Health and Safety Procedures in Production

Mr P MulhollandAS Design and TechnologySt Joseph’s HS Crossmaglen

Safe us of the Product

Product safety are of prime importance in today’s user market, where users regard safety as a basic requirement of a product’s performance.

An example of this is that cars are now designed to meet many safety standards where they include airbags and impact protection bars.

Guarantees

Manufacturers today are expected to guarantee a product’s reliability, performance and safety.

A product such as a food processor would be supplied with a warranty to cover the product for 12 months from the date of purchase.

It would also display on the package a list of features that form part of the specification of performance.

Consumers expect products to perform as specified. The provision of warranty is essential for any

manufacturer to stay in business.

Guarantees

A food processor is potentially dangerous as it has a stainless steel blade which rotates at very high speeds.

It therefore has to have safety features designed into it:

The blades will only rotate if the lid is locked in place The motor stops if the lid or mixing bowl are removed when

operating. A pusher is used to push food in for grating There are non-slip feet and no dangerous parts stick out The waterproof casing is carefully sealed Instructions for use identify ways of avoiding injury when

handling and cleaning the blade

Safety Procedures in Production-Principles of Health and Safety Legislation

The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) provides a body of law dealing with the health and safety of people at work and the general public who may be affected by the work activity.

This act of parliament means employers are legally required to do all that is reasonably possible to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees when they are at work.

Legislation exists to ensure the provision of safe working conditions which reduce the risk of accidents

How do we safeguard people from the risk of injury?

Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE)

SignageWarning symbolsRisk assessmentControl of Substances Hazardous to

Health (COSHH)

Principles of Health and Safety at Work

The Health and Safety Act (1974) states that risk assessment is a legal requirement, which means manufacturers must have a health and safety system in place.

Employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees and employees must follow the safe working practices set out by the employer, with guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Personal and Protective Equipment

Personal and Protective Equipment at Work Regulation (1992)

Employers have a basic duty to provide PPE at work PPE is defined in the regulations as: “all equipment

which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which prevents him/her against one or more risks to their health or safety”.

PPE includes: Safety helmets Gloves Eye protection High visibility clothing Safety footwear Face masks/breathing apparatus

Personal and Protective Equipment

PPE is to be supplied and used at work wherever there are risks to health and safety that cannot be controlled in other ways.

Personal and Protective Equipment at Work Regulation means that all PPE must be: Properly assessed before use to ensure it is

suitable Maintained and stored properly Provided with instructions on how to use it

safely Used correctly by employees

Signage

Table 2.25, p 71.Safety Signs Regulation (1996)Requires employers to display

appropriate safety signs and instructions wherever a significant risk or harm cannot be avoided or reduced.

This was a European directive meaning all safety signs throughout Europe have the same meaning.

Signage

http://www.health-safety-signs.uk.com/what-you-should-know.shtml

Warning Symbols

Warning symbols are placed on products to provide health and safety information to the consumer/user.

Warning symbols appear on adhesives and cleaning products.

Making Risk Assessments

Risk assessment means identifying hazards that may cause potential harm to employees and users.

The risk that a hazard might occur must be evaluated and the chance of injury or potential damage that could occur must be eliminated.

The HSE states that all places of work must carry out risk assessments of their facilities to identify any potential hazards to employees and put in place control measures to reduce the risk of injury.

Five Steps to a Risk Assessment

1. Identify the hazard

2. Identify the people at risk

3. Evaluate the risks

4. Decide upon suitable control measures

5. Record risk assessment

Page 73/74 Risk Assessment Tables

HazardPotential (of risk) from a substance,

machine or operation

ControlAction taken to

minimise the risks to people

RiskReality of harm from the hazard

COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 is a United Kingdom Statutory Instrument that stipulates general requirements on employers to protect employees and other persons from the hazards of substances used at work by risk assessment.

There are also duties on employees to take care of their own exposure to hazardous substances.

COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)

Hazardous substances include:

Substances used directly in work activities (e.g., adhesives, paints, cleaning agents)

Substances generated during work activities (e.g., fumes from soldering and welding)

Naturally occurring substances (e.g., grain dust) Biological agents such as bacteria and other

micro-organisms

What COSHH Requires

Examples of the effects of hazardous substances include:

Skin irritation or dermatitis as a result of skin contact

Asthma as a result of developing allergy to substances used at work

Losing consciousness as a result of being overcome by toxic fumes

Cancer, which may appear long after the exposure to the chemical that caused it

Infection from bacteria and other micro-organisms (biological agents)

COSHH Symbols