Positive thinking Hi safety planning
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Health and safety ...In the workslh
IT MUST BE the declared policy of any company to take all reasonable and practical steps to ensure the health and safety of its employees at work.
Management must make every effort to meet the recommendations from sources dealing with industrial health and safety. The statutory requirements must be complied with.
To ensure that the maximum protection is afforded to all employees, they are required to co-operate in full with senior management meeting these requirements.
Safety is usually under the supervision of the directors of the company, operations managers, foremen and individual employees, but safety is everyone's responsibility.
When it comes to protecting themselves and their colleagues from accidents and injuries, human beings are often their own worst enemies. Their attitude is often reflected in the way they dress for work and the way they work.
The person who is correctly dressed for work and has efficiently prepared himself for his task is the one who will most likely preserve himself.
Fire
Whenever a person joins a company, he must be made aware of the fire alarm system, fire extinguishers and above all, the laid-down procedure for fires.
The normal procedure in case of fire is to sound the alarm immediately. Thereafter, assistance should be sought.
Should the fire be petrol, oil or electrical-based, then only use powder or dry extinguishers — vapourising liquid extinguishers must not be used in confined spaces.
Never allow combustible materials such as oily rags accumulate in any workshop. Oil, waste rags, paper, clothes, sawdust and similar materials must not be gathered and nlace:i dtlgibillf: or' meta! con tainers.
No open flame should be allowed near any inflammable
or explosive material and a -no smoking areameans just that.
It is imperative that access to fire fighting equipment and fire exits are always kept clear.
Employees must be shown how to use all the fire fighting equipment in the workshops. Refilling the equipment must be left to the manufacturer's representative.
Should overalls become impregnated with fuel, oil or grease then they must be removed. and kept away from fires or naked flames.
Cigarettes, pipes or cigars must not be stubbed out in waste bins as they can cause fires in combustible material.
Electrical equipment is sometimes misused and overloaded; all equipment in use must be detached from the system.
Petrol or thinners must not be used for cleaning dirty mechanical components. Only use solvents and ensure that employees do not smoke in the area.
Prevention
Safety is basically simple. Always think before acting and, before making a move always make sure it is safe. There is an excellent range of safety footwear on the market and this should be worn in the workshops. Many companies subsidize or supply safety shoes, hard hats and goggles; this equipment must be available for any job that requires their use.
Any hoists, slings or chains must be regularly checked for fraying, kinks or defective links and renewed if there is any doubt. It only takes a few seconds to check the equipment and report any defects.
Electrical equipment is commonly misused and must be maintained correctly. Cables must be correctly insulated and earthed.
For tanker operators, it is imperative that no employee enters a tank unless clearance has been obtained. Breathing apparatus must be available and used if there is any doubt and there must be at least one man outside at all times to ensure the safety of the man inside. A safety harness and life hose must be worn.
Whenever an employee leaves a working area for meal breaks or at the end of a working day, the site must be left in a safe condition. Engines and ignition systems must be switched off, lifting tackle left neat, fork-lift trucks at ground level and jibs high enough not to be a danger to passing vehicles or pedestrians. Oxygen and acetylene cylinders must be turned off and electrical systems switched off Hoists, cranes, or overhead lifts must not be overlooked and the safe working limits must be shown. Never ever walk under a suspended load.
Watches and rings can easily become trapped in machinery or cause electrical short circuits, resulting in burns to the wrists and fingers.
Compressed air, grease guns, gas bottles, steam cleaners or high pressure water cleaners must be handled with care — the human body can be seriously damaged by a high. pressure liquid or gas.
Pockets must be emptied of oily rags as these ran cal ISP [oral dermatitis, and modern ha cleaners supplied.
Should petrol be spilt overalls or clothing, employ must not smoke or get n heaters until all clothing changed. Do not forget t petrol vapour is heavier than and will remain inside clothir Finally, when lift manually, always ensure correct lifting procedures used. Other methods can re: in spinal damage or hernias.
Fork-lift trucks No-one should operate .z fork-lift truck unless authoris They must never be driven excessive speed — they h. over easily.
Fork-lift trucks' jibs, hoc and forks must be securely f tened and checked daily befi use.
Always be aware of overhe pipes, wires and obstructioi including doorways and tri king. Beware of weak floo manhole covers, ducts, pay areas and new tarmac, and hz sand or sawdust around to on slippery surfaces.
During breaks or at the end the day, the ignition key shot always be removed, g cylinders turned off and gas r out of the system.
Vehicle operation
One of the most forgott
safoty precat tions th,t
:rs 3re being coupled or un)lec , the handbrake must be ly applied and the wheels :ked with timber.
/hen trailers are being iped, it is imperative that the
t overhang is not heavily n. It has been known for an .e trailer to be -up ended."
he trailer must be correctly pled before the legs are :d or lowered or when any :ks or wheel chocks are Dyed.
efore transit, drivers must iys check and double-check the load is secure. This also Jld apply to drivers collecladen trailers.
leavy machinery presents )lens, as also do top-heavy Is and bulk timber goods. ; must be secured with pull and wire slings or chains Silvesters. Machines must chocked, and chocks wed, bolted or nailed to the er bed.
ieavy point loads on vehicle forms cause damage to the ler bed and can present a ire hazard; in some instances Iced may drop down iugh the boards.
)pei trailer loads should be Deny sheeted and the sheet -Ired to the trailer along its )le length.
frailers must be loaded or loaded equally along their gth. If not, they can tilt and )osit the remainder of the on the ground.
Many accidents occur when lers are dropped onto soft or wen ground. If there is any kit, use timber or planking when heavily laden, a stle or packing should be ced forward of the front legs. When picking up a trailer, rers must ensure that it is at correct height. Using the D Jpling to pick up the trailer 1st be forbidden. Platform or ni-trailers must be jacked up he correct leg-height to stand timber.
Ser ous accidents can occur len attempting to couple a v-loading trailer off jacks. ey will roll and the trailer will Ito ihe ground.
Drivers sometimes forget that len driving an uncoupled ctive unit, they are in a more :ident-prone condition.
Unauthorised adjustment of gine governors, tachometers safe working load indicators 1st Le prohibited and carrying authorised passengers in the b must be considered as a tent al danger.
On low-loading or semi-lowiding trailers, winch wires .ist Le rewound upon complen of the work. Any loose items on the swan-neck must be secured.
Back axle assemblies on lowloading trailers must be checked and double-checked to ensure that they are thoroughly secured and braking and lighting systems correctly reconnected.
Workshop precautions
Managers must always be aware of the possible hazards for his staff in the workshop. Even the most obvious ones are sometimes forgotten.
Barrier creams must be readily available to employees and should always be used to avoid skin diseases.
When using high-pressure grease guns, compressed air or high pressure water, extreme care must be taken as they can be lethal.
Compressed air must never be used to clean away dust swarf_ Flying particles can easily blind and if inhaled can be dangerous to throat or lungs.
The workshop floor must always be kept free of grease and oil and all working areas must be kept clean and tidy. When vehicles are not over pits, the boards should always be replaced or the area chained off.
When cleaning components, only use recognised solvents and never allow smoking when repairing fuel systems or when inflammable materials or liquids are about.
The exhaust extract system must always be used when running engines in the workshop. Build-up of exhaust gases is very dangerous.
When working in vehicle pits, employees must be very aware of fumes or gases. If there is any doubt, the pit should be evacuated and advice sought.
Should fuel tanks be accidentally drained into a pit, empty and clean the pit immediately, otherwise it could be a potential bomb.
Smoking, burning or welding in the pit should not be permitted and when driving a vehicle on or off a pit, the driver should always seek assistance.
When vehicles are in the workshops, batteries should be disconnected. A mechanic working beneath a cab is at severe risk if the engine is started.
Brake linings contain asbestos dust, which is very harmful to the lungs. Never use compressed air to "blow out" drums. Either extract the dust using the exhaust extract system, or clean out onto paper using wet rags'.
Employees must never work below a vehicle when it is supported on a jack. They are notoriously unreliable and sus
ceptible to failure — they can creep or be let down accidentally. The vehicle must be put on stands and the wheels must be thoroughly chocked. When positioning the stands, make certain they are correctly located under load-bearing points.
Tilt cabs can be lethal — they are usually fitted with hinge braces but these may not always prevent the cab from falling back. Therefore make certain the cab is adequately braced and if there is any doubt, use a prop. When work is completed, ensure the cab is locked in position.
Vehicle lifts are always taken for granted. The vehicle weight must be evenly distributed and. portable chocks must be placed to prevent the vehicle moving and overriding any fixed stops. If it is necessary to move the vehicle on the lift, control it with the chocks.
Before lowering the lift, always make certain there is nobody beneath and that tools, air lines and similar obstructions are removed and that feet are well clear.
When aligning holes, never check alignment with a finger because components can easily slip and become efficient guillotines.
Automatic transmissions must be treated with the utmost respect. Before engine testing, raise the driving wheels on a stand. If this is not possible, check the transmission from the driving seat with the engine running at test speed. Control any movement with the foot brake and rectify any fault that appears before proceeding with the engine test. Even if there is no apparent fault in the transmission, engine testing should still be done from the side of the vehicle wherever possible.
Never leave an automatic vehicle in gear in the workshop.
Hand-tools account for many accidents. Defective or unsuitable tools should not be used.
Portable electric tools must be either double insulated to BS specification or earthed through a three-core cable, three-pin plug and socket. Never allow vehicles or wheeled equipment to run over cables.
Commercial vehicle tyres are responsible for many injuries, often fatal, caused by the retaining rings blowing off when the tyre is being inflated. Always place in the guard cage provided.
Before split (divided) wheels are removed from a vehicle or any attempt is made to remove the tyre or divide the wheel, the tyre must be fully deflated. Corroded wheels must not be eased apart by inflating the tyre.
Road testing
Before a vehicle is taken on a road test, the test driver must, make certain the vehicle complies with the requirements of law before proceeding on the road.
Immediately after moving , off, the brakes and steering systems should be checked.
Health and safety at work is everyone's responsibility be it in the workshop , yard, on the road or at the customer's premises. In the majority of cases it is commonsense, but human nature being what it is. people still need constant reminding.
The 1974 Act lays down in detail the responsibilities of the employer and the employee, and in future there will be no excuse for not taking adequate precautions against accidents.
• Brian Chalmers-Hunt