Ensure responsibility for actions to reduce risks to health and safety

  Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Unit: Ensure responsibility for actions to reduce risks to health and safety Que...

 Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

Unit: Ensure responsibility for actions to reduce risks to health and safety

Question: Explain their responsibility in remaining alert to hazards and risks

Answer: 

Everyone has a role to play in the workplace to promote health and safety, therefor we cannot be oblivious to hazards and risk. By ignoring alerts, one exposes himself, colleagues and the organisation at large to unwanted events such as; loss of life, property damage, injuries and diseases.

 

Report all hazards and risks to your supervisor / health and safety rep.

Conduct safety tours with management to show them your concerns in the workplace.

Conduct frequent mini risk assessments to remain aware of current working conditions.

Be aware that each day presents different risk and hazards which can change our working conditions.

 

Summary of Employer’s responsibilities:

·       make the workplace safe.

·       prevent risks to health.

·       ensure that plant and machinery is safe to use.

·       ensure safe working practices are set up and followed.

·       make sure that all materials are handled, stored and used safely.

·       provide adequate first aid facilities.

 

Summary of Employee’s responsibilities:

·       Take reasonable care of their own Health & Safety.

·       Take reasonable care of someone else's Health & Safety.

·       Use safety provisions correctly.

·       Co-operate.

Question: Describe own responsibilities and scope for action in controlling risk.

Answer:

It is my responsibility as Health and Safety personnel to identify, control and manage risk. The followings are some of the ways risks are controlled based on the risk factors, severity and appetite:

·       Eliminate the hazard:  Though it might be difficult to completely eliminate risks however, it does totally remove the hazard and thereby eliminates the risk of exposure.

·       Substitute the hazard with a lesser risk: Substituting the hazard may not remove all of the hazards associated with the process or activity and may introduce different hazards but the overall harm or health effects will be lessened

·       Isolate the hazard: Isolating the hazard is achieved by restricting access to plant and equipment or in the case of substances locking them away under strict controls

·       Use engineering controls: Engineering Controls involve redesigning a process to place a barrier between the person and the hazard or remove the hazard from the person, such as machinery guarding, proximity guarding, extraction systems or removing the operator to a remote location away from the hazard

·       Use administrative controls: Administrative controls include adopting standard operating procedures or safe work practices or providing appropriate training, instruction or information to reduce the potential for harm and/or adverse health effects to person(s)

·       Use personal protective equipment: Personal protective equipment (PPE) include gloves, glasses, earmuffs, aprons, safety footwear, dust masks which are designed to reduce exposure to the hazard. PPE is usually seen as the last line of defence and is usually used in conjunction with one or more of the other control measures.

 

Question: Explain the importance of adhering to health and safety policies and practices.

Answer:

In the workplace, health and safety regulations are paramount to the well-being of the employees and the employer

It is of high importance and benefit that all safety policies and practices and strictly adhered to for the following reasons:

 

·       Prevent Illness and Injury: Health and safety procedures in the workplace reduce the employee illnesses and injuries greatly.

·       Reduces Health and Safety Hazards: Potential hazards are rampant in almost every workplace environment. Equipment, chemicals, certain behaviors and activities, and even furniture can potentially cause injury or harm to you or your workers.

·       Avoid Serious Consequences: If the work environment isn't safe for the employees, there could be financial or legal consequences or the  business could be temporarily or permanently shutdown, depending on the magnitude of your violation.

 

Question: Describe where and when to get additional health and safety assistance.

Answer:

There may be times when you need to access additional support relating to health and safety, so it is useful to know some of the sources you may use.

In most cases, speaking to one’s manager about any health and safety queries or concerns that one has is the best source of support. Speaking to more experienced co-worker, especially more senior colleagues can also be useful.

There are also online resources from national and international safety bodies:

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (Within the EU)

Health and Safety Executive (Within United Kingdom)

 

Question: Describe the importance of personal presentation and behaviour in maintaining health and safety in the workplace.

Answer:

Personal presentation is important in maintaining health and safety in the workplace because;

 

·       It requires an employee to remain aware of your working environment at all time and wear the appropriate Personal protective equipment’s like the hard hat, cloves, overall, safety goggle and boots, to prevent any form of accidents at work, germs contamination etc.

·       It helps to maintain good personal hygiene which involve washing of hands from running water and application of sanitizers that destroys all kinds of germs as well as Working conscientiously and being aware of what others are doing that might subject them to hazards activity. This will help following established safe work procedure and Keeping the workplace neat and orderly as well as avoiding horseplay and other distractions.

·       It ensures employees wear correct footwear - which ensures that they don't trip up causing personal injury to themselves, or in the case of wearing incorrect footwear like sandals etc. not having the protection against any items which may drop on their feet, or sharp edges etc.

·       Also washing hands frequently to prevent contamination of medicines etc. with germs and the like. Same reason should tie hair back really.

·       Wearing protective clothing like overalls etc. not only to protect your own clothing but also to stop outside microorganisms being brought into the workplace.

While the behavior in maintaining health and safety in the workplace, will ensure employees work conscientiously and  being aware of what others are doing that might subject them to hazards from their activity, by following established safe work procedure, Keeping the workplace neat and orderly and avoiding horseplay and other distractions.