M. LEPORE of health and safety in the WorkPLaCe Handbook for workers Information for workers according to Legislative Decree 81, art. 36 April 9th 2008 and subsequent amendments
A B C of HeALtH and SAFetY in the WORKPLACe sommario DEFINITIONS...5 WORKERS GENERAL DUTIES...7 MANUAL HANDLING OF LOADS...13 While lifting a load...13 LOAD HANDLING EQUIPMENT...17 Forklift truck...20 EQUIPMENT...27 Tools with handle...27 Power tools...28 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)...29 Definition of PPE...29 Types and uses...29 SAFETY SIGNS...35 Types of signs used...35 Prohibition signs...36 Fire equipment signs...36 Warning signs...37 Signs of prescription...39 Rescue signs...40 Danger labels...41 Danger symbols and indications, according to D 67/548/EEC...44 InDIce 3
Handbook for workers Labelling according to GHS/CLP (Reg. 1272/2008) - new pictograms...44 Verbal communication and hand signals...45 THE OFFICE...48 The workplace...48 Rules of conduct...49 Equipment...51 VDU (visual DISPLAY unite) WORKERS...54 Lighting...54 FIRST AID...61 Wounds...64 Nose-bleed/epistaxis...64 Bruises...64 Sprains, dislocations, muscle strains...65 Fractures...66 Heat-stroke...66 Eye injuries...67 Electric shock...67 Burns and scalds...68 Bites and stings...69 Heart attack...69 FIRE-FIGHTING...70 Basic rules of fire prevention...70 What to do in case of fire...71 Extinguishers...72 Use of fire hydrants...73 Classification of fire types...76 4
A B C of HeALtH and SAFetY in the WORKPLACe definitions Accident At Work: It s defined as an accident at work every event which occurs due to violent causes, at work, resulting in the death or a physical disability requiring the absence from work for more than one day excluding the one of the event. For the purposes of social security, absence from work must take place for more than three days. occupational disease: An occupational disease is an event - detrimental to health - that appears in a non-violent way and progressively over time, and that must be contracted during the practice of work and because of it. causes: The causes of accidents may be due to lack of organization, unsuitable technical conditions of the rooms, machinery, systems and equipment, and to lack or insufficiency of signs or of individual/collective protection devices, and, in conclusion, to wrong behaviours from the injured workers themselves or from other workers. It is not always easy to determine among the various causes of an injury, which one has been decisive. Anyhow, if in the production of an accident, organizational or technical failures have occurred, the possible combination of a behavioral error of the worker does not exclude the responsibility related to the omission of organizational or technical measures; on the other hand, the suitability of the organizational and technical conditions is not - by itself 5
Handbook for workers - enough to prevent accidents, because even the best organizational and technical situation can be frustrated by an unwary, negligent or inexpert behaviour. This is why, the most modern, precautionary and legal culture lays special stress on the interventions of training and information and gives the greatest importance to workers prudent, diligent and cooperative conduct. Prevention: All the provisions or measures necessary - even according to the peculiarity of the work -, the experience and the technology to prevent or reduce occupational risks in respect of the health of the population and the integrity of the external environment. Agent: The chemical, physical or biological agent present at work and potentially detrimental to health. Prevention and protection service: Group of people, systems and means - external or internal to the company - aimed at prevention and protection from occupational risks for workers. Competent physician: M.D. in possession of one of the qualifications and training/professional requirements pursuant to article 38, that collaborates with the employer as provided by article 29, paragraph 1, for the purpose of risk evaluation, appointed by the employer himself for sanitary surveillance and for all the other tasks referring to this Decree. O O Workers representative for safety: Person elected or appointed to represent workers in regard of all the aspects of health and safety in the workplace. 6
A B C of HeALtH and SAFetY in the WORKPLACe WORKERs GEnERal DUTIEs every worker must: Take care of his own health and safety, and the one of other people in the workplace, that may be caused by the effects of his acts or omissions, in conformity with his training and the instructions and equipment provided by the employer. Help, together with the employer, managers and supervisors, in fulfilling all the obligations imposed by the competent authority or otherwise necessary to protect workers health and safety at work.... take care of his own health and safety... 7
Handbook for workers... immediately communicate about the accident Immediately communicate to his direct superiors about the accident even if it does not require special care. Undergo the sanitary inspections provided for him. Observe the rules and the instructions given by the employer, managers and supervisors, for the purposes of collective and individual protection. Use machinery, apparatus, tools, dangerous substances 8
A B C of HeALtH and SAFetY in the WORKPLACe and preparations, means of transportation, work equipment and safety devices correctly. Make appropriate use of the protective equipment at his disposal. Immediately report the deficiencies of equipment and devices to the employer, manager or supervisors, as well as other dangerous conditions he gets to know, acting directly, in case of emergency, within the limits of his competences and possibilities, to get rid of or reduce such deficiencies or hazards, informing the workers representative for safety.... use P.P.E. (personal protective equipment)... report the deficiencies of equipment and devices... 9
Handbook for workers Do not remove or modify safety devices, or warning/ control signs without authorization. NO! YES! Do not carry out any operations or maneuvers on his own initiative that are not within his duties or that may damage his or other workers safety. Respect the prohibitions and the warnings highlighted by the signals displayed. Take a 15 minute break or change his activity every two hours of work with VDU... take a break every two hours... 10
A B C of HeALtH and SAFetY in the WORKPLACe Keep his workplace always clean and tidy, because untidiness and obstructions may cause falls and, in any case, obstacles to movement. Yes! Use sanitary equipment and report any possible malfunctions: this will help to prevent diseases and unnecessary risks. NO! 11
Handbook for workers emergency USCITA DI exit SICUREZZA ONLY Keep the floor of the workplace and of transit tidy, report any possible spill of liquid that could make it slippery. NO!.. do not occupy the emergency ways. NO! Do not obstruct the emergency exits with materials and objects. Do not close or prevent the opening of the emergency gates. Do not dirty or make invisible the escape route signs.... Do not soil the warning signals or make them not visible 12