SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE

What is Workplace Safety?

What is Workplace Safety?• The condition of feeling and being

safe.• To be free from danger or injury.

What is an Injury?• A wound.• A specific damage to a human being and/or his property.

What can cause an injury in the workplace?• Injuries are usually caused by accidents.

What is Workplace Safety?

What are accidents?• Events that are not expected, foreseen or intended.

What cause accidents?• Usually caused by hazards.

What are hazards?• Are unsafe conditions.

What is Workplace Safety?Summary

• When there are hazards or unsafe conditions in the workplace accidents happen.

• Accidents cause injuries or damage.

• Therefore workers do not feel safe working in that environment.

• To make the workplace safe, the safety team look for ways to control or prevent hazards.

• When hazards are eliminated, accidents will be less likely to occur and the workplace will be more safe to work in.

Importance of Workplace SafetyAccidents are costly

• Human suffering and lives – more than 10,000 people die yearly because of workplace accident.

• Accidents affect employee’s morale, they become uncomfortable working in the workplace environment.

• Loss of productivity – injured workers are not able to work as well as healthy ones.

• Loss of profit: more than $50 billion dollars are spent as a result of workplace accidents annually.

The Truth about Workplace Accidents

• Accidents are very costly to both employees and employers.

• Most workplace accidents are associated with hazards that are easy to control for.

• Therefore most workplace accidents are preventable.

Accidents are costly

Safety Team in the WorkplaceThe Workplace Safety Team Consists of:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Management and Safety Professionals

• Employees

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Established in 1970 •as the Federal Agency to enforce the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act (Law).

The main purposes and duties of OSHA are:•Develop and enforce mandatory job safety and health standards.•Provide research into new ways of preventing and eliminating hazards in the workplace.•Provide training for Safety Professionals.

Safety Professionals include:• Safety Managers, Industrial Hygienist

and other managers, Occupational Health Doctors and Health Insurance Providers.

Safety Professionals duties include:• Ensures that all relevant OSHA

standards are adhered to.• Provide safety training and safety

equipment to employees.• Modify workplace environment to

eliminate hazards.• Work with OSHA, doctors and

employees to ensure the workplace is accident free, and workers are safe and healthy.

Safety Professionals

Employee• Most important person on Safety Team.

• All standards, programs, and training is to keep the employee safe.

• It is the employer’s primary responsibility to keep the employee safe, however, safety starts with the worker:

Obeying workplace safety rules.Obeying doctors orders when injured.Attending safety trainings.Being aware of environmental and potential hazards.

Summary

OSHA, Managers and Safety Professionals work together with employees to ensure to the extent possible a workplace that is safe and healthy for workers.The employer is primarily responsible for safety in the workplace.However, employees are also required to obey safety rules and be aware of potential hazards.

Question

What type of hazard (s) do you think the workers in the pictures on the following slides is (are) 

exposed to?

Hazards in the WorkplaceWhat are hazards?

Unsafe conditionsAny condition that can cause sickness, impaired health, significant discomfort or injury to workers

The main types of hazards:Biological hazards – bacteria, viruses and fungi.Chemical hazards – solid, liquid, gas, mist, dust, fumes and vapor chemicals.Physical hazards – impact from falling objects or falling, excessive noise, vibration, light and temperature, and electric shock.Ergonomic hazards – repetitive motion, fatigue and boredom.

Controlling Workplace HazardsEngineering controls

First and best controlControl hazards at source Modify or redesign environment or the job itself to protect worker

Administrative controlsUsually used with other controlsTraining programs and workplace signsSafety rules

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Least acceptable method of controlEquipment to protect various body partsIncludes hard hats, safety goggles and shoes

Engineering ControlsErgonomically designed Computer Workstation to reduce ergonomic hazards that could cause back, wrist and neck injury for this office worker

A Glove Box  is used to protect worker against Biological hazards (bacteria and viruses), Physical hazards (harmful 

radiations such as X‐rays) and Chemical hazards (acids and toxic gases)

Engineering ControlsSound‐proof material Double‐wall construction

Sound‐proofed to enclose noisy and loud equipment to conserve workers’ 

hearing 

Special room constructed with 

sound‐proof material and double‐walled 

design

Engineering ControlLaboratory Fume Hood vacuums air from the room to protect worker from toxic gases, fumes, dust and vapors chemicals

Administrative Controls

Danger

HIGH RADIATION AREA

Safety Sign warning that a Chemical hazard (Asbestos) is in the 

environment and instructing worker on how to avoid becoming exposed to 

it and the disease it can cause.

Safety Sign warning of a Physical hazard (Radiation). It uses the 

universal symbol for Radiation as well as indicate that there are high 

levels in this area.

Administrative ControlA Safety Training Sign reminding 

workers how to use a fire extinguisher

A Safety Poster advertising the availability of On‐the‐Job Safety 

Training.

Administrative ControlA Load Tag that is placed on heavy loads to caution workers about a 

possible Physical hazard (load falling or back injury)  and instructing workers to 

test before attempting to lift.

A Safety Training  Sign instructing worker on the correct way to lift 

loads so as not to become Physically Injured

Administrative ControlA Safety Warning Sign about the dangers of the Physical hazard (excessive temperature) and How to prevent the injuries associated with it

A Safety Training Sign instructing worker to exercise, warm up and stretch regularly to avoid injuries cause by Ergonomic hazards

PPE: Head ProtectionWorker wearing a Hard Hat to protect his head from Physical hazards such as falling objects or 

hitting his head on low hanging areas.

Safety Warning Signs indicating that there are potential physical hazards from falling objects in the area and therefore  Hard Hats are required.

Eye and Face ProtectionExamples of Face Shields to protect the eyes and face from flying objects, dust, heat, and chemicals

Examples of Spectacles used to protect the eyes against flying objects, 

heat and dust

Example of special Spectacles use to protect the eyes against Lasers

Examples of Welding Goggles and Face Shield used during welding to protect the eyes and face from flying objects, heat, dust and optical radiation

Safety Sign warning workers of need to wear eye protection in this 

area.

Examples of Goggles used to protect the eyes against impact from flying objects, heat, chemicals, and dust

PPE: Ear ProtectionEarmuffs

Earplugs

Canal Caps

Examples of hearing protection to prevent hearing loss due the excessive noise.

Safety Signs  warning workers of the presence of excessive noise and the need to wear hearing protection 

Air-purifying Respirators

• Have filters, cartridges, or canisters that remove contaminants from the air by passing the ambient air through the air-purifying element before it reaches the user.Three types: • Particulate Respirators: capture

particles in the air, such as dusts, mists, and fumes.

• Combination Respirators: are normally used in atmospheres that contain hazards of both particulates and gases.

• Gas & Vapor Respirators: are normally used when there are only hazardous gases and vapors in the air.

Particulate

Combination

Gas & Vapor

PPE: Respiratory Protection

PPE: Respiratory ProtectionAtmosphere-supplying Respirators

supply clean air directly to the user from a source other than the air surrounding the user. Three types:

• Air-Supplied Respirators: makes use of a hose to deliver clean, safe air from a stationary source of compressed air

• Combination Respirators: have an auxiliary self-contained air supply that can be used if the primary supply fails.

• Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus: consists of a wearable, clean-air supply pack

Air‐Supplied

Combination

SCBA

PPE: Hand Protection

Various types of gloves used to protect the hands from 

Physical hazards (cuts from sharp piercing objects and electrical shocks), Biological hazards (bacteria and viruses) and Chemical hazards (acids 

and alkali) 

PPE: Body Protection

Full Body Suit

Firefighter has on a Cooling Vest under his coveralls to 

keep his body from becoming over heated while exposed to excessive heat

A Scientist in the lab wears Chemical Resistant Sleeves and Apron to protect her body from Chemicals she is 

using

Worker wearing a Full Body Suit that can protect him from Biological hazards (bacteria and viruses), 

Chemical hazards (liquid, fumes and gases) and 

Physical hazards (impact from falling objects) 

PPE: Feet ProtectionSafety boots that have impact‐resistant toes that protect 

against falling objects, heat and electrical ‐resistant soles that protect against hot surfaces, 

and electrical hazards

Rubber Overshoes, worn over Safety Shoes to give additional 

protection against toxic Chemical hazards

Clip Arts