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KNOW THE POWER TOOL - Learn its applications and limitations as
well as the specific potential hazard of the tool.
GROUND ALL TOOLS – UNLESS DOUBLE
INSULATED - If tool is equipped with
three prong plug, it should be plugged into a three-hole electrical receptacle. If adapter is used to accommodate two-prong
receptacle, the adapter wire must be attached to a known ground. Never remove
third prong.
KEEP GUARDS IN PLACE and ensure it working properly.
STORE IDLE TOOLS - When not in use, tools should be stored in
dry, high or locked up place - use storage racks.
DON’T FORCE TOOL – Don’t force
small tool or attachment to do the job of a heavy-duty tool.
WEAR PROPER APPAREL – No loose
clothing or jewelry to get caught in moving parts. Rubber gloves and footwear
are recommended when working outdoors.
USE SAFETY GLASSES with all tools. Also, face or dust masks if
cutting operation is dusty.
DON’T ABUSE CORD – never carry
tool by cord or lyank it to disconnect from receptacle. Keep cord from heat, oil and sharp edges - ensure cable is free from insulation damage.
SECURE WORK – Use clamps or a
vise to hold work. Its safer than using hand and it frees both hands to operate
too.
DON’T OVERREACH – Keep proper
footing and balance at all times. Dont overreach especially working with ladder.
POWER TOOLS SAFETY
MAINTAIN TOOLS WITH CARE – Keep
tools sharp and clean for best and safest performance. Follow instructions for lubricating and
changing accessories.
DISCONNECT TOOLS – When not in
use ; before servicing; when changing accessories such as blades, bits,
cutters, etc.
REMOVE ADJUSTING KEYS AND
WRENCHES – Form habit of checking to see that keys and adjusting wrenches are
removed from tool before turning it on.
AVOID ACCIDENTAL STARTING – Don’t
carry plugged in tool with finger on switch.
Allow only the Licensed / Government approved wireman /
electricians for all repairs / maintenance of electrical wiring, plugs, switch
boards.
Carry out electricals works only after switching off the
electrical supply.
Change immediately old and damaged wiring where insulation
has been damaged.
Avoid joints in the wiring.
Loose wiring results in sparking. Ensure that wires are
tightened at both ends.
All on / off switches of electrical appliances should have
easy access. Remove obstructions if any in their way.
Select appropriate size of fuse wire / MCB's for main fuse
and circuit fuse.
In case of fire from electrical circuits, switch off the
supply immediately and use sand, carbon dioxide or dry powder extinguishers. Do
not use water.
Effective earthing should be provided to all electrical
appliances. Install Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers on the electric line will
prevent shocks. Earthing should not be done on water / steam pipes / iron rods
of the slab.
Install an indicator light for an electric heater and an
auto temperature control switch.
WELDING AND GAS CUTTING SAFETY IN
HINDI
Use properly earthed 3 pin plugs for all electrical
appliances. Electrical appliances should be kept away from damp and hot surface
and from flammable goods. Dim or flickering lights, sparks, buzzing sound from
electrical appliances are signs of potential hazards, contact qualified
electrical person immediately.
Install a switches and plugs at a heights out of reach of
children.
Use rubber mats near fridge, heater, electric cooking range
etc.
Main switchboard and meter should be safe and protected from
rain, wind dust. Meter Box should preferably be wooden and at height of 1.5
meters.
keep away from overhead lines and do not touch broken wires.
Don turn off appliances when you leave home.
Do wear rubber soled shoes when operating power tools.
Outdoor electrical outlets should be covered with weatherproof
covers.
Working in confined spaces can be highly dangerous and such work has given rise to a significant number of fatal accidents to both workers and a rescue. There are a number of possible reasons for this the main one being a lack of knowledge and understanding of the hazardous nature associated with.
Typical hazards associated include:
􀂄 presence of a hazardous gas, vapour or fume;
􀂄 lack of sufficient oxygen or air due to displacement by another gas e.g. carbon dioxide.
􀂄 oxygen has become depleted owing to corrosion over time.
􀂄 noxious fumes are generated as a result of disturbance of residues;
􀂄 plant or processes are not properly isolated.
􀂄 dangerous or hazardous conditions can arise directly as a result of the work activity itself.
􀂄 heat exhaustion is also a possibility.
It also be remembered that most gases or vapours are heavier than air and hence will tend to collect at the bottom of a container or collect in low lying areas.
Types of confined spaces
Most people will think of a confined space as that shown below. Other typical or similar examples include silos, chemical reactors, sewers etc. There are also other confined spaces which are not so obvious.
These include:
􀂄 open topped chambers
􀂄 combustion chambers in furnaces
􀂄 ductwork, silos etc
􀂄 rooms or areas where there is no ventilation or poor ventilation e.g. cable ducts.
􀂄 basements, vaults and cellars
􀂄 transformer tanks
An arc flash is a short circuit through the air. In an arc flash incident, an enormous amount of concentrated radiant energy explodes outward from electrical equipment, creating:
ELECTRICAL SAFETY TRAINING VIDEO
• Pressure waves that can damage hearing, fracture ribs, collapse lungs, and knock a worker off a ladder or blow him or her across a room
• Pressure waves that can send loose material like pieces of damaged equipment, tools, and other objects flying through the air at speeds in excess of 700 miles per hour
• A high-intensity flash that can damage eyesight and leave a person blind
• A super heated ball of gas with temperatures in excess of 5,000 degrees that can ignite clothing and
cause serious burns over much of the body.
Workers have been injured even though they were 10 feet away from the arc center. Furthermore,
electrical arc flash hazards do not occur only in the presence of high voltage sources.
In fact, locations consisting of many low voltage equipment sources account for the most arc flash incidents.
Each year more than 2,000 workers are treated in burn centers with severe arc flash injuries.
Arc flash occurs when electrical current flows between two or more separated energized conducting
surfaces. Common causes of arc flash include:
• Insulation failure
• Buildup of dust, impurities, and corrosion on insulating surfaces, which can provide a path for current
• Equipment failure due to use of substandard parts, improper installation, or even normal wear and tear
• Birds, bees, and rodents snapping leads at connections
• Human error, including dropped tools, accidental contact with electrical systems, and improper work
procedures
Applicable Rules:
Because of the serious risks associated with arc flash, safety standards have been established to protect
workers.
• OSHA regulations require the use of safety signs, symbols, or accident prevention tags to warn employees about electrical hazards that may place them in danger.
• A National Fire Protection Association standard (NFPA 70E) recommend that employers perform an arc flash hazard analysis before allowing employees to work on energized equipment. Although OSHA does not enforce this standard, the agency considers it a recognized industry practice, and OSHA field inspectors may use it as a reference.
• The NFPA standard also recommends PPE and clothing to protect workers as well as addresses the issue of safe flash protection boundaries designed to restrict entry into areas where are flash hazards exist.
Any man-made cavity or depression in the earth's surface, including
its sides, walls, or faces, formed by earth removal and producing unsupported
earth conditions by reason of the excavation.
2. Trench
Excavation
A narrow excavation made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the
width, but the width of a trench is not greater than 4.5 meters (15 feet).
3. Accepted
Engineering and Construction Practices
Plans for excavations and protective system methods shall be
submitted to Loss Prevention before work start up.
4. Protective
Systems
Methods used to protect employees from cave-ins, from materials
that could fall or roll into the excavation onto the workers or from collapse
of adjacent structures. Protective
systems include supports, sloping and benching, shields and other means to
protect workers.
5. Shoring
Hydraulic, timber or mechanical systems that support the sides of
an excavation, designed to prevent cave-ins.
6. Hydraulic
Shoring
A pre-engineered support system of aluminum hydraulic cylinders
(cross-braces) used with vertical rods (uprights) or horizontal rods designed
specifically to support side walls of an excavation to prevent cave-in.
7. Benching
A method of protecting employees from cave-ins by excavating the
sides of an excavation to form one or a series of horizontal steps, with a
vertical rise between steps.
8. Sloping
A method of excavating in which the sides of an excavation are laid
back to a safe angle to prevent cave-ins.
(The safe angle required varies with different types of soil, exposure
to the elements and superimposed loads.
There is no single angle of repose.
Soil classification must be identified to select safe sloping and
benching methods.)
What is an accident and why should it be investigated?
The term "accident" can be defined as an unplanned event that interrupts the completion of an activity, and that may (or may not) include injury or property damage.
An incident usually refers to an unexpected event that did not cause injury or damage this time but
had the potential. "Near miss" or "dangerous occurrence" are also terms for an event that could have
caused harm but did not.
Please note: The term incident is used in some situations and jurisdictions to cover both an "accident"
and "incident". It is argued that the word "accident" implies that the event was related to fate or
chance. When the root cause is determined, it is usually found that many events were predictable and
could have been prevented if the right actions were taken -- making the event not one of fate or
chance (thus, the word incident is used). For simplicity, we will use the term accident to mean all of
the above events.
The information that follows is intended to be a general guide for supervisors or joint occupational
health and safety committee members. When accidents are investigated, the emphasis should be
concentrated on finding the root cause of the accident rather than the investigation procedure itself so
you can prevent it from happening again. The purpose is to find facts that can lead to actions, not to
find fault. Always look for deeper causes. Do not simply record the steps of the event.
Reasons to investigate a workplace accident include:
most importantly, to find out the cause of accidents and to prevent similar accidents in the future
to fulfill any legal requirements
to determine the cost of an accident
to determine compliance with applicable safety regulations
to process workers' compensation claims
Incidents that involve no injury or property damage should still be investigated to determine the
hazards that should be corrected. The same principles apply to a quick inquiry of a minor incident and to the more formal investigation of a serious event.
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS INVESTIGATION /
CASE STUDY
Who should do the accident investigating?
Ideally, an investigation would be conducted by someone experienced in accident causation,
experienced in investigative techniques, fully knowledgeable of the work processes, procedures,
persons, and industrial relations environment of a particular situation.
Some jurisdictions provide guidance such as requiring that it must be conducted jointly, with both
management and labour represented, or that the investigators must be knowledgeable about the work
processes involved.
In most cases, the supervisor should help investigate the event. Other members of the team can
include:
employees with knowledge of the work
safety officer
health and safety committee
union representative, if applicable
employees with experience in investigations
"outside" expert
representative from local government
Should the immediate supervisor be on the team?
The advantage is that this person is likely to know most about the work and persons involved and the
current conditions. Furthermore, the supervisor can usually take immediate remedial action. The
counter argument is that there may be an attempt to gloss over the supervisors shortcomings in the
accident. This situation should not arise if the accident is investigated by a team of people, and if the
worker representative(s) and the members review all accident investigation reports thoroughly.
Why look for the root cause?
An investigator who believes that accidents are caused by unsafe conditions will likely try to uncover
conditions as causes. On the other hand, one who believes they are caused by unsafe acts will attempt
to find the human errors that are causes. Therefore, it is necessary to examine some underlying
factors in a chain of events that ends in an accident.
The important point is that even in the most seemingly straightforward accidents,seldom, if ever, is
there only a single cause. For example, an "investigation" which concludes that an accident was due
to worker carelessness, and goes no further, fails to seek answers to several important questions such
as:
Was the worker distracted? If yes, why was the worker distracted?
Was a safe work procedure being followed? If not, why not?
Were safety devices in order? If not, why not?
Was the worker trained? If not, why not?
An inquiry that answers these and related questions will probably reveal conditions that are more open
to correction than attempts to prevent "carelessness".
What are the steps involved in investigating an accident?
The accident investigation process involves the following steps:
Report the accident occurrence to a designated person within the organization
Provide first aid and medical care to injured person(s) and prevent further injuries or damage
Investigate the accident
Identify the causes
Report the findings
Develop a plan for corrective action
Implement the plan
Evaluate the effectiveness of the corrective action
Make changes for continuous improvement
As little time as possible should be lost between the moment of an accident or near miss and the
beginning of the investigation. In this way, one is most likely to be able to observe the conditions as
they were at the time, prevent disturbance of evidence, and identify witnesses. The tools that
members of the investigating team may need (pencil, paper, camera, film, camera flash, tape
measure, etc.) should be immediately available so that no time is wasted.
What should be looked at as the cause of an accident?
Accident Causation Models
Many models of accident causation have been proposed, ranging from Heinrich's domino theory to the sophisticated Management Oversight and Risk Tree (MORT).
The simple model shown in Figure 1 attempts to illustrate that the causes of any accident can be
grouped into five categories - task, material, environment, personnel, and management. When this
model is used, possible causes in each category should be investigated. Each category is examined
more closely below. Remember that these are sample questions only: no attempt has been made to
develop a comprehensive checklist.
Task
Here the actual work procedure being used at the time of the accident is explored. Members of the
accident investigation team will look for answers to questions such as:
Was a safe work procedure used?
Had conditions changed to make the normal procedure unsafe?
Were the appropriate tools and materials available?
Were they used?
Were safety devices working properly?
Was lockout used when necessary?
For most of these questions, an important follow-up question is "If not, why not?"
Material
To seek out possible causes resulting from the equipment and materials used, investigators might ask:
Was there an equipment failure?
What caused it to fail?
Was the machinery poorly designed?
Were hazardous substances involved?
Were they clearly identified?
Was a less hazardous alternative substance possible and available?
Was the raw material substandard in some way?
Should personal protective equipment (PPE) have been used? Accident Causation
Was the PPE used?
Were users of PPE properly trained?
Again, each time the answer reveals an unsafe condition, the investigator must ask why this situation
was allowed to exist.
The physical environment, and especially sudden changes to that environment, are factors that need to
be identified. The situation at the time of the accident is what is important, not what the "usual"
conditions were. For example, accident investigators may want to know:
What were the weather conditions?
Was poor housekeeping a problem?
Was it too hot or too cold?
Was noise a problem?
Was there adequate light?
Were toxic or hazardous gases, dusts, or fumes present?
Personnel
The physical and mental condition of those individuals directly involved in the event must be explored.
The purpose for investigating the accident is not to establish blame against someone but the inquiry
will not be complete unless personal characteristics are considered. Some factors will remain
essentially constant while others may vary from day to day:
Were workers experienced in the work being done?
Had they been adequately trained?
Can they physically do the work?
What was the status of their health?
Were they tired?
Were they under stress (work or personal)?
Management
Management holds the legal responsibility for the safety of the workplace and therefore the role of
supervisors and higher management and the role or presence of management systems must always be
considered in an accident investigation. Failures of management systems are often found to be direct
or indirect factors in accidents. Ask questions such as:
Were safety rules communicated to and understood by all employees?
Were written procedures and orientation available?
Were they being enforced?
Was there adequate supervision?
Were workers trained to do the work?
Had hazards been previously identified?
Had procedures been developed to overcome them?
Were unsafe conditions corrected?
Was regular maintenance of equipment carried out?
Were regular safety inspections carried out?
This model of accident investigations provides a guide for uncovering all possible causes and reduces
the likelihood of looking at facts in isolation. Some investigators may prefer to place some of the
sample questions in different categories; however, the categories are not important, as long as each
pertinent question is asked. Obviously there is considerable overlap between categories; this reflects
the situation in real life. Again it should be emphasized that the above sample questions do not make
up a complete checklist, but are examples only.
FALL PROTECTION SAFETY TRAINING VIDEO
How are the facts collected?
The steps in accident investigation are simple: the accident investigators gather information, analyze
it, draw conclusions, and make recommendations. Although the procedures are straightforward, each
step can have its pitfalls. As mentioned above, an open mind is necessary in accident investigation:
preconceived notions may result in some wrong paths being followed while leaving some significant
facts uncovered. All possible causes should be considered. Making notes of ideas as they occur is a
good practice but conclusions should not be drawn until all the information is gathered.
Injured workers(s)
The most important immediate tasks--rescue operations, medical treatment of the injured, and
prevention of further injuries--have priority and others must not interfere with these activities. When
these matters are under control, the investigators can start their work.
Physical Evidence
Before attempting to gather information, examine the site for a quick overview, take steps to preserve
evidence, and identify all witnesses. In some jurisdictions, an accident site must not be disturbed
without prior approval from appropriate government officials such as the coroner, inspector, or police.
Physical evidence is probably the most non-controversial information available. It is also subject to
rapid change or obliteration; therefore, it should be the first to be recorded. Based on your knowledge
of the work process, you may want to check items such as:
positions of injured workers
equipment being used
materials or chemicals being used
safety devices in use
position of appropriate guards
position of controls of machinery
damage to equipment
housekeeping of area
weather conditions
lighting levels
noise levels
time of day
You may want to take photographs before anything is moved, both of the general area and specific
items. Later careful study of these may reveal conditions or observations missed previously. Sketches
of the accident scene based on measurements taken may also help in subsequent analysis and will
clarify any written reports. Broken equipment, debris, and samples of materials involved may be
removed for further analysis by appropriate experts. Even if photographs are taken, written notes
about the location of these items at the accident scene should be prepared.
Although there may be occasions when you are unable to do so, every effort should be made to
interview witnesses. In some situations witnesses may be your primary source of information because
you may be called upon to investigate an accident without being able to examine the scene
immediately after the event. Because witnesses may be under severe emotional stress or afraid to be
completely open for fear of recrimination, interviewing witnesses is probably the hardest task facing an investigator.
Witnesses should be kept apart and interviewed as soon as possible after the accident. If witnesses
have an opportunity to discuss the event among themselves, individual perceptions may be lost in the
normal process of accepting a consensus view where doubt exists about the facts.
Witnesses should be interviewed alone, rather than in a group. You may decide to interview a witness
at the scene of the accident where it is easier to establish the positions of each person involved and to
obtain a description of the events. On the other hand, it may be preferable to carry out interviews in a
quiet office where there will be fewer distractions. The decision may depend in part on the nature of
the accident and the mental state of the witnesses.
Interviewing
Interviewing is an art that cannot be given justice in a brief document such as this, but a few do's and
don'ts can be mentioned. The purpose of the interview is to establish an understanding with the
witness and to obtain his or her own words describing the event:
DO...
put the witness, who is probably upset, at ease
emphasize the real reason for the investigation, to determine what happened and why
let the witness talk, listen
confirm that you have the statement correct
try to sense any underlying feelings of the witness
make short notes or ask someone else on the team to take them during the interview
ask if it is okay to record the interview, if you are doing so
close on a positive note
DO NOT...
intimidate the witness
interrupt
prompt
ask leading questions
show your own emotions
jump to conclusions
Ask open-ended questions that cannot be answered by simply "yes" or "no". The actual questions you
ask the witness will naturally vary with each accident, but there are some general questions that
should be asked each time:
Where were you at the time of the accident?
What were you doing at the time?
What did you see, hear?
What were the environmental conditions (weather, light, noise, etc.) at the time?
What was (were) the injured worker(s) doing at the time?
In your opinion, what caused the accident?
How might similar accidents be prevented in the future?
WELDING AND GAS CUTTING SAFETY IN
HINDI
If you were not at the scene at the time, asking questions is a straightforward approach to establishing
what happened. Obviously, care must be taken to assess the credibility of any statements made in the
interviews. Answers to a first few questions will generally show how well the witness could actually
observe what happened.
Another technique sometimes used to determine the sequence of events is to re-enact or replay them
as they happened. Obviously, great care must be taken so that further injury or damage does not
occur. A witness (usually the injured worker) is asked to reenact in slow motion the actions that
preceded the accident.
Background Information
A third, and often an overlooked source of information, can be found in documents such as technical
data sheets, health and safety committee minutes, inspection reports, company policies, maintenance
reports, past accident reports, formalized safe-work procedures, and training reports. Any pertinent
information should be studied to see what might have happened, and what changes might be
recommended to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.
What should I know when making the analysis and conclusions?
At this stage of the investigation most of the facts about what happened and how it happened should
be known. This has taken considerable effort to accomplish but it represents only the first half of the
objective. Now comes the key question--why did it happen? To prevent recurrences of similar
accidents, the investigators must find all possible answers to this question.
You have kept an open mind to all possibilities and looked for all pertinent facts. There may still be
gaps in your understanding of the sequence of events that resulted in the accident. You may need to
reinterview some witnesses to fill these gaps in your knowledge.
When your analysis is complete, write down a step-by-step account of what happened (your
conclusions) working back from the moment of the accident, listing all possible causes at each step.
This is not extra work: it is a draft for part of the final report. Each conclusion should be checked to
see if:
it is supported by evidence
the evidence is direct (physical or documentary) or based on eyewitness accounts, or
the evidence is based on assumption.
This list serves as a final check on discrepancies that should be explained or eliminated.
Why should recommendations be made?
The most important final step is to come up with a set of well-considered recommendations designed
to prevent recurrences of similar accidents. Once you are knowledgeable about the work processes
involved and the overall situation in your organization, it should not be too difficult to come up with
realistic recommendations. Recommendations should:
be specific
be constructive
get at root causes
identify contributing factors
Resist the temptation to make only general recommendations to save time and effort.
For example, you have determined that a blind corner contributed to an accident. Rather than just
recommending "eliminate blind corners" it would be better to suggest:
install mirrors at the northwest corner of building X (specific to this accident)
install mirrors at blind corners where required throughout the worksite (general)
Never make recommendations about disciplining a person or persons who may have been at fault.
This would not only be counter to the real purpose of the investigation, but it would jeopardize the
chances for a free flow of information in future accident investigations.
In the unlikely event that you have not been able to determine the causes of an accident with any
certainty, you probably still have uncovered safety weaknesses in the operation. It is appropriate that
recommendations be made to correct these deficiencies.
The Written Report
If your organization has a standard form that must be used, you will have little choice in the form that
your written report is to be presented. Nevertheless, you should be aware of, and try to overcome,
shortcomings such as:
If a limited space is provided for an answer, the tendency will be to answer in that space despite
recommendations to "use back of form if necessary."
If a checklist of causes is included, possible causes not listed may be overlooked.
Headings such as "unsafe condition" will usually elicit a single response even when more than one
unsafe condition exists.
Differentiating between "primary cause" and "contributing factors" can be misleading. All accident
causes are important and warrant consideration for possible corrective action.
Your previously prepared draft of the sequence of events can now be used to describe what happened.
Remember that readers of your report do not have the intimate knowledge of the accident that you
have so include all pertinent detail. Photographs and diagrams may save many words of description.
Identify clearly where evidence is based on certain facts, eyewitness accounts, or your assumptions.
If doubt exists about any particular part, say so. The reasons for your conclusions should be stated and followed by your recommendations. Weed out extra material that is not required for a full
understanding of the accident and its causes such as photographs that are not relevant and parts of
the investigation that led you nowhere. The measure of a good accident report is quality, not quantity.
Always communicate your findings with workers, supervisors and management. Present your
information 'in context' so everyone understands how the accident occurred and the actions in place to prevent it from happening again.
What should be done if the investigation reveals human error?
A difficulty that has bothered many investigators is the idea that one does not want to lay blame.
However, when a thorough worksite accident investigation reveals that some person or persons among management, supervisor, and the workers were apparently at fault, then this fact should be pointed out. The intention here is to remedy the situation, not to discipline an individual.
Failing to point out human failings that contributed to an accident will not only downgrade the quality of the investigation. Furthermore, it will also allow future accidents to happen from similar causes because they have not been addressed.
However never make recommendations about disciplining anyone who may be at fault. Any disciplinary steps should be done within the normal personnel procedures.
How should follow-up be handled?
Management is responsible for acting on the recommendations in the accident investigation report. The health and safety committee, if you have one, can monitor the progress of these actions.
Follow-up actions include:
Respond to the recommendations in the report by explaining what can and cannot be done (and why or why not).
Develop a timetable for corrective actions.
Monitor that the scheduled actions have been completed.
Check the condition of injured worker(s).
Inform and train other workers at risk.
Re-orient worker(s) on their return to work.
