Saturday 30 April 2016

Hazards with bench-top grinder

Hazards associated with bench-top grinder are
  • Abrasion on contact with rotating abrasive wheel
  • Drawing in at nip-point between wheel and tool rest;
  • Ejection of parts of the wheel during normal use
  • Bursting of wheel if heavy load applied;
  • Entanglement with the spindle mounting cloth, hair or jewellery etc.,
  • Electrical hazards – eg. Shock due to direct or indirect contact
  • Hot surfaces / parts caused by friction,
  • Health hazards during grinding operations from – Dust, noise, vibration
  • Ergonomic hazards during work

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Trip device - Merits and Demerits

Trip device operate on the principle of sensing the presence of the operator and stop the machine. They involve use of sensory devices such as pressure mats, trip bars and photoelectric devices that when activated stops the machine. Hence they do not provide physical barrier between the operator and the dangerous parts of machine.



Merits

Merits of trip devices are they operate through sensors – it won’t be easily possible to defeat its intended purpose by a less skilled worker.


De-Merits

Main limitations / De-merits of trip devices are – They don’t provide physical barrier to prevent access; can be over-ridden / avoided (e.g. using platforms to span a pressure mat); May not operate fast enough to prevent harm. At time, may be over sensitive resulting in frequent trips and production delays. So, Management / Operators will be willing / encouraged to bypass or disable them. In addition, frequent trips may also result in operator stress.


Lead Audit Training in Chennai | Fire Safety Courses in Chennai | Nebosh Courses in Chennai

Saturday 23 April 2016

Non-Mechanical Hazards Associated with Machinery

Electricity – used as the energy source as most of the machineries are motor-driven, for example, pedestal drilling machine, photocopier etc.,



Fire and Explosion – flammable substances may be used either as working substances in a closed system, or as fuel or lubricant, for example, ue of flammable refrigerants (propane, butane) in refrigeration system, diesel in engine driven pumps.

Noise – Excessive sound generated by the moving parts of the machinery or the equipment may be operating on compressed air and/or release energy with sound. For example – generators, turbines, cement mixers, etc.,


Vibration - perhaps the machinery is not securely installed on suitable anti-vibration mounts or it may be a hand vibrating tool, for example pneumatically operated concrete breakers.

Hazardous chemicals – substance hazardous to health may be released in the machinery operation as emissions or may be used in the machinery as raw material. for example – cement in cement mixers, carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion of IC engine


 Manual handling – machinery operations may involve loading raw material unloading finished product etc., with extreme manual effort. For example – loading of cement, sand and aggregate and unloading of concrete mortar from cement mixer

Biological hazard – machineries may have water systems which may get infected by biological agents, for example cooling tower in refrigeration system

Ergonomic hazard - operation and maintenance of certain machineries may sometimes put workers in awkward posture, for example overreaching for controls, continuous kneeling for certain maintenance work in automobiles

Fall hazard - machinery operation may require to work at height, leading to fall from working platforms or falls on the same level perhaps due to contaminated floor by spillages/ leaks from machinery.


Monday 18 April 2016

Interlocked Guard - Merits & Demerits

An Interlocked Guard

The operation principle of an interlocked guard is to disable power to the machine and the machine will not operate until the guard is in place. Or the act of opening the guard stops the dangerous parts and disables power. Example – Photocopier




Merits and Demerits of ‘Interlock Guards’


Merits of interlocked guards are the machinery will not operate until the guard is in place (or) Opening the guard stops the dangerous parts and disables power. This will allow frequent access to a machine’s dangerous zone by de-energising it and preventing it from operation (e.g. Microwave Oven).

The main limitation (De-merits) of an interlocked guard is that it is (technically) possible to bypass the system so that the machine can be operated with guard open. Other demerit would be it may be more prone to failure as it involves moving parts/ complicated mechanism and hence require regular maintenance which can be done only by Qualified Technicians.


Wednesday 13 April 2016

Respiratory Protective Equipment

Respiratory Protective Equipment can be used for the following physical forms of hazardous substances:

Vapour - dispersion of molecules in air by substances that are originally liquid or solid in state such as solvents

Mists – presence of liquid droplets in air such as (paint etc.,)

Dust – airborne solid particles such as silica, asbestos fibre.

Gases – Substances rarer or denser than air such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, chlorine etc.

Factors that could reduce the effectiveness of the respiratory protective equipment.

Respiratory Protection – May not be suitable for the Dust / Contaminant level present

Poor fit – Not fitting correctly (Loose or too tight) – Incorrect size / Poor quality

Resistance to use – May not be willing to use as management does not enforce it / Negative safety culture

Uncomfortable – Worker may feel uncomfortable

Incompatibility – Interfering with other PPE / Obstructing other PPEs

Hygiene – Health and Hygiene problems may occur

Supervision – Lack of supervision may be another reason – So people may forget

Deterioration – Poor Maintenance / lack of maintenance and storage, not cleaned regularly

Abuse – Misuse




Saturday 9 April 2016

Learn About Fire Safety - FIRE PREVENTION

  • Try not to leave electrical machines unattended
  • Switch off electric machines after use and remove the socket. It is fire safe practice. 
  • Try not to over-burden electrical circuit; it may cause short circuit and a fire
  • Don't keep electric wiring hanging, secure appropriately. 
  • Try not to utilize light the in the event of force disappointment. Client battery worked tourches. 
  • Smoke just in the Smoking Zone, use non-flammable ashtrays for storing lit smoking material 
  • Use ashtray while Smoking 
  • Keep matches, saltines, lighters far from the kids. 
  • Try not to permit kids to play with fireworks. 

  • Do not light fire works near the structures . 
  • Close the windows and openings appropriately to counteract entrance of lit flying saltines. 
  • Try not to leave lit oil lights, agarbattis or candles on the floor or close ignitable material. Put them off before resigning to bed. 
  • Do not store scrap/combustible material in and around the building; dispose it regularly.
  • Keep L.P.G. Stove/Segree/Burner on raised non-ignitable stage. 
  • Turn off both the L.P.G. gas barrel valve and burner handle of the gas segree/cooking extent and so on when not being used in the wake of cooking. 
  • Ventilate the whole room if L.P.G. chamber is spilling and don't switch on/off any of the electric switches the room in . Supplant L.P.G. supply tube intermittently or as and when prompted by Mechanic. 
  • In the event that L.P.G. barrel is spilling 
                - Close the principle barrel valve.
                - Ventilate the whole room.
                - Do not work electric switch.

Friday 1 April 2016

Risk of Injury at Workplace

Factors in relation to the task that could increase risk of injury would be :

DISTANCE – to be travelled with the load height of the shelves requiring vertical movements;

REPETITON –the need for repetition movements when loading boxes on to shelves;

FORCE - the physical force required to perform the task and the strain this puts on the body, perhaps the boxes may have to be pushed or pulled; 



POSTURE - any requirement to adopt an awkward posture such as bending for picking up, stooping for putting box on to shelves;

TWISTING - twisting the trunk when carrying the boxes;

REST - work rate that won’t allow a worker to rest recover from fatigue.