As I mentioned in the previous post, hazards identification or recognition is the keyword to successful hazards control in laboratory. A list of laboratory hazards is provided below here. Again the list is only for brainstorming. Later you should complete the list based on your own laboratory survey results.
In general, these hazards are classified into two broad categories, i.e. physical and chemical hazards. (more…)
Tags: gas cylinder, Dangerous goods, chemical hazards
A series of questions in confined space pre-entry checklist shall be completely answered prior to entering any confined space. The confined space checklist will ensure entrants, attendants, supervisors and rescue team members in safe condition. Do not enter the confined space until it is surely safe.
Answer the questions below by “YES” or “NO”. Then, follow up immediately question with answer “NO”.
2. Permit
3. Verification
4. Testing
5. Monitoring
6. Ventilation
7. Isolation
8. Equipment, Clothing, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment
9. Training
10. Standby/Rescue Team
Double check the above confined space checklist to ensure there are no left items. Afterward, we can proceed to the next step prior to entry the confined space.
Source: IACS Rec.2000/Rev.2 2007
Tags: Special clothing, work schedule, combustible dust, safety measures, Personal Protective Equipment
When we are dealing with chemicals in the workplaces, we will be exposed to the chemicals-associated potential hazards that would harm our health and safety, environment and plant facilities. Adequate information about chemical hazards will greatly help us during hazard identification study and ensure no hazards left to be identified. The list below shows hazards those are associated with chemicals preservation, loading and unloading operation, transportation, usage or maintenance work.
The first step that has to be followed is to make a list containing hazardous chemicals used in the plant site. After that, refer to each MSDS for identifying the hazards. From MSDS, we can recognize different hazard control for each chemical. Some chemicals that are commonly found in chemical plant operation are hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, phosphoric acid, formaldehyde, methanol, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrogen and etc. Don’t forget to update the chemical hazards list regularly or when change exists. This is so important and will directly affect the hazard identification list.
Tags: nitric acid, Occupational safety and health, Chemical substance, different hazard control, kidney damage
Compressed gas cylinders have to be handled properly. Otherwise, associated hazards such as fall, fire, explosion or hazardous gas leakage may happen. That’s why a safety guide on compressed gas cylinders handling is vitally important.
Here are some safety tips on how to handle gas cylinders safely:
Compressed gas cylinder is a typical source of hazards found in chemical plants. So take it into account when we will do hazard identification task. And the above safety tips are forms of hazard controls.
Tags: gas cylinder, chemical plant, piping valves, hazardous gas, Hangu Pakistan, hazard identification
There are many reasons why hazard identification has to be updated. Ideally, hazard identification or hazard recognition is done before unwanted events such as injury and illness health occurs, because there is still enough time to improve the hazard control.
Here are some reasons why we need to update hazard identification list.
To make an update, follow my previous post about hazard identification/recognition method. Hazard identification update has to be implemented in the whole workplace area in the plant site. Don’t forget to include contractors and visitor activities in the plant site, non-routine jobs and hazards caused by human factors when we are going to do hazard identification.
Always bear in mind that we have to be a step ahead from the potential hazard and immediately set up appropriate hazard control to manage the risks. Hazard identification is an ongoing process.
Note: get free printable safety signs and free safety slogans for the workplace.
By definition, a hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm to people, damage to property or environment, or loss to process. OSHA defines hazard as the potential for harm that is associated with a condition or activity that if left uncontrolled can result in injury or illness. Meanwhile, according to OHSAS 18001:1999, hazard is source or situation with a potential for harm in terms of human injury or illness health, damage to property, damage to the workplace environment, or a combination of these.
Hazard recognition or hazard identification is vitally important in accident prevention. By recognizing hazards’ characteristics and properties, we can clearly determine proper controls. Unfortunately, the majority of us sometimes overlook to recognize hazards.
There are many hazard recognition methods. The more hazard recognition methods we know, the bigger our chances to recognize all hazards that exist in workplaces. A hazard might not be identified by a certain method, but it can be detected by another method. Principally, we need to assure that hazard recognition is completely done.
The following are the most useful hazard recognition methods:
1. Pre-Use Analysis
2. Multi-Step Planning Process
3. Work Permitting
4. Equipment Inspections
5. Suggestion Method
6. Walk through Safety and Health Audits
7. Safety Patrol
Now, lets talks about these methods one by one.
Pre-Use Analysis can be applied before any new equipment, device, instrumentation, personal protective equipment, machine, tool, plant facility, etc are used. This method is applied before exposure to hazards.
Multi-Step Planning Process is applied before hazard exposure and applied to every task, job and activity. To apply this method simply asks a series of questions before doing the task, job or activity. The question should be similar to:
a. What am I going to do?
b. What is the purpose to do this job, task or activity?
c. How will I do that job, task or activity?
d. How could I get hurt doing this job, task or activity?
e. What will I do to prevent accident (injury, illness health)?
Work Permitting is issued before the job, task or activity done. Some questions asked and a checklist shall be completed to assured that hazards are not overlooked. Commonly, including in the checklist are analysis of toxic gas (such as carbon monoxide), oxygen sufficiency, flammable gas concentration, etc.
Equipment Inspection is implemented to any equipment before it is used or put into operation. Equipment inspection is planned and organized to check overall equipment conditions, safety protective equipment, guarding, emergency stop, etc.
In Suggestion Method, every worker is encouraged to propose or suggest potential hazard (and control) that are contained in a job, task or activity. Workers consider their past time experiences on the shop floor and field to give suggestion and this is very good safety habit. This method can be used for improving current hazard identification list.
Safety Patrol can be carried out by every worker in the plant site, not only by persons who are in charge of health and safety matters. Safety patrol may be done during an equipment running, plant operation, plant shut down or whenever it is intended to identify potential hazards.
The best way to use these hazard recognition methods is by combining these methods one with the others.
The next question is when is the right time to apply these hazard recognition methods? Of course before exposure to the hazards is the best time, because at that time no one was injured, ill or death, and no property damage. However, during a job, task or activity is being done hazard recognition is still important especially in accident prevention, and we can stop or cancel the job, task or activity at any time whenever we see a potential hazard to cause injury, illness health or plant facility damage.
Hazards may also be recognized after a job, task or activity has been completely performed and we can plan hazard control improvement to that job.
Tags: OHSAS 18001, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, in the workplace, safety patrol, overall equipment conditions
