Be safe! an introductory guide to health and safety

1 BeSafe!An introductory guide to health and Safety06645_Be safe booklet 26/2/04 10:56 pm Page 1Be safe! Each day, many people areinjured at work. Some arepermanently disabled someeven die.* Don t let this happento booklet will help you findout how to avoid accidents andill health at work. It is only anintroduction and you will need*In 2003 approximately 925young people were injured and5 killed on work based add other information relatedto your own occupation, course,programme and find out who yoursupervisor/tutor will tell you how to worksafely and arrange training foreach job you do. Ask if you feelunsure about how to carry out a hazards where you work to stay safe you must be exercises enclosed with thisbooklet can be used to help youprovide evidence if you aretaking a health and !106645_Be safe booklet 26/2/04 10:57 pm Page 2Be safe! 2 safety Policy and Risk AssessmentIf your employers have five ormore people working for them,they will have their own safetypolicy,which will state theirorganisation s commitment tohealth and will spell out the procedureswhich are in place to ensurethat you are working in organisation should alsohave produced an assessment ofthe risks to your health should be told aboutthe results of this may be given a leaflet orfind copies of these documentson a sureyou understand indoubt, are responsible too besmart think before you law, you must not interfere with or misuse anythingprovided for how to work safely andobey safety all equipment andprotective clothing things that seemdangerous, damaged or use tools, machinery orsubstances after you havebeen trained and givenpermission to do play practical jokes they can safe booklet 26/2/04 10.

2 58 pm Page 3 Tidiness and HygieneTidinessSlips,trips and falls are still themajor cause of help prevent them:Don t leave things lyingaround keep work areas andgangways tidy and up spills straight close and contact withchemicals,oil, makeyou ill and can causeunpleasant skin :Wash your hands, using soapand water or a suitablecleanser, before you eat ameal and before and afterusing the your hands with thetowels or dryers t wipe them on rags or onyour they are supplied, usebarrier creams to protect yourskin when doing dirty may also need to put on acream after washing when thejob is medical advice about anyskin complaints, rashes,blisters, ulcers etc, and followany treatment recommendedto you. Tell your supervisorabout your medical safe! 306645_Be safe booklet 26/2/04 10:58 pm Page 4 Protective Equipment and ClothingProtective equipment andclothing, such as ear defendersand eye protectors, dust masks,overalls, safety shoes or bootsand helmets, are supplied toprotect may feel strange and youwon t win any fashion contestsbut you ll have a better chanceof keeping out of sure you:Know how to put protectiveequipment on correctly andhow to look after it.

3 If indoubt, your supervisor toreplace anything that doesn tfit properly or any item thatgets damaged or safe! 406645_Be safe booklet 12/2/04 6:48 Page 5 Moving about the WorkplaceRemember:Walk, don t the gangways providedand never take short out for and obey allwarning notices and safety are only allowed todrive vehicles for which youhave been properly trainedand have passed anynecessary particular care wherevehicles like fork-lift trucksare hitch a ride on anyvehicle not designed to safe! 506645_Be safe booklet 27/2/04 3:59 pm Page 6Be safe! 6 Lifting and CarryingBack problems can cause a lotof pain,and may last a use trolleys,wheelbarrows or otherappropriate lifting equipmentif these are must be shown how tolift and carry items care that you:Only lift or carry what youcan easily see clearly where youare help with anything thatyou think might be too heavyor awkward to manage onyour in doubt ,don t do it askfor help!

4 06645_Be safe booklet 26/2/04 10:59 pm Page 7Be safe! 7 Falls, sometimes from quite low levels, can cause death orserious injuries. Following theserules can make you safer:Make sure you are shown thecorrect way to place a not use a ladder withsplit, missing or loose make sure that theladder is placed in the wayyou have been shown andcannot slip. If you are unsure,have it t overstretch. Keep yourbody within the frame of theladder. If necessary, comedown and move the ladder toa more convenient use ladders,scaffolding or lift buckets toreach high ride in a crane bucketor on the forks of a at Heights06645_Be safe booklet 12/2/04 6:48 Page 8 ElectricityElectricity can kill or causesevere burns. Treat it sure you:Understand the instructionsbefore using any you don t understand, switch off at themains before connecting ordisconnecting any any damagedelectrical tools or equipment,including cables andextension around the BuildingBe Safe!

5 8 RoofsRoofs may be fragile or haveloose tiles. Never go on a roofunless you have been trained touse the proper precautions. Tellthe supervisor if you feel giddy,faint or unsafe when at safe booklet 27/2/04 3:59 pm Page 9 MachineryBe safe! 9 Only operate a machine afteryou have been trained andgiven permission to use exactly the safe way ofusing the machine, and use itonly for the job it is intended todo. Do not take short cuts tosave sure that you knowwhere all the controls are andwhat they do. When using anymachine, know how to stop itin an guards are fitted tomachines to protect you. Theymust be you think that any movingpart could cause damage, askyour supervisor if there shouldbe a follow the systems setup for adjusting or cleaningmachines. Make sure that noone else can switch a machineon again while you are workingon t wear dangling chains orloose clothing, which couldget caught in moving your hair tucked under acap or tied not distract other peoplewho are using use compressed air to clean your supervisor at once if you think a machine is notworking correctly or is safe booklet 12/2/04 6:48 Page 10Be Safe!

6 10 Hand Tools and KnivesImagine how difficult life wouldbe if you lost one of yourfingers!Ordinary, everyday things like hand tools and knives can bedangerous. You should betrained to use the correct knifeor tool for the particular use worn or misuse equipment after use and store it safe booklet 12/2/04 6:48 Page 11 Working with AnimalsBe aware of circumstances animals under stress, who areill or who have young aremore likely to be instructions not enter areas containinganimals unless it is careful with personalhygiene always wash yourhands after contact can pass on seriousor fatal diseases to all living creatures domestic and farm animals,birds and fish with care andrespect. Both male and femaleanimals can cause death orinjury. You can avoid accidentsby taking the followingprecautions:Be safe! 1106645_Be safe booklet 12/2/04 6:48 Page 12 Hazardous SubstancesDo not transfer smallquantities of any liquids orsubstances into unlabelled orwrongly labelled containers this is dangerous for dusty atmosphere can alsodamage your health ask ifthere are any specialprecautions you need to are regulations (COSHH)to protect you from hazardoussubstances used at work.

7 Someof the substances are socommon you may not realisehow harmful they can :Follow the organisation sinstructions ask if you all hazard warning signsand the instruction labels should tellyou if, for example, asubstance is poisonous, easilyset on fire, or can cause you use a substance,find out what to do if it spillsonto your skin or or protectiveclothing which are soaked orbadly stained by hazardoussubstances must not be safe! 1206645_Be safe booklet 26/2/04 11:00 pm Page 13 Working with ComputersThere is no evidence to suggestthat Display Screen Equipmentcan cause you harm,providedthat you:Are trained how to use your chair a footrest and a documentholder, if you need sure that you haveregular breaks or change toother work away from safe! 1306645_Be safe booklet 26/2/04 11:00 pm Page 14 You must report any problemswith your eyes or any aches andpains in your wrists,arms orneck to your health problems canoccur if you are carrying outrepetitive tasks using this checklist to make sureyou can work safely:Can you adjust the equipmentor tools to suit your needs?

8 Is the work environment, forexample, heating, lighting,workspace, work position,suitable for you?Can you change activities/tasksat regular intervals to usedifferent muscles?Can you adjust the pace orspeed of the work you do?Have you been shown how tocarry out the activitiescorrectly?Do you know who to talk to ifyou have any concerns aboutthe tasks?Be safe! 1406645_Be safe booklet 27/2/04 10:41 am Page 15 FireBe safe! 15Do you know:What to do if there is a fire?How to raise the alarm?What the alarm sounds like?Where the fire exits are?Where the assembly point is?Don t take risks. If you don t know and understand theorganisation s fire away from flames orsparks when handling petrol orother flammable out about the smokingpolicy and obey No Smoking not create a fire hazard bythrowing cigarette ends incorners or under fire doors unlocked andfree from safe booklet 12/2/04 6:49 Page 16 First AidBe Safe!

9 16 Make sure you know aboutfirst aid to know the names ofthe first aiders and wherethey can be to your supervisorsany injury or any ill effectsyou safe booklet 12/2/04 6:49 Page 17Be safe! 17 Personal SafetyPersonal safety is alsoimportant. Learn to plan aheadand take practical precautionsto keep yourself aware trust yourintuition and try not to beinfluenced by peer alert If you are goingout, find out how to get toyour destination and tellsomeone where you are goingand what time you expect to ahead what will you doif you face violence youraim should be to get awayfrom the situation it is not weak towalk report incidents itmay help others in the useful information isavailable from the SuzyLamplugh Trust safe booklet 12/2/04 6:49 Page 18 What Happens if I have an Accident or Contract an Industrial Disease?If you have an accident orbecome ill as a result of yourwork, tell your school/college or training provider, who willinform the Learning and Skills Department for Educationand Skills operates an IndustrialInjuries Scheme for non-employedstatus participants on you satisfy certainconditions, the Departmentfor Education and Skills canmake payments of IndustrialInjuries benefits from the 15thweek after your are made at thesame rates as the IndustrialInjuries Scheme for may still be entitled tobenefit even if you are able toreturn to your you are unable to continue onyour programme because youhave had an accident or havecontracted an industrial disease,you should first contact yourlocal Jobcentre Plus office, asyou may be able to claim otherbenefits you want to know more aboutthe Industrial Injuries Scheme.

10 Ask your programme provider ortelephone the Department forEducation and Skills on thefollowing freephone number:0800 590 395(The line is open Monday to Friday, am. 12 noon pm. pm).Be safe! 1806645_Be safe booklet 27/2/04 3:59 pm Page 19 Other Useful Sources of health and safety Information ~ contacts:Local Learning and Skills Council Tel No:Jobcentre Plus Tel No:Connexions Service Tel No:Drugs/Substance Telephone Helpline:Samaritans:Smokers Quitline: 0800 002200 health and safety Executive InfoLine: 08701 545500Be safe! 1906645_Be safe booklet 27/2/04 3:59 pm Page 20 Other useful numbers:Suggestions on improvements to this guide are welcome and can bemade to the Learning and Skills Council National Office health andsafety team on:024 7682 3265. LSC March 2004 Published by the Learning andSkills from this publication may be reproduced for non-commercial educational ortraining purposes on conditionthat the source is acknowledgedand the findings are publication is available inelectronic form on theLearning and Skills Councilwebsite: enquiries:0870 900 6800 Reference: LSC/AA000/0912/04 Issued by:Be Safe!