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In this article, Nicola
Coote of PHSC Environmental identifies some common
health and safety risks associated with body preparation
activities, and seeks to give some common-sense
advice on how to minimise them.
The hazards associated with preparation
work are numerous and varied. Given below is an
outline of the more common type of hazards that
exist:
 Musculo-skeletal
disorders (eg RSI, back ache)
This includes a wide range of physical injuries
associated with preparation work, including back
ache and damage to muscles and tendons. A great
deal of time is spent in a bent or restrained
position, causing short term discomfort and increasing
the risk of long term damage.
Reduce risk by:
- Job rotation or varying
the work so the operator can change position
- Make workbenches and work areas
at a comfortable working height, to reduce stooping.
Alternatively offer adjustable height chairs,
where this is feasible
- Ensure there is a system for
workers to report discomfort at an early stage
Fire
and explosion
Cutting and grinding activities are categorised
under the term Ahot work@. This is because naked
flames may be used (welding etc) or the tools
become hot under friction and emit sparks. The
risk of fire is higher when gas cylinders are
present. These are highly flammable and can enrich
the atmosphere with oxygen if they are not used
and maintained properly.
If electrically powered tools are
used, there is the risk of electrical overload,
and subsequent fire.
Reduce risk by:
- Practice good housekeeping
ie anything that can ignite easily is removed
or kept away from the vicinity of hot work and
naked flames.
- Frequently inspect valves on
gas cylinders to ensure they are in good condition,
and closed off properly when not in use. Check
gas cylinders have correct regulators, flash
back arrestors, hoses, clamps (not jubilee clips)
and couplers for the gas and pressure being
used.
- Store gas canisters away from
general work areas when not in use. Cylinders
should ideally stored outside in a secure area
that is protected against the weather, or in
a well ventilated room.
- Frequently inspect and regularly
maintain (ideally six monthly and at least annually)
any portable electrical equipment. Remove any
damaged or defective equipment, to prevent someone
trying to use it.
Sharp
metal edges and glass
Cuts and abrasion injuries from metal and broken
glass are common accidents and are often simply
accepted as part of the job. The end result is
pain or discomfort to the victim, but there are
also more hidden health risks if chemicals or
dirt seep into the open wound.
Reduce risk by:
- Store metal and glass
in safe areas where people are unlikely to collide
with them, and they can be handled in a reasonable
manner.
- Ensure workers are offered suitable
gloves, and that they wear them.
- Ensure that workers do actually
record injuries in the accident book so that
it is possible to monitor whether your procedures
are satisfactory.
- Ensure that there is an adequate
first aid supply readily to hand.
Burns
These occur from welding and cutting activities
and sometimes from handling hot metal that has
been welded. Burn injuries seem to occur mostly
on the hands and arms, although the face and eyes
can sometimes be affected from radiated heat or
ejected hot material.
Reduce risk by:
- Develop a safe method
for undertaking welding and cutting activities.
- Consider whether face protection
is warranted. Take particular care in selecting
gloves to ensure that they resist heat and fire,
but can also provide adequate grip.
- Undertake cutting and welding
in an area of the workshop that enables good
ventilation and housekeeping standards.
Slips
and trips
This is the most common cause of accident in all
workplaces, and not only body preparation areas.
Reduce risk by:
- Frequently checking walkways
to ensure that tools and equipment have not
been left
- Regularly clean the floor to
reduce grease and dirt.
- Encourage workers to wear sensible
shoes with good grip
Dust
and swarf
This occurs from grinding and sanding processes.
Some dust that is inhaled merely gets caught in
the nose and throat, making people cough and sneeze.
However, small particles of dust (known as respirable
dust) can be inhaled into the lungs, and become
lodged. Over a period of time this can cause respiratory
disease, causing workers to have difficulty in
breathing.
Swarf being ejected into someone's
eye can result in serious eye damage, or blindness.
Reduce risk by:
- Fit local extraction ventilation
equipment (LEV) to the sanding and grinding
equipment so that dust is not emitted into the
atmosphere.
- Provide a good level of general
ventilation (open doors and windows)
- Vacuum rather than sweeping up
when cleaning (and doing this frequently !)
- Provide suitable respiratory
protective equipment (eg face mask to BS 6016
or a dust respirator with particulate filter
cartridge)
- Offer suitable eye protection
- Check that respiratory and eye
protective equipment is frequently checked,
maintained, repaired or replaced as necessary
- Ensure that any LEV is regularly
maintained, and formally tested at least every
14 months.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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Question:
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How
can I monitor health and safety standards
in the preparation area, without compromising
our work schedules? |
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Answer: |
Simple routine inspections by the dealer
principal, proprietor or other senior person
focuses everyone's mind and tells staff
that you are taking safety seriously. This
can take just 5 minutes every month. Use
a checklist or a blank piece of paper, and
note simple things like housekeeping standards,
people not fully using PPE, extraction systems
etc. Alternatively, undertake unannounced
spot checks whereby people are praised for
good practice and immediately identified
when they are not following safety procedures.
An example checklist is given below to give
you an indication of how to approach record
keeping.
Subject Y/N Comments
- Are walkways unobstructed?
- Is PPE being worn properly?
- Is PPE in good condition?
- Are any tools found to be in poor condition?
- Are airlines in good condition, with
care taken to minimise tripping hazards?
- Is ventilation extraction equipment
being used properly?
- Are walkways unobstructed?
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Question:
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I have been told that I have to have my local
exhaust ventilation (LEV) tested every 14
months Why? |
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Answer: |
Any
extraction system which is used to remove
gases, vapours or fumes from the atmosphere
comes under requirements of the COSHH Regulations.
The regulations require that this is maintained
in safe condition, and formally tested by
a competent person at least every 14 months.
Maintenance may be undertaken in-house or
by contractors, but ideally, the formal
test should be undertaken by another professional
body to prevent someone from testing their
own work! The insurance company and environmental
specialists can undertake this test for
you. |
From 'Body' magazine, September 2001
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