Unit GC 2 – Controlling workplace hazards Element 4: Work equipment – hazards and control Flashcards
(31 cards)
Commonly used ‘work equipment’.
Hammers; knives; handsaws Drills; circular saws; photocopiers Laboratory apparatus; Bunsen burners Hoists; lift trucks; elevating work platforms Ladders; pressure washers
Outline the factors that should be considered when determining the ‘suitability’ of work equipment.
- Its initial integrity
- The place where it will be used
- The purpose for which it will be used
Topics that should be covered during training of employees who will be using the equipment.
- The risks associated with the use of the equipment
- The controls and precautions to be taken
- Action to take should an abnormal situation arise
Requirement for equipment to be maintained and maintenance to be conducted safely
Factors to consider:
- Age and type of equipment
- How and where it is used
- Statutory and insurance requirements
- Manufacturers recommendations
- Reliability – breakdown history
- Criticality of equipment
- H&S implications of equipment failure
Outline 8 precautions to be considered prior to maintenance being carried out on machinery.
- Risk assessment to fully understand the hazards and risks
- Competent and well trained people to carry out the tasks
- Equipment to be isolated and made safe
- Develop a safe system of work (possibly a permit to work)
- Correct tools and equipment to be used
- Keep other people away from the machine
- Use appropriate PPE
- Ensure emergency arrangements are in place
Work equipment should have (where appropriate):
- One or more controls for starting the work equipment
- One or more readily accessible stop controls
- One or more readily accessible emergency stops
All controls should be clearly visible and easily identifiable, by appropriate marking where necessary.
Other issues specifically relating to work equipment
- Isolation from sources of energy
- Stability of the work equipment
- Suitable and sufficient lighting
- Safe maintenance operations
- Marking and warnings on the machine
Identify factors to consider when using hand tools.
- The tool is designed to do the job
- It is suitable for the environment that it is being used in
- It is properly maintained
- It is manufactured to a recognised standard
Identify the mechanical hazards associated with machinery.
En - Entanglement
T - Traps
I - Impact
C - Contact
E - Ejection
Identify 6 non-mechanical hazards associated with the use of machinery.
- Noise
- Vibration
- Radiation
- Heat
- Chemicals
- Ergonomics (Posture / force / repetitions / handling etc)
Photocopier and Shredder, Bench top grinder and Pedestal drill
Common hazards Electrical; ergonomics; noise; stability of machine
Photocopier
Drawing in
Trap between moving parts
Chemicals
Document shredder
Drawing in to cutters
Contact with cutters
Dust
Bench top grinder
Contact with rotating wheel Drawing into the trap between the tool rest and wheel Ejected parts of wheel or work piece Fire and sparks Vibration
Pedestal drill
Entanglement Contact (Stabbing/puncture) Impact from an unsecured work piece Cutting from swarf Ejection of a broken bit or materials Manual handling
Cylinder mower and strimmer
Common Hazards Biological e.g. animal droppings; chemicals e.g. herbicides; electrical; fire/explosion of petrol; ergonomics; manual handling; noise and vibration; ejection of materials
Cylinder mower
Contact with rotating blades
Entanglement in blades
Strimmer
Contact with cutter
Entanglement with cutter
Compactor and checkout conveyor
Common hazards Electricity; ergonomics; manual handling
Waste Compactor
Impact
Crushing
Biological infection from waste
Checkout Conveyor
Drawing in traps
Non-ionising radiation (Scanner)
Cement mixer and bench mounted circular saw
Common Hazards Dust; electricity; stability of machine; ergonomics; trapping between fixed and moving parts; noise
Cement Mixer
Entanglement
Chemicals
Manual handling
Circular Saw
Drawing into rotating blade
Contact
Ejection of materials
Basic requirements for guards and safety devices
Principle of machinery safeguarding
- Prevent access to dangerous parts of machines
- Stop all motion before contact with dangerous parts of machines
Hierarchy of safeguarding dangerous parts of machinery.
- Where possible use fixed guards
- If not then use other guards or protection devices
- Then consider protective appliances (Jigs, Holders, Push Sticks)
- Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision
Identify the factors that should be considered when evaluating the suitability of machine guarding.
- Extent of access required to work pieces
- Strength – good construction, adequate strength, sound material
- Method of fixing and ease of defeating by users. Is it difficult to by-pass?
- Weight and size of guarding
- Visibility and lighting levels
- Ease of operation – efficient in use
Explain the merits and limitations of Fixed Guards
Merits
Difficult to defeat
Provides total enclosure of hazard
Always in position
Maintenance free
Limitations
Poor visibility sometimes
Maintenance and access takes longer
Sometimes left off (by operators or maintenance staff)
Can be difficult to operate the machine
Explain the merits and limitations of Interlocked Guards
Merits
Allows safe access without removing the guard
Prevents access to moving parts or danger areas
Various types available
Ease of use – prevents accidental operation of machine
Limitations
Need to constantly perform safety checks
Can be defeated
Requires regular maintenance
Failure of power supply can prevent correct operation of guard.
Give THREE types of non-mechanical hazards that could lead to injury and/or ill-health when undertaking maintenance work on an item of machinery in the workplace.
You could choose from a number of non- mechanical hazards such as for example, electricity, noise, vibration, radiation and working at height. Make sure you refer to the hazards and not the risks or consequences (for example electrocution is not the hazard - electricity is the hazard).
Also only non-mechanical hazards would be credited so make sure you read the question properly.
Outline control measures to be taken to reduce the risk of injury during the maintenance of machinery.
An important first step would be to plan the work in advance and to schedule it for quieter periods such as weekends. The next step would be to introduce a safe system of work which would help to ensure that electrical power to the machine was isolated and locked off, and all pipelines leading to the machine were similarly isolated with sufficient time allowed for hot or cold machinery to reach room temperature before maintenance starts. Where necessary, means of access such as a scaffold may have to be erected and barriers and warning signs placed round the machinery to advise employees that maintenance work was in progress. Finally it would be necessary to use only skilled and competent personnel to carry out the work, to provide them with personal protective equipment such as head protection, eye protection and harnesses and to ensure adequate standards of lighting in the work area.
Identify 3 mechanical and 3 non-mechanical hazards associated with the use of wood working machinery
The mechanical hazards are:
Entanglement - where the moving parts of the machinery gets caught on loose clothing / hair etc.
Trapping or drawing in - as part of the body is trapped between moving parts such as rollers.
Impact - when a moving part of the machine strikes the operators such as with a robotic arm.
The non-mechanical hazards are:
Electricity - hazards are common with machines powered by electricity and can result in electric shocks and / or burns.
Hot surfaces - on machinery can result in burns
Noise - hazards which may affect the operators and others working in the area.
Outline a hierarchy of control measures for preventing contact with dangerous parts of machinery.
So far as is practicable:
- provision of fixed guards
- provision of other guards or protection device (interlock, adjustable, trip)
- provision of protection appliances (push sticks, jigs etc)
- provision of information, instruction, training and supervision.
Identify four hazards associated with the use of portable power tools:
- Entanglement with rotating parts such as drill bit, chucks
- Punctures from strikes
- Abrasion from contact injuries
- Dust exposure
Outline the requirements for period examination and testing of pressure systems
Pressure systems in use within the workplace include steam boilers, air receivers and pressurised hot water plants. National laws place duties on designers, manufacturers and users of pressure systems. The user (employer) who operates a pressure system should ensure:
- that it is supplied with correct written information and markings
- that is properly installed by a competent person
- that it is used within its operating limits
- that there is a written scheme examination for periodic examination of the equipment
- that the equipment is examined in accordance with the written scheme
- that a report of the examination is maintained and any remedial actions are completed.
