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NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMA 28

 

An independent tied scaffold is to be erected against the façade of a multi-storey building

  (i)  Provide simple sketches to show THREE   methods of “tying” the scaffold to the   building  (6)

  (ii)  Identify the factors that may determine the   most appropriate method in any particular   situation  (4)

FIRE WATCH IN SHIPYARDS

2011/04/26


 

The duty of a fire watch is extremely important. It is mandatory for crews when working aboard vessels. This role can be frustrating or boring if the person does nothing but stand around waiting for a fire to occur. But this doesn't have to be the case.

 

 

A vital role for a fire watch is also a safety role. The area in which the welding or cutting takes place will most likely have several safety hazards in need of control. For example:

  • No ventilation in the space where the Hot Work s being done. Hard to see a fire for all the smoke!!!!! Make sure there is good ventilation in those spaces–someone has to work there!
  • Oxygen and Acetylene cylinders may be placed below decks. This is always an invitation to disaster. Get a Competent Person to evaluate the space PRIOR to allowing anyone in.
  • Bad Lighting: If the lighting is poor, it is just a matter of time until a trip or fall occurs. And how can anyone find tools in the dark?
  • Foam Insulation: Most of the large shipboard fires involved foam/plastics. Insure that all foam is stripped back to the proper guidelines or all exposed edges painted with No-Char, or the approved equivalent, prior to performing hot work.
  • Poor Housekeeping: This is frustrating for everyone…the leads are spaghetti, debris is everywhere, and everyone is in a bad mood because it's a pig sty. Bad housekeeping leads to bad accidents.
  • But here is a fire hazard to end `em all: A welder was observed running a vertical skip weld in an enclosed space–WHILE SITTING ON A FIVE GALLON (28 litre) CAN OF GASOLINE. The gasoline was for the pressure washer on deck and someone brought it down for the welder to sit on!!! Boy was he surprised once he read the label on the can!

A good fire watch (in any type of construction activity – not just in ship yards) should catch and report these safety hazards. Injury, damage and even death can be avoided. Take the initiative to identify problems before the hotwork starts. It may only take a few minutes to do so, but the work stopage and cleanup after a small fire will take hours–or even days. Also, while on fire watch, help with the area housekeeping and assist with other tasks that enable everyone to perform their job more safely. The time will be well spent.

EYE INJURY PREVENTION


One thousand eye injuries occur in workplaces every day in every country worlwide. These injuries are responsible for over $3,000,000.00 annually in medical, lost production and workers' compensation costs!!

 

 

Why are these injuries occurring?

  • Three out of five injuries happen because the worker was not wearing any eye protection at the time of the accident.
  • About 40% of the injured workers were wearing some type of eye protection, but it was the wrong kind and failed to protect adequately. The leading cause in this category is the lack of side shields.
  • Accident studies reveal flying or falling objects and sparks as the cause in 70% of eye injuries. Nearly 60% of the objects causing eye injury are smaller than a pin head.
  • Nearly 20% of all eye injuries are caused by contact with chemicals. This includes splashing or chemicals being sprayed directly into the eye.
  • 40% of eye injuries occurred among craft workers, such as mechanics, repairers, carpenters, and plumbers. 30% of eye injuries occurred among operatives, such as assemblers, sanders, and grinding machine operators.
  • 50% of the injured workers were employed in manufacturing. 20% were employed in construction.

What can we do to prevent these injuries?

First of all make sure you select the proper eye protection for the task. 94% of the eye injuries that occurred to workers wearing eye protection resulted from objects or chemicals going around or under the protector.

Second, make sure the eye protection you have selected fits properly and is clean. One of the leading reasons for workers removing or not wearing eye protection is the lens became dirty and they could not see what they were doing.

Nearly 20% of eye injuries happened to workers wearing face shields or welding helmets while grinding. Only 6% of the workers injured while wearing eye protection were wearing goggles.

CHOOSE THE BEST PROTECTION, MAKE SURE IT FITS, KEEP IT CLEAN AND WEAR IT

 

TRENCHING SAFETY

2011/01/25

Each year excavation and trenching cave-ins result in more than 5,000 serious injuries and 100 deaths in the United States alone. And this is a country with a long and well established safety regulatory regime! The key to prevention of this type of loss is good planning. When the side of a trench decides to move it is too late to be thinking about your safety or the safety of others. Here are some good safety rules and practices to follow when working in or around excavations.

  • Evaluation of shoring, sloping, or other means to eliminate the potential for cave-ins must be performed prior to the start of work. Consider these engineering controls at the pre-bid stage. The costs associated with some systems may significantly reduce or eliminate the profit of a job if not considered at the time of the bid. The evaluation must be performed by a trained person who is knowledgeable in the areas of soil analysis, the use of protective systems, and in the requirements of applicable standards and regulations. Without this pre-job planning, project foremen may be inclined to "make-do" just to get the job done. Shortcuts might be taken, putting employees in significant danger. Perform these pre-job procedures regardless of the duration of the project or because the ground "just looks solid."
  • Work in an excavation or trench must at all times be under the immediate supervision of a qualified person.
  • Excavated material must be placed at least 2 feet (61cms) from the edge of any trench or excavation, which is 4 or more feet (122cms) in depth.
  • Adequate precautions must be taken to ensure that vibrating equipment and vehicular traffic do not cause a cave-in.
  • Always consider ground water seepage as a potential cause of collapse of any trench or excavation.
  • Safe access/egress must be provided (stairway, ladder, ramp, etc.). The equipment must be securely fastened in place. Access must be provided and located so no worker must laterally travel more than 25 feet (760 cms) to access the egress point in any trench or excavation deeper than four feet.

There are specific standards for the materials used for shoring, and for the angles of slopes used to protect workers. All the protection methods depend on the composition of the soil. Contact your company's excavation competent person for more specific information.

If you aren't certain that the shoring, benching, or sloping is adequate, stay out of the excavation. Entering an unprotected excavation or trench may be the last thing you ever do.