Equipment in the Workplace

Equipment in the workplace can be a cause for a serious accident. Unfortunately some of these accidents can be fatal. According to the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) work equipment can be described as ‘any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work‘. This description is very broad and it demonstrates that the scope of work equipment is very extensive.

eLearn Safety offers a list of relevant courses that look into equipment in the workplace and its use. A solid starting course is Workplace Safety – Level 1. This course is ideal for every employee in any workplace that’s subject to Health and Safety Legislation. Safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. It provides all employees who participate on this course with information on how to identify hazards and carry out simple risk assessments.

Workplace Safety – Level 1

Equipment in the Workplace and the Law

The Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 2007 sets out the requirements with regard to equipment in the workplace. It is impossible to list all the equipment that might be used in a workplace setting, but it generally includes the following:

Plant – large fixed or mobile equipment such diggers, forklift trucks, tractors, cranes, etc.
Machinery – seemingly harmless equipment such as printer machines, cookers, but also meat slicers, band saws, circular saws, etc.
Tools – simple tools such as screwdrivers, knives, pliers, etc.

Employer and Employee Duties in Regard to Equipment in the Workplace

Both employers and employees have a number of duties under the 2005 Act in terms of equipment in the workplace. For a more comprehensive list of employer and employee duties please see HSA page titled Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. In broad terms we can describe duties as follows:

Employers – have the responsibility to provide and maintain suitable and safe equipment in the workplace. An employer is also responsible for providing training and information on risks and precautions associated with use of the equipment in the workplace.
Employees – have the responsibility to select the suitable machine/tool for the work to be undertaken, make sure they are trained in its use and operate the machine/tool according to the safe working procedures.

Main Dangers arising from the Equipment in the Workplace

Some of the dangers of the equipment in the workplace are:

Traps and Entrapment – Moving equipment, such as presses and hydraulic jacks can trap body parts.
Contact – Abrasions, bruising or friction burns can occur when people accidentally come into contact with moving parts.
Impact – Moving parts may hit operators or the public if unguarded or badly sited.
Ejection – Some unguarded equipment, e.g. drills and saws, may throw off bits of metal or wood.
Entanglement – Moving machinery such as rollers, cogs and conveyors that can entangle hair, jewellery and clothes, even pulling whole bodies into machinery.

Controls

There are a number of controls that can be used to minimise dangers associated with the use of the equipment in the workplace. For additional information about Hierarchy of Controls, please see eLearn Safety blog entry from 24th February 2023 titled Workplace Hazards.

Guarding is often used as a method of controlling the risks associated with moving parts and machinery. Some guards act as a permanent barrier to prevent people from gaining access to a dangerous area. Other moveable types will prevent the machine from operating unless the guard is in place. It is important that guards and other safety features, such as emergency stop buttons and alarms are working correctly. If they are not, the machinery should not be used.

When selecting equipment in the workplace, it is important to choose the safest possible option for a work activity. All equipment must be CE marked and suitable for the task to be used for.

Some general rules for using any workplace equipment apply:

Select the right equipment for the right job.
Make sure the equipment is maintained and in good condition.
Report broke, damaged or worn equipment to a supervisor.
Only use equipment you have been trained to use.
Use all equipment correctly.
All equipment should be stored correctly after use.

All equipment in the workplace must be well maintained to ensure it is in safe working order. The maintenance should be carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions by a competent person.

Equipment is only as safe as the person using it!

Online Health and Safety Training

Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.

Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

This is why we have established Myelearsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

Dangers of Vibration at Work

Use of plant and equipment that produces vibration is often not considered as a serious risk and dangers of vibration at work are often overlooked.

Vibration is the transmission of force from work processes into the worker. The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) defines vibrations as ‘rapid movement to and fro or oscillating movement‘.

Examples of Vibration at Work

People in the course of their work life may be exposed to many sources of vibration. Dangers of vibration at work are more often overlooked than not. Some vibration affects the whole body (WBV), e.g. when driving a dumper truck over rough and even ground. Here the vibration, in the form of large shocks or jolts, is transmitted to the whole body via their feet or the seat. This could cause injury to the lower back and spine.

The most common problem is Hand Arm Vibration (HAV). HAV is caused by exposure to vibration, e.g. from using hand power tools. This can be very disabling, causing severe pain in hands and arms and lack of hand movement and feeling in the fingers. It is preventable but permanent once the damage is done.

Dangers of Vibration at Work – HAV Symptoms

The most common HAV symptoms to look for are:

Tingling in the fingers.
Loss of feeling and sensation in the fingers.
Reduced strength in the hand.
Fingers that go white in the cold and then red and painful on recovery.

Dangers of Vibration at Work – HAV Controls

Dangers of vibration at work, i.e. risk from vibrating tools or machines can be minimised by:

Introducing methods that eliminate, substitute or reduce the exposure to vibration.
Avoiding prolonged or frequent use of vibrating equipment.
Keeping cutting tools sharp so they remain efficient.
Making sure equipment is well maintained.
Avoiding forcing or gripping the tool more than is necessary.
Wearing gloves to protect the hands.
Exercising and massaging the fingers during breaks to restore circulation.

Health surveillance is crucial to spot and respond to early signs of damage.

Dangers of Vibration at Work – Further Reading

Chapter 2 of Part 5 and Schedule 6 to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 299 of 2007) as amended by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amended) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 732 of 2007) sets down the minimum requirements for the protection of workers from the health risks associated with vibration in the workplace. This is a legislation that looks into dangers of vibration at work.

The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) on their webpage Vibration at Work provide relevant to vibration at work information.

Online Health and Safety Training

This is why we have established Myelearsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

Working at Height

Working at height and falling from height is one of the biggest causes of death in the workplace and one of the main causes of major injury. Such injuries do not necessarily involve falls from very high scaffolding. They can be caused by any fall above or even below ground level such as an access ladder to an inspection chamber or sewer.

Working at Height Hazards

There are many hazards associated with working at height. The most common hazards include:

Using stepladders or unsuitable alternatives such as chairs or climbing on racking.
Working on scaffolding and other access equipment with inadequate fall arrest controls.
Falling through fragile roofs or skylights.
Objects such as tools falling from height and injuring those below.

Preventing Working at Height Accidents

Preventing working at height accidents is important on many levels. It can avoid costly legal costs but more importantly it can prevent human suffering and in the worst case scenario – human fatality. Preventing accidents is everyone’s duty, from employer to employee. Accidents most often occur:

People taking shortcuts and not using the correct equipment.
Equipment is not available or in poor repair.
Complacency, perhaps over-familiarity with the job.
Lack of awareness of the risks of working at height.
Inadequate training and supervision.

Managing and Selecting Equipment for Working at Height

There are a few simple – but important steps:

Carry out a risk assessment of tasks that are at height. Include in the risk assessment any fragile surfaces that might break if someone worked on it or fell onto it, e.g. fibre and asbestos cement roof sheets and skylights.
If at all possible, avoid working at height and consider if the task can be done in another way, for example using a sponge on an extendable pole to clean windows instead of climbing a ladder.
If working at height cannot be avoided, use equipment or other measures to prevent falls, e.g. guard rails, work platforms, podium steps, tower scaffolds, cherry pickers or scissor lifts.
When the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated, use equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall, e.g. harnesses, netting and airbags.
Avoid working on, near, or passing across, fragile surfaces, e.g. repair skylights form underneath or provide fixed walkways with guard rails.

Additional measures to reduce the risk of a fall when using equipment for working at height include making sure:

The people have been trained to use it safely.
It is well maintained and regularly inspected.
There is adequate supervision to ensure people are working safely.

Working at Height – Ladders

Ladders are working at height equipment. Ladders may be suitable for light tasks of short duration, but suitable alternatives should be first considered. If ladders have been selected there are a few basic points to remember:

Always check ladders for damage before use.
Set them at the correct angle. The angle should be about 75° or the 1 in 4 rule, i.e., 1 unit out for every 4 units up. If they are at too steep an angle, the ladder could topple backwards and if too shallow an angle, it might slide down the wall.
The ladders must be secure. The ladders should be on firm, level, non-slippery ground. Ladders should not be leaned against plastic guttering. Ladders should always lean against a firm and resistant resting point.
Always grip the ladder and face the rungs when climbing. Try to avoid holding items when climbing but if you do need to carry something, have one free to grip the ladder.
Do not overreach. Keep your belt buckle within the stiles.
Keep both feet on the same rung throughout the task and don’t use the top 3 rungs of the ladder as this prevents a handhold.

Available Resources

The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) has published a number of useful resources in relation to Working at Height. Some of these are:

Online Health and Safety Training

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

Workplace Transport and Vehicles

Almost all businesses use some form of workplace transport and vehicles. There are many examples. A busy factory site with lorries being loaded for despatch. Forklift trucks whizzing around the site. Staff arriving for work in cars. Visitors and staff walking around the site and delivery vehicles reversing into dock loading bays.

Without controls aimed at workplace transport and vehicles, there is a high likelihood of an accident occurring. Unfortunately, almost every year a number of people are killed in vehicle accidents at the workplace.

Risk Assessment – Workplace Transport and Vehicles

A risk assessment must be carried out to identify the hazards and implement controls to minimise the risk. Such controls may include:

Clearly marking segregated traffic routes separating pedestrians from vehicles. This would be ideally done with physical barriers.
Making sure route ways are sufficiently wide for the vehicle, for example aisles between warehouse racking should be wide enough for a forklift truck to move easily and manoeuvre with loads.
Avoidance of obstructions in traffic routes by enforcing good housekeeping.
Sufficient lighting, both externally and internally, to enable drivers to identify obstructions, other vehicles and pedestrians.
Keeping traffic routes in good repair so uneven surfaces, holes, etc. do not cause vehicle damage or accidents.
Speed limits that are displayed and enforced as well as signage to alert drivers to other hazards such as low headroom, or overhead cables.
Designing traffic routes to avoid blind bends and where visibility is restricted, mirrors or implementing one-way systems should be considered.

Common Causes of Accidents

When we talk about workplace transport and vehicles, one of the most common vehicles used in the workplace is a forklift truck. They account for many of all workplace transport accidents.

Common causes of accidents are:

Driving too fast.
Unbalanced loads.
Horseplay.
Reversing.

Reversing of workplace transport and vehicles is a frequent cause of accidents. Consideration should be given to ensure adequate space for reversing vehicles and restricting access to the reversing area. This area should be clearly marked and signed.

Visiting drivers should be made aware of the site layout and transport routes. It may be necessary to provide instructions in other languages for foreign drivers and allow for the fact they may have different visibility from left hand drive vehicles.

Maintaining Safe Workplace and Transport Vehicles

There are many different types of workplace and transport vehicles that can be used. A proper selection will depend on the task to be performed. It is very important that the correct vehicle is selected for the appropriate task and that the vehicle is safe to use. As well as regular routine maintenance, there are some basic pre-use checks drivers should make. These include:

Horn.
Lights.
Brakes.
Tyres.
Oil Spillages.
Seat and Seat Belt.
Any Obvious Signs of Vehicle Damage.

Whichever vehicle is being driven, the driver must be trained and competent. Safe system of work should be in place to make sure unauthorised staff cannot operate vehicles and there are sufficient work breaks to stop drivers becoming overtired.

Safety Management Resources for workplace and Transport Vehicles

The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland provides a comprehensive key transport safety management resources available on their website page titled Vehicles at Work. The resources are a convenient and easy to use information portal. In addition, the HSA has published a convenient Information Sheet that provides basic guidance on the management of vehicles and mobile work equipment in the workplace.

Online Health and Safety Training

Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie