Transcript Health and Safety in the Workplace

Dr Clare Ryan
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It’s not always what we do, but how we do it,
which causes accidents
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Moral and ethical reasons
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Economic reasons
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Legislative reasons
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Hazards generally fall into four main
groups
Physical
Biological
Chemical
Ergonomic
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Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General
Application) Regulations, 2007
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Carcinogens)
Regulations, 2001
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to
Asbestos) Regulations, 2006
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological
Agents) Regulations 1994 as amended in 1998
Chemicals Act No 32 of 2010
Regulated by the Health and Safety Executive NI
(www.hseni.gov.uk)
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Spectacle wearers not allowed on bouncy
castle
http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Statistics/Fatal_Injury/
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A ‘Hazard is a potential source of harm or
adverse health effect on a person or persons’.
A ‘risk is the likelihood that a person may be
harmed or suffers adverse health effects if
exposed to a hazard.’
http://biomed.science.ulster.ac.uk/ris
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Hazards generally fall into four main
groups
Physical
Biological
Chemical
Ergonomic
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Cause damage to the body, e.g.:
◦ Working with tools and
machinery
◦ Working at height
◦ Electrical work
◦ Exposure to noise or vibration
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Able to produce
health effects, e.g.
◦ Dusts and fibres
◦ Fumes and gases
◦ Corrosives,
poisons
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Causes ill health through contact
with:
◦ Micro-organisms (Bacteria,
Viruses, Fungi)
◦ Insects (mites, parasites)
◦ Human, animal waste
◦ Sharps (needles, scalpels)
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Harm caused by:
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Poor working posture
Poor workstation layout
Confined space work
Unsuitable equipment
• 3000 employees
• 15,000 full time
students
•http://www.ulster.ac.uk
/hr/healthandsafety/
•http://www.ulster.ac.uk
/hr/healthandsafety/pro
cedures_safety.html
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Hazards generally fall into four main
groups
Physical
Biological
Chemical
Ergonomic