Manufacturing and workshop practice

• Causes of accidents in the workplace:

  • Carelessness
  • Failure to think (sensing common)
  • Fatigue from working long shifts
  • Abuse of drugs/substances
  • Carelessness, horseplay, and silly frictions
  • Improper dress code
  • Medication (results in loss of concentration)
• Accidents in the workplace can result in serious injuries
• Improper dress code includes wearing jewelry and inappropriate clothing that can lead to injuries
• Accidents may also occur due to workplace environmental problems like high temperatures, unsafe doors/floors, poor ventilation, and poor lighting
• Precautions and rules in the workplace include:

  • Housekeeping
  • Hygiene: always wash hands with suitable hand cleaners and water
  • Never throw rubbish on the floor, keep the workplace clean
  • Proper supervision and training for employees
• Caps, steel toe caps, and foot protection like safety boots are used in hazardous conditions to protect against molten metal, heated metal, water, and toxic liquids
• Steel toe caps are designed to keep out molten metal and heated metal
• Boots with top caps provide resistance against water and toxic liquids to protect the feet
• Anti-static foot protection is used to prevent the build-up of static electricity
• Hand protection in the form of gloves provides protection against cuts, abrasions, extremes of temperatures, skin irritations, dermatitis, and corrosive substances
• Protective clothing like overalls, coveralls, and aprons can be used to protect against chemicals and hazardous substances
• Protective equipment examples include safety goggles, welding filters, face screens, face shields, spectacles, and eye protectors
• Industrial safety helmets protect against falling objects or impact with fixed objects, while scalp protectors protect against impact with hard obstacles, scalping, or entanglement
• Safety measures when dealing with electricity:

  • Always switch off or isolate electrical equipment before working on it
  • Ensure you understand instructions before using electrical equipment
  • Take care when disconnecting electrical equipment to avoid injuries
• Fire safety measures:

  • Know the location of fire extinguishers
  • Know the location of flammable substances to protect against hazards like impacts and splashes
• Workplace safety rules:

  • Always walk in the workplace
  • Use appropriate equipment and clothing
  • Never leave machinery unattended while in motion
  • Never clean machinery with your hands or body parts
  • Recognize warning signs for harmful substances and do not take home clothing soaked or stained with harmful substances
• Electrical precautions include:

  • Double earthing
  • Use of safe voltages
• General electricity safety rules:

  • Ensure that insulation is intact
  • External metal parts must be earthed
  • Never run a wired plug from a lamp
  • Old and damaged cables should be disconnected and properly repaired before use
  • Equipment should always be disconnected from mains before repairs or maintenance
• Class A fires are caused by ordinary, burning objects and can be put out using ABC powder, wet chemical fire extinguishers
• Class C fires involve flammable gases such as butane and can be put out using ABC powder, CO2 extinguishers
• Class D fires are caused by burning flammable metals like lithium and can be put out using special ABC powder for metal fires