Unit 1 Health and safety in the Engineering Workplace
Task 1 (P1 – Explain the key features of relevant regulations on health and safety as applied to a
working environment in two selected or given engineering organisations).
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (PPE) 1992.
The regulation requires the employer to ensure that all employees are supplied with the appropriate
choice of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), based on the type of
hazard that their job poses in the workplace. For example, in electrical and other
related industries of engineering, the provision of PPE includes anti-static footwear
which will prevent the build-up of static electricity and eliminate the risks of a severe
and fatal electrical shock to the employee.
The regulation also requires the employer to ensure that all PPE is issued free of
charge and that adequate training and instruction are given to employees on how to
correctly use the PPE. In addition, the PPE must be worn at all times by the person that
it was supplied to, and not only should it fit the person, but it should also be
comfortable to wear. As a result, the PPE needs to be regularly cleaned, repaired or
replaced when it is no longer fit for use.
The main provisions require employers to:
Ensure that suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided free of charge
"wherever there are risks to health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled in other
ways." The PPE must be 'suitable' for the risk in question, and include protective face masks
and goggles, safety helmets, gloves, air filters, ear defenders, overalls and protective
footwear; and
Provide information, training and instruction on the use of this equipment.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
In mechanical and other related industries of engineering, employees are required to
carry out some form of manual handling of heavy items, which includes lifting, putting
down, pushing or pulling the item to someplace else.
The MHO regulation requires the employer to ensure that as part of the induction
program (i.e. during the first week of starting work), all employees in the workplace
are given the adequate training and instruction on how to correctly manual handle heavy items. This
means that employees are less likely to be prone towards injury.
The main provisions of these Regulations require employers to:
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Avoid (so far as is reasonably practicable) the need for employees to undertake any manual
handling activities involving risk of injury;
Make assessments of manual handling risks and try to reduce the risk of injury. The
assessment should consider the task, the load and the individual's personal characteristics
(physical strength, etc.); and
Provide workers with information on the weight of each load.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
In mechanical and other related industries of engineering, different types of work
equipment is used extensively, which include heavy machinery and hand held
appliances.
The PUWAR regulation requires the employer to ensure that:
• All work equipment must be suitable and fit for the purpose of carrying out a
relevant job by employees.
• All work equipment must be properly maintained and has to work efficiently, by
carrying out inspections on a regular basis, so as to prevent employees from being
exposed to serious risks. As a precaution it is essential that employees also carry out a quick
inspection on the machinery, before they start any work on them.
• All employees must receive the adequate training and instruction by a more
competent and experienced engineer, before being allowed to use the work
equipment.
• All the dangerous parts of a functional work equipment, must be well guarded and
protective to the user. This will ensure that when the machine is switched on, it can
be used correctly and safely for the intended purpose, and reducing any risk of injury
to the user at the same time.
• The controls on the work equipment must be clearly marked and visible to the eye of
the user. This will ensure that anyone who operates the equipment, is confident and
is less likely to be prone towards injury.
• All work equipment must be accessible and be able to be isolated from the electrical
supply, before investigating for faults within the equipment. This will ensure that
employees do not get electrocuted while working on the equipment, even if the
switch at the socket on the wall is already in the off position.
•Warning signs must be fixed either on or close to the work equipment, as it essential
that employees be aware of the hazards and risks posed by the work equipment,
before using them.
The main provisions require employers to:
Ensure the safety and suitability of work equipment for the purpose for which it is provided;
Properly maintain the equipment, irrespective of how old it is;
Provide information, instruction and training on the use of equipment; and
Protect employees from dangerous parts of machinery.
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