1

SHEQ for Final Year SHS Students Ella Agbettor

SHEQ Foundation

What is a workplace? Any place where work activities take

place:

Workshop, farm, factory, vehicle,

home, office, laboratory.

Formal or informal

Work place

2

What is a hazard? In relation to a person, anything that may result in injury to the person or harm to the health of the person

Anything that could hurt you or someone else.

3

7 categories of hazards or potential hazards in workplaces

Accident hazards

(e.g., wet or uneven surfaces, accidents with cutting or power tools, motor

vehicles or machines)

Chemical hazards

(e.g., exposure to crop dust, fibres, exhaust, mineral dust or toxic chemical

agents Gas, Vapor, smoke Heavy metals : lead & mercury)

Physical hazards

(e.g., noise, vibration, heat and cold, electricity, poor ventilation,

temperature, humidity radiation, air pressure, illumination)

Categories of Hazards

4

Ergonomic hazards

(e.g., lifting carrying or moving heavy objects, repetitive motions,

awkward postures, poorly designed or sharpened tools)

Biological hazards

(e.g., contact with biological wastes, animals or plants)

Working conditions

(e.g., long hours, lack of security, poor sanitation and housing)

Psychological hazards

(e.g., abuse, humiliation, isolation, lack of learning opportunities, stress)

Categories of Hazards

Most common hazards

Most common hazards to the health and safety of people in

the workplace are those which result in:

• strain or overuse injuries and disease to back, shoulder, wrist, etc

• cut and abrasion injuries to the eyes, hands, fingers, feet and head

• impact and crush injuries to the head, feet and fingers

• burns (by heat, light or chemicals) to the eyes, feet and skin

• noise induced hearing loss

• toxic effects (short or long term) to respiratory system or skin,

resulting in poisoning, cancers or dermatitis 6

Workplace Hazards

7

Mining Potential Hazards:

• Accident: isolated spaces

• Chemical: dust, chemical agents

• Physical: heat , electricity, noise, vibration, lighting, ventilation

• Ergonomic: awkward postures, poorly designed tools, repetitive motions

• Health hazards

Oil and gas potential Hazards:

• Accident: isolated spaces

• Chemical: dust, chemical agents

• Physical: heat , electricity, noise, vibration, lighting, ventilation

• Ergonomic: awkward postures, poorly designed tools, repetitive motions

• Health hazards

Construction potential Hazards:

• Accident: machines, power tools, cutting tools, falling objects, uneven surfaces, falling from heights

• Chemical: dust, toxic chemical

• Physical: heat , noise, vibration, electricity, poor ventilation

• Ergonomic: lifting and carrying, repetitive movements

Manufacturing potential hazards

• Accident: machines, power tools, cutting tools, falling objects, uneven surfaces

• Chemical: toxic chemicals

• Physical: heat , noise

• Ergonomic: lifting and carrying, repetitive movements, awkward postures

Different groups of young workers may be at special risk because of their

• experience level and judgement • age and physical size and/or • gender

Two categories of inexperienced workers: • New to this job (but experienced in other workplace

settings) • New to work (and inexperienced)

Assessing Hazards for young people

8

What hazards must employer identify?

The work premises Work practices, work systems & shift work arrangements Plant Hazardous substances The presence of asbestos Manual handling

Layout/condition of workplace

Biological organisms

Physical working environment including: – Electrocution – Drowning – Fire/explosion – People slipping, tripping

or falling – Contact with moving/

stationary object – Noise, heat, cold,

vibration, radiation, electricity, contaminated air, confined space

– Workplace violence

What hazards must employer identify?

Falling Objects

Are there objects which may fall from above onto employees?

• Employees working

overhead? • Tools or materials handled

above your head?

Temperature Extremes

Are there hot or cold surfaces which could burn or freeze employees? • Welded parts

• Cryogenic materials

• Autoclaves

• Ovens/stoves

• Molten metals

Sharp Objects

Are there sharp objects which could cut or pierce the body? • Glass

• Knife blades

• Sheet metal

• Nail guns

• Needles

• Splinters (wood)

• Burrs (metal)

Harmful Dusts/Mists/Fumes

Are employees exposed to chemicals or harmful dusts/mists/fumes? Examples: • Any chemical which poses a health hazard • Asbestos • Welding fumes • Solder fumes • Silica Reference: Obtain a Material Safety

Data Sheet on the product in question from the supplier and review the information provided for health hazards and suggested controls.

Energy Sources

Are there energy sources which could be harmful if accidental release or startup occurs? • Electrical

• Pneumatic

• Hydraulic

• Thermal

• Mechanical

• Gravity

Light Radiation

Is there light radiation which could be harmful to

the skin or eyes?

• Welding and cutting

• Lasers

Flying Debris

Will employee be operating, or be exposed to,

tools/equipment which may generate flying debris?

• Hammering

• Sawing

• Chipping

• Grinding

• Drilling

• Buffing

Excessive Noise Will employee be operating, or be exposed to, tools/equipment which may generate excessive noise? • Jack-hammering

• Woodworking machinery

• Metalworking machinery

• Operating heavy equipment

Fire/Explosion Hazards

Is there the potential for a fire or explosion?

Workplace Layout Does the layout of the workplace create a potential hazard? • Fall hazards exceeding 4 feet.

• Low clearances

• Confined spaces

OHS Risk Management – Overview What it’s all about?

Identify hazard(s)

Assess risk(s)

Control risk(s)

Re-evaluate

New processes

New substances

New plant

New knowledge

Changes to legislation

Health and Safety Risk Management – Overview What it’s all about?

Step 1 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION STARTS…

Immediately prior to using premises for the first time (as a place of

work)

Before and during installation, erection, commissioning or

alterations to plant

Before changes to work practices and systems of work are

introduced

Before hazardous substances are introduced

While work is being carried out

When new/additional information is made available from an

authoritative source

Step 2

Once the hazard has been

identified, you must

implement an effective

control to eliminate the

hazard, reduce the hazard to

an acceptable manner, or

protect the employee.

Step 3

Evaluate the level of risk for each hazard to

help determine what type of control should be

implemented to reduce exposure.

Step 4

Select an appropriate solution to each hazard. • Always consider eliminating the hazard (if

possible) first.

• If elimination is not possible, consider reducing the

hazard to an acceptable level.

• If an acceptable level cannot be reached, select and

provide appropriate personal protective

equipment for the employee.

Hierarchy of control: Effectiveness Mitigation Examples

MOST

LEAST

Eliminate the hazard through system design, “engineer out” the hazard

Automation

Reduce risks by substituting less hazardous methods or materials

Chemicals, machines, guards on machines

Provide warning systems or administrative controls

Warning signs, educate workers, limit tasks to adults, train staff

Provide personal protective equipment

Gloves, shoes, masks

Engineering Controls

Engineering controls eliminate exposure to the hazard. They are: • relatively permanent,

• can be costly, and

• can be time-consuming.

Engineering controls are things that you do to fix the hazard.

Isolation

Isolate the employee from the hazard. • Control rooms

• Machine guarding

• Protective barriers and shields

• Guardrails

• Clearance distances

Design

Is there new (or existing) technology on the market for the product which, by it’s design,

protects the person using it?

Process Change

Can a non-hazardous process be substituted for a hazardous process?

Spray Painting Dipping or Brushing

Work Area Layout

Can a hazardous work area layout be improved?

Hot Work

Chemical

Storage

Electrical

Pipe

Storage

Stacked

Boxes

Tool Room

Main

Work

Area

Work Area Layout

Chemical storage area was moved away from hot work and electrical hazards.

Hot Work

Chemical

Storage

Electrical

Pipe

Storage

Stacked

Boxes

Tool Room

Main

Work

Area

Substitution

Can a non-hazardous product be substituted for a hazardous product? • Pesticides

• Solder

• Cleaning agents

• Solvents

Ventilation

Will ventilation improve the air quality to an acceptable (i.e. safe) level?

Administrative Controls

Administrative controls reduce employee exposure to a hazard. • They do not eliminate the hazard, but they provide an

acceptable way to work around the hazard.

Reduction

Can you reduce the frequency of performing

the hazardous task?

Rotation

Can employees be rotated to reduce exposure

time?

Training

Can employees be trained to recognize hazards

and employ safe work practices?

Protect the Employee If the hazard cannot be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level, the employee must be protected from exposure. This protection requires that the employee wear and/or use appropriate personal protective equipments. • Hard hats • Eye protection • Face protection • Respiratory protection • Hearing protection

• Body wear • Sleeves • Gloves • Protective footwear

Where the SHEQ jobs are: Safety and health professionals work in a wide range of sectors including:

• Manufacturing • Mining • Oil and gas • Construction • Transportation • Government agencies • Schools • Hospitals • Hotels

SHEQ career: safety is everyone business

Generally to become an HSE professional you can come from any background and your

minimum qualification should be a degree . GIMPA offers a PG Diploma and certificate

in occupational safety and health.

Universities in Ghana will start offering bachelor degrees in safety engineering.

• Newmont • Vodafone • Glo mobile • MTN • Tullow • Kosmos • Unilever • VRA

• Anglogold • Nestle • Taysec • PW mining • Tema Oil

Refinery • Ghana Ports

• Conship • PZ Cussons • GHACEM • Boartlonggear • AEL Mining • Mövenpick • Goldfields • Golden Star Resources