Thursday, August 19, 2010

PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW ON WORKERS SAFETY AT WORK

UTILITY SYSTEM SAFETY
• Should be trained for proper packing, handling and storing of hazardous health care waste
• The need to wear protective gloves, shoes and aprons when handling waste containers
• Operation of on-site treatment and disposable methods such as single chamber furnace operation, encapsulation and safe burying
• Technicians and utility in charge of chemical disinfection should be trained to implement appropriate safety precautions and emergency measures and be informed about chemical hazards. Nurses and cleaning personnel should be aware of the occupational risk linked to handling sharps.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
• The most important consideration for electrical safety in any hospital area is the power line and electrical grounding system
• All electrical design and installation must follow the implementing rules and regulation given by national electrical code and meet safety standards
• Inspect wiring of equipment before each use. Replace damaged of frayed electrical cords.
• Know the location and how to operate shut-off switches and /or CKT breakers panels
• Use safe work practices every time electrical equipment is used
• Limit the use of extension cord
• An electrical cords and wires have sufficient insulation to prevent direct contact
• Only equipment with 3 prong plugs should be used in Lab., OR, DR and ER. The third prong provides a path to ground for internal electrical short circuits thereby protecting the user from a potential electrical shock hazard. Circuit protection devices should be installed for automatically limit or shut off the flow of electricity in the event of ground fault, over load or short circuit in the wiring system

MECHANICAL SAFETY
• Be sure that all of the safety devices with which a machine is equipped are in the proper location and order before using the machine
• Safety goggles or face shield of an approved type should be worn at all times in shop or laboratory
• Avoid touching, moving parts of mechanical machinery
• When you approach someone who is operating the machine, wait until he has finished that particular operation or process before you attract his attention.
• If more than one person is assigned to work on a certain machine, only one person should operate the controls or switches
• Never leave a machine while it is running or in motion
• Request help from fellow worker when it is necessary to lift heavy machine accessory or heavy objects
• Know the operations principles, method of use and safety precautions of machines, tools and equipment before attempting to use them

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SAFETY
• Planned preventive maintenance should be done for every electro-medical apparatus to make health care equipment available, clean and effective and safety for the use of patients and operators
• Electrical and mechanical safety tests are performed by qualified service personnel or technician on every piece of equipments to ensure safety
• All patient care equipment as well as clinical laboratory instruments, diagnostic imaging equipment and a variety of other devices used for medical purpose has passed for electrical safety procedures and international standards for safe current limits for electro medical devices.
• Perform corrective maintenance on a piece of equipment to restore it to its proper condition
• Ensure performance verification and calibration, verified that the equipment is fully operational and performing within reasonable and previously specified limits.

DIFFERENT STEPS ON CHEMICAL SAFETY CONTROL

ENGINEERING CONTROLS
• Substitution of a less toxic materials
• Change in process to minimize contact with hazardous chemicals
• Isolation or enclosure of a process or operation
• Use of wet methods to reduce generation of dusts or other particulates
• General dilution ventilation
• Local exhaust, including the use of fume hoods

WORK PRACTICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL
• Good practices can help to reduce the risk of exposure to chemicals
• Administrative controls involves rotating job assignments and adjusting work schedules so that workers are not over exposed to a hazardous chemical

USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTS
• Safety goggles
• Face shields/ mask
• Protective clothing and foot wear
• Gloves

SAFE WORK PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES FOR FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS AND SOLID
Flammable and combustible liquids – vaporize and form flammable mixtures with air when open containers, when leak occurs or when heated.
STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBISTIBLE LIQUIDS
• Flammable and combustible liquids should be stored only approved containers. A safety can is an approved container of not more than 5 gallons capacity that has a spring closing lid and spout cover.
• Flammable liquid storage cabinet is an approved cabinet that has been designed and constructed to protect the contents from external fire.
Storage cabinets must also be conspicuously labeled.
• Handling precautions the main objectives in workings safety with flammable liquids is to avoid accumulation of vapors and to control source of ignition
• Flammable aerosols
Flammable liquids in pressurized containers may rapture and aerosolize when expose to heat, creating a highly flammable vapor cloud as with flammable liquids, these should be stored in a flammable storage cabinet.
• Flammable and combustible solid
Many flammable solids react with water and cannot be extinguished with conventional dry chemical or carbon dioxide extinguishers.
 Ensure class “D” extinguishers where flammable solids are used or stored.
 Sand can usually be used to smother a fire involving flammable solids keep a container of sand near the area.

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