Lesson 1

 General Safety
Guidelines for

Basic Concepts on Safety and Health

What does safety and health in the workplace mean?

Safety refers to the physical or environmental conditions of work

which comply with prescribed Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
Standards and which allow the worker to perform his or her job
without or within acceptable exposure to hazards. Occupational
safety also refers to practices related to production and work
processes.

Health means a sound state of the body and mind of the worker that
enables him or her to perform the job normally.

What does OSH Standard means?

OSH Standards are mandatory rules and standards set and enforced
to eliminate or reduce occupational safety and health hazards in the
workplace.

What is the purpose of OSH Standards?

OSH Standards aim to provide at least the minimum acceptable

degree of protection that must be affordable to every worker in
relation to the working conditions and dangers of inquiry, sickness
or death that may arise by reason of his or her occupation. The
provision of OSH Standards by the State is an exercise of the police
power, with the intention of promoting the welfare and well-being of
workers.

What are covered by the General OSH Standards?

All establishments, workplaces and other undertaking are covered,

including
agricultural enterprises whether operating for profit or not, except:

a) Residential place exclusively devoted to dwelling purposes;

b) Those directly engaged in land, sea and air transportation,
except their dry dockets, garages, hangars and maintenance,
and repair shops and offices;
c) The activities of a lessee regarding the safety of the mining
installations, within the mining claim or lease, including mines

Module IV - Industrial Safety and First Aid

 safety, mineral conversation and pollution in establishments or
work places falling under mining industry.

What does right to safe and healthful conditions of work mean?

It means that the workers shall be assured of effective protection

against the danger of inquiry, sickness or death through safe and
healthful working conditions.

What is the minimum standard on safety and health in the

workplace?

The OSH Standards provide that every company shall keep and
maintain its workplace free from work hazards that are likely to
cause physical harm to the workers or damage to property. Thus,
the worker is entitled to be provided by the employer with:

a) Appropriate seats, lighting, and ventilation:

b) Adequate passageways, exits and fire fighting equipment;
c) Separate facilities for men and women;
d) Appropriate safety devices like protective gears, masks,
helmets, safety boots, coats or uniforms;
e) Medicines, medical supplies or first-aid kits;
f) Free medical and dental services and facilities.

What other safety requirements should employers provide their

employees?

Employers must provide their employees with the following

instruments and/or working stations:

a) Appropriate protective equipment and clothing such as overall

head coverings, goggles, gloves, aprons and respirators;
b) A properly designed exhaust system and waste disposal, local
exhaust or general ventilation to keep toxic fumes or gases;
c) Adequate number of fire extinguishers in the workplace;
d) Designated safe smoking and welding areas far from
combustible, flammable or explosive materials, containers
filled with explosives or flammable substances, and containers
that have held explosives or flammable materials;
e) Well-developed and updated emergency plan or unit to
respond and handle emergency disaster situation.
f) Special storage rooms workrooms to stock lead materials.

What safety measures must be observed within the premises of

establishments?

Establishments must observe the following safety measures:

Module IV - Industrial Safety and First Aid

 a) Building premises shall have adequate fire, emergency or
danger signs and safety instructions of standard colors and
sizes visible at all times.
b) Other visible signs that may be needed to direct the driver of
motorized vehicle such as STOP, YIELD and DO NOT ENTER,
properly positioned within the compound of the establishment
shall be used to increase safety especially during the night;
c) Handicapped employees shall be restricted only to designated
workplaces. As far as practicable and feasible they shall be
provided with facilities for safe and convenient movement
within the establishment,
d) Good housekeeping shall be maintained at all times through
cleanliness of building, yards, machines, equipment, regular
waste disposal, and orderly arrangement of processes,
operations, storage and filing of materials;
e) Adequate dressing rooms, locker rooms, comfort rooms and
lavatories separate for male and female workers shall be
provided.

General Workplace Safety Rules

([Link]
workplace-safety-rules-free-index/)

The Company's primary objectives are to ensure the safety and

health of their Employees, and to protect company property. The
goal is to provide safe and healthful working conditions for all
Company Employees.

Safety Rules have been developed with input from Supervision and
Employees. While held to a minimum, the rules address behaviors
and work practices that can lead to accidents and injuries.

Each Employees should become familiar with and follow General

and Departmental Safety Rules. Supervisors must enforce Safe Work
practices through strict adherence to Safety Rules.

Most accidents can be prevented if everyone uses assigned safety

equipment and follows the established safety rules. To operate a
safe and successful business, we must work as a team to:

THINK SAFE, WORK SAFE, AND BE SAFE

Communication of safety rules is accomplished by:

• Discussion during New Hire Orientation

• Published in the New Hire Orientation / Company Handbook
• Posting throughout the facility

Module IV - Industrial Safety and First Aid

• Annual refresher training
• On-the-spot corrections and reinforcement by supervisors

Posting of General Safety Rules

General Safety Rules will be posted in conspicuous areas at all

locations.

1. Report all work injuries and illnesses immediately

2. Report all Unsafe Acts or Unsafe Conditions to your Supervisor
3. Use seat belts when on Company business in any vehicles
4. Firearms, weapons, or explosives are not permitted on Company
Property.
5. Use, possession, sale or being under the influence of illegal
drugs, misuse of prescription drugs and/or alcohol is not
permitted on Company Property or while "on duty".
6. Only authorized and trained Employees may repair or adjust
machinery and equipment. Lock and Tag Out Procedures must
be followed before removing any machine guards or working on
powered machinery and equipment. Replace all guards when the
job is completed.
7. Only qualified and trained Employees may work on or near
Exposed Energized Electrical Parts or Electrical Equipment.
Follow Electrical Safety Rules when working with electrically
powered machinery and equipment.
8. Only authorized and trained Employees may enter a posted
Confined Space. All confined spaces will be posted Confined
Space - Permit Required. Entry is allowed only after permits are
properly issued.
9. Only authorized and trained Employees may dispense or use
chemicals. It is your responsibility to know where SDS's (Safety
Data Sheets) are located and that they are available for your use
and review.
10. Keep work areas clean and aisles clear. Do not block emergency
equipment or exits.
11. Wear and use the prescribed Personal Protective Safety
Equipment. This includes foot protection, head protection,
gloves, etc.
12. Smoking is permitted only in the designated "Smoking Areas".

General Safety Duties of Employees

Each employee should be the person most concerned for his/her

own safety.
In addition, each employee has a responsibility to assure safety and
health on the job, for the general public and other employees. By
accepting employment, safety responsibility is a condition of
continued employment:

Module IV - Industrial Safety and First Aid

  Knowing his/her job and always applying safe work practices.
 Recognizing the hazards of the job and taking precautions to
assure the safety of the employee and others.
 Informing your department head or the Safety Coordinator of
hazards and recommending how to eliminate them or
improve performance.
 Actively participating and cooperating in the overall safety
program.
 Maintaining cleanliness and good personal health habits.
 Each employee has the responsibility to communicate with
management, openly and without fear of reprisal, any aspect
of safety and health, specifically to make recommendations
for safety and health improvement in the facilities, equipment
and procedures. Each employee has the responsibility to
report to management any safety or health hazard, so it may
be corrected to prevent injury or illness.
 Each employee has the responsibility to work and act safely
at all times, on all jobs, every day.

Basic Safety Requirements

 Personal Hygiene:
Be fit for the job, through good healthy habits, proper
meals, sufficient rest, and cleanliness.

 Know Your Job and Responsibilities:

You learn the proper way by asking, not by trial and
error. Communicate suggestions to management, on better
and safer methods of improving job safety and health. Always
be conscious of the safety of others, as well as your own. If
you see a hazard, correct it if possible, even if it's not in your
department. For those hazards you cannot immediately
correct, notify your supervisor so the hazard can be corrected.

 Clothing:
Wear proper, acceptable clothing for the job. If you're
not sure of what clothing is acceptable, ask your supervisor.
Rings and jewelry should not be worn on, around or near
moving machinery. Long hair must be kept tied back or
confined under a cap or hat to prevent long hair from
entanglements with machinery or equipment.

 Protective Clothing or Equipment:

Although routine tasks performed by employees may
not require personal protective equipment, there may be

Module IV - Industrial Safety and First Aid

 times on the job, in the facilities or off site, where personal
protective clothing/equipment is necessary for special
hazards. When this personal protection is provided, each
employee has an obligation to use this personal protective
clothing or equipment, as prescribed by management.

 Housekeeping:
A place for everything and everything in its place. Keep
equipment, tools, materials and work areas clean and orderly.
Particular attention must be paid to electrical and cables/wires
and other tripping hazards. If debris, leaks or other potential
hazards are identified, it's up to each individual who notices
such hazards to correct them, or if this is not possible, to
notify supervision or management so the hazard may be
corrected. All hazardous materials must be properly stored,
according to their requirements.

 Machine Guarding:
Any machine that has exposed hazardous parts must be
properly guarded. Should any machine or equipment have
guards removed, or require guarding, that equipment will not
be used until it has been properly guarded. Employees are not
to use equipment or machinery that is not adequately
guarded. Should equipment or machinery be locked or tagged
out, with words such as: "Danger Do Not Start Machine", this
indicates that the machine is being repaired, serviced or
otherwise out of service and must not be started or tampered
with while the lock or tag is in place. Only the person installing
the lock or tag is authorized to remove the lock or tag.

 Movement:
Walk - never run. Use handrails on stairs. Be cautious
when approaching swinging doors, corners or congested
areas. Particular attention should be devoted to the
prevention of slips and falls, particularly when carrying
materials, equipment or tools. Most slips and falls are the
result of not watching where a person is walking or inattention
to footing.

 Safe Lifting:
Each employee has been, or will be trained in the safe
lifting method and each employee must exercise these
techniques and methods when lifting anything. If at any time,
an employee believes an object is too heavy or awkward to be
lifted by one person, then get help or move the object by
mechanical lifting means. Each employee should maintain
adequate fitness to keep the back healthy, thereby reducing
the exposure to back injuries.

Module IV - Industrial Safety and First Aid

  Horseplay/Practical Jokes:
Practical jokes, horseplay and similar activity are strictly
prohibited. Each employee has the responsibility to his/her
behavior in a professional manner at all times.

 Fire and Emergency Preparedness:

Know what to do, what action to take and where to go in
the event of an emergency. In the event of a fire, life safety is
of paramount importance. If you have been trained and can
safely extinguish a fire, use portable fire extinguishers or
hoses, but only if there is no danger to your life. In the event
of a fire, always call the fire department, even if the fire can
be extinguished. It's best to have the fire department notified,
in case the fire gets out of control. In the event of an
earthquake, tornado or similar emergency, the best advice is
to DUCK, COVER AND HOLD. Duck under a desk or sturdy
workbench, cover to protect your head, eyes and other body
parts from falling equipment or broken glass. Never run out of
the building, since power lines are located in the proximity of
the facilities. Flying glass from windows could be another
hazard. Follow emergency procedures and use common sense
to protect yourself and property. (The company must provide
written emergency procedures and must verify inspection of
all fire extinguishers on a monthly basis, with annual
inspections required by a fire service company). Document
these inspections/services.

 Accident/Injuries/Illnesses:
Report all work-related accidents, injuries or illnesses to
management when they occur. First aid facilities are available
and when required, competent medical assistance will be
provided. Worker compensation insurance will cover all
medical costs for injuries that are work related. Report all
accidents, injuries and illnesses when they occur, even if you
don't think medical treatment is required.

THIN

List at least four unsafe acts or unsafe behaviors that

contribute to accident/injury/illness. What corrective
action/s should the employee take to correct each
behavior?

Module IV - Industrial Safety and First Aid