Are you exposed to vibration?

Vibration from work with powered handheld tools, equipment or processes can damage the hands and arms of users causing ‘handarm vibration syndrome’. This is a painful, irreversible condition which includes ‘vibration white finger’ and the effects can be impaired blood circulation, damage to the nerves and muscles, and loss of ability to grip properly. Back pain can be caused by or aggravated by vibration from a vehicle or machine passing through the seat into the driver’s body through the buttocks – known as wholebody vibration. Wholebody vibration can also be caused by standing on the platform of a vehicle or machine, so vibration passes into the operator through their feet.

Does anyone work with handheld and handguided tools and machines such as concrete breakers and vibrating compactor plates and workpieces such as castings which are held against powered machinery such as pedestal grinders?
Does anyone doing this work get tingling or numbness in the fingers or hands?
Does anyone often drive offroad machinery such as tractors, dumper trucks or excavators or unsuspended vehicles such as forklift trucks?

What law applies?

Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

Portable fire extinguisher guidance

The following paragraphs describe the different types of extinguisher. The colour referred to is the colour of the extinguisher or the colour-coded area.

Water extinguishers (red)

This type of extinguisher can only be used on class A fires. They allow the user to direct water onto a fire from a considerable distance. A 9-Litre water extinguisher can be quite heavy and some water extinguishers with additives can achieve the same rating, although they are smaller and therefore considerably lighter. This type of extinguisher is not suitable for use on live electrical equipment.

Water extinguishers with additives (red)

This type of extinguisher is suitable for class A fires. They can also be suitable for use on class B fires and where appropriate, this will be indicated on the extinguisher. They are generally more efficient than conventional water extinguishers.

Foam extinguishers (cream)

This type of extinguisher can be used on class A or B fires and is particularly suited to extinguishing liquid fires such as petrol and diesel. They should not be used on free-flowing liquids unless the operator has been specially trained, as these have the potential to rapidly spread the fire to adjacent material. This type of extinguisher is not suitable for deep-fat fryers or chip pans.

Powder extinguishers (blue)

This type of extinguisher can be used on most classes of fire and achieve a good "knock down" of the fire. They can be used on fires involving electrical equipment but will almost certainly render the equipment useless. Because they do not cool the fire appreciably it can re-ignite. Powder extinguishers can create a loss of visibility and may affect people who have breathing problems, and are not generally suitable for enclosed spaces.

Carbon dioxide extinguishers (black)

This type of extinguisher is particularly suitable for fires involving electrical equipment as they will extinguish a fire without causing any further damage (except in the case of some electronic equipment e.g. computers). As with all fires involving electrical equipment, the power should be disconnected if possible.

Class F extinguishers (yellow)

This type of extinguisher is particularly suitable for commercial catering establishments with deep-fat fryers.

Fire blankets

Fire blankets should be located in the vicinity of the fire hazard they are to be used on, but in a position that can be safely accessed in the event of a fire. They are classified as either light duty or heavy duty. Light-duty fire blankets are suitable for dealing with small fires in containers of cooking oils or fates and fires involving clothing. Heavy-duty fire blankets are for industrial use where there is a need for the blankets to resist penetration by molten materials.

What is Class F?

Class "F" fires are fires involving cooking oils or fats, they differ from conventional fires due to the very high temperatures involved. In order for any flammable liquid to burn the temperature must exceed the flash point Above this temperature the liquid will ignite when an ignition source is applied.

For a flammable liquid to spontaneously ignite the auto ignition temperature need to be reached. Typical flammable liquids e.g petrol have a low flash and auto ignition temperatures and are relatively easy to extinguish.

Cooking oil or fat fires have auto ignition temperatures in excess of 340°C and are very difficult to extinguish using conventional extinguishers having a class B capability The industry recognised the difficulties and inadequacies of conventional class B extinguishers and therefore created a new standard BS7937:2000 to cover the special risks involved.

To extinguish a fire created by auto ignition the flames must be extinguished and the temperature of the burning liquid reduced below the auto ignition temperature. The amount of heat involved with the liquid above 340°C is high and the use of the incorrect extinguisher can be extremely dangerous, for example a water jet extinguisher directed at the surface of burning cooking oil will create an explosion as the water is rapidly converted into steam resulting in the expulsion of burning oil possibly spreading the fire and harming the operator.

Conventional foam extinguishers have been proven to extinguish the flame, but the heat involved rapidly destroys the foam blanket, exposing the surface of the oil, allowing re-ignition. Carbon dioxide and ABC powder extinguishers are effective at extinguishing the flame but without sealing the surface of the liquid from the oxygen allowing the oil to rapidly re-ignite. The best method of extinction would be a Class F fire extinguisher.

Workplace transport

What are the risks from transport in your workplace?

Every year about 70 people are killed and about 2500 seriously injured in accidents involving vehicles at the workplace. Being struck or run over by moving vehicles, falling from vehicles, or vehicles overturning are the most common causes. Vehicles operating in the workplace include cars and vans, lift trucks, heavy goods vehicles, dumpers, specialised vehicles or plant. Often there is significantly more danger from vehicles in the workplace than on the public highway since the operating conditions are different.

Do you have vehicles in operation at your workplace? If so what kinds of vehicles are they?
Are pedestrians separated from vehicle movements as much as possible?
Are traffic routes suitable for the vehicles which have to use them? Are they clearly marked?
Do you know who is allowed to drive or operate the vehicles? They should be trained and competent.
Are loading and unloading operations carried out safely?
Do you actively control driving behaviour?
Are all vehicles properly maintained?

What law applies?

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

Pressure systems

Do you know the risks associated with pressure systems?

Pressure cookers, boilers, steam heating systems, gas cylinders and air compressors are common examples of equipment and systems containing a fluid under pressure. They can cause death or injury to people, and serious damage to property, if the contents are released unintentionally. There are about 150 incidents of this kind every year. They mainly happen when equipment fails through poor design, incorrect filling or maintenance or when the method of work is unsafe, or someone makes an operating mistake.

Do you have any pressure systems or equipment in your business that contain a fluid under pressure?
Do you know that most pressure systems have to be designed, installed, maintained and periodically examined so as to prevent danger?
Are you aware that as an employer or selfemployed person, it’s your job to choose a competent person to carry out examinations of the pressure systems?

What law applies?

Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure EquipmentRegulations 2007

Fire and explosion

Do you know how to prevent fire or explosion?

Each year many people suffer burns caused by the flammable materials they work with. The wide variety of flammable substances found in the workplace ranges from the obvious, eg heating fuel, petrol, paint thinners and welding gases to the less obvious, eg packaging materials, dusts from wood, flour and sugar. For a fire to start, fuel, air and a source of ignition are needed. Controlling these can prevent fires. If you would like information on fire exits, alarms, or extinguishers, please CONTACT us.

Do you keep or use flammable substances?
Do you use or store gas in cylinders (eg propane)? A small amount of released gas can fill a large area with a potentially explosive mixture.
Do you work with flammable dusts? They can explode.
Do you work with plastic foams or polyester wadding? Some types will ignite easily, burn fiercely and give off dense black smoke.
Do you spray flammable paints? Vapours are heavier than air and collect at low level.
Do you know the dangers of putting flammable liquids on fires to make them burn more intensely?
Do you use oxygen, eg in cylinders, for welding?
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (came into force 1 October 2006)

Radiation

Do you know where harmful radiation occurs?

Various kinds of radiation, both ionising and nonionising, may affect us. Nonionising radiation:

UV radiation (eg from the sun) can damage the skin and lead to skin cancer;
lasers can cause burns and damage the eye.

Ionising radiation:

naturally occurring radon gas from the ground;
radiography or thickness measuring gauges;
medical equipment, eg Xray sets.

Excess doses of ionising radiation can cause burns, sickness and can have other adverse health effects.

Do people in your business spend a lot of time working outdoors?
Do you have equipment which gives off ultraviolet radiation, eg for curing plastics or inks?
Do you work with lasers?
Is your business in an area where levels of radon are higher than average?
Are any radioactive sources used in your business brought in by a specialist contractor, or do you transport them?

What law applies?

Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999