15 Health and Safety Hazards and Risks

Hazards and risks1
Health and Safety Hazards and Risks
Students’ Name
Department
University
Contacts
Word Count: 1828

Hazards and risks2
Introduction
Management of health and safety systems is a significant role in any organization. Workplace
environments are faced with various hazards such as physical, biological, chemical, and
ergonomic hazards which are harmful to employees. Karakhan et al 2(p 18) emphasized that for
smooth flow of operations and better performance, hazards have to be identified, evaluated and
controlled. This will ensure that employers and employees obligations are met. The purpose of
these paper is to identify safety hazards and risks in the Go with the Flow Plumbing Company,
suggest control strategies and provide the implementation method to mitigate the risks.
Overview of the Go with the Flow Plumbing Limited
Go with the Flow is middle sized plumbing company which engages in commercial, and
residential installation and service work. The company performs different task in customers’
homes such as plumbing, inspection, heating, and installation of various facilities like air
conditioning and pipes. The companies employees like plumbers encounter several hazards in
the workplace such as fall, burns, toxic atmosphere, and oxygen deficiency. Workers also use
different tools and equipment’s like saws, pipe cutters, wrenches, hang augers, cutting touches,
and pliers. From Hyatt 2 (p 10) some of the plumbing tools though make work easier they can put
workers into a risk of injuries like cuts when using pipe cutters and pliers.
As the safety person of Go with Flow company, I will identify the following hazards, control
methods, and implementation techniques. Ma et al3 (p 113) have outlined the hierarchy of hazards
control methods. The hazards identified are discussed using the table below;

Hazards and risks3
Hazard
Description
Description of
Safety/Health
Hazard
Suggested
Control
Strategy
Hierarchy of
Control Type
Method of
Implementatio
n
1. Working at
heights
During
construction, the
working
platform may
collapse or
overturn causing
a risk of fall
Contract the
construction
work like
painting to
experienced
company.
Access and
monitor the
platforms
before the
work starts
Elimination According to
Ahmad et al 2 (p
272) elimination
method can be
implemented by
hiring a
contractor to
perform high
heights tasks
like painting.
Access the
platforms and
make sure they
are strong prior
work.
2. Working at
heights
Using a ladder to
access roof tops
can cause risk of
fall because the
Jeong et al 2
(p 260)
emphasized
that to
substitution Use scaffold for
long term jobs
and scissor lifts
for short term

Hazards and risks4
ladder can slide
then the worker
slip and fall
reduce the
hazard
replace the
ladder with a
scaffold and
scissor lift
can be used
to access
high heights.
tasks.
3. Working at
heights
Heavy objects
may fall causing
harm to those
lifting them or
those they fall
on
To reduce
the hazard
use crane or
power jack
to lift objects
to high
heights
Engineering
controls
Provide and let
workers use
crane and power
jack to lift heavy
objects.
4. Working at
heights
Unguarded
openings or
holes and poor
edge protection
can cause risk of
fall
Ensure
workers no
unguarded
opening and
if any inform
workers
Administration
controls
Provide work
training and
create awareness
of any
unprotected
edges and