Element 8: General workplace issues

8.1 Health, welfare and work environment

Employers must provide basic welfare facilities: drinking water, washing facilities, sanitary conveniences, accommodation for clothing, rest and eating facilities, and seating, with suitable ventilation, heating and lighting.

Extremes of temperature can harm health. Heat can cause heat stress, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and cramps. Cold can cause hypothermia and frostbite. Controls include: control of the temperature where possible, shade and ventilation, breaks, drinking water, rotating workers, suitable clothing, and acclimatisation.

Study tip: Welfare is a legal and practical minimum, and it also affects morale.

Practice questions for 8.1

8.2 Working at height

Falls from height are a leading cause of death and serious injury. Risk depends on the vertical distance; fragile roofs; deterioration of materials; unprotected edges; unstable or poorly maintained access equipment; weather; and falling materials.

Hierarchy for selecting equipment:

1. Avoid working at height, for example by using extendable tools to work from the ground, or assembling parts at ground level.
2. If it cannot be avoided, prevent a fall: use an existing safe workplace such as a solid roof with fixed guardrails, or suitable equipment such as mobile elevating work platforms, scaffolds or work restraint systems.
3. If a fall cannot be prevented, minimise its distance and consequences: safety nets and airbags close to the working level, and personal fall arrest systems.

Main precautions:

• Planning and supervision.
• Avoiding work in bad weather.
• Emergency rescue arrangements.
• Training, instruction and other measures.
• For ladders, stepladders, scaffolds, MEWPs and guardrails: correct selection, inspection, stability and competence.
• For falling materials: safe stacking and storage.

Key terms

• MEWP: Mobile elevating work platform.

Study tip: Use the order: avoid, prevent, minimise.

Practice questions for 8.2

8.3 Safe working in confined spaces

A confined space is an enclosed or partly enclosed space that is large enough for a person to enter, is not designed for continuous occupation, and has a foreseeable risk such as a toxic or flammable atmosphere, lack of oxygen, or a rising level of liquid.

Examples are tanks, silos, sewers, pits, ducts and vats. They are dangerous because of the atmosphere, restricted entry and exit, and difficult rescue.

Main hazards: lack of oxygen or too much oxygen; toxic gases and fumes; flammable or explosive atmospheres; engulfment by liquids or solids; heat; and entrapment. Many deaths occur among would-be rescuers.

In the assessment consider the task, the space, the atmosphere, how people will get in and out, communication, rescue, and the people involved. Precautions in a safe system of work:

• Avoid entry if possible
• A permit to work
• Isolation of services
• Testing and monitoring the atmosphere
• Ventilation
• Suitable equipment and breathing apparatus where needed
• Communication
• Trained and competent people
• A rescue plan with equipment and trained rescuers outside the space
• Supervision

Study tip: Never allow an untrained person to enter to rescue someone.

Practice questions for 8.3

8.4 Lone working

A lone worker works by themselves without close or direct supervision, for example in a shop at night, on a delivery round, on a remote site, in a home visit or in a locked office.

Particular hazards: nobody to help in an accident or medical emergency; violence from others; stress and isolation; risks from work that should not be done alone; and travel risks.

Controls: assess whether the task can safely be done alone; training and competence; a system for contact and checks (for example phone check-ins or lone worker devices); procedures if contact is lost; means of raising the alarm; first aid; and extra care for those with medical conditions.

The assessment should look at the work, the place, the person and the emergency arrangements.

Study tip: Say what happens when the lone worker does not report in.

Practice questions for 8.4

8.5 Slips and trips

Slips and trips are among the most common causes of injury at work. Common causes: uneven or unsuitable floor surfaces, spills and contamination, trailing cables, obstructions in walkways, poor lighting, changes of level and unsuitable footwear.

Main controls: appropriate non-slip surfaces; good maintenance and repair; good housekeeping and prompt cleaning of spills; keeping cables off the floor; good lighting; marked changes of level; suitable footwear; and training and supervision.

Study tip: Housekeeping is the cheapest control with the biggest effect.

Practice questions for 8.5

8.6 Safe movement of people and vehicles in the workplace

Pedestrian hazards include being struck by moving, flying or falling objects, collisions with moving vehicles and striking against fixed objects. Vehicle hazards include vehicles overturning, loads falling and reversing accidents.

A safe site:

• Suitable traffic routes with separate pedestrian zones and crossing points
• Spillage control
• Management of vehicle movements
• Visibility and lighting
• Gradients, changes of level and surface condition
• Segregation of pedestrians and vehicles, and measures when full segregation is not practicable
• Barriers, markings, signs and warnings of vehicle approach and reversing
• Site rules including speed limits

Safe vehicles and safe drivers:

• Vehicles suitable for the job, maintained and repaired.
• Good visibility and reversing aids.
• Driver protection and restraint systems.
• Proper selection and training of drivers.
• A banksman (reversing assistant) where needed.
• Systems that assure competence.

Key terms

• Banksman: A person who guides a vehicle that is reversing or manoeuvring.

Study tip: Segregating people from vehicles is the strongest control.

Practice questions for 8.6

8.7 Work-related driving

People who drive for work face the risks of road incidents, and organisations should manage these in the same way as other risks, using plan, do, check and act.

Applying Plan, Do, Check, Act to driving:

1. Plan: assess the risks, make a policy, commit at top level, and assign roles.
2. Do: coordinate between departments, have adequate systems including maintenance, communicate and consult, and give instruction and training.
3. Check: monitor performance and ensure that all road incidents are reported.
4. Act: review performance and update the policy.

Controls:

• A safe driver (competence, licence checks, instruction, fitness to drive).
• A safe vehicle (fit for purpose, maintained, with safety devices, maximum load not exceeded, loads secured).
• A safe journey (route planning, realistic schedules with driving breaks, weather, and legal driving hours where relevant).

Electric and hybrid vehicles bring extra hazards:

• Silent operation, so pedestrians may not hear them
• Availability and location of charging points
• Electric shock from high voltage parts and cabling
• Stored charge in components even when switched off
• Unexpected movement of the vehicle or parts because of magnetic forces in the motor
• Release of explosive gases and harmful liquids from damaged batteries

Study tip: A realistic schedule is a control. Pressure to hurry is a hazard.

Practice questions for 8.7