Sustainable Safety in Cemeteriesweb.vdw.co.za/Portals/19/Documents/Convention 2010/Sustainable... · • Identify and discuss risks in the cemetery workplace ... –General Work Environment

Sustainable Safety in

Cemeteries

Andre van den Berg –Drakenstein Municipality

WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY


1. Laws

2. Risks

3. Cemetery Safety

Program

4. Safety Tips

5. Risk Matrix Example

• GRAVESAFE Training Programme

• GRAVESAFE is a two-day practical training programme firmly based on the responsibility and obligations of both employers and employees as specified in S.21 and S.25 of the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Act.

• Facilitated by Ian and Ann Aitken, Directors of TABS, GRAVESAFE is designed for trust members, managers and secretaries, gravediggers and operations staff, supervisors, contractors, booking staff and funeral directors.

• Objectives

• Identify and discuss risks in the cemetery workplace

• Provide required action to eliminate, or at least minimise, workplace risks

• Provide examples of action to achieve a safe cemetery workplace

• Inform participants how to assess the risks and minimise risks in their cemetery workplace.


http://www.ccav.org.au/

http://www.ccav.org.au/

LAWS

• Occupational

Health and Safety

Act, 1993 (Act 85

of 1993)

• Occupational Health and Safety Act,

1993 (Act 85 of 1993)

Section 8. Duties of the employer:

• 8 (1) every employer shall provide and

maintain, as far as is reasonably

practicable, a working environment that

is safe and without risk to the health of

his employees


• 8 (2) ….. Duties include in particular

• (d) establishing, as far as is reasonably practicable, what hazards to the health or safety of persons are attached to any work which is performed, any article or substance which is produced, processed, used, handled, stores or transported and any plant or machinery which is used in his business, and he shall, as far as is reasonably practicable, further establishwhat precautionary measures should be taken with respect to such work, article, substance, plant or machinery in order to protect the health and safety of persons, and he shall provide the necessary means to apply such precautionary measures


• Section 13. Duty to inform

• 13. Without derogating from any specific duty imposed on an employer by this Act, every employer shall –

• as far as is reasonably practicable, cause every employee to be made conversant with the hazards to his health and safety attached to any work which he has to perform, any article or substance which he has to produce, process, use, handle, store or transport and any plant or machinery which he is required or permitted to use, as well as with the precautionary measureswhich should be taken and observed with respect to those hazards;


• The National Environmental

Management Act (107 of 1998)

– Section 28 … that every person who causes

or may cause significant pollution or

degradation of the environment must take

reasonable measures to prevent such

pollution…

• The National Water act (36 of 1998)

– Part 4 deals with pollution



ACTIVITY HAZARD IMPACT PPC ACTIONS

Grave

Digging

Manual

sides collapse death /injury

Overall; Safety shoes;

Gum boots;

Leather gloves;

Hard hat; Dust

mask; eye

protection

Work in Pairs; Use ladder to get

into or out of grave; Must

have communication to

senior personnel; pump

ground water to sewer

system

Underground water disease

dust respiratory

heat exhaustion

Mechanical

sides collapse death /injury

Underground water disease

dust respiratory

heat exhaustion

equipment failure death /injury

• Cemetery Safety Program

• What to Include in a Cemetery Safety

Program• Evaluation of Workplace Safety

• Injury Reports and Accident Investigation

• Safety Policy Violations – Discipline

• Preventive Maintenance

• Employee Training

• Workers’ Compensation Reporting


SOP Handbook (Job Safety Handbook)

• meeting the communications and

training requirements of an effective

Injury and Illness Prevention Program.


• The following is a partial list of the

topics covered by a job safety

handbook:

– General Safety and Health Program

– Reporting Unsafe Work Conditions and

Injuries or Illnesses

– General Safety Rules

– Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and

Respirators


• The following is a partial list of the topics covered by a job safety handbook:– General Safety and Health Program

– Reporting Unsafe Work Conditions and Injuries or Illnesses

– First Aid and Medical Attention

– General Safety Rules

– General Work Environment

– Lifting / Ergonomics

– Workplace Security

– Hazard Communication (Right-to-Know)

– Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and

Respirators

– Exposure Control - Blood borne Pathogens

Infection Control

– Protective Equipment

– Housekeeping / Laundry

– Hand Tools /Portable Power Tools

– Portable Ladders

– Entering Confined Spaces / Cranes

– Horticultural Operations - Equipment and Machinery

– Hand-Held Horticultural Tools

– Horticultural Chemical Applicator

– Rigs / Tanks

– Housekeeping Assignments

– Machinery Operation

STANDARD OPERATING

PROCEDURES

Grave Digging

• Manual – Re-opens / Reserved Graves

– The grave diggers must wear PPE (safety boots, gum boots, dust/respiratory musk & gloves)

– Collect tools (spade & pick) from storeroom.

– The supervisor allocates each team to a grave after confirming the grave number.

– Supervisor transports the equipment to the grave.

STANDARD OPERATING

PROCEDURES

– The staff is then transported to the allocated

site.

– 2 Grave diggers begin digging (1 inside & 1

outside), alternating duties.

– Supervisor checks on staff at all times during

re-opening. Supervisor must use the checklist

and sign to declare the grave safe.

– The checklist should contain/indicate (cracked

wall, collapsing soil, the grave depth)

STANDARD OPERATING

PROCEDURES

– Once they dig to a depth of between 1.2 and

1.8M, they must use a stepladder to climb out.

– When the staff completes the re-open they

are transported / walk to another grave.

– Supervisor checks that all graves are dug and

employees are taken back to change/shower

room.

STANDARD OPERATING

PROCEDURES– Machine Operator digs on instruction of the

supervisor.

– The supervisor checks that all holes are correctly dug according to requirements.

– Supervisor to always wear PPE .

– Change the grave when there are cracks.

– The distance between the new graves should be 50cm.

– The grave should be 1.8M deep.

– Place “Beware of Open Grave” signage next to open graves.

STANDARD OPERATING

PROCEDURES

• Machine Operator (Outsourced) Fresh graves

– Wear PPE (ear protection, safety boots, overall,

Kidney belt for operator, reflective vest)

– Ensure that the operator has Certificate of Fitness

– Ensure the driver has a relevant operator’s license

– Supervisors identify the section to be dug.

– 1 Person marks off the graves to be dug and 1

Person operates the machine.

Safety Compliance

• PPE & PPC Compliance.

• Report each incident fully and recommendations to avoid recurrence.

• Operate equipment in a safe manner

• Ensure grave complies to coffin size

• Keep working area clean and hygienic

• Observe Safe working Procedure.

• Wear safety apparel

• Use safety boards in unstable ground

• Place safety netting/ chevron tape at open grave site

• Place open grave advisory notice within area of operation

• Do not eat or drink without first washing.

• Clean equipment after use.

• Inspection Checklist– General Work Environment

– Hazard Communication

– Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing, Eyes / Face, Head, Hand, Foot, Respirators

– Exposure Control – Blood borne Pathogens

– Infection Control - Protective Equipment, Housekeeping, Laundry

– Hand Tools and Equipment / Portable Ladders

– Portable Power Tools and Equipment

– Horticultural Operations• Equipment / Machinery

• Hand-Held Horticultural Tools

• Horticultural Chemical Applicator Rigs / Tanks

• Machine Operation and Guarding


• Forms

– Training Checklist

– Report of Injury Accident

– Accident Investigation Report

– Employee Report of Safety / Health Hazards

– Hazard Correction Action Plan

– General Hazard Evaluation Worksheet

– Specific Hazard Evaluation Worksheet


Safety and Health Training Events

• When the Program is first established; – To all new employees;

– To all employees given new job assignments for which training has not previously been received

• Whenever new substances, processes, procedures or equipment are introduced to the workplace and represent a new hazard;

• Whenever the employer is made aware of a new or previously unrecognized hazard; and,

• For supervisors to familiarize themselves with the safety and health hazards to which employees under their immediate direction and control may be exposed.


Cemetery Worker Safety (Training)

• Cemetery workers should use good work

practices and get training on job hazards

such as :

– Field safety,

– Ergonomics and

– Excavation.


Tips on grave digging by hand or with excavating equipment

• If you use manual digging tools, ensure they are the proper size and weight for you to use them properly;

• Always use a functional and proper tool for the job.

• Follow trenching safety rules when digging graves, as required by the OSH Act.


Grave digging tops cont.

• Use ladder for climbing down or out

• Never work alone have a observer -

• Communications -Must have means of

communication to office / snr personnel

• After the grave is excavated, mark the

area clearly to prevent falls.

• Practice field safety including:– sun protection and

– taking precautions for cold and heat stress.

• Learn about hazardous pests such as– wasps, bees and snakes and the appropriate response and first

aid for stings and bites.

• Avoid slips, trips and falls by moving cautiously through the landscape and being aware of uneven ground.

• Avoid walking over grave sites and concrete slabs– older graves may cave in while slabs may be covered with

slippery moss or lichen


Tips on grounds keeping:

include lawn maintenance, trimming trees and shrubs, and attending to grave sites.

• Inspect and maintain lawn equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as steel-toed boots and sturdy work gloves.

• When mixing and applying chemical fertilizers and pesticides, use chemical safety precautions such as:– safety goggles,

– impermeable coveralls,

– chemical-resistant gloves and

– Respiratory protection.


I believe we all see the top of the ice berg in regard to safety in the

cemeteries.

I believe we can do a lot to improve the safety of our workers as well

as the public by starting to implement safety measures.

I want to plead with us all to contribute by making available your

Standing Operational Procedures to INCA so that we all can share in

the knowledge.

• Practice safe cemetery operations and

stay on top of your work

Sustainable Safety in

Cemeteries

Andre van den Berg –Drakenstein Municipality



Storing of tools Marking of health care

• Safe work conditions– Exhumations

• PPC

– Overall; Safety shoes; Gum boots; Leather gloves; Hard hat; chemical-resistant gloves and impermeable coveralls

• PPE

– Disinfect tools, Wash yourself with disinfectants; treat disposals as medical waste

• Risks

– Disease

– Handling of remains

– Polluted ground

– polluted water

– Bacteria

– Fungi



Health Hazards

Mason works

Safety of the visitors i.e. mugging, rape

or murder

Environmental safety.