Indoor air quality testing may be necessary to ensure employee safety. Testing and monitoring may be applied to those conditions where employees may be exposed to:
nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide
landfill gases
noxious odors
radon gas
factory emissions
odor complaints
rainwater
metals
smoke levels
dust
volatile organic compounds
indoor air quality (including Carbon Monoxide)
The results of air quality testing may be used to:
• Assign levels of worker respiratory protection
• For emergency planning
Methods of Sampling and Testing
Electric Power producers shall provide adequate means of carrying air monitoring in generator houses, transmitting stations, injection and switching substations, etc.
Three main methods are available to measure air pollution:
Passive Sampling: This refers to absorption or diffusion tubes or badges that provide a simple and inexpensive indication of average pollution levels over a period of weeks or months. Plastic tubes or discs open at one end to the atmosphere and with a chemical absorbent at the other, collect a sample for subsequent analysis in the laboratory.
The low cost per tube allows sampling at a number of points and is useful in highlighting "hotspots" where more detailed study may be needed. The quality and accuracy of the data from passive sampling tubes does not make them suitable for precise measurements but they can give useful long term trend data.
Active Sampling: This involves the collection of samples, by physical or chemical means, for subsequent laboratory analysis. Typically, a known volume of air is pumped through a filter or chemical collector for a known period of time - the collection medium is then subjected to laboratory analysis. This method is not suitable for continuous or near-real time air quality monitoring.
Automatic Sampling: This is the most sophisticated method of air quality analysis, producing high-resolution measurement data of a range of pollutants. The pollutants that can be measured include, but are not limited to, NOx, S02 CO, 03, VOCs, PM10, PM2.5, Carbon Black, Hg, Benzene etc. The air quality is continuously sampled and measured on-line and in real-time.
The real time data is stored, typically as one hourly averages, with data being collected remotely from individual monitoring stations by telemetry. Remote control of the monitoring and data system is also possible as is remote diagnostics for most of the analyzers.
DANGER OF POWER TOOLS - WHAT ARE THE DANGER OF POWER TOOLS BASICS
Be extra careful in handling power tools.
Power tools are determined by their power source: electric, pneumatic, liquid fuel, hydraulic, and powder-actuated. Power tools should be equipped with guards and safety switches.
Personal protective equipment such as safety goggles and gloves should be worn to protect against hazards that may be encountered while using power tools.
To prevent hazards associated with the use of power tools, workers should observe the following general precautions:
1 Never carry a tool by the cord or hose.
2 Never yank the cord or the hose to disconnect it from the receptacle.
3 Keep cords and hoses away from heat, oil, and sharp edges.
4 Disconnect tools when not using them, before servicing and cleaning them, and when changing accessories
such as blades, bits, and cutters.
5 Keep all people not involved with the work at a safe distance from the work area.
6 Secure work with clamps or a vise, freeing both hands to operate the tool.
7 Avoid accidental starting. Do not hold fingers on the switch button while carrying a plugged-in tool.
8 Maintain tools with care; keep them sharp and clean for best performance.
9 Follow instructions in the user's manual for lubricating and changing accessories.
10 Be sure to keep good footing and maintain good balance when operating power tools.
11 Wear proper apparel for the task. Loose clothing, ties, or jewelry can become caught in moving parts.
Remove all damaged portable electric tools from use and tag them:
"Do Not Use.
Power tools are determined by their power source: electric, pneumatic, liquid fuel, hydraulic, and powder-actuated. Power tools should be equipped with guards and safety switches.
Personal protective equipment such as safety goggles and gloves should be worn to protect against hazards that may be encountered while using power tools.
To prevent hazards associated with the use of power tools, workers should observe the following general precautions:
1 Never carry a tool by the cord or hose.
2 Never yank the cord or the hose to disconnect it from the receptacle.
3 Keep cords and hoses away from heat, oil, and sharp edges.
4 Disconnect tools when not using them, before servicing and cleaning them, and when changing accessories
such as blades, bits, and cutters.
5 Keep all people not involved with the work at a safe distance from the work area.
6 Secure work with clamps or a vise, freeing both hands to operate the tool.
7 Avoid accidental starting. Do not hold fingers on the switch button while carrying a plugged-in tool.
8 Maintain tools with care; keep them sharp and clean for best performance.
9 Follow instructions in the user's manual for lubricating and changing accessories.
10 Be sure to keep good footing and maintain good balance when operating power tools.
11 Wear proper apparel for the task. Loose clothing, ties, or jewelry can become caught in moving parts.
Remove all damaged portable electric tools from use and tag them:
"Do Not Use.
LEGAL ASPECTS OF RISK ASSESSMENT ON ELECTRICAL WORKS BASIC INFORMATION
The general duties of employers to their employees in section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 imply the need for risk assessment. This duty was also extended by section 3 of the Act to anybody else
affected by activities of the employer – contractors, visitors, customers or members of the public.
However, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations are much more specific concerning the need for risk assessment. The following requirements are laid down in those regulations: the risk assessment shall be ‘suitable and sufficient’ and cover both employees and non-employees affected by the employer’s undertaking (e.g. contractors, members of the public, students, patients, customers, etc.); every self-employed person shall make a ‘suitable and sufficient’ assessment of the risks to which they or those affected by the undertaking may be exposed; any risk assessment shall be reviewed if there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid or if a significant change has taken place; where there are more than four employees,
the significant findings of the assessment shall be recorded and any specially at risk group of employees identified. (This does not mean that employers with four or less employees need not undertake risk assessments.)
The term ‘suitable and sufficient’ is important since it defines the limits to the risk assessment process. A suitable and sufficient risk assessment should:
➤ identify the significant risks and ignore the trivial ones;
➤ identify and prioritize the measures required to comply with any relevant statutory provisions;
➤ remain appropriate to the nature of the work and valid over a reasonable period of time.
When assessing risks under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, reference to other regulations may be necessary even if there is no specific requirement for a risk assessment in those regulations.
For example, reference to the legal requirements of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations will be necessary when risks from the operation of machinery are being considered. However, there is no need to repeat a risk assessment if it is already covered by other regulations (e.g. a risk assessment involving
personal protective equipment is required under the COSHH Regulations so there is no need to undertake a
separate risk assessment under the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations).
Apart from the duty under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations to undertake a health
and safety risk assessment of any person (employees, contractors or members of the public), who may be affected by the activities of the organization, the following regulations require a specific risk assessment to be made:
➤ Ionising Radiation Regulations
➤ Control of Asbestos Regulations
➤ The Control of Noise at Work Regulations
➤ Manual Handling Operations Regulations
➤ Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment)
➤ The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations
➤ The Confined Spaces Regulations
➤ Work at Height Regulations
➤ The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
➤ The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations
➤ Control of Lead at Work Regulations
➤ Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
A detailed comparison of the risk assessments required for most of these and more specialist regulations is given in the HSE Guide to Risk Assessment Requirements, INDG218.
affected by activities of the employer – contractors, visitors, customers or members of the public.
However, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations are much more specific concerning the need for risk assessment. The following requirements are laid down in those regulations: the risk assessment shall be ‘suitable and sufficient’ and cover both employees and non-employees affected by the employer’s undertaking (e.g. contractors, members of the public, students, patients, customers, etc.); every self-employed person shall make a ‘suitable and sufficient’ assessment of the risks to which they or those affected by the undertaking may be exposed; any risk assessment shall be reviewed if there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid or if a significant change has taken place; where there are more than four employees,
the significant findings of the assessment shall be recorded and any specially at risk group of employees identified. (This does not mean that employers with four or less employees need not undertake risk assessments.)
The term ‘suitable and sufficient’ is important since it defines the limits to the risk assessment process. A suitable and sufficient risk assessment should:
➤ identify the significant risks and ignore the trivial ones;
➤ identify and prioritize the measures required to comply with any relevant statutory provisions;
➤ remain appropriate to the nature of the work and valid over a reasonable period of time.
When assessing risks under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, reference to other regulations may be necessary even if there is no specific requirement for a risk assessment in those regulations.
For example, reference to the legal requirements of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations will be necessary when risks from the operation of machinery are being considered. However, there is no need to repeat a risk assessment if it is already covered by other regulations (e.g. a risk assessment involving
personal protective equipment is required under the COSHH Regulations so there is no need to undertake a
separate risk assessment under the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations).
Apart from the duty under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations to undertake a health
and safety risk assessment of any person (employees, contractors or members of the public), who may be affected by the activities of the organization, the following regulations require a specific risk assessment to be made:
➤ Ionising Radiation Regulations
➤ Control of Asbestos Regulations
➤ The Control of Noise at Work Regulations
➤ Manual Handling Operations Regulations
➤ Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment)
➤ The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations
➤ The Confined Spaces Regulations
➤ Work at Height Regulations
➤ The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
➤ The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations
➤ Control of Lead at Work Regulations
➤ Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
A detailed comparison of the risk assessments required for most of these and more specialist regulations is given in the HSE Guide to Risk Assessment Requirements, INDG218.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)