LESSON 4

Practice Occupational Safety and Health

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this Lesson, you are expected to
do the following:

LO 1. identify hazards and risk ;

LO 2. evaluate hazards and risk ; and
LO 3. control hazards and risk.

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 Definition of Terms

Chemical hazard Any hazard that results from the accidental caused by toxic
chemical.

Desktop computer Is a personal computer (PC) in a form intended for stationary

use.

Electric shock Characterized by pain and muscular spasm cause by an

electric current.

Elimination The process of removing the hazard from the workplace.

Ergonomics The science of designing the workplace environment to fit the

user.

Hazard A situation that has the potential to harm the health and safety
of people.

Hazard control The development of systems to prevent accidents or injuries.

Health The general condition of a person in all aspects.

Housekeeping Is the systematic process of making a home neat and clean

and in order.

Risk A potential condition that a chosen action or activity causes.

Risk management The process of analyzing exposure to risk and managing it.

Safety The state of being "safe".

Standards Something accepted as a basis for comparison.

Tree structure An algorithm for placing and locating files in an organized

database.

Acronyms

OSH Occupational safety and health

PPE Personal protective equipment

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 LEARNING OUTCOME 1

Identify hazards and risk

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

1. Workplace hazards and risks are identified and clearly explained.

2. Hazards/risks and their corresponding indicators are identified in accordance
with the company procedures.
3. Contingency measures are recognized and established in accordance with
organizational procedures.

Materials

1. Workplace
2. Personal protective equipment (PPE)
3. Learning guides
4. Hand-outs
- Organizational safety and health protocol
- 5S
- Hazards/risk identification and control
5. CD’s, VHS tapes, transparencies

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 What Do You Already Know?

Let us determine how much you already know about hazards and risks. Take this
test.

Pretest LO 1

A. Directions: Identify the type of hazards. Match Column A with Column B. Write only
the letter of each correct answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Column A Column B

1. cables running across the 1. mechanical hazard

floor
2. hot components or sharp 2. physical hazard
edges of computers
3. inkjet printer cartridge 3. electric shock hazards

4. exposed power cable 4. chemical hazard

5. open casing of computer 5. CRT monitor high voltage

monitor hazard

B. Identify the 5S principles and give (1) example for each principle.

1. __________________________________________________________________

Example : _________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

Example : _________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________

Example : _________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________

Example : _________________________________________________________

5. __________________________________________________________________

Example : _________________________________________________________

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 What Do You Need To Know?

Read Information Sheet 1.1 very well then find out how much you can remember
and how much you learned by doing Self-check 1.1.

Information Sheet 1.1

Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control

Occupational safety and health (OSH) is a planned system of working to prevent illness
and injury where you work by recognizing and identifying hazards and risks. Health and
safety procedure is the responsibility of all persons in the computer and technology
industries. You must identify the hazards where you are working and decide how dangerous
they are. Eliminate the hazard or modify the risk that it presents. This Module is intended to
give you some guidelines and advice on common areas of health and safety problems in the
computer industry and to help you gain a general awareness of your responsibilities as user
and technician in a safe environment.

There are three steps used to manage health and safety at work:

1. Spot the Hazard (Hazard Identification)

2. Assess the Risk (Risk Assessment)
3. Make the Changes (Risk Control)

At work you can use these three Think Safe steps to help prevent accidents.

Using the Think Safe Steps

1. Spot the Hazard

Key Point

A hazard is anything that could hurt you or someone

else.

Examples of workplace hazards include: S p ot t h e



frayed electrical cords (could result in electrical shock)
boxes stacked precariously (they could fall on someone)
h aza rd s
 noisy machinery (could result in damage to your hearing)

During work experience, you must remain alert to anything that may be dangerous. If you
see, hear or smell anything odd, take note. If you think it could be a hazard, tell someone.

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2. Assess the Risk

Key Point

Assessing the risk means working out how likely it is that a

hazard will harm someone and how serious the harm could
be.

Assess
Whenever you spot a hazard, assess the risk by asking
yourself two questions:

 How likely is it that the hazard could harm me or

someone else?
 How badly could I or someone else be harmed?

Always tell someone (your employer, your supervisor or your health and safety
representative) about hazards you can't fix yourself, especially if the hazard could cause
serious harm to anyone.

For example:

 Ask your supervisor for instructions and training before using equipment.
 Ask for help moving or lifting heavy objects.
 Tell your supervisor if you think a work practice could be dangerous.

If you are not sure of the safest way to do something during work experience, always ask
your work experience supervisor.

3. Make the Changes

Key Point

It is your employer's responsibility to fix hazards. Sometimes you may be able to fix simple
hazards yourself, as long as you don't put yourself or others at risk. For example, you can
pick up things from the floor and put them away to eliminate a trip hazard.

Common hazards encountered by computer technicians and users

A hazard is a situation in the workplace that has the potential to harm the health and safety
of people or to damage plant and equipment. The situation could involve a task, chemical or
equipment used. Hazard management is a continuous process that can be used to improve
the health and safety of all workplaces.

Physical Hazards

One of the most common physical hazards involving

computer technicians is cables running across the floor. If
someone trips, falls, and hurts himself because of a cable
P hy s i c a l h a z a rd s
you ran across the floor, someone (you, your employer, or
your customer) has a serious legal negligence problem. If

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you need to temporarily run a cable across the floor, place a Danger sign similar to those
"wet floor" signs used by cleaning services.

For cables that are temporary but will need to run across the floor for a longer period of time,
use "gaffers tape". Gaffers tape is a heavy tape with strong adhesive to stick to the floor. It
comes in a wide range of colors, from unintrusive matte black to hazard warning red.
Although it has strong adhesive, it can be removed easily and cleanly.

For long term cable routing there is a wide variety of cable organizing devices like cable ties,
cable wraps, and cable raceways which can be used to run cable safely along the wall or
ceiling.

Other common physical hazards include leaving tools on top of ladders and placing
electronic equipment in precarious positions or on support that is not sturdy enough or not
designed for holding electronic equipment.

Mechanical Hazards

When working on electronic

equipment, ask yourself "Is there
any way this equipment could hurt
me?‖. You might stick your hand in a
printer and suddenly the paper feed
arm moves, feeding not only paper
through the printer, but a piece of
your finger too. m e c h a n i c a l h a z a rd s
You might move your hand past a computer chassis and lose a chunk of flesh because it is
razor sharp. When working on electronic equipment always be alert to any possibility of
being hurt by moving parts, hot components, or sharp edges.

Chemical Hazards

There is a wide array of chemicals used with

electronic equipment. There are display cleaning
chemicals, keyboard cleaning chemicals,
compressed gas dirt and dust removers, and many
cleaning solvents. Some of these chemicals can be
harmful if accidentally swallowed, get on bare skin,
or get in eyes. Before using any chemicals for
electronic equipment always read the warnings and
instructions on the label.

Also be very careful when dealing

with inkjet printer cartridges, or laser
printer toner cartridges. Ink and toner can stain skin, clothing, and carpet.

Electric Shock Hazard

Inside computers and electronic equipment, there is a range of voltages

from 3.3 volts to 25 volts, most of these are harmless. But at the power
supply, you'll find line voltage, which is a lethal 220 volts.

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Most of the time while working inside computers and electronic equipment, you'll want them
unplugged from the wall socket. If you need to work on equipment while it is still plugged in
or powered up, remove all jewelry and wrist watches.

If you must work inside a line power distribution box, wear an electrician’s rubber insulated
gloves and safety glasses. You might think you don't need these safety devices because you
are going to be extra careful, but one little slip could cause a flaming explosion that could
take off your hand, embed shrapnel in your eyes, or conduct electricity through your heart,
where it takes only 10 milliamps (0.01) to kill a human.

- CRT Monitor High-Voltage Hazard

CRT monitors are becoming less common nowadays, but

should you run into one, it is best NOT to open it up.
Instead, outsource any CRT repair job to a qualified CRT
repair service. A CRT monitor has a high-voltage anode
inside it, which can carry a charge of up to 25,000 volts,
and it can still be holding a high charge days after the
power is removed.

If you must open a CRT monitor case for some reason,

be sure to study the proper way to discharge a CRT
before you proceed. It involves using a jumper wire and a
flat blade screwdriver to shorten the anode to ground.
After being discharged, even with no power connection,
the anode voltage will actually build up again. So you
have to repeatedly discharge it.

How Much Have You Learned?

Self-Check 1.1

A. Direction: Read carefully each statement below. Place T on the line if the statement is
TRUE. Place F if the statement is FALSE.

_____ 1. Health and safety procedure is the responsibility of all persons in the computer
and technology industries.

______ 2. Spotting the hazards means working out how likely it is that a hazard will harm
someone and how serious the harm could be.

______ 3. If you need to temporarily run a cable across the floor, place a Danger sign similar
to those "wet floor" signs used by cleaning services.

______ 4. An LCD monitor has a high-voltage anode inside it, which can carry a charge of
up to 25,000 volts, and it can still be holding a high charge days after the power is removed.

______ 5. Inkjet printer cartridges, or laser printer toner cartridges are hazardous to users.

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B. Direction : Identify what hazard is being illustrated in the situation below .

__________ 1. Slippery computer laboratory floor

__________ 2. Hot components, or sharp edges of computer devices
__________ 3. Laser printer toner
__________ 4. Obstructed electrical cables
__________ 5. Open CRT monitor

Refer to the Answer Key. What is your score?

How Do You Apply What You Have Learned?

Show that you learned something by doing this activity.

Operation Sheet 1.1

A. Direction: Analyze the given task below and answer the worksheet that follows.

Task:
1. Choose an industry or type of workplace e.g. computer laboratory, computer
manufacturing, or a computer shop.
2. Make a list of hazards that may be present in that workplace e.g. slippery floors from
spilt water, oil etc; uneven floors from changing floor level. Use the Table below.
3. Describe the risks.
4. Write down ways to control the risks.
Spot the Hazard Assess the Risk
A Hazard is anything that could hurt you Work out how likely it is that the hazard will
or someone else hurt someone and how badly he/she could be
hurt
List the hazards Describe the risks
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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B. Direction: Observe the set-up of your school’s Computer Laboratory. Observe the
procedures and arrangement being practiced and used in the workplace. Identify hazards
and assess the risk based on your observations.

I Care for Safe Work Short Answer

Spot the hazard

If you spot something hazardous, what should you do?
 Simple hazard (e.g. boxes on the floor in the way)
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

 More complex hazard (e.g. frayed cords, damaged equipment)

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Assess the risk

What two main things should the person in charge or responsible for safety consider when
assessing the risk?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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 How Well Did You Perform?

Find out by accomplishing the Scoring Rubric honestly and sincerely.

Remember it is your learning at stake!

Scoring Rubrics

Criteria 4 3 2 1
1. Number of 4 hazards or 3 hazards 2 hazards 1 hazard
hazards more
2. Description Hazards All hazards All hazards Hazard not
of Risks completely and completely and completely completely,
accurately accurately but described but accurately and
assessed not clearly not accurately clearly
and clearly described
3. Suggested Complete and Complete, Complete, not Not so
ways of doable(practical correct but not very correct, not complete, not
controlling ) and correct very practical very practical correct, not
hazards practical

How Do You Extend Your Learning?

Make a list of hazards that may be present in your own home when operating a
personal computer. Give the possible risk of the said hazards.

Hazards at home when operating a Risk

computer

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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