Health and Safety Requirements for Engineers - AUEC2-001 Assignment

This assignment, completed by a student, provides a detailed analysis of health and safety regulations relevant to engineering practices. It begins by outlining the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related legislation, such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, Manual Handling Operations Regulations, and Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. The assignment then describes specific regulations, environmental requirements, and safe working practices applicable to engineering activities, emphasizing the importance of compliance with HASAW 1974 and the use of appropriate equipment and procedures. It further explains the significance of applying correct behaviors in the workplace and the potential consequences of non-compliance. The assignment also identifies warning signs for hazardous substances and provides information on the location of relevant health and safety information, including risk assessments and COSHH data sheets, as well as sources of expert assistance. Finally, it defines various workplace hazards, such as moving machinery, electricity, slippery surfaces, and dust and fumes, and discusses the associated risks and preventive measures. This assignment is a valuable resource for students studying engineering and related fields, offering a comprehensive understanding of workplace safety principles and practices.

Learner Name: Tyler Dow EAL Candidate No:
Assessor Name: Member Company:
Evidence Type NVQ YES Tech Cert Other
Performance Knowledge YES
Assessment Title: Complying with statutory regulations and
organisational safety requirements
Unit No: AUEC2-001
Date: 14/12/2020 Page ………of……….
K1. Describe the roles and responsibilities of yourselves and others under the Health
and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other current legislation (e.g. The Management of Health
and Safety at Work Regulations; Workplace Health and Safety and Welfare Regulations;
Personal Protection at Work Regulations; Manual Handling Operations Regulations;
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations; Display Screen at Work
Regulations)?
It is an employer's duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other
people who might be affected by their business. Employers must do whatever is reasonably
practicable to achieve this. This means making sure that their workers and others are protected
from anything that may cause harm, this could be by means of controlling any risks to injury or
health that could arise in the workplace.
Employers also have duties under health and safety law to assess risks in the workplace. Risk
assessments should be carried out that address all risks that might cause harm in your
workplace.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations also state that employer’s should
undertake an assessment of the risks to health and safety of their employees and others who
may be affected by their work activity. Employers with 5 or more employees should record the
significant findings of this risk assessment. Employees also have responsibilities as they should
report any shortcomings in health & safety arrangements and any dangerous situations.
Employees also have duties to use equipment in accordance with training and instruction and to
take reasonable care of their own health & safety and those of others who may be affected by
their acts or omissions.
Manual handling operations regulations also state that employer’s should so far as is reasonably
practicable, avoid the need for his employees to undertake any manual handling operations at
work which involve a risk of injury, and if this is not reasonable then they must carry out an
assessment of all operations that can be avoided so that it will reduce the risk of injury to their
employees.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations state that the user of the equipment being
used should select and install equipment properly and to use it carefully and make sure it
is maintained to protect the health and safety of yourself, employees and others who may be
affected by the way you use it.
Display screen at work regulations state that employers must protect their workers from the
health risks of working with display screen equipment, such as PCs, laptops, tablets and
smartphones. They must carry out a DSE (display screen equipment) risk assessment so they
can reduce risks, and include breaks for employees that regularly carry out DSE work.

K2. Describe the specific regulations, environmental requirements, safe working
practices and procedures that apply to your work activities?
Every activity that is carried out should always comply with HASAW 1974 (health and safety at
work act 1974) this is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in
the UK. Other regulations covering engineering based activities are Manual Handling Operations
Regulations that require the employer to carry out assessments and prevent employees where
reasonably practicable from using manual handling. These assessments outline what lifting aids
or equipment is best suited for the task in hand.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations are also used in engineering activities as any
equipment that is used should be regularly maintained and tested to ensure it is safe to be used,
this means that employees should only use the required tool for the correct use and nothing
else. For ensuring the equipment is okay for use, it is important to carry out pre and post user
checks on the tools and equipment to ensure it is safe for work but also safe to use so it does
not put the user in danger.
Environmental requirements for the workplace is that all walkways should be clear of any debris,
that any spillages are cleaned up as soon as possible, and that for every work area there is
sufficient lighting to enable all users to safely work in that area to the correct standards.
Other environmental requirements are that waste is to be disposed of correctly and disposed in
the correct categories, also the gov.uk website states that business and commercial waste has
certain responsibilities that need to be adhered to, for example the site states that you must
keep waste to a minimum by doing everything you reasonably can to prevent, reuse, recycle or
recover waste, and complete a waste transfer note for each load of waste that leaves your
premises.
Correct safe working practices that are in the workplace would be to test and check for dead
when isolating machinery and carrying out any work, and to ensure the machinery is locked off
by using a lockout tag and a padlock that you only have access to. Other working practices is
that everyone should carry out pre and post user checks on all equipment that is used and to
carry out a starbook risk assessment for every area in the workplace that you come in contact
with. When the starbook is completed if there is 4-5 or more risks on the book you must fill out a
full risk assessment and write down correct ways of preventing or reducing the risks from
occurring.
K3. Explain the importance of applying the appropriate behaviours in the workplace and
the implications for both the learner and the business if these are not adhered to?
In the workplace you must always apply the correct working behaviour as it sets the example for
everyone else and enables everyone to work to the correct standard, if there are employees that
are behaving poorly, this throws the work balance off and starts to interrupt others from working
to their full potential. If employees are behaving poorly it could also increase the risk of an
accident occurring due to the lack of acknowledgement and safety for what they are carrying
out, this means if a worker is behaving in an inappropriate way they should be removed from the
work area and spoken to correctly to try and calm them down. If this does not change their
behaviour it could lead to verbal or written warning and could even lead to dismissal if the
behaviour is really poor and endangers their own or someone else’s life. If this happens it could
cause downtime for other employees and can cause downtime on production if there was to
have a breakdown.
K4. Identify the warning signs for the nine main groups of hazardous substances defined

by Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures Regulations?
Health Hazard: A cancer-causing agent (carcinogen)
or substance with respiratory, reproductive or organ
toxicity that causes damage over time (a chronic, or
long-term, health hazard).
Flame: Flammable materials or substances liable to
self-ignite when exposed to water or air (pyrophoric), or
which emit flammable gas.
Exclamation Mark: An immediate skin, eye or
respiratory tract irritant, or narcotic.
Gas Cylinder: Gases stored under pressure, such as ammonia or liquid nitrogen.
Corrosion: Materials causing skin corrosion/burns or eye damage on contact, or that are
corrosive to metals.
Exploding Bomb: Explosives, including organic peroxides and highly unstable material at risk
of exploding even without exposure to air (self-reactives).
Flame Over Circle: Identifies oxidizers. Oxidizers are chemicals that facilitate burning or make
fires burn hotter and longer.
Skull and Crossbones: Substances, such as poisons and highly concentrated acids, which
have an immediate and severe toxic effect (acute toxicity).
Environmental Hazard: Chemicals toxic to aquatic wildlife.
K5. State the location of relevant health and safety information for your tasks and the
sources of expert assistance when help is needed?
In the workplace there is a cabinet that has completed risk assessments for all equipment that is
in each work area, these include risks and dangers that are noted on the risk assessment and
the relevant ways of trying to eliminate or reduce the risk. The COSHH cabinet also includes
health and safety information as it includes a MSDS (material safety data sheet) and includes all
the information about the substances stored in the COSHH cabinets. If expert advice is needed
you can always ask a trained tutor or someone who is competent in the task you are looking for
help in. If other help and safety information is needed you can also go onto the HSE website
online and lookup any more relevant information on what tasks you are carrying out.
K6. Explain what constitutes a hazard in the workplace such as;
a) Moving parts of machinery
Moving parts of machinery can increase the risk of entrapment and you also have the risk
of being pulled into the moving machinery, for example a pillar drill has a revolving chuck
that holds the drill bit, if you were to wear gloves you could get a piece of stitching stuck in
the chuck and it could pull your glove in, and maybe your hand with it too. This is why you
do not wear gloves on moving parts of machinery, we do this so it reduces the risk on
trapping and being pulled in. Other hazards will be sharp moving machinery as it could cut
the user that is working on it. This is why we use guards and safety precautions when

working with moving machinery, also a risk assessment including pre and post user
checks should be completed when carrying out a task of moving parts of machinery.
b) Electricity
Electricity is a big hazard when it comes to working with electrical equipment. Electricity
poses as a hazard as it is invisible and you do not know it is there. An electric shock from
a piece of equipment is almost certain to kill you, this is why you have to proceed with
caution when working on live equipment. To ensure you and others are safe, check the
cables of electrical equipment when the equipment is isolated and check for any damage
in the cable or any cracking, if you see anything suspicious raise it to your supervisor and
replace the cable as needed. When working with electrical equipment it is really important
that you only use the equipment for its intended use and nothing more, this could add
more stress onto the equipment and cause it to breakdown prematurely and could add a
risk of an injury for the user and others around them.
c) Slippery and uneven surfaces
Slippery and uneven surfaces are a big risk in the workplace, HSE state that statistics
show slipping and tripping to be the single most common cause of major injury in UK
workplaces, this is why it is important to look for any debris on all walkways, just dirt on
the surface is enough to cause a slipping risk, this is why 4S is important in all work areas,
this helps keep the environment clean and free from any dirt. This helps keep you safe but
also keeps the area tidy. Uneven surfaces and dangerous as it could cause an employee
or worker to pull a muscle or cause injury to themselves due to them stepping into an
uneven floor without knowing. It is important that risk assessments are completed to rule
out the uneven surfaces and to get them fixed and repaired immediately.
d) Dust and fumes
Dust and fumes can cause a handful of serious health risks, a known one is causing
permanent asthma, these risks of serious health defects can cause serious implications
for the business so it is important that appropriate ventilation is available when needed, for
example in welding you need extraction fans to remove the harmful welding fumes from
the area to avoid people breathing them in and causing health issues in the future. Dust
can be related back to dirty areas and dust on floors, when walking you can kick up the
dust which could make the dust airborne and could cause irritations to the skin or eyes.
This is why it is important to clean up regularly to avoid the build-up of harmful dusts.
e) Handling and transporting
Handling and transporting of equipment or other items can be a hazard as it involved
manual handling, manual handling should only be carried out when there is no other
practicable way of handling the items, the best way to transport goods without the need of
manual handling would be to use a pump truck or dollies that can easily move the items
on wheels to avoid injuries to the back or other vital body operations. This is why the
manual handling operation regulations require the employer to complete an assessment to
outline which handling / aid equipment is best suited to the task which is being carried out.
f) Contaminants and irritants
Contaminants and irritants pose a hazard as the substances can be harmful to the body,
this is why we store them in COSHH cabinets where only authorised employees can sign
in and out the hazardous substances. The substances should also have their own MSDS
(material safety data sheet) where it explains the hazards that come with using the

substance and the correct way to store it. There is also a material storing matrix where it
tells you which category of substances that can be stored together. When handling
irritants it is important to carry out a risk assessment and wear correcting PPE as if the
substance was to get on your skin it would start to burn, for this example you would wear
latex gloves that can prevent the substance from absorbing into your skin and causing
damage.
g) Material ejection
Material ejection should always be carried out with extreme care, this is because the
machinery ejects you material out with great force, they can also use high speed
separators that separate material. Pre and post user checks should be carried out on the
material ejection equipment every day to ensure the equipment is safe to carry out the
tasks, a risk assessment should also be carried out when working on the equipment to
ensure all users know how to isolate and shutdown the equipment when carrying out
maintenance tasks. Any material that can be ejected can pose a risk of piecing the skin
and damaging you.
h) Fire
Fires always pose a hazard as it is likely to happen, if machinery gets too hot, or a piece
of electrical equipment shorts out, a fire a likely to start. This is why your work area should
have easily accessible fire extinguishers and more than 1 fire exit and a fire drill every
week. Your work place should also tell you where the fire calling point is and where to
stand in an emergency.
i) Working at height
Working at height is dangerous in the fact that you could easily fall and cause serious
injuries to yourself and others, this is why only fully trained and competent employees can
work at height and all employees require full training to ensure they can work to the
correct standards and that they can work safely and securely. Working at height
incorrectly could lead to death as you have the risk of falling or even dropping tools that
could hit someone from below.
j) Environment
Environment hazards could be insufficient lighting and incorrect disposing of waste that
can lead you to damaging the environment and the natural habitat. It is important that you
have correct lighting when carrying out any maintenance or engineering tasks as without
sight you run the risk of injuring yourself or others quite easily. When disposing of waste
you need to ensure it is disposed of in the correct categories, if this is not followed the
business runs the risk of being shut down and fined.
k) Pressure/stored energy systems
Pressure or stored energy systems for example hydraulic cylinders store high pressure oil
in order to actuate the cylinder in and out. These are extremely dangerous if not setup
correctly, it could lead to oil injections that can lead to death and could cause severe cuts.
Another hazard is flailing pipes, this high pressure can cause a pipe to flail at extreme
speeds which could cause amputations if it came in contact with your limbs.
l) Volatile or toxic materials
Toxic materials are also stored in COSHH cabinets as they can cause serious health

problems if breathed in or consumed, this is why only authorised and trained employees
can handle the materials. If the toxic materials were consumed it could lead to death. So
where possible it is important to try and avoid the use of these materials and use other
means of completing the task.
m) Unshielded processes
Swarf is an unshielded process as there is little to no protection from stopping it from
occurring, the best way to reduce swarf is to add chip into the tool so it chips away at the
swarf, so it does not get so long and poses a hazard of cutting yourself or others. Hot
swarf is dangerous as it can fly out and go into your eyes, so it is important to wear eye
protection and overalls.
K7. Describe your responsibilities for dealing with hazards and reducing risks in the
workplace such as;
a) Hazard spotting and safety inspections
When spotting for hazards you should check the manufacturers’ instructions or look
through data sheets for chemicals and equipment, this is because they are very useful in
explaining the hazards and putting them into a true perspective. You can also look back
through accident records and they can help identify less obvious hazards which no one
has picked up on. A really important one is to check for anything that is classed as long-
term hazards that will affect your health in the future, such as exposed to loud noise for a
prolong amount of time or coming in contact with harmful substances regularly. Safety
inspections should also be carried out on all equipment that you are using, these are
called pre and post user checks. These checks ensure the equipment is safe for use and
does not have a risk of injuring the user.
b) The use of hazard check lists
Hazard check lists are easy to use and are simple for finding minor hazards which could
result in bad injuries, for example there are slips, trips and falls hazard check lists that help
you identify slips and falls in the workplace. The list explains what the hazard is and gives
examples of where the hazard can be found and what to do if there is a hazard, for
example “Can anything be found on the paths, steps and fire escapes that could cause
slips, e.g. build-up of leaves, wet grass, moss, mud etc?” this is the explanation of the
hazard and if this sounds like something you have in the workplace you can tick it and use
to appropriate action to remove the risk or eliminate it, the correction goes as follows “Set
up a regular work schedule for clearing paths, tackle busy routes first.”
c) Carrying out risk assessments
Risk assessments should be completed for every task you are carrying out, if that is
maintenance or just any engineering activity. You can use the starbook entry as the base
risk assessment and if there is 4 or more hazards on the book you have to complete a full
risk assessment and sign it showing the control measures that you will be putting in place
to reduce or eliminate the risks.
d) COSHH assessments
COSHH should be assessed by your employer and your responsibilities are to make use
of control measures and facilities provided by the employer, ensuring

equipment/materials are returned and stored properly, reporting defects/insufficiencies in
control measures, Wearing and storing personal protective equipment (PPE), and finally
Complying with any information, instruction or training that is provided. If you follow this
the hazards from COSHH substances should be very low. If you do not follow these
guidelines it could lead to serious health issues as the COSHH substances could be
flammable, toxic, and irritate etc.
K8. Describe the risks associated with your working environment such as;
a) Tools
Risks that are associated with tools are that some tools can have sharp cutting edges
which can cause injury to yourself or others, this could be caused by cuts or puncture
wounds so it is important to wear gloves and PPE when using hand tools, machinery is a
different subject as rotating machine, you must not wear gloves as it could cause
entrapment.
b) Materials and equipment
Some materials are heavier than others and have very different characteristics, BDMS
(bright drawn mild steel) is a dense steel which has a lot of weight, where as aluminium is
a less dense material and is very light, but with aluminium it work hardens a lot easier than
BDMS which could lead to chipping of the material. For this reason, it is important to wear
eye protection, for example safety glasses as this will prevent any flying projectiles from
hitting your eyes.
c) Spillages of oil and chemicals
When chemicals and oils are spilt they must be cleaned up immediately, this is because
some chemicals are corrosive and could burn or damage skin, if these chemicals were to
get into your eyes it could lead to blindness. It is important that you clean the spilt
chemicals straight away and that you contact your supervisor to inform them of the
situation and to clear the area. Oils or any other chemicals could create a slipping hazard
so once again, we would need to cordon off the area and clean up the chemicals and oils
are put up a wet floor sign to ensure that everyone takes care when walking past that area.
d) Not reporting accidental breakages of tools or equipment
If you do not report tool or equipment breakages it could lead to another member of staff
attempting to use the said piece of equipment and possibly injuring themselves due to the
equipment being damaged, this is why you should report all breakages to your supervisor
so the tools and equipment can be disposed of correctly and to ensure the safety of
others.
e) Not following laid-down working practices and procedures
If you do not follow work procedures and safe working practices it could lead to all sorts of
injuries, when carrying out a new task you should never cut corners and you should follow
the work by the book, this reduces any risk of injuries to yourself and others. Slips trips
and falls are the most common workplace injury and when not following correct
procedures, this percentage will increase.

K9. Outline the processes and procedures that are used to identify and rate the level of
risk such as;
a) Safety inspections
Safety inspections are carried out to inspect and identify any hazards that a piece of
machinery or equipment might have, an example would be a pre and post user check
sheet. A form is completed to show and to note that all correct checks have been
completed. The pre and post user check sheet allows the user to easily decide if the
equipment is safe to use without carrying out time consuming tests.
b) The use of hazard check lists
Hazard check lists helps identify certain hazards within the work area, this could help
identify and eliminate any slips trips or fall risks and you can list if an area needs to be
4s’d. The check list is used to minimise any hazards from occurring
c) Carrying out risk and COSHH assessments
Risk assessments should always be carried out when starting a new task or job, this helps
the staff and work members identify what hazards and risks could occur when handling the
job. The hazards could range from falls to death, therefore you should carry out a risk
assessment as it could identify risks that you might have not seen. Dirty walkways hide
dust that can cause workers to slip and injury themselves, therefore good housekeeping
should always be in place and a risk assessment.
K10. Explain control measures that can be used to eliminate/reduce the hazard such as;
a) Lock-off and permit to work procedures
Lock off and permits to work reduce the risk of any untrained personnel from interfering
with workers that are carrying out dangerous work that needs to be locked off correctly. A
lock out tag is used when isolating equipment with a padlock so that only the worker who
has the key has authorisation to unlock the equipment and start it back up. This helps in
many situations to eliminate risks as it stops anyone from walking up and starting the
equipment when someone could be inside working still. Permits to work are also a good
tool as it ensures only trained and competent workers can carry out the task in hand.
b) Provision of safe access and egress
Provision of safe access and egress is when you set up barriers and entry points when
carrying out work, this stops unauthorised people from being on the site and reduces
hazards due to others dramatically. This can be set up next to machines or to close an
entire area, this means it will stop people gaining entry but will keep a safe distance away
from the risk area.
c) Use of guards and fume extraction equipment
Guards and fume extraction should be used when harmful gases or substances are used
within a confined area. Guards are used all around the site and can be put on bandsaws,
pillar drills, and even grinders. This stops people from touching exposed parts that could
cause an injury to the person.
d) Use of personal protective equipment

PPE is needed, and your supervisor should equip you with suitable PPE for the job. Any
piece of PPE that is listed on a safety man poster for a work area must be worn as it has
been identified as hazard and risk reducing and without the correct PPE it could cause
issues with yourself or others.
K11. Identify the first aid facilities that exist within your work area and within the
organisation in general and the procedures to be followed in the case of accidents
involving injury?
In my work area there are multiple first aid facilities, there is a main board listing who the first
aider is in the work area and there are first aid kits placed at safety gates and also eye wash kits
are available in certain areas. When an injury does occur, you should contact the first aider and
if it is severe 2222 should be called and they will notify 999 and they will come to your work
area. You will then have to fill out an accident form notifying what happened and if you are able
to return to work.
K12. State what constitutes dangerous occurrences and hazardous malfunctions and
why these must be reported even when no one was injured?
Dangerous occurrences and hazardous malfunctions, also known as near misses should always
be reported and recorded. This is because if it has happened once, it could happen again, so it
is important to record what happened, so we can prevent it happening again in the future and
possibly injuring someone. A hazardous occurrence could be oil spilling on the floor as no one
could have been affected but if left it could cause trips and falls. A dangerous occurrence could
be a safety guard breaking but no one being injured, this is severe and should be reported at all
times, no exceptions.
K13. Outline the procedures for sounding the emergency alarms, evacuating procedures
and escape routes to be used and the need to report your presence at the appropriate
assembly point?
When an emergency evacuation is happening, you should always sound the alarms first so
everyone in the workplace knows and understands what to do and where to go, evacuating
procedures should always be on display even if not in an emergency. The procedure would be
to go to your evacuation point and register in your name, so your supervisor or group leader
knows you are out of the building. Nearest fire exits should be used to allow an easy flow of
traffic for people to get out the building easily.
K14. Outline the organisational policy with regard to fire-fighting procedures, the
common causes of fire and what you can do to help prevent them?
My organisations fire policy is to follow procedures, rules, and regulations set by law. Fire
extinguishers should be placed near equipment that has sparking or near areas that use open
flames, this is because the most common fire hazards are naked flames, sparks, oils and
greases. Reducing the use or cleaning up after working with these items will greatly reduce the
chance of a fire occurring. If a fire was to happen ensure the correct type of fire extinguisher is
going to be used as it could possibly make it worse.
K15. State the protective clothing and equipment that is available for your areas of
activity?
PPE that is available are, safety glasses, hard hats, safety boots, overalls, gloves, welding
masks, protective sleeves. These are available because safety glasses protect your eyes from

projectiles or any type of hazard that could be airborne, hard hats are used to protect the skull
from impact damage from falling objects or being in confined areas, Overalls are used as they
protect the skin from puncture wounds or cuts; they also help prevent fires as they are fire
retardant. Gloves are used to also prevent cuts to the hand but should be removed when
working on rotating machinery. Welding masks are used in welding to protect against arc eye
and to protect against welding fumes and sparks from entering your facial area.
K16. Explain the need to observe personal protection and hygiene procedures at all times
such as;
a) Skin care (barrier creams, gloves)
Barrier creams and gloves protect your skin against dermatitis, your hands should be
protected at all times to prevent against cuts and punctures wounds. When using rotary
machinery your gloves must be removed but re-equipped when finished, barrier creams
create a barrier on your skin to stop oils and greases from coming in contact with your
skin, you must make sure you clean your hands thoroughly to clean away to used barrier
cream and re-apply more if needed afterwards.
b) Eye protection (safety glasses, googles, full face helmets)
Eye protection must always be observed at all times, safety glasses must always be work
for any work related task, followed by goggles if needed. You should always check the
speed rating of the safety glasses to ensure they are sufficient for the task you are
carrying out. If your safety glasses to not suitable; safety goggles will need to be worn in
replacement. Full face helmets combine the use of hard hats and safety glasses to
ensure your whole face and head is protected against falling/flying objects, this would be
used in heavy duty tasks and around areas with prone hazards.
c) Hearing protection (ear plugs, ear defenders)
Hearing protection is something workers to do worry about, but you should always wear
ear protection when working in loud environments, hearing loss does not affect you
straight away but will after time. Ear plugs and ear defenders cancel out noise and allows
you to work in noisy areas without having the risk of damaging your hearing.
d) Respiratory protection (fume extraction, face masks, breathing apparatus)
Fume extraction should always be available when working in areas where there is
enclosed bays where fumes cannot readily escape, face masks and other breathing
apparatus should always be available, this cleans the air you are breathing in and
reducing the amount of harmful fumes you are breathing in. If this PPE is not worn it
could affect your respiratory system in the future and could have extreme health
problems.
e) Head protection (caps with hair restraints, protective helmets)
Head protection is a must for all work areas, there is always a risk of falling or flying
objects so hard hats/safety hats must always be worn. It protects your skull from impact
damage and could save your life, the head protection must be able to change size to fit
all users head sizes and must withstand certain impact tests in different working
environments.
f) Foot protection (safety footwear)

Steel toe cap boots must always be worn and observed as they protect your feet from
impact damage due to falling objects or slips, trips, and falls. The should cover your
whole toes and should be the correct fitment for your own foot. You can also get certain
safety boots that can withstand oil and other chemicals which may be present in different
work places.
g) Dangers of ingestion and the importance of washing hands
Ingestion of harmful chemicals and oils are likely if you do not wash your hands or use
suitable barrier protection. If you do not wash your hands after working in a dirty
environment it could lead to dermatitis, so ensure you clean your hands with hand wash
and warm water to remove any harmful chemicals and greases. After washing ensure
you dry them with paper towels or with the use of a hand dryer, do not allow to dry in the
atmosphere as it dries out your skin and could cause skin damage.
K17. Explain how to act responsibly within the working environment such as;
a) Observing restricted area notices
Restricted area signs are in place to stop workers from accessing dangerous areas which
could cause injury to them, so if a area displays a restricted sign they must follow the
signs rules and do not enter. If you believe you are competent and trained in that are you
must contact your supervisor and explain your situation.
b) Complying with warning signs
When complying with warning signs you must read the writing and ensure you do not
break the rules which the signs and writing out. If this means do not enter, you must not
enter the area, this may be due to extensive work being carried out or there could be
dangerous hazards that may be in that area.
c) Walking not running
In all work areas you must never run as it increases the risk of a slip, trip, or fall hazard
from occurring, running in a work area will only cause problems as a worker could be
handling dangerous chemicals and you could accidentally run into them. This is why you
should only ever walk in every workplace to ensure the safety of yourself and others
around you.
d) Using equipment only for its intended purpose
When working with tools and equipment you should only use the tools for their intended
use, this reduces the risk of the tools breaking and getting damaged prematurely due to
incorrect use. If you use the equipment for the wrong use it could instantly fail and break
causing damage to yourself or others so ensure you read the instructions and only use it
for why it was made for.
e) Not interfering with equipment or processes that are not within your job role
You should never interfere with equipment or job processes that are not within your job
role as equipment have certain parameters to be used and your job role may not be fully
trained and competent in that work area, this is why you should stay away from other
workers equipment as you could accidentally damage or break the process which can

cause downtime for the company leading to disciplinary actions being taken against you.
f) Following approved safety procedures at all times
You should ensure you follow approved safety procedures at all times as it will keep
yourself safe and others around you safe, these safety procedures would have been
approved for a reason and if you do not follow them you are increasing the chance of a
safety hazard happening and
K18. Outline how to lift and carry loads safely and the manual and mechanical aids
available?
When lifting and carrying loads you should follow all manual handing regulations, firstly you
should assess the load and check if the weight it suitable for a one man lift, or if two people are
needed. Then you should check the route of where the load will be taken and ensure all workers
around you know what task you are carrying out so they do not get in your way. Next you can
pick up the load keeping your back straight and your knees bent, then safely carry the load to
the final destination, ensuring you keep the load as close to your body as possible. If the load is
too heavy you can use trollies, pump trucks, and also cranes which are mechanical lifting aids,
this removes the risk of injuring yourself due to manual handling.
K19. Describe how to prepare and maintain safe working areas and standards and
procedures to ensure good housekeeping?
When maintaining a safe working area you must ensure everyone is keeping up with the
standards and check all pre and post user checks are being completed, you can then check and
ensure all tools and equipment are returned to their home destinations and that they are in good
working order. To ensure good housekeeping you must carry out a full 4S task where you check
each work area to ensure it has been tidied correctly and that all safety guards are in place. This
means cleaning all walkways and removing any oils or grease that may be present on work
equipment or machinery.
K20. Explain the importance of safe storage of tools, equipment, materials and products?
It is very important to ensure all tools, equipment and materials including products are back in
their home positions and checked with the use of a pre and post user check sheet, this checks if
the tools and equipment are in working order before using and also checked after use to ensure
they all still in good working order ready to be used next time. Tools that have damage on the
handles or the body of the tool can break whilst in use so if a tool is damaged ensure you tell
your supervisor and get the tool replaced so it cannot break whilst in use and injury someone
else. When storing equipment it should be kept in clean areas, free of any oils and greases to
protect the tools from the atmosphere. The safe storage of these tools is to ensure the safety of
yourself and others around you and also to ensure that the tools are ready for the job.
K21. Describe the extent of your own authority and whom you should report to in the
event of problems that you cannot resolve?
My own authority only extents as far as I am competent and trained in the field of where the problem is,
if the problem cannot be resolved it must be raised to a manager or supervisor to which they can fix the
situation. If the problem is something a trained and competent employee can handle and sort out and
fix, their authority allows them to do this as they will understand the problem and how to fix it
accordingly, to as reasonably practical.