March 2012 - HSE INFORMATION DATABASE | HSE INFORMATION DATABASE

NEBOSH INTERNATION DIPLOMA 32

A new design of hydraulic press is intended for use within the European Economic Area

Outline the “essential health & safety requirements” that you would expect to have been addresses in the technical file for the machine in order to demonstrate that it is in fact safe (20)

ANSWER

This was neither a particularly popular question nor a well-answered one

Few candidates showed that they understood the concept of “essential health & safety requirements” (EHSRs) for a machine & many candidates, instead of addressing these, attempted to describe the contents of a technical file (sometimes confused with an operating manual) &/or the requirements for CE marking & declarations of conformity

Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of both schedule 3 to the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 & basic machinery safety issues should have been able to make a reasonable attempt at this question since it was really asking was what needs to be considered in order to make a machine safe during installation, use, maintenance & decommissioning

Relating some of these issues to a hydraulic press would have gained even higher marks

Schedule 3 divides the EHSRs into

General requirements

(e.g. safety integration principles
Materials/products used or created
Lighting requirements & effects on lighting
Handling/installation of machine)

Controls & control systems

(e.g. safety/reliability of controls
Design of control devices
Means of starting & stopping (including emergency stops)
Mode selection
Failure of power supply
Software design)

Protection against mechanical hazards

(e.g. stability
Risk of break-up
Falling/ejected objects
Safety of surfaces/edges
Choice of & characteristics of guards & protective devices in relation to hazards/risks)

Protection against other hazards

(E.g. electricity & other energy sources
Fitting errors
Extremes of temperature
Fire
Noise & vibration
Emissions of dusts/gases/liquids/etc)

Maintenance

(e.g. remote adjustment/lubrication
Means of access
Means of isolation
Automatic cleaning)

Indicators

(e.g. information/warning devices
Marking requirements
Written instructions)

Schedule 3 provides further detail of the nature of the requirements & reference should be made to this for a definitive answer to this question

Since the question attracted by far the lowest score on Section B, this area

NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMA 31

It is proposed to inspect, clean & repair the inside of a tank that is 6 metres in diameter & 10 metres high & which has previously been used for storing leaded petrol

Outline the arrangements that should be considered in order to comply with the CSR 1997 (20)

ANSWER

This was the most popular of the Section B questions & answers generally attracted reasonable to good marks

Weaker answers were those that referred to key terms in a generic way without providing the detail needed to demonstrate application of the arrangements to the situation described

Conversely, better answers were those that approached the proposed work in a logical & sequential way, clearly explaining with examples what would be required at each stage in order to comply with the relevant legislative requirements, in this case regulations 4 & 5 of the CSR 1997

Regulation 4(1) of CSR requires that no person shall enter a confined space unless it is not reasonably practicable to achieve the intended purpose without such entry

Few candidates asked the question of whether the work, or any part of it, could be done without entering the tank, for instance, by using remotely controlled cameras, robotic inspection systems or a cleaning lance operated from outside the tank

Given the size of the tank, this might not be entirely feasible but the question should nevertheless have been raised

If it were decided that entry cannot be avoided, then regulation 4(2) requires a safe system of work in relation to any relevant specified risks (as defined in regulation 1)

The relevant specified risks in this case relate to fire & explosion, & loss of consciousness due to asphyxiation or high temperatures

In order to develop the systems of work, a full risk assessment would be required

This would need to look at the likelihood of flammable atmospheres from the previous contents of the tank, the possibility of air contamination from the cleaning or repair methods used & the build-up of heat within the tank

The risk assessment would also need to look at other (non-CSR) issues from the work to be carried out, including work from height & the toxic effects of lead

The arrangements that the risk assessment might find to be necessary relate to the possible need to

Purge the tank with an inert gas
The use of forced ventilation
Atmospheric testing before & during entry
& the provision of PPE, possibly including air-fed breathing apparatus

Attention would also need to be paid to the requirements for electrical equipment (e.g. intrinsically safe, flameproof) & earthing arrangements

If heat were to be a foreseeable problem, then consideration should be given to issues such as job rotation & fluid intake

The physical arrangement for working at height would need to be considered in terms of both prevention of falls &, in relation to CSR, access & egress in the event of escape or rescue

Procedural arrangements would centre on the establishment of

Well-defined systems of work
The implementation of an entry permit system
Limiting the number of people working in the tank
Communication with standby personnel
& drawing up the emergency arrangements required by CSR regulation 5
The emergency arrangements to be considered would include issues such as the provision & maintenance of cutting equipment, hoists, fire-fighting equipment, PPE (e.g. breathing apparatus) & first-aid facilities & liaison with emergency services
Arrangements should also be in place to ensure that all personnel involved in the operation have received sufficient training in the work methods, the precautions needed & emergency procedures

NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMA 30

With reference to the mechanical hazards associated with the operation of a hydraulic robotic arm on a production line, outline a range of measures aimed at minimising the risk of injury (10)

Answer

From the outset, it was important for candidates to recognise that the question was asking for an outline of the safety measures needed to protect against the various mechanical hazards presented by robots

Candidates who focused their responses on specific mechanical hazards, then tried to attach controls to each of them, usually produced generic machine safety answers that did not demonstrate the understanding of robot safety that was being sought

The better answers came from candidates who took a hierarchical approach in referring to a range of possible technical, procedural & behavioural controls

For instance, while there may be a few opportunities to eliminate the hazards entirely, the elimination of a crushing hazard between the robot & another object by increasing the distance between them was one that was worthy of mention

In terms of safeguarding in this situation

Distance guarding (of adequate height, interlocked & allowing authorised access only)
Presence sensing devices (e.g. photoelectric systems, pressure mats)
& guarding of nip points were all relevant
Procedural measure might include software checks to avoid aberrant behaviour (mainly relevant to impact hazards) & adequate safety maintenance (e.g. to check the integrity of hydraulics
In this situation, maintenance personnel would be at particular risk & so procedures such as PTWs would be imperative
In addition, technical measures should be introduced to allow maintenance work to be performed remotely as far as possible
This would also apply to “teaching”, which should be done either remotely or with the robot in “slow mode”
For anyone needing access to the robot, then measures should be in place to release any stored energy & to protect against hydraulic failure
Finally, in terms of behavioural controls, all staff should be informed of the dangers, instructed in the procedures to be followed & trained in safe working practices

Heat Exhaustion

What are the symptoms?

Head aches; DIZZINESS Or even LIGHTHEADEDNESS; Weak point; MOOD Adjustments For instance Frustration,
Distress, OR THE Wherewithal to conceive Feel Right; UPSET STOMACH; Throwing up; DECREASED Or perhaps DARKCOLORED
Pee; Weak OR Fainting; AND Light, Sticky Pores and epidermis

Exactly just precisely what exactly should you do?

■ Work immediately. If not treated, heat exhaustion may possibly progress so that you can heat heart cerebrovascular accident or dying.
■ Proceed the victim to a great, in the shade area to rest. Don’t depart the person on it’s own. If symptoms include dizziness or perhaps faintness, lay down the particular target in his / her back again and also improve the hip and lower limbs 6 to 8 in .. If signs and signs consist of nausea or perhaps upset stomach, lay down the actual sufferer upabout his / her part.
■ Ease and remove virtually just about almost every heavy clothes.
■ Possess the particular man or woman beverage great normal mineral waters (in regards to a pot every single A quarter-hour) except if sick for the belly.
■ Awesome the particular individual’s system by fanning and also spraying having a cool mist regarding normal mineral waters or even applying any damp material towards the individual’s skin.
■ Call Emergency services for crisis help in the event the individual doesn’t feel better using some min’s.

HAND TOOL SAFETY

Retracts, wrenches, chisels, pair of pliers, screwdrivers, as well as other hands tools are often underestimated since causes of possible danger. Palm resources may possibly seem benign, but you are the cause of several incidents. In reality, approximately 8-10 percent of office compensable incidents are generated by situations connected with hands resources. These types of injuries could be serious, which includes loss of hands or perhaps eyesight.Hand tools may cause various types of injuries:

Cuts, abrasions, disabilities, and also punctures. In the event that hand equipment are made to reduce or even proceed metal and also wooden, bear in mind exactly that of a individual fall can perform so that you can vulnerable human skin.
Repeated motion incidents. Employing the same device just as all day every day, every single day, will stress individual muscle groups as well as ligaments. Carpal tunnel syndrome (irritation with the neural protective covering withinside the wrist) and also incidents to muscle groups, joints and ligaments tend to be progressively typical when the incorrect tool is used, or the right device is used incorrectly. Injury coming via steady vibration also can cause numbness or perhaps weak circulation in hands and arms.
Vision incidents. Soaring chips of timber or metal are a common risk, often causing needless and permanent blindness.
Broken bones and bruises. Tools may slide, tumble coming via heights, and even become tossed through careless workers, causing severe injuries. The hammer which falls from the step steps is really a fatal tool.

In order to stop these kinds of incidents, remember fondly the following security methods:

Make use of the proper instrument for the job. Avoid using your wrench as a retracted. Avoid a cocktail like a chisel, and so on. Go back to the actual tool residence and get the proper instrument withinside the correct dimension for the position.
Avoid busted or ruined tools, boring slicing equipment, or cocktails having put on ideas.
Partake any direction away from the body.
Make certain your own hold and also ground feel at ease when using huge equipment.
Bring resources firmly in the tool buckle or perhaps container. Will not carry tools upwards ladders. Use a hoist or even string.
Monitor tools any time working from levels. The falling instrument can destroy any co-worker.
Complete something to a different individual by the manage; never chuck this to them.
Make use of the right private protective equipment (PPE) for the position. Follow company directions for selecting and ultizing basic protection eyewear, metallic toe footwear, hand protection, hard less difficult, etc.
By no means have sharpened or perhaps pointed resources like a cocktail in your pocket.
Choose ergonomic resources to your work task any time actions tend to be repeated and dynamic.
Search regarding signs and symptoms of repetitive anxiety. Earlier recognition may well stop a significant injuries.
Always keep your resources throughout best condition. Any boring edge or even blunt level can lead to damage.
Store tools appropriately once you quit function.

Following these types of precautions, you are able to assist in preventing accidental accidents and supply a much better workplace for all. Bear in mind, a good ounce associated with avoidance will probably be worth a pound associated with remedy!