Injuries

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# Enclosure and Isolation These methods aim to keep the chemical "in" and the worker "out" (or vice versa). An enclosure keeps a selected hazard "physically" away from the worker. Enclosed equipment, for example, is tightly sealed and it is typically only opened for cleaning or maintenance. Other examples include "glove boxes" (where a chemical is in a ventilated and enclosed space, and the employee works with the material by using gloves that are built-in), abrasive blasting cabinets, or remote control devices. Care must be taken when the enclosure is opened for maintenance as exposure could occur if adequate precautions are not taken. The enclosure itself must be well maintained to prevent leaks. Isolation places the hazardous process "geographically" away from the majority of the workers. Common isolation techniques are to create a contaminant-free or noise-free booth either around the equipment or around the employee workstations. ## Ventilation Ventilation is a method of control that "adds" and "removes" air in the work environment. General or dilution ventilation can remove or dilute an air contaminant if designed properly. Local exhaust ventilation is designed to remove the contaminant at the source so it cannot disperse into the work space, and it generally uses lower exhaust rates than general ventilation (general ventilation usually exchanges the air in the entire room). Local exhaust ventilation is an effective means of controlling hazardous exposures but should be used when other methods (such as elimination or substitution) are not possible. Fan Figure 3 Example of Local Exhaust Ventilation The design of a ventilation system is very important and must match the particular process and product in use. Expert guidance should be sought. It is a very effective control measure but only if it is designed, tested, and maintained properly. Hazard and Risk - Hierarchy of Controls CCOHS

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# Enclosure and Isolation (cont.) ## Good Housekeeping (cont.) Being prepared for emergencies means making sure that the necessary equipment and supplies are readily available and that employees know what to do when something unplanned happens such as a release, spill, fire, or injury. These procedures should be written and employees should have the opportunity to practice their emergency response skills regularly. Please see the OSH Answers document on emergency_planning for more information. ## Personal Hygiene Practices and Facilities Personal hygiene practices are another effective way to reduce the amount of a hazardous material absorbed, ingested, or inhaled by a worker. Examples of personal hygiene practices include: - Washing hands after handling material and before eating, drinking or smoking. - Avoiding touching lips, nose, and eyes with contaminated hands. - No smoking, drinking, chewing gum or eating in the work areas - these activities should be permitted only in a "clean" area. - Not storing hazardous products in the same refrigerator as food items. Please see the OSH Answers documents on Workplace Housekeeping, Hand Washing: Reducing the Risk of Common Infections and Good Hygiene Practices - Reducing the Spread of Infections and Viruses for more information. ## What should I know about personal protective equipment (PPE) as a hazard control method? Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to anything workers wear to help protect them from workplace hazards. The use of PPE as the main method to control exposures should be limited to situations where elimination, substitution, engineering, or administrative controls are not practicable, or when: - Additional protection is required because other control methods are not sufficient to reduce the hazard - The hazard is a result of a temporary or emergency condition PPE limits exposure to the harmful effects of a hazard but only if the PPE is worn and used correctly. Examples of PPE inclu…

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$12-60-50 timely and appropriate responses to correct these conditions. (viii) Provide a mechanism to investigate accidents and "near miss" incidents, so that the root cause and means for preventing a recurrence are identified. For the purposes of this section, the term "accident" means any unexpected happening that interrupts the work sequence or process and that may result in injury, illness, or property damage. (ix) Provide a means to review injury and illness trends over time, so that patterns with common causes are identified and eliminated. (x) Establish a mechanism for the employer to conduct ongoing, periodic in-house safety and health inspections so that new or previously missed hazards or failures in controls are identified. Inspections shall be conducted with a frequency necessary to be effective. (xi) Address the impact of emergency situations and develop written plans and procedures to insure employee safety during emergencies. For the purpose of this section, the term "emergency situation" means an unforeseen single event or combination of events that calls for immediate action to prevent, control or contain injury or illness to person or damage to property. (xii) Establish procedures for transmitting and enforcing safe 60-5

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# Enclosure and Isolation (cont.) ## Work Practices (cont.) - Keeping equipment well maintained. - Preparing and training for emergency response for incidents such as spills, fire, or employee injury. ## Education and Training Employee education and training on how to conduct their work safely is a critical element of any complete workplace health and safety program. Training must cover not only how to do the job safely but it must also ensure that workers understand the hazards and risks of their job, and the controls in place to protect them. It must also provide them with information on how to protect themselves and co-workers. ## Good Housekeeping Good housekeeping is essential to prevent the accumulation of hazardous or toxic materials (e.g., build-up of dust or contaminant on ledges, or beams), or hazardous conditions (e.g., poor stockpiling). For more information about workplace housekeeping, please see the OSH Answers document Workplace Housekeeping - Basic Guide. For more information about combustible dust, please see the OSH Answers document Combustible Dusts. Figure 4 Emergency Preparedness Hazard and Risk - Hierarchy of Controls CCOHS

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# Fall Protection - Fall Protection Plan (General) (cont.) ## What is working at heights? (cont.) - elevated work platforms, - fixed suspended work platforms, - swing staging, - boatswain's chairs, - aerial devices, - suspended equipment, or - personnel carrying equipment (e.g., personnel lifting units raised by cranes or hoists) Occupational health and safety laws generally require action when a worker has the potential to fall about 3 metres (10 feet). Check with your jurisdiction as exact requirements do vary. Note that most jurisdictions require the use of specific fall protection measures before, or in addition to, personal protective equipment (PPE). These measures generally include the use of some of the following: - fixed barriers (e.g., handrails, guardrails) - surface opening protection (e.g., covers, guardrails, etc.) - warning barriers or control zones - fall or travel restraint systems (i.e., a system to prevent a worker from falling from a work position, or from travelling to an unguarded edge from which the worker could fall) - fall containment system (e.g., safety nets) - fall arrest systems (ie., a system that will stop a worker's fall before the worker hits the surface below) There may also be specific legal requirements around use of equipment like ladders and scaffolding. ## What are fall protection plans and why are they important? A fall protection plan is a general term for the policy and procedures used to identify fall hazards, and the measures taken to prevent injury. Included in this plan is selecting, assembling, maintaining, inspecting, using, and dismantling equipment such as ladders, scaffolds, or platforms used for working at heights as well as any fall protection equipment. Emergency procedures for rescuing fallen workers (including those who are hanging in midair by their harness) are also needed. Fall protection plans must be specific to each site where workers are at heights. There is "no one size fits all" plan.…

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# F. Safety Recommendations-Physical Hazards (cont.) (1) Fire alarm policy. Most organizations use fire alarms whenever a building needs to be evacuated-for any reason. When a fire alarm sounds in the facility, evacuate immediately after extinguishing all equipment flames. Check on and assist others who may require help evacuating. (2) Emergency safety equipment. The following safety elements should be met: a. A written emergency action plan has been provided to workers; b. Fire extinguishers, eyewash units, and safety showers are available and tested on a regular basis; and C. Fire blankets, first-aid equipment, fire alarms, and telephones are available and accessible. (3) Chemical spills. Workers should contact the CHO or EHS office for instructions before cleaning up a chemical spill. All SDS and label instructions should be followed, and appropriate PPE should be worn during spill cleanup. (4) Accident procedures. In the event of an accident, immediately notify appropriate personnel and local emergency responders. Provide an SDS of any chemical involved to the attending physician. Complete an accident report and submit it to the appropriate office or individual within 24 hours. (5) Employee safety training program. New workers should attend safety training before they begin any activities. Additional training should be provided when they advance in their duties or are required to perform a task for the first time. Training documents should be recorded and maintained. Training should include hands-on instruction of how to use safety equipment appropriately. (6) Conduct drills. Practice building evacuations, including the use of alternate routes. Practice shelter-in-place, including plans for extended stays. Walk the fastest route from your work area to the nearest fire alarm, emergency eye wash and emergency shower. Learn how each is activated. In the excitement of an actual emergency, people rely on what they learned from drills, practice and trainin…

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# Fire Protection (cont.) ## What can be included in typical fire safety plans for all employees? (cont.) Use exit stairwells to leave the building. If you hear a fire alarm: - Shutdown process and equipment (as preplanned, where applicable). - Leave the building immediately. - Close all doors behind you to confine the fire. - Use exit stairwells to leave the building. - If designated with fire emergency duties, carry out pre-planned procedures if safe to do so. In the event of a fire: - Do not use the elevator(s). - Do not re-enter the building until the fire marshal or respective supervisory staff announces that it is safe to do so. What are some examples of fire protection measures? Items to be considered include: Fire Protection CCOHS