BASIC OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

MODULE 1 LESSON 1

What is Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)?

Occupational safety and health are a discipline with a broad scope involving three major
fields – Occupational Safety, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene.

Occupational safety deals with understanding the causes of accidents at work and ways to
prevent unsafe act and unsafe conditions in any workplace.

Occupational health is a broad concept which explains how the different hazards and risks at
work may cause an illness and emphasizes that health programs are essential in controlling
work-related and/or occupational diseases.

Industrial hygiene discusses the identification, evaluation, and control of physical, chemical,
biological and ergonomic hazards.

In other words, occupational health and safety encompasses the social, mental and physical
well-being of workers, that is, the “whole person”.

OSH aims:

1. the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well -
being or workers in all pccupations.

2. the prevention of adverse health effects of the working conditions.

3. the placing and maintenance of workers in an occupational environment adopted to

physical and mental needs.

4. the adaptation of workers to humans (NOT the other way around)

Hazard – a source or situation with a potential to cause harm in terms of injury, ill health,
damage to property, damage to the environment or a combination of these.

Risk – a combination of the likelihood of an occurrence of a hazardous event with specified

period or in specified circumstances and the severity of injury or damage to the health of
people, property, environment or any combination of these caused by the event.

Risk - possibilitt of loss or injury

Occupational accident - an unexpected and unplanned occurrence, including acts of

violence arising out of or in connection with work which results in one or more workers
incurring a personal injury, disease or death.

Occupational injury - an injury which results from a work-related event or a single

instantaneous exposure in the work environment (occupational accident).
Temporary incapacity - case where an injured person was absent from work for at least one
day excluding the day of the accident, and 1) was able to perform again the normal duties of
the job or position occupied at the time of the occupational accident.

Permanent incapacity - case where an injured person was absent from work for at least one
day, excluding the day of the accident, and 1) was never able to perform again the normal
duties of the job or position occupied at the time of the occupational accident.

Fatal case - case where a person is fatally injured as a result of occupational accident
whether death occurs immediately after the accident or within the same reference year as
the accident.

Frequency Rate (FR) – refers to cases of occupational injuries with workdays lost per
1,000,000 employee-hours of exposure.

Incidence Rate (IR) – refers to cases of occupational injuries with workdays lost per 1,000
workers.

Severity Rate (SR) – refers to workdays lost of cases of occupational injuries resulting to
temporary incapacity per 1,000,000 employee-hours of exposure.

Average Workdays Lost – refer to workdays lost for every case of occupational injury
resulting to temporary incapacity.

GLOBAL OSH FIGURES

ILO (international labor organization) safe work introductory report in 2008 showed that close
to 50% of work – related deaths occur in Asia.

Around 170,000 agricultural workers

320,000 people die from exposures to biological risk such as viral, bacteria, insect or animal
related risk.

15 seconds, 160 workers have work – related accident.

15 seconds a worker dies from a work related accident or disease.

6,300 people die as a result of occupational accidents or work – related disease

More than 2.3 million deaths per year

Over 337 million accidents occur on the job annually.

Over 4% is estimated at global gross domestic product each year is burden in the economics
of poor occupational safety and health.

PHILIPPINE LABOR AND OSH STATISTICS

According to the latest Labor force survey (LFS) of the National Statistics office, the
Philippine labor force/economically active population, this refers 15 years old and above who
are employed or underemployed totals 38.905M in October 2010.

36.0M employed persons in 2010; more than half 51.8% were engaged in services.

One – third (33.2%) were in agriculture.

19.5% are total employed in services sectors such as wholesale and retail trades, repair of
motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods.

32.3% are total employed under the laborers and unskilled workers that comprised the larger
groups.

16.0% for the farmers, forestry, and fishermen

13.8% are the total employed under the government officials and interest organizations,
corporate executives, managers, managing proprietors and supervisors

10.6% are under in service workers, shop and market sales workers.

The rest are major occupation groups are compromised less than 10% ranging from 0.4% to
7.7%.

54.4% are the majority of the employed workers were wage and salary workers.

40.4% of the total employed that under the private establishments,

30% self-employed with any paid employee.

4% were employer in own family – operated business or farm

12% worked without pay in own family – operated farm or business

63.7% more than half of the total employed were full time workers or have worked for at least
40 hours per week.

Employed persons have an average of 41.7 hours a week in 2010.

6.8M of underemployed numbers in 2010, representing an annual underemployment rate of

18.7%.

9.1% has recorded in underemployment rate was observed in Central Luzon

36.8% was the highest record that was observed in Bicol Region.

2.9M Filipinos were underemployed in 2010 representing an unemployment rate of 7.3% per
year.

45.2% are unemployed persons who have attained high school

63.3% are unemployed males

36.7% are unemployed female

According to the July 2011 current labor statistics of DOLE Bureau of Labor and employment,
there are 8M OFWs with in 1.47M deployed in 2010.

In 2010, there are 1,123,676 are deployed in land base and 347,150 are deployed in
sea-based.

MODULE 2 LESSON 1

HOUSEKEEPING is important because it lessens accidents and related injuries and illness. It
therefore improves productivity and minimizes direct/indirect costs of accidents/illness.
Housekeeping means putting everything on its proper place. It is everybody’s business to
observe it in the workplace.

SEVEN WASTES

1. Scrap and rework

2. Overproduction
3. Non-effective work
4. Transportation
5. Inventory
6. Non-effective motion
7. Waiting

What is 5S?

5S is a systematized approach to:

1. Organizing work areas
2. Keeping rules and standards
3. Maintaining discipline

5S utilizes:

1. Workplace organization
2. Work simplification techniques

5S practice:

1. Develops positive attitude among workers

2. Cultivates an environment of efficiency, effectiveness and economy

5S philosophy:

1. Productivity comes from the elimination of waste.

 2. It is necessary to attack the root cause of a problem, not just symptoms.
3. Participation of everybody is required.
4. To acknowledge that the human being is not infallible.

5S TERMS

1. Seiri/Sort – means sorting out unnecessary items and discarding them.

- Make the work easy by eliminating obstacles.
- Eliminate the need to take care of unnecessary items.
- Provide no chance of being disturbed with unnecessary items
- Prevent faulty operation caused by unnecessary items.
2. Seiton/Systematize – means we need to organize things, label if needed.
HOW TO SIETON YOUR WORK PLACE

seiton Items frequently used Must be place near the

point of use

Items necessary Items sometimes used Can be places farther

away

seiri Items not used at all must Must be stored separately

be kept with clear identification

3. Seiso/Sweep – means we have to sanitize or clean our workplace after the work
done.
- Keep environmental condition as clean as the level necessary for the
products.
- Prevent deterioration of machinery and equipment and make checking of
abnormalities easy.
- Keep workplace safe and work easy.
4. Seiketsu/Standardize – means we have to standardize what we are doing.
5. Shitsuke/Self-discipline – means we have to do this process without prodding.
Some suggested good shitsuke practices
1. Contact people with a big smile.
2. Be a good listener.
3. Be devoted and kaizen-oriented.
4. Demonstrate team spirit.
5. Conduct yourself as the member of a reputable organization.
6. Be punctual.
7. Always keep your workplace clean and tidy.
8. Observe safety rules strictly.
STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING 5S
1. PREPARATIONS
2. MANAGEMENT'S OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
5S Implementation Organization
MANAGEMEMNT'S ROLE
1. Providing adequate equipment
2. Including housekeepinf in the planning of all operations
3. Including maintenance of good housekeeping as a part of individuals job responsibility
4. Providing clean - up schedule and personnel
5. Maintaining executive supervisprt abd interest

SUPERVISOR'S ROLE
1. Maintaining constant check on housekeeping conditions
2. Seeing that employees maintain good housekeeping
3. Having unusual situations correctrd or checked up immediately
4. Planning for orderliness in all operations
5. Issuing definite instructions to employees
6. Insisting on clean - up after every job

WORKER'S ROLE
1. Follow housekeeping procedures
2. Mainatin an orderly workplace
3. Report to supervisor's any unsafe conditions

3. BIG CLEAN - UP DAY

4. INITIAL SEIRI
5. PERIODIC 5S AUDIT

Good housekeeping is needed for a quality improvement; by this we lessen rejects/losses.

Visual control - a technique that enables people to make rules easy to follow, differentiate
normal and abnormal situations and act accordingly, with the use of visual aids.
Key points I the implementation of 5S

1. Start small, easy and proceed slowly but steadily.

2. Start with the most suitable “S”.
3. Only one to two “S” are enough for the initial practice.
4. Set simple, easily achievable and step by step targets.
5. Everyone’s participation is important.
6. Management should take leadership of 5S movement.
7. Record improvements for comparison.
8. Devise schemes to stimulate awareness and stimulate enthusiasm.

Factors leading to the success of 5s

a. Strong sponsorship and leadership of CEO.

b. Active promoter/5S committee.
c. Good launching activity,
d. Regular audits.
e. Good documentation.
f. Visits by external consultants.
g. Competition.

Factors that hinder the success of 5S

a. Project sponsor is not the decision maker.

b. Organizational policies.
c. Lack of experience in undertaking cross-functional activities.
d. Lack of top management support.
e. Implementation carried out through orders from the management.
f. Implementation done by task forces.
g. 5S treated as a project.
h. Emphasis on immediate results.

Why should we pay attention to housekeeping at work?

Effective housekeeping can eliminate some workplace hazards and help get a job done
safely and properly. Housekeeping is not just cleanliness. Poor housekeeping can frequently
contribute to accidents by hiding hazards that cause injuries. Housekeeping includes
keeping work areas neat and orderly; maintaining halls and floors free slip and trip hazards;
and removing of waste materials. Good housekeeping is also a basic part of accident and
fire prevention. Effective housekeeping is an on-going operation: it is not hit and miss
clean-up done occasionally.
What is the purpose of workplace housekeeping?

Poor housekeeping can be a cause of accidents such as;

1. Tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms

2. Being hit by falling objects
3. Slipping on greasy, wet or dirty surfaces
4. Striking against projecting, poorly stacked items or misplaced material
5. Cutting, puncturing or tearing the skin of hands or other parts of the body on
projecting nails, wire or steel strapping.

To avoid these hazards, a workplace must maintain order throughout a workday.

What are some benefits of good housekeeping practices?

Effective housekeeping results in:

- Reduced handling to ease the flow of materials.

- Fewer tripping and slipping accidents in clutter-free and slip-free work
areas.
- Decreased fire hazards
- Lower worker exposures to hazardous substances
- Better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies
- More efficient equipment clean-up and maintenance
- Better hygienic conditions leading to improved health
- More effective use of space
- Reduced property damage by improving preventive maintenance
- Less janitorial work
- Improved morale
- Improved productivity whereas tools and materials will be easy to find

How do I plan a good housekeeping program?

A good housekeeping program plans and manages the orderly storage and movement of
materials from point of entry to exit. It includes a material flow plan to ensure minimal
handling. Worker training is essential part of any good housekeeping program. Workers need
to know how to work safely with the products they use. They also need to know how to
protect other workers such as posting signs and reporting any unusual conditions.
Housekeeping order is maintained not achieved. Cleaning and organization must be done
regularly, not just at the end of the shift. A good housekeeping program identifies and
assigns responsibilities for the following:

1. Clean-up during the shift.

2. Day to day clean-up
3. Removal for unused materials
4. Inspection to ensure clean-up is complete.
What are the elements of an effective housekeeping program?

Dust and dirt removal – in some jobs, enclosure and exhaust ventilations systems may fail to
collect dust, dirt, and chips adequately. Vacuum cleaners are suitable for removing light dust
and dirt. Dampening floors or using sweeping compounds before sweeping reduces the
amount of airborne dust.

Employee facilities – need to be adequate, clean and well maintained. Lockers are necessary
for storing employee’s personal belongings. Washroom facilities require cleaning once or
more each shift. They also need to have a good supply of soap, towels plus disinfectants if
needed.

Surfaces- floors: poor floors conditions are leading cause of accidents so cleaning up spilled
oil and other liquids at once is important. Walls: light coloured walls reflect light while dirty or
dark coloured walls absorbed light.

Maintain light fixtures – dirty light fixtures reduce essential light levels. Clean light fixtures can
improve efficiency significantly.

Aisles and stairways – aisles should be wide enough to accommodate people and vehicles
comfortably and safely. Aisle space allows for the movement of people, products and
materials. Warning signs and mirrors can improve sight-lines in blind corners. Arranging
aisles properly encourages people to use them so that they do not take shortcuts through
hazardous areas. Keeping aisles and stairways clear is important.

Spill control – the best way to control spills is to stop them before they happen. Regularly
cleaning and maintaining machines and equipment is one way. Another is to use drip pans
and guards where possible spills might occur. When spills do occur, it is important to clean
them up immediately. Absorbent materials are useful for wiping greasy, oily or other liquids
spills. Used absorbent must be disposed of properly and safely.

Tools and equipment – is very important, whether in the tool room, on the rack, in the yard, or
on the bench. Tools are require suitable fixtures with marked locations to provide orderly
arrangement, both in tool room and near the work bench.

Maintenance – the maintenance of buildings and equipment may be the most important
element of good housekeeping. Maintenance involves keeping building, equipment and
machinery in safe, efficient working order and in good repair.

Waste disposal – the regular collection, grading and sorting of scrap contribute to good
housekeeping practices.

Storage – good organization of stored materials is essentials for overcoming material

storage problems whether on a temporary or permanent basis.

What is an example of a workplace housekeeping checklist for construction sites?

Do:
 1. Gather up and remove debris to keep the work site orderly.
2. Keep the work are and all equipment tidy. Designate areas for waste materials and
provide containers.
3. Keep stairways, passages, ladders, scaffold and gangways free of material, supplies
and obstructions.
4. Keep materials at least 2m (5ft) from openings, roof edges. Excavations or trenches.
5. Remove or bend over nails protruding from lumber.

Do not:

1. Do not permit rubbish to fall freely from any level of the project. Use chutes or other
approved devices to materials.
2. Do not throw tools or other materials.
3. Do not raise or lower any tool or equipment by its own cable or supply hose.

Flammable/explosive materials

1. Store flammable or explosive materials such as gasoline, oil and cleaning agents
apart from other materials.
2. Keep flammable and explosive materials in proper containers with contents clearly
marked.
3. Dispose or greasy, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved containers.
4. Store full barrels in an upright position.
5. Keep gasoline and oil barrels on a barrel rack.
6. Store empty barrels separately.
7. Post signs prohibiting smoking, open flames and other ignition sources in areas
where flammable and explosive materials are stored or used.
8. Store and chain all compressed gas cylinders in an upright position.
9. Mark empty cylinders with the letters “mt”, and store them separately from full or
partially full cylinders
MODULE 2 LESSON 2

Materials handling and storage is a technique which includes the art of lifting, placing, storing
or movement of materials using one’s physical strength or appropriate handling equipment.

Two general classifications

1. Manual materials handling

2. Mechanical materials handling

Manual materials handling means moving or handling things by lifting, lowering, pushing,
pushing, pulling, carrying, holding, or restraining using one’s physical strength.

MMH is also the most common cause of occupational fatigue, low back pain and lower back
injuries.

What makes manual materials handling hazardous?

MMH is always hazardous but the level of hazard depends on

1. What you are handling

2. What the task is
3. What are the conditions are at the workplace or work site

Example of the material or load that you are handling

1. Too heavy for the task you are doing

2. Located too high or low for a safe lift
3. Too big or may have a shape that makes it hard to handle
4. Wet, slippery or have sharp edges that makes it hard to grasp
5. Unstable or can shift its center of gravity because the contents may flow
6. Too big to let you see where you are putting your feet.

The task can make MMH hazardous if a worker

1. Uses poor lifting techniques

2. Has to move material over long distance
3. Does not take appropriate rest breaks
4. Has insufficient recovery time
5. Has a combination of handling task.
The conditions where you are working can also contribute to hazards of MMH and results
in injuries:

1. Surfaces that are uneven, sloping, wet, icy, slippery, unsteady, etc.
2. Differences in floor levels or elevations
3. Poor housekeeping
4. Inadequate lighting
5. Cold or very hot and humid working environment
6. Windy conditions
7. Fast pace of work
8. Restricted movement because of clothing or lack of space

MMH also involves pushing and pulling motions at work

1. Using manual carts and trucks

2. Sliding objects such as cartons on a flat surfaces
3. Operating tools and controls
4. Opening and closing doors
5. Wrapping or enclosing objects in packaging materials

Many factors affect the amount of force that you exert in a horizontal push and pull:

1. Body weight and strength

2. Height of force application
3. Direction of force application
4. Distance of force application from the body
5. Posture
6. Friction coefficient
7. Duration and distance of push or pull
Table1. Recommended upper force limits for horizontal pushing and pulling

conditions Forces that should not be Example of activities

exceeded in newtons

a. Standing 225N (50lbf or 23kgf) Truck and card handling.

1. Whole body
involved

2. Primary arm and 110 N (24lbf or 11kgf) Pushing an object at/or

shoulder muscles, above shoulder height.
arm fully extended

b. kneeling 188 N (42lbf or 19kgf) Removing or replacing a

component from equipment
as in maintenance of work.

c. seated 130N (29lbf or 13kgf) Moving trays or a product on

and off conveyors.

Table2. Recommended upper force limits for vertical pushing and pulling

Conditions Upper limit of force in Examples of activities

newtons

Pull down, above head height 540N (120lbf or 55lgf) Activating a control, hook
grip; such as a safety shower
handle or manual control

Pull down, shoulder level 315N (70lbf or 32kgf) Activating a control, hook
grip. Threading up operations
as in paper manufacturing
and stringing cable.

Pull up,

-25cm (10 in) above the floor 315N (70lbf or 32kgf) Lifting an object with one
hand raising a lid or access
-elbow height port cover, palm up
-shoulder height 128N (33lbf or 15kgf)

75n (17lbf or 7.5kgf)

Push down elbow height 287N (64lbf or 29kgf) Wrapping, packing; sealing
cases

Push up, shoulder height 202N (45lbf or kgf) Raising a corner or end of an
object, like a pipe or beam.
Lifting an object to a high
shelf.
Mechanical materials handling this pertain to use of rigid, manually or mechanical powered
equipment mainly for handling bulky or heavy items.

a. Manually powered materials handling equipment reduce physical effort, making

materials handling easier and safer.
1. Check for the availability of mechanical aids before lifting or moving loads.
2. Do not operate any equipment if you are not trained to use it.
3. Keep the equipment in good condition. It saves effort while transporting loads.
4. Selecting the right equipment to complete the task.
5. Specific tasks or objects require specialized equipment.
6. Do not operate any equipment if you are not trained to use the equipment.
7. Keep the equipment in good operating condition. It saves effort while transporting
loads.

Mechanical powered materials handling equipment classified into two:

1. Lifting equipment
2. Transport equipment

Accessories that we can use in both manually powered and mechanically-powered materials
handling equipment

1. Ropes
2. Chain
3. Steel and plastic straps

Workspace is the area within which you perform the task that add up to your job.

Material storage could easily be neglected at times in an actual work setting.

Materials should be housed in a storage room with the following features:

1. At least two exits

2. Properly illuminated
3. Properly ventilated
4. Restricted access.

What should be remembered when setting up a storage area?

1. Store materials at convenient height.

2. Leave the lowest shelf unused if necessary.
3. Use vertically mobile shelves to avoid bending or overhead reaching.
4. Use bin racks for storing small items.
5. Store heaving and frequently used materials at waist height.]
6. Do not store materials at floor level.
7. Use hand trucks with elevating devices in storage and loading areas.
8. Use trucks with a tilting device to avoid bending.
9. Use elevating platforms to avoid overhead reaching.
What can be done to reduce the amount of times material is moved or handled?

1. Use rollers to eliminate manual lifting and carrying.

2. Use floor rollers while loading or unloading trucks to reduce lifting.
3. Use a sliding bed while loading and unloading small trucks to avoid overreaching and
carrying in an awkward position.
4. Eliminate extra loading or unloading steps where possible.
5. Unload as close as possible to the place where material will be needed.
6. Use ramps to avoid lifting and dragging over edges.
7. Use containers that allow fluids to pour or empty without lifting the container.

Solving materials handling problems

These are simple things to consider in solving materials handling problems

1. What will be moved?

2. Where to move these items?
3. How often will these be moved?
4. How many will be moved?
5. How far will the materials be moved?
6. How will the materials be moved?

In summary, t is you who can prevent materials handling accidents and injuries. You can
achieve this by remembering the following:

1. Be alert of hazards
2. Follow company safety regulations
3. Take your time and don’t take chances
4. Use proper lifting techniques; use legs not the back
5. Get help or mechanical assistance if in doubt
6. Wear protective gear
7. Keep an eye on what others doing
8. Let other workers know what you’re doing.