Occupational Safety: Hazards
The need to ensure the safety of employees in the workplace mandates organizations to have risk assessment processes focused on the identification of hazards and efforts to address them to prevent dangerous and fatal injuries (Goetsch, 2019). In this two-part paper, the activity explores two types of risks and their mitigation in the workplace. The first part deals with a mechanical hazard, while the second part focuses on one fall hazard.
Part 1: Mechanical Hazard: Risk assessment and Analysis
While machines improve productivity and efficiency significantly, they also come with risks. However, many of machine-related injuries and hazards can be prevented through the use of proper safeguards.
i). Creation of Mechanical Hazard
Mechanical hazards occur due to either powered or manual utilization of instrument, equipment and machines as well as plants. One of the mechanical hazards is the contact or entanglement that occurs when parts of a machine move but not guarded. Contact or involvement can create a host of injuries that include impact where an object ejected from the machinery or equipment hits an employee (McGovern, 2016). Entanglement injury occurs when a loose sleeve gets caught in a moving part and drawing an employee into the machine.
ii). Risk Assessment of Mechanical Hazard
The purpose of a risk assessment is to identify as well as evaluate the threats and risks of an individual situation. Being aware of a potential hazard allows an organization to reduce the harm it can cause or prevent it from occurring and the consequences. In this case, it is essential to analyze the risk posed by mechanical hazards through the use of the Risk Matrix tool. The tool assists in analyzing risks by considering the likelihood or probability of a threat as well as the severity associated with the risk (Wilson, 2018).
The first step in using the matrix is to ascertain the probability of a mechanical hazard like entanglement occurring in a facility. In this case, when using machines or equipment, the likelihood of complication occurring is based on the condition and lifespan of a machine or plant. In many instances, well-maintained machines have moderate to low-risk probability concerning entanglement (Goetsch, 2019). However, old equipment may present increased chances of having contact hazards. Secondly, the risk priority for mechanical hazards is moderate because they are medium-level risks. These risks are not a high priority, and an alternate strategy can be created to overcome any potential setbacks or adverse events. Thirdly, the impact or risk severity entails assessing how minor, moderate, major and critical an outcome of a hazard event is to the affected person (Wilson, 2018). In this case, entanglement risk or hazard can be minor to moderate. In extreme situations, it can lead to amputation of an arm.
iii). Acceptability of the Risk
Entanglement is a mechanical hazard is accepted on a moderate level since its severity is not critical or significant. Risk acceptance is crucial for organizations to understand the control measures that they can use to reduce any harm or injury associated with the hazard.
iv). Recommended Controls
Machines should be oiled and serviced better to avoid entanglement. Secondly, workers should have proper training on how to use the equipment. Thirdly, older devices should be replaced with better and new ones for efficiency.
v). Second Risk Assessment
A second risk assessment of these recommendations demonstrates that effective measures implemented by organizations can control mechanical hazards. These controls are acceptable because they mitigate the effects of the risk.
Part 2: Fall Hazards
i). Creation of Fall Hazards
Fall hazards include single level, lower level, and swing falls. Swing falls are created when an employee falls from a high or raised platform yet attached to an arrest system. Further, the position of the system’s attachment is not directly over the head of an employee. The implication is that swing falls can result in fatalities as well as severe injuries and substantial damage to equipment.
ii). Risk Assessment of Swing Falls
The probability of swing falls occurring based on the Risk Matrix tool is moderated by three dimensions that include likelihood or probability, risk priority, and risk severity. The possibility of swing falls on the type of workplace environment an employee works and the kind of activities he or she undertakes (Wilson, 2018). For instance, in construction, the probability of swing falls is moderate to high while in an office environment, it is low. Further, risk priority for swing falls can be categorized as significant to critical or high preference. Swing falls can lead to death or serious injuries, primarily when the platforms are raised to higher levels. The impact of swing also falls severe and therefore, critical based on the Risk Matrix scale.
iii). Acceptability of Swing Falls
The risk of fluctuation falls is moderate, but this does not imply that swing falls are accepted in the workplace environment. The consequences of swing falls are severe with increased priority.
iv). Recommended Controls
Preventing the risk probability of swing falls is critical to reducing adverse events. Therefore, construction firms and employees must ensure that they work from platforms that are not raised and can accommodate their heads. Other mitigating interventions include the use of support equipment to access and collaborate effortlessly on raised platforms with the worry of encountering potential situations that can lead to falls.
v). Second Assessment
A sequential assessment of the recommended controls demonstrates that using acceptable interventions can lower fatalities and severity associated with swing falls. Again, involved stakeholders should ensure that they assess potential risks to reduce their occurrences and make the workplace safer.
References
Goetsch, D.L. (2019). Occupational Safety and Health for technologists, engineers and
managers (9th Ed). New York, NY Pearson.
Wilson, F. (2018). How to Use the Risk Assessment Matrix in Project Management.
Retrieved from https://www.ntaskmanager.com/blog/risk-assessment-matrix/
McGovern, G. (2016). What is a Mechanical Hazard? Retrieved from
https://www.safetyadvice.ie/news/2016/08/28/what-is-a-mechanical-hazard/