KNOW YOUR WORK PLACE HAZARDS (Safety Corner)

If you and your buddies were facing a dangerous, deceptive enemy, you'd want to find out all you could about it and share any informat...

If you and your buddies were facing a dangerous, deceptive
enemy, you'd want to find out all you could about it and
share any information you come up with.
The fact is you do have such a treacherous enemy - the
workplace hazard. An unnoticed hazard can take your life in
an instant, or cause you a lifetime of suffering and disability.
It only makes sense to learn all you can about workplace
hazards. Sharing information with your co-workers helps
keep all of you safe.
Training and communication are the basis of an injury
prevention program in the workplace. Your employer
provides you with the information and training you need to
identify and avoid hazards. It is important for you to also
seek this information on your own, and to be continually
alert to new dangers.
Safety information is shared in a number of ways. One
person explains things to another person, individually or in a
group training session. Training workbooks, videos and live
demonstrations make the information easier to remember.
Trainees get to try out procedures and safety equipment
under the supervision of an experienced person.
Safety communication continues on a daily basis. Signs and
posters are common devices for passing along safety
information. They point out hazards such as the possibility
of objects falling from overhead or the presence of
flammable liquid vapors. They also tell you what to do to
avoid injury - wear your hard hat, or don't smoke. Signs also
point the way to equipment to be used in case of an
emergency - fire extinguishers, first aid kits and exits are
some of these.
Labels are another common source of safety information.
On a container of chemicals, the label will tell you the
contents, hazards and what to do in case of a spill or
exposure.

The Safety Data sheet is another method of
communicating safety information about chemicals. It
contains the same type of information as the label, but in
greater detail.
Your company's system of reporting injuries, accidents and
close calls is another important link in safety
communications. This gives your co-workers valuable
information about the kinds of hazards lurking in the work
area.
If you know or suspect a workplace hazard, report it.
If you have safety information, share it. Keep the lines of
communication open to defeat the enemy - the workplace hazard.


Don't Guess At Hazards
Hazardous substances can be corrosive, explosive, toxic,
radioactive, reactive, flammable, or a combination of all of
these. We encounter many such potentially dangerous
substances at work. How can we best protect ourselves?
Through education and communication, that's how.
Proper communication of existing or possible hazards at
work can prevent many serious safety problems. Knowing
what health and safety hazards are present, or may occur,
is a worker's right and an employer's responsibility.
Informed workers are safe workers. Once a hazard has
been identified and communicated to those affected, proper
safety procedures can be put into place and accidents are
prevented.
Although hazard communication systems may differ from
place to place, job site to job site, some elements should be
constant for the most effective communication possible.
There are three vital areas of hazard communication in the
work place:

1) Detailed Labelling: All potentially hazardous materials
should be labelled as to contents, product name and
manufacturer, possible hazards of use, safe handling
information (required PPE, mixing, application, storage) and
first aid measures.
If you come across a container without a label, don't try to
guess what's in it, and don't use it. Bring the unlabeled
container to the attention of your supervisor.
In order for these labels to be effective safety measures, all
workers need to learn how to use and interpret them. Don't
guess!

2) Safety Data Sheets (SDS): These are the second line of
defense against work place accidents involving hazardous
substances. These information sheets should be available
for chemical substances found in the workplace, particularly
ones known to be dangerous. They are provided by the
supplier of the substance. This sheet contains similar
information as the label but in more detail. It should also
say what to do in the event of a spill, what first aid is
necessary, health effects, chemical properties, and it should
list emergency contact numbers. Read through the SDS
until you are sure you understand all instructions and
precautions. SDS should always be available on the job
site during all work hours, including night shifts. If you do
not understand the SDS, ask your supervisor for help.
SDS files should be kept up to date.

3) Worker Education: All these precautions would be useless
without the active participation of those most affected: You,
the workers. A big part of any hazard communication
system is education and training.
Get the information you need to work safely around
hazardous chemicals. Learn how to protect yourself and
others from exposure, spills and other accidents!



A Computer Science graduate from the University of Benin, who is also called by God to encourage unity, peace and love amongst married couples and fortify the would-be couples with the right counsel, preparing them for marriage institution.

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