Slips, Trips & Falls- Electrical Safety Fire Safety Copy

Slips, Trips & Falls- Electrical Safety Fire Safety Copy

Slips and falls account for over a third of all major work-related injuries.

They are therefore the most common cause of injuries in the workplace. This is according to research done by the Health and Safety Executive.

Employers are set back a considerable over half a billion pounds annually in lost productions as well as other costs as a result of slips and trips while contributing to a reported half of all reported injuries to members of the public.

The legal costs employers have to foot as a result of these workplace injuries could prove to be quite significant considering employees, visitors, contractors and members of the public are all at risk

The main causes of slips, trips and falls are:

  • Uneven floor surfaces, 
  • Unsuitable floor coverings, 
  • Wet floors, 
  • Changes in levels, 
  • Trailing cables, 
  • Poor lighting and 
  • Poor housekeeping,

Legal duties and obligations to prevent falls

This includes the moral duty of employers to ensure protection for their employees as well as members of the public. General health and safety legislation covers all employers and workplaces

  • The regulations include obligations to protect employees and the public from risks associated with slips trips. unfolds. 
  • The following regulations also apply:

The workplace regulations 1992. These regulations cover all aspects of the workplace, including a requirement that floors are suitable in good condition and free from obstructions. People must also be able to move around the workplace safely.

Reducing The Risks Of Slips, Trips And Falls 

For risk minimisation measures, these methods are recommended:

Floor markings

Rails and add tread markers or other floor markings. 

Lighting

If there is poor lighting, improve lighting levels and placement of lighting to provide a more even lighting level all over the floor areas. 

Footwear

Industry Workers choose suitable footwear with the correct type of soul. If the work requires special protective footwear, the employer should provide it free of charge. 

Trailing cables 

Ensure to strategically place equipment to avoid cables crossing pedestrian routes, and use cable guards to cover cables where required.

Drying of surfaces

Ensure suitable footwear is worn and worn or risks by using signs

Rugs or Mats

Place rugs or mats where they cannot be removed or relocated

Slippery floor surfaces

Fix the source of the slippery floor and maintain it that way including entirely replacing the floor patch that is slippery

Changes in level and slopes

This can be done by providing effective markings like floor markings and rails for enhanced visibility and manoeuvrability.

Electrical Safety

Reduce live wire exposure

  • The health and safety executive has received a cumulative amount of up to 1000 reported cases of electricity-related injuries on an annual basis. From these cases, at least 30 have been fatal and just goes to show how lethal electricity can be.
  • Electrical faults including faulty equipment as a result of an electrical malfunction could potentially cause severe and permanent injury

Basic electrical safety

  • Avoid overloading socket outlets. Using adapters can cause fires. 
  • For portable equipment connect to nearby socket outlets so that it can be easily disconnected in an emergency.
  • Choose electrical equipment that is suitable for its working environment. 
  • Ensure that equipment is safe when supplied and maintain it in a safe condition. 
  • Electrical equipment used inflammable or explosive atmospheres should be designed not to produce sparks. Seek specialist advice when choosing this type of equipment. 
  • Protect light bulbs and other easily damaged equipment. There is a risk of electric shock if they are broken. Insurance ensures cable ends always have their outer sheets firmly clamped to stop wires working loose from plugs or inside the equipment. 
  • Ensure that electrical cables are intact with no exposed wires. If they’re not intact, do not use isolate and label do not choose and request for repair. 
  • Repairs should only be conducted by authorised staff. 
  • Most organisations and hospitals state that any patient or staff-owned electrical appliances brought into the premises are paths tested first, before use. Check your own organisations policies in relation to this.

Quick Recap

We have gone through potential hazards and injuries related to slips, trips and falls, and how to effectively avoid possible injuries or harm. We have as well taken a look at electrical hazards and how to keep safe from possible electrification

Fire Awareness And Evacuation    

Here we will discuss:

  • Legal duties for both employers and employees
  • Fire outbreak in the workplace
  • Fire risks at home and workplace
  • Safety measures against fire outbreak
  • Firefighting equipment, fire precaution measures
  • and emergency fire response
Relevant Legislation And Documentation.

The RR(regulatory reform) fire safety order of 2005

A responsible person should comply with the RR

Employers Responsibility concerning fire

An employer ought to:

  • Come with an emergency plan
  • Provide flexible emergency escape and exit routes
  • Bring onboard fire wardens to conduct a fire risk assessment
  • Install fire warning, lighting and detection systems
  • Work with local fire response authorities

An employee ought not to:

  • Block exit routes
  • Tamper with fire alarms or smoke detectors
  • Cause any fire outbreak
  • Smoke in non-smoking areas
  • Interfere with any firefighting equipment.

Fire is made up of three essential element

Fire can spread in a building or an area through four ways which are, direct burning, radiation, convection and conduction.

The Hazards of Smoke

Smoke results from incomplete burning. It is visible as a cloud of very fine particles. Once the oxygen gets depleted in a bounded area, the fire starts to produce massive, dangerous unburned fuel products and carbon monoxide. Most of the people in a fire outbreak die due to inhaling carbon monoxide.

Fire Precautions And Control Measures

  • Safety signs
  • Reliable evacuation equipment and procedure
  • Recruit competent fire wardens
  • Firefighting equipment
  • Fire alarms
  • Clear escape routes
  • Protective measures in the place of work
  • Fire barriers

Evacuation and Exit

  • Notify the fire brigade
  • Put out the fire by yourself if possible
  • Use the closest exit to get out of the building
  • Close all the doors and notify the assembly point
  • Raise a fire alarm

Fire Evacuation

Never:

  • Stay behind trying to collect your possessions
  • Use the lift
  • Return to the building until it is very safe

Fire Alarms

In most NHS trusts, fire alarms tones can be intermittent or continuous

An intermittent sound means there is a possible evacuation

A continuous tone notifies people to evacuate with immediate effect

The fire alarms ought to be assessed weekly

Fire Health Care

You have to be well-versed with all the safety procedures and policies laid down by your organisation. For example, when it comes to responding to a fire outbreak, you should quickly call the fire brigade. Several organisations will expect you to call a specific number. For instance, you will have to call 9999, in case of an emergency like a fire. Other organisations direct all emergency calls to a particular emergency phone. The emergency call numbers they use are 44444 or 2222.

A reliable care plan should be used to evacuate physically impaired patients. For example, the horizontal evacuation procedure, which involves evacuating patients through a compartment barrier to another compartment. A vertical evacuation procedure should only be considered as a last resort.

You have to familiarise yourself with the firefighting equipment in your organisation. Besides, know where the fire assembly point is located.

Home Fire Safety

  • In case you are a caregiver, make sure:
  • You, together with your patient, know how to escape.
  • Your patient installed smoke detectors. If that is not the case, the social services or local fire brigade should assist.
  • Your patient has well-marked escape routes
  • Your patient has made some excellent investment in a piece of firefighting equipment.

Quick Recap

We have already discussed the fire safety principles, potential causes of fire, fire prevention measures, firefighting equipment, evacuation procedures, and how to raise fire alarms.

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