Health and safety hazards in the workplace |20 September 2010

SAFETY WEEK 2010 – SEPTEMBER 20-25

To raise awareness of safety in the workplace, the labour monitoring and compliance section of the Department of Employment has contributed a series of articles, the first of which we publish here.
 

The labour monitoring and compliance section is responsible for workplace inspection. Its main role is to combat illegal and dangerous practices in workplaces and to prevent labour law violations.
 
Labour inspectors are empowered under Section 74 of the Employment Act 1995 and Section 21 of the Occupational Safety and Health Decree to enforce and monitor the said legislation.  They have the power to:
• Enter premises;
• Inspect documents and records of both employers and employees which are required to be kept by law;
• Make any inquiries relating to the conditions of employment, ensuring that the wages paid and hours worked are in conformity with the prescribed regulations or collective agreements, and that the minimum age of employment is also respected. This will ensure there is no exploitation in these workplaces. It also detects whether certain legal procedures have been adhered to in recruting workers;

• Ensure that the workers enjoy a safe and hygienic working environment by thoroughly inspecting the work establishments, machinery, chemicals used, work procedures and the sanitary/welfare provisions.

Labour inspection is conducted on invitation, as a check-up (routine), after an occupational accident or after a complaint is lodged. A routine inspection is carried out at least once a year.

Health and safety in the workplace

One of the aims of workplace inspection is to ensure that workers enjoy a safe and hygienic working environment. This protects the health, safety and welfare of all employees and the safety of the public such as customers, passengers and patients in a hospital who may be exposed to risks during work activities.
 
This means that workplace should be free of hazards that can affect anyone having access to the work compounds. During an inspection, the inspector identifies hazards and potential risks associated with equipment, building work, machinery, environment, practices and processes and advises on corrective measures that should be taken to eliminate the hazard.

Common workplace hazards

Some common workplace hazards are:
Physical hazards: These are unsafe working conditions or environment. Examples include excessive noise, vibration, inadequate lighting, faulty or inappropriate electrical equipment, extreme temperature (hot and cold), spills on floors, tripping hazards, working from heights and overcrowding.

Chemical hazards: These are present when a worker is exposed to any chemical in the workplace. This may be in solid, liquid or gas form. Examples of chemical hazards are pesticides, fertilisers, cleaning products, paints, carbon monoxide, gasoline, asbestos, wood dust and welding fumes..

Biological hazards: These are caused by living organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. People who work with animals and infectious people may be exposed to this type of hazard, for example those working in hospitals, daycare centres, laboratories, slaughter houses, farms and veterinary offices. Examples of where someone can be exposed to biological hazards are manure pits, human blood, animal droppings, sewage etc.

Mechanical hazards: These exist in all workplaces where some sorts of machinery are used.

Psychological hazards: These are hazards that cause stress to a worker, for example fatigue, bullying, long working hours, shift work, work overload, lack of job satisfaction.

Ergonomic hazards: These occur when the work performed, body position and working position put a strain on the body. This includes poor posture, poor lifting posture, overstretching, lifting heavy objects, long standing hours, badly adjusted workstations and improper sitting facilities.

Emerging risks in the workplace

Due to significant technological advances in the workplace and rapid globalisation, workers are being exposed to new risks. In Seychelles there has been a lot of development in almost all sectors of the economy in the past 20 years, and therefore our workers are being exposed to new risks. Examples of these emerging risks are:

Chemicals: In the agricultural sector, more chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers are being used. In the past five years there has been an increase in the number of pests that are affecting our crops, so there has been an increase in the level of pesticides.

New working conditions: Our country has not been protected from the effects of the global economic crisis. As a result, some workplaces had to downsize in order to function effectively. This comes with its risk, as having fewer people doing the same job may mean that people have to work longer hours, and this can be stressful for the worker.

Reduction of exposure

Many methods are available for reducing the risks associated with exposure to hazards. These include:
? Engineering controls, which should be the first line of hazard reduction and include elimination, substitution, isolation, automation, enclosure and ventilation.

? Administrative controls, which reduce worker exposure through activities such as job rotation and work assignment but do not reduce the harm if the worker remains exposed.
? The use of personal protective equipment when all else fails, as this equipment merely provides a barrier between the person using it and the hazard itself.

The selected control depends on many factors, such as the nature of the hazard, available alternatives and how it affects health and the route of entry into the body.
 
Hazards need to be identified and assessed, and the most practicable method of control should be carried out to reduce risks. The bottom line, therefore, remains that prevention is always better than cure.

Leaflets on personal protective equipment are available free of charge from:
INSPECTORS – LABOUR MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE SECTION
ORION  MALL. Tel: 676 280, fax: 610898, email: inspectors@employment.gov.sc