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True East Mining Company - HSE Manual
True East Mining Company - HSE Manual
Drill sites are regulated by the Health and Safety standards set
out in the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines (HSRC).
Principal Hazards:
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Drilling/Rigging:
When drilling for underground gold, use appropriate gas detectors and blowout
preventers/diverters as recommended by a qualified professional. All personnel should be
trained in their use and understand the emergency response procedures.
Drilling Procedures:
Prior to Entry:
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Heat Stress: (Safe Work Procedures)
Purpose:
B. Document heat stress mitigation measures in the specific work plan, which
shall specify the specific work practices to be implemented at the site to
avoid heat-related illness during periods of high heat stress potential and
may include:
• Scheduling the most strenuous work during the coolest times of the day
(e.g., early morning and evening/night).
• Minimizing work time in direct sunlight as much as possible.
• Not allowing employees to work alone.
• Rotating workers in and out of hot areas, as possible.
• Communicating locations of designated break/recovery areas,
emergency reporting procedures and nearest medical facilities to
workers.
• Scheduling work/rest rotations for workers according to the current
heat index, which is based on temperature and relative humidity.
• Minimizing high-intensity manual work activities (e.g., use
mechanical/powered equipment to replace manual labor), as practical.
F. Schedule heat stress training and monitor new workers and workers
returning from vacation to ensure they acclimatize at a progressive,
controlled rate to the change in environmental conditions.
G. Provide drinking water stations (e.g., coolers with chilled or ice water) for
workers and remind them to drink plenty of water even if not thirsty.
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H. Replenish drinking water supplies as needed to ensure availability and
provide more frequent collection of sanitary waste water from portable toilets.
J. Provide designated shaded and cool areas for periodic “cool down” breaks
and recovery from minor heat-related illness. Where possible, these areas
are to be air conditioned.
Employees:
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Engineering Controls
Shade
Designated shaded break/rest areas shall be provided at a distance
not
greater than 100 m (330 ft) from personnel working in direct sunlight
A.
for
extended periods of time. When feasible, shade is to be provided for
work
areas, including single shades to accommodate flagmen, etc.
Local Ventilation
When the air temperature is less than 37 °C (99 °F), fans or portable
air
B.
movers may be used to reduce heat stress by increasing the air flow in
the
work area.
Portable Air-Cooling Systems
Portable blowers with built-in air chillers shall be used as needed
C. enclosed
Work areas have ambient temperatures
exceeding 43 °C [110 °F]) to provide cooling for enclosed work areas.
Administrative Controls:
A. Scheduling
Schedule work for the cooler times of the day, especially during the month
of Ramadan if it falls in the summer.
B. Acclimatization
Deliberate acclimatization shall be used to expose new employees to work
in a hot environment for progressively longer periods. New employees in
jobs where heat levels may produce heat stress shall be exposed to 20% of
normal exposure on day one, with a 20% increase in exposure each
additional day.
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D. Work/Rest Rotations
Work and rest rotations shall be based on the actual heat index at the work
site. Work rotations shall be established for workers
performing remote activities in high heat stress exposures.
Workers shall be allowed additional break time and water as they deem
necessary for their health.
Recovery:
Administrative Controls:
Heat stress awareness training shall be provided just before and during the
hot summer months to all applicable personnel (e.g., who work outdoors)
and those who manage personnel and have responsibilities for establishing
heat stress mitigation measures.
Heat stress awareness training shall include the following elements:
• Hazards of heat stress.
• Recognition of signs and symptoms of heat stress.
• First aid procedures for heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses.
• Employee responsibilities in avoiding/responding to heat-related illness.
• Supervisor responsibilities in avoiding/responding to heat-related illness.
• Dangers of the use of drugs, including prescription and over-the counter medicines,
In hot work environments.
• Measures employees can take to minimize the effects of heat stress
(hydration, work pace, use of wet towels, good nutritional habits, etc.).
• Personal monitoring and buddy system controls.
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Heat Cramps:
Note: This table is adapted from “Heat Stress: Improving Safety in the Arabian Gulf Remote Area.
(Desert) in Drilling Industry” from
Professional Safety: Journal of the American Society of Safety Engineers, August 2008
Although heat cramps are not dangerous, they are an early warning sign for heat exhaustion
and that the body’s ability to cope with heat is being exceeded.
Causes:
• Occurs when the body loses too much salt through sweating.
• Attributed to an electrolyte imbalance caused by sweating.
Symptoms include:
Another early indication that heat stress conditions may be present is the appearance of
heat rash, which is an itchy rash that occurs when the skin becomes swollen and plugs the
sweat glands. This is not a life-threatening condition.
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt by sweating.
Heat exhaustion poses a higher risk to older employees and those with coronary artery
disease or emphysema (a lung condition causing breathing impairment).
Causes:
• Occurs when the fluids and/or salt lost in sweating are not replaced.
• Enlarged surface blood vessels.
Symptoms include:
• Heavy sweating.
• Intense thirst and cool, moist skin.
• Weakness and dizziness.
• Headache and blurred vision.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Pale or flushed appearance.
• Mood changes such as irritability or confusion.
• Rapid pulse.
• Fainting.
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Treatment includes:
• Move the victim to a cool, shaded area (e.g., designated break/recovery area).
• Call for medical help.
• Loosen the victim’s clothing.
• Remove unnecessary clothing.
• Shower or sponge the victim’s skin with cool water.
• Have the victim drink water or sport drinks that have electrolytes (e.g., Gatorade).
Heat Exhaustion:
1. Heat exhaustion can rapidly progress to heat stroke if not properly treated. People
suffering from heat exhaustion must not be expected to take care of themselves because
they may lack coordination and become confused. Heat exhaustion requires fast response to
prevent worsening heat stress problems.
2. Remember that sweating only cools the body if the sweat evaporates. If it cannot
evaporate, it cannot cool. Thus, even under moderate or cool working conditions, it is
possible to suffer heat stress if you are inside protective clothing that interferes with your
body’s cooling or working in high-humidity conditions.
HEAT STROKE:
Heat stroke is a medical emergency and death or permanent tissue damage may occur if
treatment is not given promptly. Collapse is often misinterpreted as a heart attack or head
injury.
Causes:
• Occurs when the body no longer sweats and holds so much heat such that the body’s
system of temperature regulation fails and body temperature reaches dangerous levels.
• Body depleted of salt and water.
Symptoms include:
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Treatment includes:
Notes:
1. Sometimes, heat stoke occurs after the person has already developed heat exhaustion,
but heat stroke can also strike suddenly with little warning.
2. Regardless of the worker’s protest, no person suspected of being ill from heat stroke shall
be sent home or left unattended unless/until a medical doctor has specifically approved
such an action.
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Risk Assessment for Cast Drilling Pipes Rigging
1. DEFINITION:
A risk assessment is an important step in protecting our workers and our business, as well as
complying with the client procedures. It helps us focus on the risks that really matter in our
workplace – the ones with the potential to cause harm. In many instances, straightforward
measures can readily control risks, for example, ensuring spillages are cleaned up promptly
so people do not slip or cupboard drawers kept closed to ensure people do not trip.
It is fact that all risks can’t be eliminated, but we are required to protect people as far as is
‘reasonably practicable’. This guide tells us how to achieve that with minimum fuss for our
cast iron soil pipes installation activities.
A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in our work, could cause harm to
people, so that we can weigh up whether we have taken enough precautions or should do
more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused
by a failure to take reasonable control measures. We are required to assess the risks in our
workplace so that we put in place a plan to control the risks. Below is our risk assessment
plan to control the potential risks involved in cast iron soil pipes installation work.
is not the only way to do a risk assessment, there are other methods that work well,
particularly for more complex risks and circumstances. However, we believe this method is
the most straightforward for this particular activity.
A hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as chemicals, electricity, working from
ladders, an open drawer, etc.; and
The risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by these and other
hazards, together with an indication of how serious the harm could be.
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3. RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
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TRUE-EAST MINING SERVICE COMPANY
More than a quarter of reported accidents involve manual handling and it is essential that
due care and consideration is given to all lifting and moving activity.
There is no safe maximum for any load being lifted or moved, an assessment must always be
carried out. You should ask yourself the following questions:
Where manual handling cannot be avoided, the following rules and questions should be
applied:
1. Size up the load - Are you capable of carrying out of the task?
2. Do I need others to help me with this load?
3. Look around. Is the area by the load obstruction free?
4. Look at the rout of travel is it clear of obstruction?
5. Make sure the final destination point is ready to receive the load.
6. Is the load stable? Will it shift when lifted?
7. Wear safety footwear to protect toes from falling loads.
8. Do I have gloves to protect hands and improve grip?
9. Place feet apart to provide stable base, face direction of travel and bend at the
knees.
• Get a good grip and lift, remembering to:
• raise the head
• keep a straight back
• Do not twist at the trunk and keep load close to body. Use your leg
muscles
• lift smoothly do not jerk
10. Do not carry loads that obscure the vision & fall down on others.
11. Lifting to height should be done in stages.
12. Lowering the load should be done with the same care as for lifting.
Remember, a back injury can be for life & falling materials on someone can be jail forever
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Toolbox Talk: Substances hazardous to health
Many operations involve the use of materials that could harm our health unless precautions
are taken. Common substances such as cement, plaster, adhesives, solvents, cleaning
materials, etc. all pose a risk.
The UK Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), place duties on
employers and employees. They set out a sensible step by step approach for the control of
hazardous substances and for protecting people exposed to them.
COSHH in operation
9. Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and of others. Follow the
instructions carefully.
10. Tell your supervisor immediately if you are unsure about a substance or if you have
a health problem.
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Toolbox Talk: The Use of Diesel
Diesel is a potentially dangerous substance and has the potential to cause those people who
use it long term health problems if it is not used correctly.
The following rules should be adhered to for the normal use of diesel throughout the day.
This relates to such tasks as transferring diesel form containers to machines and generators
etc.
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Toolbox Talk: Hand Tools
The correct selection, maintenance and proper manner of use is essential to avoid accidents
occurring when using hand tools.
Always use the right tool for the job - never improvise, e.g., the length of a spanner
is specifically designed to suit the size of nut.
Choose the right spanner to fit the nut. Where adjustable spanners are used take extra care
as they slip more easily.
• Tools must be fitted with handles. Severe hand injuries can occur from the
exposed tang of a handle less tool.
• Never use a file as a punch or for levering as they break easily.
• Chisels and punches with mushroomed heads must be ground down to
prevent splinters of metal flying off, but do not forget PPE.
• Replace damaged handles - never wire or tape up.
• Check that hammer heads are tightly wedged on their shafts.
• Keep cutting edges sharp. Blunt tools need more pressure and are more
inclined to slip.
• Always make sure hands are behind the cutting edge when working and be
very careful with screwdrivers when used for fixing hand-held materials.
• Now go and check your personal hand tools and all others issued for your
use. If they are not fit to be used then do not use them.
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Toolbox Talk: Team Work
Safety is not a matter for someone else to deal with. We all have a duty to act in a
responsible manner and to endeavor to maintain a safe working environment.
With a teamwork approach and everyone being active in identifying and preventing
hazardous situations, your chances of avoiding a serious accident could be considerably
improved.
1. If you are competent to deal with a hazardous situation that is within your scope
of control, do so immediately. Never wait until it is too late to act and an
accident has occurred.
2. Report any hazardous situation you cannot safely deal with to your line manager
without delay.
3. Keep a watching brief on employees working under your control, especially
young or inexperienced persons and anyone else you have not known long
enough to have established their attitude to safety.
4. Horseplay is dangerous for everyone, whether participating or not, and must be
discouraged.
5. Prevent situations arising where others could be distracted - noisy radios are a
typical example of this problem.
6. Never leave work unattended if it could be hazardous to others. If the work
cannot be rendered safe, consider the use of a barrier or warning notice.
7. Lead by example, always work safely and, most important, remain alert and
aware of how easy it is to create a hazardous situation when common sense
rules are disregarded.
8. A good team talks to each other and discusses the issues and safety problems.
Make your team a better team by communicating with each other and your up-
line managers.
9. Teams that are consistently better than others will be rewarded and highlighted
as examples of best practices.
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Toolbox Talk: Housekeeping
Good housekeeping not only improves the working environment and makes work tasks easier
to accomplish, a tidy site has less accidents than a site where good housekeeping is not
practiced.
1. Clear up waste and scrap - don't leave it lying around as a tripping hazard.
2. Put your rubbish in the appropriate skip and / or return scrap to stores as soon
as possible - don't leave it for others to deal with.
3. Always return Hazardous substances to the stores for secure and correctly
disposal. This includes empty containers.
4. Always carefully stack materials awaiting installation in a position where they
will not create an obstruction or tripping hazard.
5. Never leave materials or tools on stairways or in poorly lit areas.
6. Keep access routes clear of all obstructions; you never know when an
emergency may arise.
7. Cables and hoses carelessly draped across access routes will create a tripping
hazard.
8. Never leave tools or materials where they could fall and injure any person below
(in particular, on the top of a pair of steps).
9. Low level services should be clearly marked and/or padded to prevent injuries
caused by people inadvertently bumping into them.
10. Never leave sharp edged materials or other dangerous items (e.g., nails sticking
out of timber), lying around, or protruding from the work face.
11. Mess facilities should be kept clean and tidy - uneaten food will attract vermin.
12. Always report any hazards you may notice to your supervisor, e.g., slippery
surfaces, unprotected holes, insecure/inadequate guardrails, obstructed access
routes, piles of flammable waste accumulating, etc.
13. A tidy site that looks good is an organized site. Everyone wants to work in a
clean environment so make sure you are not the person who lets everyone else
down.
14. Failure to maintain a clean and tidy worksite will lead to disciplinary action.
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Toolbox Talk: Skin Care
Dermatitis is a common and serious hazard within the construction industry. Different
people react differently to various substances. It is not therefore possible to be specific
regarding which substances should be avoided. Thus, the following general rules should be
applied.
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Toolbox Talk: Noise at work
Excessive noise from plant and tools can, over a period of time, cause progressive and
Irreversible damage to your hearing.
If you need to shout where you are working, then noise exposure levels should be assessed.
Report the situation to your supervisor who will ascertain
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