Design and Technology - Health and Safety for Placement & Work Experience

FACULTY of DESIGN and TECHNOLOGY

HEALTH and SAFETY guide for STUDENTS ON PLACEMENT/ WORK EXPERIENCE

CONTENTS

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CONTENTS and GLOSSARY of TERMS .................................................................. i INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 1.EMERGENCY PROCEDURES .................................................................... 2 2.THE HEALTH and SAFETY at WORK ACT 1974 ........................................... 3 3.GENERAL SAFETY ................................................................................... 4 4.FIRE........................................................................................................ 5

4.1 Fire Precautions

4.2 Means of Escape

4.3 Fire Extinguishers

4.4 Fire/Smoke-Stop Doors 5.MANUAL HANDLING .............................................................................. 6 6. WORK OUTSIDE NORMAL HOURS . ........................................................ 6 7.ELECTRICAL HAZARDS ........................................................................... 6

7.1 Electricity and Fire

7.2 Use of Electric Points and Equipment 8. NOISE ................................................................................................... 7 9. FIRST AID .............................................................................................. 7 10. SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDANCE NOTES . .................................................... 8 10.1 Office Working Environment ......................................................... 8 10.2 Workshop/Industrial Environment ................................................. 9

GLOSSARY OF TERMS PLACEMENT is a credit bearing period of work undertaken as part of a student’s degree course.

PLACEMENT OFFICE administers student placements and work experience.

PLACEMENT TUTORS are academic staff who contact and/or visit students during placements.

PLACEMENT PROVIDERS are persons, partnerships, companies or organisations providing placements or work experience.

PLACEMENT SUPERVISORS are the student’s formal contact within the workplace.

WORK EXPERIENCE is course related work, which does not include a credit bearing element. i

INTRODUCTION As well as providing stimulating learning opportunities, your placement or work experience should be, as far as is practicable, free of risks to your health and safety. Some roles will entail greater potential risks than others and, therefore, it is important that all students on placement or work experience have a basic knowledge of health and safety issues in the workplace. It is anticipated that this booklet will become a useful reference for you prior to, and during, your placement /work experience.

The booklet aims to...

* Give a brief overview of the relevant legislation

* Describe some of the actions required in various types of emergencies

* I dentify those environments which are classed as medium to high risk, with supplementary guidance notes on the main hazards and the basic precautions to be taken to avoid risks.

Please read the booklet carefully and follow the advice it contains. In many respects, it builds on the health and safety induction procedures given to students by their own School and you are advised to refresh your knowledge of these. Further information is also available on the University website at www.rgu.ac.uk/health-and-safety

This does not contain an exhaustive list of DO’s and DO NOT’s, but should be read in preparation for your placement, where the H & S issues specific to your workplace will be in operation.

If you have any queries about the Health and Safety guide please contact the Placement Office on 01224 262344/262335 or email placement.destech@rgu.ac.uk

Professor John Watson Dean of Faculty Design and Technology 1

1. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Because of the wide variety of placements or work experience undertaken, it is not possible to produce a set of detailed emergency instructions to cover every situation that might arise. Each Placement Provider will have their own specific emergency instructions.

There are, however, certain points that apply to the vast majority of emergency situations :

* The most important consideration at all times is HUMAN SAFETY.

* D o not take risks. If you become a casualty someone must rescue you, possibly at risk to themselves.

* In an emergency, you should act quietly and calmly. Do not rush or attempt to pass others when leaving an emergency area.

If you have to telephone for assistance in an emergency, the following information must be given...

* Who you are.

* Where you are... location and telephone number you are using.

* The nature of the emergency and what services are required.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE EXACT LOCATION WHERE ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED IS CLEARLY DEFINED.

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2. THE HEALTH and SAFETY at WORK ACT 1974 (HASWA) HASWA is the main piece of health and safety legislation in the UK. It places duties on employers and employees. It expects employers and employees together to produce their own solutions to health and safety matters, subject to the test of “reasonable practicability“. In the placement context, Placement Provider means Employer, and Employee means the Placement or Work Experience Student.

General duties of EMPLOYERS:

The Act states that “it is the duty of every employer, so far as it is reasonably practicable, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all his employees.”

EMPLOYERS are required to provide and maintain :

* Safe plant and systems of work.

* Safe handling, storage, maintenance and transport of articles and substances.

* Necessary information, instruction, training and supervision.

* Safe place of work with safe access and egress.

* Safe working environment with adequate welfare facilities.

(Please note that, although every effort has been made to verify that the employer has systems in place to discharge these statutory duties, and that significant risks are controlled, no workplace can operate as a zero risk environment. If at any time you feel that you are being exposed to inappropriate levels of risk to your health and safety, or to unexpected hazards, please discuss your concerns with your Placement Supervisor and/or your Placement Tutor if applicable.)

General duties of EMPLOYEES:

The Act expects that employees will take reasonable care of their own health and safety, and that of others who may be affected by their acts and omissions. They must also co-operate with their employer. It is an offence for anyone to intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare.

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3. GENERAL SAFETY The prevention of accidents in offices, laboratories, stores, yards, workshops and all other places of work is the duty of every individual using or entering them. Ensuring the safety of others is as important as the avoidance of personal injury. All employees should make themselves aware of hazards in their area of work, and to be constantly alert as to how risks can be minimised.

It is expected that you become familiar with any special instructions issued for dealing with emergencies in your workplace. You should familiarise yourself with :

* The layout of the building.

* The location/ operation of fire fighting appliances.

* Evacuation routes and muster points.

* Location of telephones.

* The siting of First Aid facilities.

Some areas may have restricted access or may require you to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard your health. DO NOT enter an area to which you are not permitted, or for which you do not have the correct PPE.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN AN INDUCTION CHECKLIST FOR YOUR PLACEMENT/WORK EXPERIENCE. THE FORM MUST BE RETURNED TO THE PLACEMENT OFFICE BY THE END OF THE SECOND WEEK OF YOUR PLACEMENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INDUCTION CHECKLIST MUST BE SIGNED BY YOU AND YOUR SUPERVISOR. Students can find the Induction Checklist in the Placement Office study area on Moodle along with a drop-box for submitting completed forms.

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4. FIRE 4.1 Fire Precautions

Most fire prevention involves controlling sources of ignition... usually lighting/heating/kettles and cookers/ventilation/machinery/tools/sparks/smoking etc... and keeping these seperate from combustible materials.

A very effective fire prevention activity, and one that every employee can assist with, is good housekeeping. Rubbish should be contained and regularly removed, spillages cleaned-up and storage controlled.

4.2 Means of Escape

Ensure that doors, passages, corridors and stairways are not obstructed, and that fire doors are kept closed. Make sure that emergency exits are not obstructed so that they are immediately available for use in an emergency.

4.3 Fire Extinguishers

Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not attempt to use an extinguisher unless you have received instruction on its use, and it is safe to do so.

All up-to-date fire extinguishers are red in colour, with small coloured patches to identify their type. Some older ones may still be in use, and they are normally painted all over in the colour coding associated with their type.

You should only attempt to fight a fire if it does not endanger your own life.

* Before attempting to fight a fire, always ensure the alarm has been raised, and you are able to leave the area if the fire escalates.

* You should know which type of extinguisher is required for each type of fire, and where they are located.

4.4 Fire/Smoke-Stop Doors

These are installed in most buildings. They must never be wedged open or propped open, but kept closed.

4.5 Fire Instructions

These form part of the emergency instructions for the employee and are usually displayed throughout all buildings.

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5. MANUAL HANDLING There are risks associated with manual handling. To make operations safer you should consider the following:Firstly, try to avoid the need for manual handling. If it is not avoidable, then consider the potential risk...

* Are you physically up to the task ?

* Can you cope with the bending, twisting, stretching, stooping etc required ?

* How heavy is the load ? How awkward ? How hard to grasp ? Cold or hot ?

* Weather conditions / uneven ground / slippery surface.

Consider the use of appropriate aids... trolley/hoist/split the load/assistance from colleagues.

6. WORK OUTSIDE NORMAL WORKING HOURS Companies usually have specific rules regarding employees working outside normal working hours. Evenings, weekends, Bank and Local holidays are usually regarded as outside normal hours.

Extreme care should be exercised when working outside these times, and then only with explicit authority. It is normally forbidden to perform hazardous operations unless another person is within calling distance.

7. ELECTRICAL HAZARDS Two of the most common electrical hazards are careless or unskilled workmanship, and faulty or worn-out equipment.

You should always visually check portable appliances for these possibilities. The obvious ones are sockets, switches, worn leads and, a very common one, an overloading of appliances into one socket.

7.1 Electricity and Fire

In case of fire involving electrical equipment, the first action to take, if at all possible, is to switch off the power supply. DO NOT use water or foam for an electrical fire........only CARBON DIOXIDE ( CO2 ) should be used.

7.2 Use of Electrical Points and Equipment

Lead length must be adequate... DO NOT overload any power point. Any necessary adjustments/repair to equipment must only be carried out by authorised personnel.

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8. NOISE Noise can cause damage to hearing and create stress. Damage to hearing can occur in two ways. A sudden, violent sound can rupture an ear drum. Extended exposure to noise levels over 80dB(A) can cause lower level damage, but may not be detected for a long period of time.

Where such exposures above 80dB(A) are possible, you should be offered suitable protective equipment, e.g. ear plugs or defenders. In areas where exposure ABOVE 85dB(A) is likely, access may be restricted or hearing protection made mandatory.

9. FIRST AID Medical advice or treatment should be sought for all workplace accidents, however minor the injury. Your induction will normally include the identity and location of the employer’s FIRST AIDERS. Remember to report any accidents and illnesses as soon as possible to your immediate supervisor.

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10. SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDANCE NOTES 10.1 Office Environment

In such an environment you are not likely to be exposed to any high risks. However, offices are far from being risk-free.

Housekeeping

* Keep your working area tidy and clear .

* Store items only in designated areas... certainly not in corridors/aisle ways.

* Clean up spillages immediately.

* Do not leave cabinet drawers and cupboards open.

* Keep leads / cables away from aisles.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) There are hazards associated with incorrect use of DSE, but they are low if precautions are taken

* Your workstation must be set up to keep a good posture.

*Y our forearms should be horizontal and your elbows should be by your sides - your chair should be adjusted to achieve this. *Y our feet should be flat on the floor or on a foot rest. *Y ou should sit up right, with your back in its natural s-shaped curve - adjust your chair as necessary. *Y our eyes should be slightly higher than the top of our screen - with a 15o downward slope.

* You should be trained on how to set this up.

* You are encouraged to use a foot rest and document holder.

* Take reasonable breaks away from the screen.

* Don’t ignore persistent aches/pains in eyes/neck/wrists/arms.

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10.2 Workshop/Industrial Environment

There are a number of different environments in the Engineering sector, and generally they present a higher scale of risks, giving rise to many serious accidents, particularly with machinery, both static and mobile.

* Hair or clothing can become entangled in moving parts.

* Shearing can occur between parts moving past one another.

* Crushing is a common occurrence between moving items, or against a fixed object.

* Cutting or severing can arise from sharp edges.

* Limbs can be drawn into moving parts of machines.

* Burns and scalds can occur in certain environments.

To minimise such risks...

* Don’t wear the sort of jewellery and/or clothing which could become entangled in machinery.

* Keep long hair tied back, or under a cap.

* Don’t distract other personnel who are using machinery.

* Wear the appropriate PPE and clothing... e.g.. Ear defenders/eye shields/masks/ overalls/gloves/safety boots/helmets... and ensure that they fit properly.

* In open yards, stores and warehouses etc. be constantly alert for moving machinery such as forklift trucks and hoists.

Tell your Supervisor if you detect any faulty or damaged machinery.

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