Posts Tagged ‘ potential hazards ’

Steps in Risk Assessment

Having finished hazard identification or hazard recognition work, the next step we shall do is to perform risk assessment. According to hse.co.uk, a risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm.

Risk assessment is used for determining priorities in risk control. It means that high risk work or situation will be addressed first and those with low risk level will be considered afterwards.

Now we are going to talk about steps in risk assessment. Follow these steps one by one and finish step 1 before going down to the next step. (more…)

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Top 6 Free Safety Poster Websites

free-safety-postersSafety signs and safety posters play the same role. They remind people inside chemical plant to the potential hazards, which may risk their safety. They do it with simple communication, without million of words. It will be more simple and effective than long training session in classroom.

Safety posters are attractive visually with limitless creativity that can be added. Now, I am posting the top 6 free safety posters websites for your reference and you can pick up some of the safety posters for your own use. (more…)

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12 Confined Spaces Hazards

confined-spaces1Confined space is one of the most deadly spaces in the workplaces. It is because of confined spaces contain many potential hazards and have restricted exits way.

Related to confined spaces, OSHA requires that:
a. All confined spaces in the workplaces shall be identified.
b. Confined spaces shall be treated as hazardous until proven.
c. All confined space hazards shall be identified.
d. Appropriate response should be given to these hazards before entry.

Confined space hazards can be classified into hazardous atmosphere, physical hazard, chemical contact hazard and biological hazard. The hazard list below is hazards that are commonly identified in a confined space.

  1. Oxygen rich (greater than 23.5%). This condition will introduce fire or explosion, especially when flammable vapor exists. So never use pure oxygen for ventilating a confined space. Use normal air supply only.
  2. Oxygen deficient (less than 19.5%). Oxygen deficient or lack of oxygen can cause unconsciousness to death. Oxygen concentration in a confined space can be declined due to nitrogen intrusion, welding, grinding, oxidation, sandblasting or coating.
  3. Oxygen and the existence of flammable vapors or gases can create flammable atmosphere. Chemical reaction and concentration of combustible dust may also create flammable atmosphere.
  4. Toxic atmosphere. It is introduced when a toxic chemical or gas is stored in a tank/holder, when carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulphide is produced through decomposition or work being done in the confined space.
  5. Corrosive atmosphere. Hydrochloric acid and ammonia are examples of chemicals that can build up a corrosive atmosphere.
  6. Physical configuration hazards. The use of ladder and scaffolding, wet surface, uneven bottom, bends in tunnels, narrow area or poor lighting can cause physical hazards to the workers inside confined spaces.
  7. Mechanical hazards. Mixing vessel, which is equipped with blades, can introduce mechanical hazard when workers come into the confined space (mixing vessel). Including in mechanical hazard is falling object.
  8. Surface hazard, for instance slips and falls.
  9. Noise hazards. Grinding work inside a confined space can result high level noise.
  10. Vibration hazards.
  11. Engulfment hazards. Engulfment hazard may happen when worker is entrapped by content of the confined space.
  12. Temperature hazards. Cold temperature and heat create temperature hazard inside a confined space.

Always bear in mind that hazards identification shall be finished before entering a confined space. Then, provide appropriate hazard controls to these potential hazards afterward.

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Chemical Hazard List for the Chemical Industry

chemical-hazards-listWhen 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.

  • Fire. This may be caused by flammable, combustible or reactive chemicals.
  • Explosion. It comes with flammable, combustible or reactive chemicals.
  • Heat. As the result of reaction of the chemicals with another one.
  • Toxic gas. Such gas is also possible to be introduced when two or more chemicals reacting or through decomposition reaction.
  • Corrosive vapors.
  • Harmful to human health: eye irritation, corneal damage, eye burn, skin irritation, skin burn, headache, dizziness, nervous system depression, liver damage, kidney damage, heart damage, tract irritation, death, etc. Each chemical may have different health effects and this information can be extracted from the MSDS.
  • Environment contamination. Chemical spill and waste are common environment contamination factors.

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.

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Plant Safety Inspections

plant-safety-inspectionsPlant safety inspection is a kind of self-checking system. Its aims are to identify potential hazards, look for facility failure, conform the existing safety measures are effective, ensure safety tools availability and conformity, check safety-protection devises functionality, seek unsatisfactory safety programs, check documents and check current safety conditions of the workplaces.

Areas in the plant site that are subjected to be inspected include plant facilities, working conditions, safety equipments/tools, workplace references, jobs, tasks and activities.

Plant safety inspection is the effective measures to prevent accident and even emergency situations. In most cases, safety inspection is more active, rather than reactive.

Who is in charge for safety inspection?

Safety inspection should be done by well-trained individuals or team, which can consist of safety representatives in your organization or internal-safety inspectors.

Plant Safety Inspection Procedures

At first, a procedure for doing the safety inspection has to be provided as well as safety inspection form and checklist. The procedure should describe clearly scope of inspection area, corrective actions and management review. To prepare the best inspection checklist, an initial complete survey to the facility and jobs/tasks is required.

Safety Inspection is performed by surrounding the plant site area and filling out the checklist. Then, classify inspection findings or deficiencies into urgent action, quick improvement or recommend for future improvement. Write down these findings on report form and distribute copy of the report to the management, related sections and don’t forget to provide one copy for filing.

It is no problem if we separate each area to be inspected. Making a schedule will give us a good mapping area and get better inspection results. Plant safety inspection is recommended to be performed in a regular basis. For instance, it is scheduled once per month.

Follow up Against Safety Inspection

Put at the top priority the required urgent actions soon after inspection report released. When it is too late to take actions, an accident may occur. Of course, the management should review all the inspection findings according to the report and introduces quick decision on urgent ones before taking actions.

Some actions may require additional investment and could not be decided in a short time. However, alternative corrective measure has to be provided to control the associated potential hazards while waiting for the management decision. That’s why management review on this matter is essential.

In the next post, we will talk about safety inspection checklist in more detail and show an example.

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Hazard and Hazard Recognition Methods

hazard-recognitionBy 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.

Hazard Recognition Methods

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.

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An Introduction to A 5-Minutes Safety Talk

free-safety-talks According to www.whscc.nb.ca, safety talk is a hands-on way to remind workers that health and safety are important on the job. While www.ofswa.on.ca describes safety talk as a brief meeting held on regular basis with workers and their supervisors to discuss problems and concerns about health and safety. Principally, safety talk deals with specific topic, subject and problem which are health and safety related in the workplace.

The objectives of a safety talk are to remind workers about potential hazards in their workplaces and help workers to recognize and control these hazards.

Safety talks are best delivered by people who are responsible for workers’ safety and health. They may be supervisors, health and safety officers, members of safety committee or anyone with health and safety duties. Even in some companies every worker is scheduled to give safety talk, in order to maintain safety awareness among them.

So what kind of message should we deliver during safety talk? Are there any standard messages? Basically there are no standard safety talk messages. As long as we choose a specific topic, subject or problem which relate to health and safety in the workplace, it will be enough. But the important point is safety talk message has to be well prepared, because it should be finished in about 5 minutes. Please check this page for safety talk example.

Now it is the time to set up safety talk schedule. We can perform it once a week, three times a week or once a day. It merely depends on company’s OHS policy, job risks, workplace conditions and worker’s skills.

Choose most appropriate location where we will do safety talk. Wherever possible, choose the real workplace, or at least as close as possible to the real workplace. For instance, if we would like to perform safety talk about confined space work hazards, do it at a tank, at an opened reactor column or near a vessel.

If possible use real tools, equipments, materials (for example chemicals), procedures and work conditions to demonstrate key points of the safety talk we are talking about, and to make it is easy to be understood.

Don’t forget to make a safety talk record. Record the date, location, leader, attendants and the topic. Make sure that all attendants have signed on the attendant list. Also make a copy of the safety talk material and keep it together with the records for future reference.

Finally, I would like to stress that although safety talks only take 5 minutes to finish, but it helps employers and workers to remind importance of health and safety, recognize and control hazards, and keeps workers awareness alive. Remember, there are much potential hazards inside chemical plant.

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