What is an accident?

An accident is an undesired event often caused by unsafe acts and/or conditions that
result in physical harm to persons and or damage to property.

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Aims of the health and safety at work (HSW act):

• To secure health, safety and welfare of people at work
• To protect other people against risks to health
• To control the keeping and use of dangerous substances
• To prevent an accident

Employer’s responsibility on HSW:

• To provide and maintain machinery and equipment that are safe and without risk
to health (also ensures that the necessary precautions are taken before carrying out
certain hazardous tasks)
• To ensure that the procedures for handling, storing, using, and transporting of
goods (machinery and chemicals) are followed
• To provide information, instructions, training and supervision:
Information means the background knowledge needed to put the instruction and
training into context.
Instruction is when someone shows others how to do something by practical
demonstration.
Training means having employees practice a task to improve their performance.
Supervision is needed to oversee and guide in all matters related to the task.
• To ensure that the work environment is safe (this includes ways into and out of
the workplace)
Employee’s responsibility on HSW:
• To take reasonable care for their own health and safety and of others (not only
avoiding silly or reckless behaviour but also understanding hazards and
complying with safety rules)
• To cooperate with their employer on health and safety (you should inform,
without delay, of any work situation which might be dangerous and notify any
shortcomings in health and safety arrangements so that remedial action may be
taken).

Basic causes of accidents

a) Personal factors:
– Lack of knowledge or skill
– Physical or mental defect
– Improper attitude or motivation

b) Job factors:
-unsafe conditions and physical environment
-inadequate work standards

Unsafe acts
• Working without authority
• Failure to secure machinery and materials
• Arranging or placing objects unsafely
• Fooling, teasing, abusing work mates
• Taking chances
• Taking unsafe position
• Failure to use safety equipment

Methods for preventing accidents:

• Engineering revision-improvements to guarding, work environment, and work
processes and procedures
• Employment practices-retrain those who are moved from one job to another
• Education and training-proper job instruction techniques used to improve skills,
training in safe work practices
• Example setting-always set a good example for all to see by obeying safety rules
• Enthusiasm-giving enthusiastic lead and acknowledging safety achievement
• Enforcement-discipline those who break safety rules
Basic rules for the safe use of ladder
• Avoid bringing the ladder into contact with electricity
• Use both hands when climbing up or down the ladder
• Ladders should be inspected at frequent intervals. (joints)
• Do not use ladders horizontally as walkways or scaffolds
• Ladders should be equipped with safety feet
• Keep ladders clean and do not paint them, as this may hides defects
• Do not leave ladders on wet ground or expose them to the weather
• Use the correct ladder for a job
• Do not leave any tools on the ladder

Safe storing practices and procedures for stacks of goods or materials

• Only build stacks on dry, level and firm ground
• Floors must have suitable load bearing capacities
• All stacks should be interlocked and bounded
• The height of the stack must not be more than three times the width of the base on
its narrowest side
• Stacks should be broken down from the top only
• All breakdowns should be supervised
• No free climbing of stacks-use ladders

Principles in regard to Gas cylinders-Handling

• Only use cylinders supplied by accredited manufacturer
• Do not remove markings punched into casings
• Never lift cylinders by neck
• Do not bump or drop violently
• Do not use as rollers
• When empty write “empty” or “MT’’
• Always secure in the upright position

Principles in regard to Gas cylinders-Storage

• Store upright in a specific well ventilated area
• Demarcate the area
• Flammables should not be stored close by
• Oxygen should not be stored within 6 meters of any cylinders containing
flammable gases
• Raise floor to avoid corrosion
• Use rotational basis, old stock first (FIFO)
• No source of ignition is permitted in the area
 Manual handling
• Employees should be taught correct techniques
• Load size and shape should be assessed to determine the method to handle
correctly
• Should be workstation designed and wide range lifting be engineered out of the
process
• Large loads, or high volume manual lifting per shift should be avoided
• Lifting and twisting must be avoided
• Appropriate PPE’s should be provided where indicated

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Head-purpose-protect against falling objects e.g. hard hats, caps, helmets, hair
nets

• Eyes –purpose- guards against hazards of impact, splashes from chemicals,

liquid droplets, dust, gases and welding arcs e.g. glasses, goggles, face shields,
safety spectacles, welding filters, prescription lenses

• Ears-purpose-protect against noise- e.g. ear plugs and ear muffs

• Lungs- purpose- guards against hazards of dust and gases e.g. face masks,
respirators, breathing apparatus, air lines

• Body- purpose- guards against adverse temperatures and chemicals e.g. aprons,
suits, jackets, overalls

• Legs- purpose- guards against fire e.g. spats and leggings, aprons

• Hands- purpose- guards against heat and coldness e.g. gloves

• Feet- purpose- guards against wet conditions, heat and coldness e.g. boots and
shoes

Fire –elements of:

• Oxygen
• Fuel
• Heat

Remove one of these and the fire will be extinguished

Causes of fire
• Electrical faults
• Open flames
• Heated surfaces
• Matches and cigarettes
• Ignition
• Chemical reactions
• Static electricity
• Friction
• Lightning

Types of fire and extinguishers

• Class A- freely burning fires fuelled by wood, clothes, paper-water, spray foam,
dry powder ,wet chemical
•
• Class B-fires fuelled by flammable liquids e.g. Oil, spirits, petrol- spray foam,
dry powder , CO2 gas
•
• Class C- fires fuelled by flammable gasses e.g. propane, butane- dry powder

• Class D- fires involving flammable metals e.g. magnesium, lithium or aluminium

powders - dry powder special metals

• Fires involving electrical hazards-dry powder, CO2 gas

• Class F- fires fuelled by cooking oils and fats - Wet chemicals

Safety signs and colours

• Red (white background colour with black symbols) –stop, prohibition (DON’T
DO) e.g. Stop signs, emergency stops, prohibition signs
• Red (white symbols and text) fire equipment e.g. position of fire equipment,
alarms, hoses, extinguishers

• Yellow (black symbols and text)-warning (risk of danger) e.g. Indication of

hazards (electrical, chemical, explosives)

• Green (white symbols and text)-safe condition e.g. escape routes, emergency
exits, first aid kit

• Blue (white symbols and text)-mandatory action (must do) e.g. Obligation to
wear PPE