Oxygen Deficiency
Exposure to atmospheres containing 12% or less Oxygen can bring out unconsciousness without warning and so quickly that the individual cannot help or protect themselves.
Types of Dust
Heavy Dust
The layer of dust on furniture and floors.
Settling Dust
Particulate’s in the air floating around before it turns into heavy dust.
Suspended Atmospheric Dust
Minute particles slowly settling or suspended by slight currents and existing in varying amounts in all air.
Vibbration Legislation
Hand-arm vibration comes from the use of hand-held power tools and is the cause of significant ill health (painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves and joints).
By law, as an employer, you must assess and identify measures to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure to hand-arm vibration so that you can protect your employees from risks to their health.
Confined Space
A confined space is a place which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely), and where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby (e.g. lack of oxygen)
Noise Pollution Bulletin
Maximum workplace noise should be 85dB.
What is CO?
You can't see it, taste it or smell it but CO can kill quickly without warning. According to the HSE statistics around 20 people die from CO poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated. Levels that do not kill can cause serious harm to health if breathed in over a long period. In extreme cases paralysis and brain damage can be caused as a result of prolonged exposure to CO.
Mining
Within the Policy Group of the Health and Safety Executive the Mines, Quarries and Explosives Policy Section oversees and administers legislation relating to the mining industry.
Noise At Work
The maximum daily or weekly exposure is 87 db and the maximum peak sound pressure is 140 db.
If the daily noise reaches 85db(A) the law states that ear protection must not only be provided, it must be worn!
The regulations state that "the employer shall ensure that risk from the exposure of employees to noise is either eliminated at source or, where this is not reasonably practicable, reduced to as low a level as reasonably practicable"
Are your emloyees exposed to high noise levels??
Noise At Work - Employer's responsibilities
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work.The Regulations require you as an employer to:
Assess the risks to your employees from noise at work;
Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks;
Provide your employees with hearing protection if you cannot reduce the noise exposure enough by using other methods;
Make sure the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded;
Provide your employees with information, instruction and training;
Carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/employers.htm
