Explain the key features of relevant regulations on health and safety as applied to a working environment in two selected or given engineering organisations.

by starandeep98gmailcom (student)

Unit 1 - P1

The principles of health and safety are essential - especially for those who work and depend upon it in the engineering industry, as it can help minimise what is known as hazards and the risks that are associated with it. A hazard is defined as either ‘a situation, activity or an action that has the potential to cause harm to either the employee or to someone else.’ A risk on the other hand is the likelihood of that harm occurring, and also the severity of the harm that the hazard posses.

Listed below are two engineering industries and the regulations that apply to these industries on the principles of health and safety.

Mechanical Engineering

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWAR) 1988

In mechanical and other related industries of engineering, different types of work equipment are used extensively, which include heavy machinery and hand held appliances.

The PUWAR regulation requires the employer to ensure that:

All work equipment must be suitable and fit for the purpose of carrying out a relevant job by employees.

All work equipment must be properly maintained and has to work efficiently, by carrying out inspections on a regular basis, so as to prevent employees from being exposed to serious risks.

As a precaution it is essential that employees also carry out a quick inspection on the machinery, before they start any work on them.

All employees must receive the adequate training and instruction by a more competent and experienced engineer, before being allowed to use the work equipment.

All the dangerous parts of a functional work equipment, must be well guarded and protective to the user. This will ensure that when the machine is switched on, it can be used correctly and safely for the intended purpose, and reducing any risk of injury to the user at the same time.

The controls on the work equipment must be clearly marked and visible to the eye of the user. This will ensure that anyone who operates the equipment, is confident and is less likely to be prone towards injury.

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All work equipment must be accessible and be able to be isolated from the electrical supply, before investigating for faults within the equipment. This will ensure that employees do not get electrocuted while working on the equipment, even if the switch at the socket on the wall is already in the off position.

Warning signs must be fixed either on or close to the work equipment, as it essential that employees be aware of the hazards and risks posed by the work equipment, before using them.

Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2005

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All work equipment must be accessible and be able to be isolated from the electrical supply, before investigating for faults within the equipment. This will ensure that employees do not get electrocuted while working on the equipment, even if the switch at the socket on the wall is already in the off position.

Warning signs must be fixed either on or close to the work equipment, as it essential that employees be aware of the hazards and risks posed by the work equipment, before using them.

Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2005

The regulation requires the employer to issue with the work equipment, a comprehensive instruction manual that contains technical drawings of the machinery and its circuit diagrams, as well as essential health and safety requirements and the list of methods/standard procedures to how a employee/technician should handle the machinery in order to eliminate any hazards that it posses.

The regulation also requires the employer to ensure that all work equipment is marked or stamped with a CE mark and that it is visible. The CE mark implies that the work equipment used, meets European Union standards for safety and that the hazards and risks associated with the work equipment are minimised as far as possible.

Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHO) 1992

In mechanical and other related industries of engineering, employees are required to carry out some form of manual handling of heavy items, which includes lifting, putting down, pushing or pulling the item to some place else.

The MHO regulation requires the employer to ensure that as part of the induction program (i.e. during the first week of starting work), all employees in the workplace are given the adequate training and instruction on how to correctly manual handle heavy items. This means that employees are less likely to be prone towards injury.

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998

The LOLER regulation requires the employer to ensure that:

All goods-lifting equipment must be strong, stable and suitable for the purpose of carrying out a relevant job by employees.

All goods-lifting equipment must be properly maintained and thoroughly inspected every year by a more competent and experienced engineer, so as to prevent employees from being exposed to serious risks.

All employees must receive the adequate training and instruction by a more competent and experienced engineer, before being allowed to use the goods-lifting equipment in a safe manner. As a result, this will also prevent harm to other employees working close to the lifting activity.

A Safe Working Load (SWL) sign must be fixed onto every lifting equipment, as it is essential that trained employees be aware of the maximum safe load that can be lifted by the equipment which they use.

Also every lifting equipment must be fitted with an overload protection device, because if the weight of the goods carried by the lift exceeds the maximum safe working load, then the alarm will sound and shut the power off to the equipment.

Electrical Engineering

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

The regulation requires the employer to ensure that all employees are supplied with the appropriate choice of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), based on the type of hazard that their job posses in the workplace. For example in electrical and other related industries of engineering, the provision of PPE includes anti-static footwear which will prevent the build up of static electricity and eliminate the risks of a severe and fatal electrical shock to the employee.

The regulation also requires the employer to ensure that all PPE is issued free of charge and that adequate training and instruction are given to employees on how to correctly use the PPE. In addition the PPE must be worn at all times by the person that it was supplied to, and not only should it fit the person, but it should also be comfortable to wear. As a result the PPE needs to be regularly cleaned, repaired or replaced when it is no longer fit for use.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995

The regulation requires the employer/a responsible person that is in control of the premisses to ensure that all serious accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences in the workplace are reported as soon as possible to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), either by telephone or online. For example in electrical and other related industries of engineering, a severe and fatal electrical shock to the employee is a serious accident within the workplace, as it will cause the employee to either loose consciousness or suffer a serious injury that would require a stay in hospital of more than 24 hours.

The regulation also requires the employer to ensure that as part of the induction program (i.e. during the first week of starting work), all employees are taught the reporting procedure, as to how they must correctly report all accidents that occur within the workplace. This means that employees will be able to notify the employer/a responsible person that is in control of the premisses as soon as possible, and seek medical attention for the injured.

Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994

The regulation requires the employer to ensure that all new electrical work equipment that is intended for the use of within the workplace, have been designed and constructed in such a way, that they are able to operate at a voltage that makes them safe enough to use by employees. In addition the electrical work equipment must be able to protect the person that is in control of it against the risk of a severe and fatal electric shock, through protective earthing, double insulation or an equivalent level of safety.

The regulation also requires the employer to ensure that all electrical work equipment is marked or stamped with a CE mark and that it is visible. The CE mark implies that the work equipment used, meets European Union standards for safety and that the hazards and risks associated with the work equipment are minimised as far as possible. A technical documentation must also be provided for each of the new electrical work equipment and include a list of all the relevant regulations that have been met by the manufacturer, as well as test reports on the functionality of the work equipment that have been established by either the manufacturer or a third party.

Electricity at Work Regulations (EAWR) 1989

The EAWR regulation requires the employee to ensure that all electrical work equipment that is intended for the use of within the workplace is properly maintained and thoroughly inspected every five years by a more competent and experienced electrician, so as to prevent employees from being exposed to serious risks. This means that all faulty electrical work equipment with loose connections, crushed cables and wires, etc. must not be overlooked.

As a result all electrical work equipment must be properly insulated, and copper wires or connections that are inside must not be exposed. Meaning that no one should be able to touch a live copper wire, as they would otherwise come into direct contact with the electricity from the mains supply, which in turn would cause a severe and fatal electric shock. Also since electricity cannot be seen or smelt there is no way of knowing if a copper wire is exposed or not, which is why the electrical work equipment must be isolated from the mains supply first before it is examined for defects.