualifi ed maintenance mechanic.
Cutter guards
The machine manufacturer does not normally provide cutter guards because of the wide range of work a machine may have to do.
Figure 1.15 Safety when using a cold chisel
Chipping screen
Elbow close to body
Watch point of chisel Goggles
■ It is the responsibility of the owner or the hirer of the machine to supply cutter guards that are appropriate for the machine and for the process being performed on it.
■ It is the responsibility of the setter and/or the operator to make sure that the guards are fi tted and working correctly before operating the machine, and to use the guards as instructed. It is an offence in law for the operator to remove or tamper with the guards provided.
■ If ever you are doubtful about the adequacy of a guard or the safety of a process, consult your instructor or your safety offi cer without delay.
The simple drilling machine guard shown in Fig. 1.17(a) only covers the chuck and is only suitable for jobbing work when small diameter drills are being used. The drill chuck shown in Fig. 1.17(b) is used for larger drills and for drills which are mounted directly into the drilling machine spindle. It covers the whole length of the drill and telescopes up as the drill penetrates into the work-piece.