CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS AT HOME

To download more QHSE documents in editable formats for free, keep frequently visiting the blog for qhse docs.

CHECK CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

1. Make sure there is a working carbon monoxide (CO) alarm on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.
2. Test CO alarms every month to make sure they are working correctly. Replace and change the Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines.

PREVENT CO POISONING

1. In case to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it.
2. Do not leave the engine running even if the garage door is open.
3. Generators and grills should be used outside the home, away from windows and doors.
4. On the outside of your home, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow and other debris.

IN AN EMERGENCY, LEAVE THE HOME IMMEDIATELY

1. If the CO alarm sounds, immediately leave the home.
2. Call 911/999, etc. or the fire department after you are outside the home. Remain outside until emergency personnel arrive.

 CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY GUIDELINES

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE 👇

CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS AT HOME 

Summer Water Safety

Now that summer is here and people are heading to the pool, the beach, pond, river, or lake, it’s time for some water safety reminders.

Qhsedocs.blogspot.com wants parents and caregivers to put on their thinking-bathing caps when they do take in aquatic activities!  Being safe in and around water–even a child’s wading pool–is crucial to your child’s life and your happiness. Unfortunately, we must remind everyone that drowning can occur quickly.

Summer Water Safety

To get more details for the Kids Safety’ “drowning prevention” fact sheet, Qhsedocs.blogspot.com recommends its visitors to go (https://bit.ly/3Q5vDFL) tell us that each year more than 830 children under the age of 14 drown and that nearly 3,600 injuries to children occur from near-drowning accidents. No matter what we think about the recently televised Casey Anthony trial, the trial drew attention to very necessary pool safety and how easy it can be for very young children to access a family pool.  Here’s a sad factoid:

Home swimming pools are the most common site for drowning to occur for a child between the ages of 1 to 4 years.

One might think it would be just the opposite, that at home, parents, family members, caregivers, or babysitters might be more available to watch a young child in and around the pool. However, these accidents usually occur when someone is not watching or paying attention, even though caregivers have claimed that children involved in drowning accidents were being supervised while in the water.

It bears repeating that accidents in and around the water happen fast.

These accidents happened, and the families of these children are bereft. It is painful to ask questions afterwards–who was supervising, who was watching?   

More facts:

1. 16 per cent of drowning deaths in children under 5 years of age are at a family or friend’s pool, while 17 per cent of deaths occur at a public, community, or neighbour pool.
2. The majority of infant (less than 1-year-old) drowning deaths happen in bathtubs, buckets, or toilets.

This last fact, to us, is stunning. But it also dictates that we, as parents and caregivers, can be the safety supervisor in our child’s lives when they are doing something as dangerous… as taking a bath. Yes, dangerous. Drowning can occur in as little as three inches of water. Safe Kids says that the most dangerous pools are children’s public wading pools, in-ground hot tubs, or any other pools that have flat drain grates and/or a single main drain system. For these the danger is entrapment.

Qhsedocs.blogspot.com reminds parents to “actively supervise your children when they are always in and around water and have a phone nearby to call for help in any emergency.

Beat the Heat! Essential Tips for Keeping Your Child Hydrated

Make sure kids get plenty of fluids this summer. 

When kids are having a lot of fun outside in summertime temperatures, it’s easy for them to forget to replace fluids, but doing so can lead to some problems. Less serious effects of mild-to-moderate dehydration can include lack of energy, headaches, dry mouth (which can cause bad breath), and dry skin, but severe dehydration can become dangerous. See below for a complete listing from the QHSE DOCS about the effects of mild, moderate, and severe dehydration. One thing to remember – don’t wait for kids to say they are thirsty because by then some degree of dehydration has already occurred. Kids should drink throughout the day, and obviously, increase intake when outside and active. For younger kids, it can be helpful for parents to keep an eye on how often kids are going to the bathroom. If you are concerned, it’s also a good idea to occasionally check to make sure a child’s urine isn’t too concentrated, as that can be a good indicator of dehydration.

So, have fun this summer, but do so while drinking lots of fluids! See below for some additional tips. Thanks, and see you next month!!!

Six Tips to Help Your Kids Stay Hydrated

Six Tips to Help Your Kids Stay Hydrated:

Let kids pick out their water bottles and personalize them however they like – this will increase the likelihood of their carrying them with them.

Push water as their main drink but spice it up with bubbles (such as soda stream), lemon or lime wedges, or infuse with other types of fruit.

Put a drinking chart on the fridge – check mark for every 8 ounces or more. Recommended intake varies by a child’s weight but goes here for a calculator.

Popsicles are a great, cool way to replenish fluids. Look for the no sugar added/all fruit variety. It’s also entertainment for kids to form their own.

Push fruit! One of the many great aspects of summertime is the abundance of fruits: watermelon, other types of melons, berries, peaches, plums, cherries. . . and the list goes on and on. Find some your kids like, and you’ll have a healthy, effortless way to help them rehydrate.

Kids love sports drinks, but they can often contain as much sugar as soda or juice. So, use them in moderation to replenish electrolytes, especially after sports or other heavy activity. One way to reduce the sugar hit is to cut sports drinks with water.

The QHSE DOCS provides signs and symptoms of mild to moderate and severe dehydration. Mild to moderate dehydration is possible to cause the below severe consequences:

1. Dry, sticky mouth
2. Fatigue or tiredness — kids are likely to be less active than normal
3. Decreased urine output
4. No wet diapers for three hours for infants
5. Few or no tears when crying
6. Dry skin
7. Headache
8. Constipation
9. Dizziness or lightheadedness

Severe dehydration, a medical emergency, can cause:

1. Extreme thirst
2. Extreme carefulness or laziness in infants and children; annoyance and confusion in grownups/adults.
3. Extreme dry mouth, skin, and mucous membranes
4. Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be darker than normal
5. Sunken eyes
6. Dehydrated skin that lacks resilience and doesn’t “bounce back” when exhausted into a fold.
7. In infants, sunken fontanels — the soft spots at the top of a baby’s head
8. Low blood strain
9. Rapid heartbeat
10. Rapid breathing
11. No tears when crying
12. Fever
13. In the most extreme cases, delirium, or unconsciousness
14. Let’s help our children beat the heat while enjoying their summer activities!

New Parenthood and the Happiness Factor

Happiness Factor for the New Parenthood

This short article is written for the new parents' awareness and guidance by HSE Documents.

When I became a new parent, I thought it was going to be the most magical time of my life. It turned out, however, that it was a lot different than I’d imagined. The lack of sleep, the sense of isolation, and the fact that everything was a major production, all made new parenthood difficult.

There’s been a lot of press coverage lately about a recent study on new parents and their levels of happiness. According to the study, “Happiness: Before and After the Kids,” published by Mikko Myrskylä and Rachel Margolis, “For mothers and fathers in Germany, the drop in lifestyles pride throughout the 12 months following the primary delivery is even large than that as a result of unemployment, divorce or the dying of a companion.” I can take into account that study up to some extent. Yes, new parents have unrealistic expectations. But, if you get divorced or are fired, you will most likely have a support network. When you have a kid and you’re unhappy, you might get some support, but not the same kind.

In a TIME Magazine, interview, Myrskylä said, “We don’t ask parents about happiness with relationship to parenthood, because there is a strong implicit pressure to be happy. If I go and inquire a new parent such types of questions, they feel a pressure to put a positive image of what a new parent is ‘supposed’ to feel.”

New Parenthood and the Happiness Factor 

What can new parents do to make sure they don’t get overwhelmed? Here are my top three tips:

A. Acknowledge to yourself and your partner that parts of being a new parent are not going to be great.

B. Accept help when it’s offered.

C. Get as much sleep as you can, when you can.

Don’t worry, though. The good news is the same authors found that despite feeling unhappiness after the first birth of a baby, having up to two children increases overall happiness in life. 

SIMPLE AND USER-FRIENDLY BEAUTY TIPS

Simple and User-Friendly Beauty Tips

Taking a step into the wondrous and exquisite land of beauty for the first actual time would experience a tad bit intimidating, but with the aid of preserving the beneficial guidelines listed below in thoughts, you will quickly locate your self-using strategies on par with some of the satisfactory beauticians inside the field.

Remember that excess sun publicity isn't best horrific on your skin, but it is also awful on your hair. As a result of solar exposure, hair may grow to be dry, brittle, fragile, and discoloured. Sun exposure can tear protein bonds on your hair and make your hair completely weaker. So, in case you are going to be spending a variety of time inside the solar, remember to put on a hat.

Hold it inside the fridge to get even greater mileage out of your preferred eye gel! The elements in eye gel paintings are difficult to repair and shield the delicate pores and skin around your eyes and retaining it bloodless enhances the refreshment issue tenfold! The bloodless will even work straight away to lessen that dreadful puffiness!

If you hate the troubles of clumpy and ravelled eyelashes, try using an eyelash roller. This will make the eyelashes thick and full without the usage of any merchandise. When using the roller, start on the roots and handiest use on smooth lashes. Over time your lashes will become fuller, thicker, and greater lovely.

Talk best seeing the end of the iceberg, but that's what we've supplied so far about breast actives – there's a lot accessible. By all methods, do now not stop with what you are mastering here today; that could be a disgrace. We have usually found that the greater we find out about something, a few possibilities turn out to be apparent that we did now not understand. That is why it's vital that you dissect what you are studying here; your attention can be higher for it. We all want to have as much management as feasible, even though we recognise we cannot manage everything, however, still – information helps you in a role to reply higher to events.

Eye shadows may be problematic for eyes over forty. Metallic, glittery shadows are beautiful, but eyelid pores and skin develop tiny folds which might be, alas, accentuated through those fabulous steel hues. On the other hand, a few matte shadows appear too flat and dry and do not flatter the attention of both. Instead, look for shadows which are neither matte nor metallic: “quietly lustrous” must be the purpose.

Make your hair smell appropriate. Spritz your favourite perfume in your hairbrush or comb and brush your hair. This will supply your hair with a great and lasting heady scent. If you word the heady scent is fading, do it again. Knowing your hair smells well can make your experience better about it.

If you pluck your brows, make certain to maintain your tweezers easy and sharp to reduce the threat of contamination or zits. Sanitize the tips in boiling water; if there's an important buildup on the suggestions, use a Brillo pad to take away it. This is specifically powerful on slant-tipped or pointed tweezers.

Extend the life and look of your acrylic overlays among visits to the salon with the aid of shielding them from harsh chemical substances. This consists of household cleaners like bleaches, soaps, and laundry detergents. If you plan to encounter these materials, wear rubber gloves to prevent the chemical compounds from inflicting cracks or lifting your overlays.

When you are attempting to improve the best of your pores and skin, one point that you can never forget in your ordinary is right exfoliation. You ought to do that at least two times every week and you need to have a separate product on your face and your body. These will help to make your skin appear younger.

If your hair is excessively dry and brittle, skip shampoo in the desire for an intensive conditioning treatment. Apply the conditioner to your wet or dampened hair, then cover it with a plastic cap. After fifteen minutes, get rid of the cap and punctiliously rinse the conditioner from your hair. Your hair will appear shinier, healthier, and softer.

Separate merchandise for softening, protection, and colouring are not necessary! Try the use of a tinted moisturizer rather than an ordinary foundation. You can shop yourself a variety of money and time by means of shopping for a gently tinted moisturizer with sunscreen to replace the heavier old-school foundations and lotions.

Your natural beauty is an outward reflection of your inner self. Use the facts, recommendations, secrets, and techniques that you examine in this article to permit your internal splendour to shine for your outward man or woman for the entire world to peer. You will be aware of confidence that you haven’t had earlier.

SIMPLE AND USER-FRIENDLY BEAUTY TIPS

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE 👇

SIMPLE AND USER-FRIENDLY BEAUTY TIPS

WHAT ARE MINUTES OF MEETING-DOWNLOAD FORMAT

What are the Minutes of the Meeting?

Forms of meeting minutes vary with different organizations. However, there is certain information that should always be included:

1. Title of Meeting (name of group, committee, or organization)
2. Place, date, and hour
3. Attendance (by roll call or observation)

Procedure:

1. Minutes of the previous meeting – approved or corrected
2. Reports
3. Unfinished business
4. New Business
5. Next meeting (if designated)
6. Adjournment (hour)
7. Signed by Secretary/Clerk
8. Countersigned by President/Mayor

Always make a rough draft of the minutes before documenting them in the minute book/minutes of Meeting (MOM). No large deletion should appear in the minute meeting. If minutes are amended or corrected on the assembly at which they are examined, the corrections ought to be installed in crimson ink, or the amendments need to be written on a separate pate to be attached. No minutes should be rewritten after they have been read.  They should stand corrected.

The clerk or secretary of the meeting should sit near the chairman or Mayor or be able to hear every word that is said.  If not able to hear, the recorder needs to, by way of a sign, so inform the chairman or Mayor who can interrupt the speaker and ask for a repetition of what has been stated if he deems it of sufficient significance to accomplish that.

Note:

Late joiners and early departures, because an essential point may hinge on whether an actual person heard a certain discussion.

The more pre-expertise that can be had in a meeting, the easier it will be to file the mins.

Immediately attain copies of all papers read or discussed at the meeting and write up the mins as quickly as feasible.

Acknowledgement/Affirmation:  

Notes are taken and recorded “in-depth”, but minutes are written in summary. Remember that what is done or accomplished at a meeting (or left unfinished) is of the utmost importance, not what is said. 

Therefore, be alert to recognize and record all decisions; all actions to be taken, by whom; and all business left pending.

During debates and discussions, summarize these, noting highlights, such as the “for” and “against” arguments and by whom.

1. Motions:  every motion must be recorded, its maker, its second, and its outcome.
2. Reports:  record the presentation, by whom, and the last action of each, if any.
3. Voting:  record all voting, how taken, and the count (if countable).  
4. Voting is by these methods in this order of formality:
5. General (or silent) assent or consent
6. Voice – all in favour say hi
7. Show of hands (all in favour raise your hand)
8. Standing (to be counted)
9. Roll call (yeas and nays or for and against, registered)
10. Secret ballot (many use this?)

The tone of the minutes should be completely impersonal, with no comments from the clerk, such as “heated”, “lengthy” or “moving”.

MINUTES OF MEETING

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE 

WHAT ARE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING?

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE

 

Over the past decade, the seriousness and impact of health and safety in the workplace have risen, particularly over the past year according to the latest figures released by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). Above all, the construction and manufacturing industry has seen an increase in the number of fatal injuries over the past year alone. These figures are released following the latest news of the death of a construction worker on the site of the Olympic Village, London.

With more accidents happening and the increase in employees making claims against their employers, every step should be taken to ensure that the workplace is not only safe but comfortable to work in. You have a duty as an employer to make the area of work suitable and safe. This includes maintaining a comfortable temperature, humidity, lighting, and ventilation in the workplace.

To help in what can be a difficult task, health and safety consultants can be called in to ensure that every aspect of the workplace has been assessed to be safe and is meeting all current health and safety regulations. Health and safety companies specialize in making any business operate safely, including areas such as offices and more hazardous areas such as labs or technician’s studios.

As an employee, you also must report any issue to your employer or health and safety consultant. It is best to allocate the job to someone within the company so that they can focus on ensuring everything is safe and working well. However, as an employee, you still need to ensure that you raise awareness if anything is looking unsafe, especially in the cases of those whose job involves operating machinery or equipment. This usually forms part of your employment contract.

To keep everything ticking over safely, a health and safety risk assessment should be conducted every six months. This is where one employer or your health and safety consultant takes a walk around the site – including unused areas outside or inside – and looks out for potentially harmful or dangerous issues. They will also look out for trip hazards.

By making sure risk assessment is carried out every few months, particularly in those companies which work with a lot of machinery, you can ensure everything is kept safe. Not only does this mean a workplace is kept safe, but it also promotes an image of an employer who cares about the welfare of its employees.

Download File

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR SAFETY FOOTWEAR IN THE WORKPLACE

Over the past decade, the seriousness and impact of health and safety in the workplace have risen, particularly over the past year according to the latest figures released by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). Above all, the construction and manufacturing industry has seen an increase in the number of fatal injuries over the past year alone. These figures are released following the latest news of the death of a construction worker on the site of the Olympic Village, London.

With more accidents happening and the increase in employees making claims against their employers, every step should be taken to ensure that the workplace is not only safe but comfortable to work in. You have a duty as an employer to make the area of work suitable and safe. This includes maintaining a comfortable temperature, humidity, lighting, and ventilation in the workplace.

To help in what can be a difficult task, health and safety consultants can be called in to ensure that every aspect of the workplace has been assessed to be safe and is meeting all current health and safety regulations. Health and safety companies specialize in making any business operate safely, including areas such as offices and more hazardous areas such as labs or technician’s studios.

As an employee, you also must report any issue to your employer or health and safety consultant. It is best to allocate the job to someone within the company so that they can focus on ensuring everything is safe and working well. However, as an employee, you still need to ensure that you raise awareness if anything is looking unsafe, especially in the cases of those whose job involves operating machinery or equipment. This usually forms part of your employment contract.

To keep everything ticking over safely, a health and safety risk assessment should be conducted every six months. This is where one employer or your health and safety consultant takes a walk around the site – including unused areas outside or inside – and looks out for potentially harmful or dangerous issues. They will also look out for trip hazards.

By making sure risk assessment is carried out every few months, particularly in those companies which work with a lot of machinery, you can ensure everything is kept safe. Not only does this mean a workplace is kept safe, but it also promotes an image of an employer who cares about the welfare of its employees.

SAFETY FOOTWEAR IN THE WORKPLACE 

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR SAFETY FOOTWEAR IN THE WORKPLACE

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF NURSE CALL SYSTEMS

The HSE has decided to ask doctors and practice nurses to help prevent occupational asthma by asking patients for more information about their daily lifestyles such as the nature of their work and their workplace.

The new guidelines have been published by the British Occupational Health Research Foundation (BOHRF), and have been supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). These new guidelines will help doctors and practice nurses recognise and report asthma cases where the disease may have been caused or made worse by daily work activities. Initial identification of the asthma cause is alarming when prescribing and determining the treatment and preventing long-term damage and destruction to the lungs.

For one in ten adults who suffer from asthma, work is usually the cause. There are between 1,500 and 3,000 new cases of asthma each year, costing society around £1.16 billion over the next ten years. But these figures are under-estimate; many asthma cases go unreported because doctors do not identify work as the possible cause. And many more cases, though not caused by work, are made worse by it.

Asthma causes much loss and energy and the disease can strip people of their health and their livelihood. It is very common in the UK, where 4% of all adults are asthma sufferers.

To control and responsive treatment for asthma, all individuals, organizations, institutions and professional bodies can play a vital role in reducing and minimizing the causes of occupational asthma and consequent days lost. These new guidelines will help identify the disease at an earlier stage, enabling treatment to be given more quickly and reducing the number of cases.”

Some of the top main causes of asthma are Isocyanates, Flour, Grain, Glutaraldehyde, Wood Dust, Latex, Resins and glues.

Exposure to substances that can cause occupational asthma is controlled by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and the Approved Code of Practice.

THE IMPORTANCE OF NURSE CALL SYSTEMS 

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF NURSE CALL SYSTEMS

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR STEPS TO SPILL RESPONSE TO PREVENT SLIP AND FALL INJURIES

Slip and fall accidents cost employers more than £512 million annually according to The Health & Safety Executive. Developing a comprehensive spill response strategy can reduce slips and falls in your workplace and the costs associated with such accidents. New Pig UK’s 7 step process can help:

Step 1: Assess the risk. Stop and think! Never walk through, touch or taste the spilt liquid. Look! Determine the type and volume of liquid from the container label or the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Next, locate the source of the spill and the equipment available for cleanup. Assess whether the liquid is heading for drains or other areas that need protection. Listen! Any strange noises like burst feed lines or released pressure valves hissing will help identify the source.

Step 2: Equip the responders. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be available. Ensure it is compatible with your liquids (refer to the MSDS, the liquid manufacturer, and chemical compatibility guides) and the correct size. If the liquid is unknown, use the highest level of protection.

Step 3: Confine the spill. Contain the spill to stop it from spreading and reduce hazards posed to employees. Establish isolation zones in case there is a risk of an explosion or respiratory hazard. Use compatible Spill Kits which include Socks and Booms to contain and clean up a spill and are organised for fast response with absorbents at the top.

Step 4: Stop the spill at the source. Eliminate the spill’s source to stop the flow of liquid so you can get the spill under control. This can include upturning a container, plugging or patching a punctured container or hose with repair putty, placing a leaking container in secondary containment or closing a leaking valve.

Step 5: Clean up. Ensure you have the right type and quantity of absorbents for the liquid. Start from the outside of the spill and work towards the centre to prevent you from having to step in it and potentially increase the hazard. Dispose of saturated absorbents accordingly, as well as all used PPE and tools. Vacuums and neutralizing absorbents help you recover the liquid for re-use or neutralize liquids

Step 6: Decontaminate. After the spill cleans up, cleanse the spill area, responders, and all tools and equipment. The safety of responders comes first so make sure they are decontaminated as soon as possible and receive medical treatment accordingly. Ensure everyone is aware of decontamination procedures and different scenarios, and how to dispose of accumulated hazardous materials accordingly.

Step 7: Report. Complete all relevant notifications required under local and national guidelines after spill cleanup. If not done, your business could be penalized depending on the extent of the damage. Think of medical reports, local council or district reports, and internal company reports as well as notifications to the Environment Agency.

Developing a spill response plan that includes these 7 steps and communicating it to your employees will help reduce the risk of slips and falls.

SPILL RESPONSE TO PREVENT SLIP AND FALL INJURIES

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR STEPS TO SPILL RESPONSE TO PREVENT SLIP AND FALL INJURIES

IS HEALTH AND SAFETY WORTH THE RISK?

Efforts to simplify and balance how we approach health and safety for UK businesses can only be welcomed. It is unreasonable, in any financial climate, to impose such stringent controls on enterprises that they feel stifled and restricted. It is essential, however, that workers receive reasonable protection from harm and that employers and their insurers are not subject to excessive, and sometimes fraudulent, compensation claims. A great health and safety system is balanced between these and offers practical and effective solutions which add value to the bottom line.

It is clear that risks differ greatly between occupations – the hazards on construction sites, food factories and farms are worlds away from those in office and retail environments – and these different risks need to be reflected in how we manage health and safety. We’ve had what may be termed ‘efficient’ regulation since 1974 and the success of the Health & Safety at Work Act has been clear and wide-ranging. However, as work and society have developed, especially considering the shift in focus from manufacturing to service industries in the UK, regulation has not kept pace. Not surprising perhaps, considering the frantic speed of change over the past 30 years.

Health and safety are often seen as one, recently derided, topic. Safety is really easy to manage in many environments. If a machine looks like it could hurt you, guard the dangerous bit. If a floor is slippery, replace it, or give everyone safety footwear – these are over-simplifications, but real common sense usually suggests an obvious way of preventing harm. The more difficult area of Health is another matter. We don’t yet know what health effects 30 or 40 years of working in a contact centre will create. Dealing with the well-being of workers (call it ‘welfare’ if that makes you more comfortable) is critical for most businesses, and the smaller the operation, the more damaging poor attendance and lack of engagement will be.

A robust and effective Health & Safety Policy and suite of really meaningful risk assessments, leading to an action plan and strategy will establish how the company means to take these essential elements forward, in a way which contributes to the success of the business and illustrates potential clients that risks have been identified and are being managed. There is no difference between identifying and managing health and safety risks and addressing anything else which may damage the company. HSE’s recent efforts to assist small firms by providing online resources to achieve compliance are to be applauded, but there is no substitute for ‘boots on the ground’ and a good pair of safety eyes in the workplace.

In conclusion, there are still some awful workplaces out there, and people are still being killed in the UK every week because health and safety in their workplace aren’t a priority. We should simplify regulation, just as we should reduce and rationalize everything which we require businesses to do, but this is a process of continuous improvement, not a knee-jerk reaction. Keep health and safety simple, but above all keep it effective.

IS HEALTH AND SAFETY WORTH THE RISK? 

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR IS HEALTH AND SAFETY WORTH THE RISK? 

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTING YOUR LAND AND LOCAL AREA WITH FIRE SIGNS AND EQUIPMENT

With the summer rapidly approaching, there are all sorts of things you’ll want to start shopping for. But while patio tables and chairs can make the most of the great outdoors when the warmer weather arrives, it’s important to think about whether you need to protect your local area with fire safety signs and equipment.

For those that live in rural countryside areas, this is even more relevant. When the sun comes out, you’ll likely start to see all kinds of visitors looking to get outside and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. But among the bushes, trees, forests and campsites, there could be all kinds of hidden nooks and crannies – sometimes dangerously close to your property – which could be susceptible to accidents. Highlighting the fact it is a residential area could let visitors know that they should treat it with respect and be a little more careful.

One of the best examples where this can be important is in areas where campfires might be started. These can often start innocently as something small, but they can easily get out of hand and turn into something much more destructive. Also, if they are least un-extinguished, they can have a devastating effect on the surrounding area – particularly if conditions have been particularly dry. In these cases, it’s worth putting up simple informative safety signs asking people to take care and make sure their visit does not damage the area irreversibly.

If you are in a region where walkers or campers frequently pass by, it can be worth letting them know about areas which are private and off-limits, as it is unlikely your local council or authority will have done so. If there is a campsite nearby, of course, there should be things in place already, but it doesn’t hurt to reinforce the message that there may be hazards to consider with some basic emergency signs

PROTECTING YOUR LAND AND LOCAL AREA WITH FIRE SIGNS AND EQUIPMENT 

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTING YOUR LAND AND LOCAL AREA WITH FIRE SIGNS AND EQUIPMENT

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR FIRE SAFETY ON CONSTRUCTION SITES

The HSE has decided to ask doctors and practice nurses to help prevent occupational asthma by asking patients more information about their daily lifestyles such as the nature of their work and their workplace.

The new guidelines have been published by the British Occupational Health Research Foundation (BOHRF), and have been supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). These new guidelines will help doctors and practice nurses recognise and report asthma cases where the disease may have been caused or made worse by daily work activities. Initial identification of the asthma cause is alarming when prescribing and determining the treatment and preventing long-term damage and destruction to the lungs.

For one in ten adults who suffer from asthma, work is usually the cause. There are between 1,500 and 3,000 new cases of asthma each year, costing society around £1.16 billion over the next ten years. But these figures are under-estimate; many asthma cases go unreported because doctors do not identify work as the possible cause. And many more cases, though not caused by work, are made worse by it.

Asthma causes much loss and energy and the disease can strip people of their health and their livelihood. It is very common in the UK, where 4% of all adults are asthma sufferers.

To control and responsive treatment for asthma, all individuals, organizations, institutions and professional bodies can play a vital role in reducing and minimizing the causes of occupational asthma and consequent days lost. These new guidelines will help identify the disease at an earlier stage, enabling treatment to be given more quickly and reducing the number of cases.”

Some of the top main causes of asthma are Isocyanates, Flour, Grain, Glutaraldehyde, Wood Dust, Latex, Resins and glues.

Exposure to substances that can cause occupational asthma is controlled by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and the Approved Code of Practice.

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR FIRE SAFETY ON CONSTRUCTION SITES 

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR FIRE SAFETY ON CONSTRUCTION SITES 

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR ASTHMA FOR DOCTORS

The HSE has decided to ask doctors and practice nurses to help prevent occupational asthma by asking patients more information about their daily lifestyles such as the nature of their work and their workplace.

The new guidelines have been published by the British Occupational Health Research Foundation (BOHRF), and have been supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). These new guidelines will help doctors and practice nurses recognise and report asthma cases where the disease may have been caused or made worse by daily work activities. Initial identification of the asthma cause is alarming when prescribing and determining the treatment and preventing long-term damage and destruction to the lungs.

For one in ten adults who suffer from asthma, work is usually the cause. There are between 1,500 and 3,000 new cases of asthma each year, costing society around £1.16 billion over the next ten years. But these figures are under-estimate; many asthma cases go unreported because doctors do not identify work as the possible cause. And many more cases, though not caused by work, are made worse by it.

Asthma causes much loss and energy and the disease can strip people of their health and their livelihood. It is very common in the UK, where 4% of all adults are asthma sufferers.

To control and responsive treatment for asthma, all individuals, organizations, institutions and professional bodies can play a vital role in reducing and minimizing the causes of occupational asthma and consequent days lost. These new guidelines will help identify the disease at an earlier stage, enabling treatment to be given more quickly and reducing the number of cases.”

Some of the top main causes of asthma are Isocyanates, Flour, Grain, Glutaraldehyde, Wood Dust, Latex, Resins and glues.

Exposure to substances that can cause occupational asthma is controlled by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and the Approved Code of Practice.

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR ASTHMA FOR DOCTORS 

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR ASTHMA FOR DOCTORS 

HEALTH SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR VISION HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS

Health and safety are related to a set of policies and actions designed to protect you from possible damage and to reduce the risk of injuries. When it comes to vision health and safety this advice, guidance and information are especially important because eyes are very sensitive and an injury may lead to loss of sight.

Vision Health and Safety Tips:

1. Mark possible hazards – Processes and equipment which have been deemed to present a hazard should be marked. Markings must be visible in the area in question and on the equipment.
2. Vision protection aids used at all times – Areas which are the target of such policies should enforce the use of safety goggles. These are available with plain plastic optical lenses for non-prescription wearers and as prescription goggles for spectacle wearers.
3. Set procedures and educate employees – Have a clear action plan in case an incident has happened. Every eye injury should be taken with the utmost seriousness and often having procedures in place can prevent further damage.
4. In case of foreign objects – Seek medical attention and never rub the eye. If no immediate medical personnel is available, try to pull the upper eyelid down over the lower lid and let the lower eyelashes sweep away the foreign object.
5. B. A cut around the eye – Seek medical attention and bandage the area without leveraging any pressure on the cut.
6. Chemicals – If you are wearing glasses or goggles remove them and wash the lenses. In the case of contact lenses, remove and bin them. Next, gently hold the eye open and flush in mild water or contact lenses rinsing solution for 10 minutes. You are strongly advised to head to your nearest A&E for further checks.
7. Be wary of long hours in front of the computer – While most health and safety vision tips revolve around providing physical protection to the eye, computer work has its hazards. Long hours without rest can lead to eye discomfort, headaches, itchy eyes and difficulty in focusing. Encouraging regular breaks will help reduce these symptoms.

HEALTH SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR VISION HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR VISION HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS

HEALTH SAFETY GUIDELINES TO REDUCE NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is one of the most common forms of hearing loss in the UK. There are over 9 million hard of hearing in the UK, which represents about 1 in 7 out of a population of 65 plus million. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is caused by sustained exposure to high levels of noise. The degree of any resultant hearing loss will depend on the level of the noise and also the duration of exposure.

What Goes Wrong When Noise Induced Hearing Loss Happens?

NIHL involves permanent damage to the sensitive sound receptors within the ear. The human ear has tiny sensory cells called hair cells that play an important role in converting sound waves into electrical signals that travel to the brain. If they are damaged, the effect is permanent. Fortunately, NIHL is preventable.

Tips To Reduce Noise Induced Hearing Loss:

Educate your employees – People who work in noisy environments or use noisy equipment should be made aware of the potential dangers of noise on their hearing.

Perform regular noise assessments – Any working environment which has noise levels exceeding 85 dB should be highlighted and appropriate actions enforced, such as hearing protection being made compulsory.

Mark noise hazards to reinforce the dangers to employees and visitors.

Have a noise reduction policy in place – If possible move to quieter processes and operate quieter machinery. Of course, this may not be a feasible change to undertake overnight, so define a long-term strategy.

Offer hearing protection – Hearing protection in the shape of earplugs, ear muffs and other aids should be worn in areas which have been marked for noise control.

Train employees on hearing protection use – Employees should not only be given hearing protection, but they should also be familiar with why and how to effectively use and maintain these aids.

Encourage reporting of noisy environments – For many businesses, the working environment is ever-changing. Employees should have the means to report noisy processes, machinery and environments which hasn’t been targeted for noise control.

8Offer regular hearing tests – Those who work in noisy environments should have access to hearing health professionals. In this case, a hearing test taken at a local hearing centre can often pick up on early signs of noise-induced hearing loss.

HEALTH SAFETY GUIDELINES TO REDUCE NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH SAFETY GUIDELINES TO REDUCE NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR WORKSTATION ERGONOMICS

Work-related fitness problems are extraordinarily commonplace as RSI impacts around half of one million people inside the UK and 4 out of 5 people will be afflicted by lower back ache sooner or later in their lives. Making sure the workstations in your office are ergonomic can have a dramatic effect on your employee's health and their performance at work. Below is a handy tick list to help you make sure you have got the important thing pieces of ergonomic gadgets for your place of job and that your personnel are sitting in an easy and safe position.

1- Computer Tower Units 

Keep computer tower gadgets off the floor and out of the manner by becoming CPU holders below desks so your personnel can gain more room. Keeping gadgets out of the way will even prevent personnel from accidents adverse it.

2- Keyboards

The mouse and keyboard need to be positioned in order that personnel don’t ought to overreach so that you can use them as this can positioned a strain at the higher again and fingers.

3- Employees 

Hands and wrists must no longer rest on uncomfortable edges and padded wrist rests will provide a tender floor. Wrist rests also can be used to bring the wrists consistent with the keyboard.

4- Monitors

Install adjustable monitor stands to enable employees to easily move their monitors to the positions most suited for their eyesight and height. Reduce glare on video display units by way of becoming a glare filter out on the way to clear out the daylight that reaches the display screen, making it less difficult to see. Adjustable monitor stands will also enable employees to move their monitors out of the sunlight.

5- Desks 

Desks have to be huge enough on the way to without difficulty keep the entirety your personnel want to work with consisting of pc system, document holders, mouse and mouse mat and so forth. There should additionally be enough room below the desks for personnel to sit comfortably without banging their toes or shins on equipment. Document holders can help employees to keep their desks organised and uncluttered which can make the workstation much more comfortable.

6- Seats

Choose chairs which support the lower back to prevent lower back pain.  Ensure the depth of the seat is suitable if it’s too deep then it could add pressure to the back of the legs but if it’s too shallow then it could increase pressure on the lower back. Chairs with armrests can add extra support to the elbows but ensure the armrests don’t restrict movement, for example by preventing employees from being able to get close enough to their desks.

7- Seating Position

The head, neck and torso should be upright and in line so the whole body can face forwards without having to twist to be able to use equipment properly. Arms and elbows should also be in line with the torso to avoid leaning forward and putting a strain on the back and neck.  Legs should be at right angles and if this isn’t possible then consider using a footrest or adjusting the chair into a better position.

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR WORKSTATION ERGONOMICS 

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR WORKSTATION ERGONOMICS 

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR FIREWORK DISPLAY

New firework display guidelines have been issued by the HSE. The new edition is for those without specialist knowledge. These new guidelines include many significant changes in the law since 1995, primarily associating the supply, possession, transport, keeping and use of fireworks, and how these may affect the organisation and performance of your firework display.

Examples of the type of display imagined are those put on by Organisations such as sports clubs and school parent/teacher associations, parish councils, and public houses typically attracting around 100 customers/spectators.

The police, fire brigade and local authorities should be consulted at least fourteen days before the event take place and all their recommendations have been complied with.

The Firework Safety Code2 must be practised and all additional special advice provided by the fireworks manufacturer should be complied with. 

Displays coordinated by the Company/institution or organization should only contain and have the fireworks in categories 1, 2 & 3. 

Category 4 fireworks may additionally only be utilized by expert fireworks show operators.

All fireworks material & items must be supplied by a well-known, trusted, approved or governmental licensed and reputable manufacturer and should not be modified or altered by the internal or external third-party organizer or appointed fireworks contractor.

An event risk assessment must be carried out by the organizer or appointed fireworks contractor.

The fireworks display and bonfires should be kept, stored and start at least one hundred meters from any facility or vehicle, (cars& vans, buses, trucks etc.) and you should select an area or location away from trees. 

Always make sure that there are no roads, railways, overhead cables, woodland, bracken or similar combustible materials in the selected vicinity and or area. 

At the Event

Viewers, gatherings, crowed or spectators need to be kept at least 25 meters from the display/bonfire and the display area needs to be roped off.

There must be at least one administrator, representative, caretaker and or steward in attendance for every 250 viewers, gatherings, crowd or spectators.

Every administrator, representative, caretaker and or steward should have full instructions about their duties and suitable communications equipment (e.g., mobile phones, walkie-talkies). They should require full awareness and knowledge of what to do and who to report any unwanted incident.

One member of the committee organizing the display needs to be in direct charge of safety matters and not engaged in any other duties or activities which would prevent them from exercising general supervision.

Smoking should now not be permitted everywhere near the fireworks.

No petrol or paraffin should be used to light any bonfire.

There needs to be an adequate drop zone for the fall-out of rockets and debris downwind of the administrator, representative, caretaker and or steward of at least 50 meters.

Any man igniting fireworks ought to retire to a secure distance right away once the fuse is lit.

Any person igniting fireworks should never return to fireworks which do not light the first time (30 minutes should be allowed to elapse before approaching and carefully dousing with water).

The other categories or types of fireworks “Shooting” such as rockets or roman candles should be kept inside a metal-sided box of proper adjustable size to contain the device should it topple over.

A full inspection of the site needs to be carried out 30 minutes after the end of the display by the organizer and/ or contractor to ensure all fireworks are extinguished.

The site wishes to be inspected the next day in sunlight hours to make certain no fireworks had been left.

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR FIREWORK DISPLAY 

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR FIREWORK DISPLAY 

HEALTH SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR WORKPLACE INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS

Workplace deaths by employees in the UK went down in 2009 to about .06 per 100,000 according to Health and Safety Executive stats. This is somewhat beneath the rate of .08 described in 2008. Part of the slump could be ascribed to the increase in enforcement notices issued by the HSE and local authorities; nevertheless, this slump is still only mild at best showing that extra safety steps need to be put into place by companies and more self-regulation must happen.

Whilst fatalities are most devastating, worker injury and illness are also acting as a major part in the statistics issued by HSE which also describes that more than 24 million work days were lost due to work-related occupational ill health. This equalises to millions in lost profits each year for loads of UK businesses and is the reason why workplace safety and injury/illness prevention is becoming a growing concern amongst members of the business community.

The beneficial news is that lots of these illnesses and injuries can be precluded so that the effect on future activity is decreased. Through the creation and carrying out of safety and awareness plans, more companies are anticipating a better-communicated workforce in the hopes that next workplace injury and illness reports will be reduced.

One way in which these companies are enforcing these plans is through relationships with safety equipment manufacturers and insurance companies. In creating these relationships, businesses are more able to better communicate with themselves about the common safety issues that they may have missed in their industry by conferring with those who are more in line with these issues and conducting them on a day-to-day fundament.

Some of the relationships include comprehensive training plans created by the manufacturers and distributors of safety supplies specifically planned for a particular industry.  For example, a manufacturer of main road barriers and roadside safety equipment would partner with municipalities that are appointed road repair.  The manufacturer renders insight into the correct use and essential use of their safety equipment for the companies who will successively buy their equipment.

Since these new relationships provide value to both sides of the table, they are arising in popularity and are getting more far-flung.  This is smashing news for the millions of workers who potentially face life-threatening accidents or work-related illnesses in the future. By getting more active through these programmes, businesses are assuring the safety of their workforce and at long last their bottom lines.

To get aboard with these plans you can begin by getting hold of your equipment provider or insurance company and see if they provide such a service. If they do not, you may want to offer it as a suggestion and see if they would get together with you to talk about the theories of creating one particular to your business or industry.  Since they will have the power to bring your company closer to their products, they will nearly always be open to the idea.

HEALTH SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR WORKPLACE INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE👇

HEALTH SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR WORKPLACE INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS 

HOW HSE AWARENESS WILL REDUCE UK FALLS FROM HEIGHT & SELF-EMPLOYED DEATHS?

Whilst the amounts have reduced a bit in the last 10 years, the construction industry makes up for most of the workplace injuries and deaths within the UK. In 2008/09 the industry discovered that more than 50 work-associated fatalities happened.  Experienced traders and plant/machine operatives came in as two of the main contributing occupation groups for non-fatal injuries.

RIDDOR reports that in 2007/08 more than 19% of company workers and 48% of self-employed deaths were the consequence of falls from height. Falls from rooftops were named to be the major contributor to high falls, and scaffolding was primarily responsible for low falls.  Ladders added to both heights are one of the greater usual examples of all fatal falls.  Construction carried the most eminent part of falls overall as an industry with a thumping 8% or 317 falls from height. This is equated to an overage of 1-2% in all other industries.

Though loads of employers have carried out safety programmes between their single companies, it appears that the self-employed worker bears the highest risk of a fall from height.  They are informed to the lowest degree on good safety procedures and are not likely to take the right safeguards as they are usually allowed to police themselves.

In addition, general neglect and lack of good sense are acting as a vast contribution to these figures. Excessively frequently an incident of accidental injury or fatality would have well been avoided if workers had merely considered the time to look at their actions beforehand.  Studies have found workers on rooftops with not as much as a pair of trainers, badly made scaffolding, and the abuse of heavy machinery including a hideous event of a worker applying a crane bucket as an outsized bathing tub!

Whilst the last instance did cause a chuckle amongst those who saw the pictures, the realness is this vociferous neglect of safety, the wrong use of equipment, and the void of sound safety procedures has resulted in the loss of life, millions of missed work days, and lost profits.

It looks like there is a clear need to improve change and govern self-employed workers and the construction industry altogether as these seem to be two of the biggest fields of incidents. It may be a hard project nevertheless, as many self-employed workers are not even working with sound licensing and thus are fleeing under the noses of regulators. It would be in these events where those in charge of employing such workers take hard-and-fast safeguards to ensure that these workers are using the correct safety equipment and safety supplies and are sharing good safety procedures.

Regulators will also need to take a much closer look at both fields and find ways to help the self-employed in getting better communication.  Maybe a wider public service effort ought to be carried out so that those who are working in these industries can be made mindful of the risks involved when they work without the correct safety equipment and procedures. After all, it is not just the worker who is in danger, but the general public too.

HOW HSE AWARENESS WILL REDUCE UK FALLS FROM HEIGHT

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE 👇

HOW HSE AWARENESS WILL REDUCE UK FALLS FROM HEIGHT & SELF-EMPLOYED DEATHS?

METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATING FIBROUS MATERIALS

Table of Contents

1. PURPOSE

2. SCOPE

3. APPLICATION

4. DEFINITIONS

5. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

6. RESPONSIBILITIES

7. MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

8. INVESTIGATION

9. EXCAVATION STRATEGY

10. AREAS POTENTIALLY CONTAINING ASBESTOS

a. Geologist Identifies BIF Areas

b. Geologist Logs Blast Hole Cuttings

c. Inspection of Blast Muck pile Before Digging

d. Dig, Load, Haul, Dump

e. Geologist Maps Bench Faces

11. DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS

12. WASTE HANDLING

13. RESOURCES

14. REFERENCES

15. MANPOWER RESOURCING

16. APPENDICES (AS APPLICABLE)

17. Risk Assessment (Attached)

1. PURPOSE

This practice establishes the requirements for excavating fibrous minerals, keeping exposures to employees and environmental emissions as low as reasonably practicable.

2. SCOPE

1. This practice includes the following major sections:
2. General Requirements
3. Responsibilities
4. Management Strategy
5. Investigation
6. Excavation Strategy
7. Areas Potentially Containing Asbestos
8. Disposal of Asbestos-Containing Materials
9. Waste Handling

3. APPLICATION

This practice applies to work activities and employees under the control of [COMPANY NAME] and its contractors.

4. DEFINITIONS

Asbestos Refers to the asbestiform varieties of the following minerals:

1. Chrysotile
2. Crocidolite
3. Amosite (Grunerite)
4. Anthophyllite
5. Tremolite
6. Actinolite

Banded Iron Formation (BIF) Alternating layers of iron-rich materials, (commonly magnetite) and silica (chert). Each layer is relatively thin, varying in thickness from a millimeter up to several centimeters. Asbestos deposits also can be found close to BIF.

Mineral Fibers, Fibrous Minerals, or Asbestiform Fibers Any particle (irrespective of composition) with a diameter (width) less than 3 microns, a length greater than 5 microns, and a length-to-width ratio of greater than 3:1).

5. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Excavating will be conducted following Practice 000.653.3311, Excavation, Trenching, and Shoring. Excavating fibrous materials will be performed in compliance with applicable local, state, federal, or country standards.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities of the Project Manager include the following:

1. Appoint authorized persons to test for fibrous materials.
2. Appoint a fibrous material assessor.
3. Authorize the publication of a list of known fibrous material areas.
4. Maintain accurate records of all work performed.
5. Maintain accurate records of all material sampling.
6. Adhere to the requirements of legislative requirements.
7. Enforce project-specific HSE procedures
8. Direct the auditing/monitoring activities of both personnel and/or a contractor, verifying that job procedure is adhered to. The responsibilities of other individuals are described in the following sections.

7. MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

The basis for the management strategy of fibrous material is to identify rock formations that may contain potential fibrous minerals (such as in railway cuttings, quarries, haul roads, open pits, and other ground disturbances) and to check at various “downstream” stages whether or not asbestos has been encountered. Several statements form the basis for the approach:

1. Appropriate PPE will be worn during all ground-disturbing activities.
2. Detailed geological mapping and delineation of potential asbestos zones will occur.
3. Minor to trace quantities of fibrous minerals are present as liberated fibers in colluvial and alluvial deposits.
4. Dolerite is a demonstrated host and a primary source of another fibrous mineral, actinolite.
5. Rock magnetic susceptibility is a qualitative measure of rock freshness, which in turn is a measure of the potential to encounter fibrous minerals in BIF.
6. Any ground-disturbing activity in any fibrous-containing material has the potential to release fibers into the atmosphere.

8. INVESTIGATION

The key steps are listed below:

The geologist identifies areas of colluvium/alluvium, BIF, or dolerite and assesses the likelihood of fibrous occurrence before blast hole drilling.  Such sites are suitably identified on maps as areas of likely trace occurrences and known asbestos-containing materials.

1. Representative air sampling occurs during drilling on the driller, sample, and others in the vicinity of the drill pattern.
2. The geologist logs blast hole cuttings, etc., after drilling in potential fibrous-containing areas.
3. If there are positive results to either identification or sampling, then monitoring will be performed on those in the vicinity.
4. A geologist or suitably trained person inspects the blasted muck pile before digging in potential fibrous-containing areas.
5. The geologist maps bench faces after digging in potential fibrous-containing areas.
6. Results of all inspections and sampling will be posted on the notice boards.  If results exceed half the exposure standard, then it will be treated as an incident and an investigation will be conducted with a possible review of procedures.

9. EXCAVATION STRATEGY

The following items are the key features of the strategy for excavation in areas where BIF, dolerite, or colluvium/alluvium is likely to be encountered:

Where asbestos is suspected, drilling will be carried out wet following applicable standards and accepted practice.  Blasting will not occur until the results of tests confirming (or otherwise) the presence of asbestos are known.

Where asbestos is confirmed, relevant authorities will be advised and excavation will then proceed according to required protocol and site instructions.

Excavation will proceed normally where there are no demonstrated asbestos fibers present.

All areas of fresh BIF, dolerite, and colluvium/alluvium, irrespective of fiber content, will be watered down before digging.

All blast hole drilling in BIF, dolerite, and colluvium/alluvium areas will be wet where practicable.  Appropriate PPE will be worn in all cases.

A detailed record of mapping, logging, blast hole analyses, laboratory reports, dust sampling, etc., must be maintained.

The destination of all BIF, dolerite, and colluvium/alluvium dug will be recorded.

Airborne fibrous dust samples will be collected and analyzed following the procedures agreed on between authorities and the HSE Representative.

Workforce orientation regarding the safe handling of asbestos-containing materials will be held before the commencement of work and at regular intervals.

10. AREAS POTENTIALLY CONTAINING ASBESTOS

A. Geologist Identifies BIF Areas

• The geologist will identify BIF, dolerite, and colluvium/alluvium areas and assess the likelihood of asbestos occurrence.
• To achieve this intent, the geologist will use the following:
• Geological cross-sections where applicable.
• Surface geological mapping (extra mapping to be done if required).
• Records of known occurrence of asbestos.
• “Walk” the area to be blast hole drilled and assess/report the appearance, magnetic susceptibility (if necessary), fibrous mineral outcrops, etc.
• If the geologist assesses the likelihood of occurrence of significant amounts of asbestos, a redesign or relocation of the planned excavation will be considered.

B. Geologist Logs Blast Hole Cuttings

Before blasting the geologist will:

• Log all holes with a BIF, dolerite, or colluvium/alluvium content for color lithology, presence of mineral fibers, type of fibers, etc.
• Measure magnetic susceptibility on holes containing BIF or colluvium/alluvium as a relative measure of BIF “freshness” (fresh BIF is magnetic and is more likely to contain asbestos).
• Prevent any blast hole sample likely to contain asbestos from being dispatched to the laboratory, to avoid exposure to personnel.
• Keep labeled reference samples of any holes suspected of containing asbestos, mark the number and location of the hole with a survey peg, and have the location accurately surveyed.
• Conduct a series of field tests on any mineral fibers:
• Colour – is it yellow, black, blue, green, etc.?
• “Finger degradation test” – does fiber degrade to dust when rubbed between fingers, or is it durable? 
• Is the material durable and “fluffy” (such as crocidolite)?
• Use binocular microscope/watch-glass method to locate and examine asbestiform fibers (such as a sample that is yellow and degrades completely to dust is goethite, not asbestos).
• If no asbestiform fibers are observed, allow mining to proceed.
• If the material is still considered as possible asbestos, conduct the following:
• The area will be pegged and flagged.
• The blast will not be fired until the results of fiber tests are confirmed.
• Examine asbestiform fibers under the polarizing light microscope following requirements or equivalent.  
• Samples will be sent to a registered laboratory.
• If the material is confirmed as asbestos, relevant authorities will be informed, and relevant protocol and site instructions will be applied to further mining at the blast. The contractor will be directed to follow procedures to minimize exposure.
• If there are positive results from either identification or sampling, then monitoring will be performed on those employees in the vicinity.
• If the tested material does not contain asbestos, drilling can proceed normally.
• The blast crew in the vicinity must use personal dust protection.  If work clothes are likely to be contaminated, then overalls will be worn.

C. Inspection of Blast Muck pile Before Digging

• The geologist or other suitably trained person will inspect the muck pile. The purpose of this inspection is to identify if there is any fibrous material exposed through blasting that may not have been intersected in blast hole drilling.
• If any material is suspected of containing asbestos fibers, the fiber-type verification steps are similar to the above. Locations will be marked off and signs posted. The area of suspected asbestos will be wetted down, pegged, flagged, surveyed, and recorded following blast holes. Digging will not proceed until the results of confirmatory fiber tests are known.
• If any areas are confirmed as containing asbestos, relevant authorities will be advised and further work in such areas will be performed according to the relevant authorities’ protocol and site instructions.
• If there are positive results to either identification or sampling, then monitoring will occur on those in the vicinity.

D. Dig, Load, Haul, Dump

All areas containing colluvium/alluvium, BIF, or dolerite will be watered down to suppress dust before digging. Watering must be adequate to suppress dust during digging. Other actions such as careful loading of trucks, not overloading to prevent spillage, and which speed to be limited will be used to limit dust release. The destination of all colluvium/alluvium, BIF, and dolerite dug will be recorded.

E. Geologist Maps Bench Faces

The geologist will map every bench face dug back to the limits of the blast. The purpose of the to:

• Record possible fibrous mineral/asbestos occurrences
• Record the geological structure, stratigraphy, lithologies, and ore textures
• Systematic collection of bench face mapping and data will enable a more comprehensive picture of fibrous mineral/asbestos associations to be compiled over time.

If any asbestos is detected at this stage, this may imply a higher likelihood of occurrence in any:

• Adjacent blasts
• Colluvium/alluvium, BIF, or dolerite that was dug in front of the face
• If the presence of asbestos is confirmed, relevant authorities will be advised.  Once the situation has been assessed, and in line with protocol, it may be necessary to dispose of any waste material subsequently shown to contain asbestos.

11. DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS

1. Small volumes of asbestos waste and used PPE will be packaged in appropriate sealed containers (e.g., bags or drums) before disposal.
2. Larger volumes of asbestos waste, for which such packaging is impractical, will be directed to an appropriately constructed storage facility (e.g., bunker or shed), where it will be contained before disposal.  To the extent practicable, this waste will be maintained in a moist state.  The storage facility will be a designated area and will be appropriately signposted.
3. Large volumes of asbestos waste, such as those derived from contaminated blasts on the rail cuttings, will be disposed of in the following manner.
4. A disposal site will be selected that has the following characteristics:
5. Situated on a stable slope within the lease area away from water courses likely to cause erosion.
6. Close to the source of contaminated materials, to minimize transport and handling in an area that is unlikely to be re-dug.
7. The site will be stripped of topsoil and a readily removable screen (these materials will be stockpiled for use in covering the disposal site) providing they are free of asbestos.
8. The containment material will be transported and off-loaded in such a manner as to minimize dust generation.
9. The site will be covered with a minimum of 3.3 feet (1 meter) of material free of asbestos. 
10. The sides will be sloped at a maximum of 20 degrees.
11. Topsoil will be spread over the site.
12. The site will be sign-posted, and its location, depth, and quantity of asbestos waste material will be registered and recorded on a plan.

12. WASTE HANDLING

1. When handling asbestos waste materials verify that the following activities occur.
2. Procedures for the removal of asbestos waste materials are implemented to minimize the potential for the spread or release of asbestos fibers. The handling of this waste before disposal will also be minimized.

Asbestos waste containers are labeled with the following warning statement:

CAUTION: POTENTIAL ASBESTOS HAZARD – AVOID CREATING DUST.

• Such containers must not be reused.
• Small amounts of asbestos waste materials will be disposed of at an approved waste facility.  This facility will be a designated area and will be appropriately barricaded and delineated.
• Transport of asbestos on public roads will be avoided – issues such as placarding and emergency procedures must be considered before dispatch.
• Asbestos waste materials are transported and off-loaded in such a manner as to minimize dust generation. Asbestos waste materials will be covered as soon as practicable with appropriate materials free of asbestos minerals to a depth of at least 3.3 feet (1 meter)
• Asbestos waste material will be placed in the disposal facility so that it will not be distributed during subsequent rehabilitation.
• The location, depth, and quantity of asbestos waste material will be recorded on a plan.

METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATING FIBROUS MATERIALS 

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD MORE HEALTH AND SAFETY FREE AND EDITABLE BY FREQUENTLY VISITING MY BLOG AT HSEDOCUEMENTS

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE 

METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATING FIBROUS MATERIALS