al and Community services

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G29

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH COUNCIL

OKA

THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONGLIBRARIES

Hong Kong Collectiongift from

Hong Kong (China). OccupationalSafety & Health Council

Occupational Safety and Health ofPersonal and Community Services Sectors.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance 3

Occupational Safety and Health Regulation 4

Notification of Occupational Diseases 5

Hazardous Factors Affecting Occupational Health 6

1. Chemical Factors

2. Physical Factors

3. Biological Factors

4. Human Ergonomic Factors

5. Psychological Factors

6. Other Factors

Hazardous Factors Affecting Occupational Safety 12

1. Working at Height

2. Electrical Safety

3. Fire Prevention and Fire Safety

4. Slip, Trip and Fall

Prevention and Control of the Occupational Safety

and Health Hazards

1. Finding and Identifying the Potential Hazard

at the Workplace

2. Assessing the Occupational Safety and Health Risks

3. Control Measures

20Conclusion

Occupational Safety and Health of^gjgjji and Community Services Sectors

ForewordAs Hong Kong is going through economic restructuring in recent years, most people who worked

in the manufacturing industry in the past have moved into the personal and community service

sectors, taking up jobs such as domestic helpers, indoor cleaning service workers, washing and

ironing, dry cleaning workers, elderly home care attendants, beauticians and hairdressers, paging

operators, masseurs, attendants of amusement and entertainment venues, etc.

The occupational safety and health risks associated with the personal and community services

sectors are relatively low compared to the manufacturing and other industries, yet because of

the former's characteristics, the hazards workers face are different from those of other industries.

Such characteristics include, for example, close contact with customers, irregular working hours

and work frequency, working alone, repetitive and monotonous style of work, having to handle

customers' complaints and their emotions, etc.

The common hazards to occupational safety and health in the personal and community services

sectors will be explained in the following pages, with an aim to increase the general public's

knowledge of occupational safety and health, in order to prevent accidents and occupational

diseases.

Occupational Safety and Health of

Occupational Safety and Health OrdinanceThe Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance that came into

effect in 1997 gave new legal protection in safety and health

to over 3 million workers employed in both the industrial and

non-industrial sectors in Hong Kong.

Purposes of the Ordinance:

• To ensure the safety and health of employees when they are at work.

• To prescribe measures that will contribute to making the workplaces of employees safer andhealthier for them.

• To improve the safety and health standards applicable to certain hazardous processes, plant

and substances in workplaces.

• To improve the safety and health aspects of working environments.

Occupational Safety and Health ofTd Community Services Sectors

Occupational Safety and Health RegulationThe first set of subsidiary regulation mainly sets out the actual provisions governing workplacesafety and health, which include: improving air ventilation equipment, providing basic fireprevention facilities, prevention of accidents, improving sanitary facilities, providing first aidfacilities and managing manual handling operation. Employers and employees should cooperateto create a safe and healthy working environment.

Responsibilities of employers:

• Establish safety system of work; provide safe mechanical equipment, together with propermaintenance and repairs.

• Provide information and trainingrelated to safety and health, togetherwith instruction and supervision.

• Ensure mean of access to and egressfrom the workplace are safe; provideadequate facilities to ensure a safeworking environment.

Responsibility of occupiers:

• Ensure both the workplace and plant comply with safety standards.

Responsibilities of employees:

• Use the safety equipment provided by theemployer.

• Abide by the safe system of work establishedby the employer.

Occupational Safety and Health ofSectors.

Notification of Occupational DiseasesThe Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance stipulates that, when a medical practitioner

finds or suspects an employee is or was suffering from one of the 49 occupational diseases

specified under the Ordinance, he/she must submit a written notification on a prescribed form

to the Commissioner for Labour. The 49 occupational diseases are listed in the table below.

The Employees' Compensation Ordinance stipulates that if an employee loses his working capacity

or dies from the occupational diseases specified under the Ordinance, the employer must notify

the Labour Department.

Radiation Illnesses I Poisoning by Lead Chrome Ulceration

! Heat Cataract Poisoning by Manganese Urinary Tract Cancer

Dysbarism 1 Poisoning by Phosphorus I Peripheral Polyneuropathy

I Cramp of Hand or Forearm

Beat Hand

Poisoning by ArsenicI Localised New Growth of TheSkin Papillomatous or Keratotic

Poisoning by Mercury Occupational Vitiligo

I Beat Knee

Beat Elbow

I Tenosynovitis of Hand or Forearm

Anthrax

PI Glanders

Leptospirosis

Farmer's Lungs

Brucellosis

| Tuberculosis

Parenterally Contracted Viral jHepatitis

Poisoning by Carbon Bisulphide 1 1 Occupational Dermatitis

Poisoning by Benzene

Poisoning by Nitro-, Amino-, or || Chloro- Derivatives of Benzene

Poisoning by Dinitrophenol

| Poisoning by Halogen Derivatives of |Hydrocarbons of the Aliphatic series

Upper Respiratory Tract InflammationProduced by Dust Liquid or Vapor

Nasal Carcinoma

Byssinosis

Occupational Asthma

Poisoning by Diethylene Dioxide I 1 Silicosis

1 Poisoning by Chlorinated Naphthalene E 1 Asbestos-related Diseases

1 Poisoning by Oxides of Nitrogen I I Occupational Deafness

Poisoning by Beryllium

Poisoning by Cadmium

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Legionnaires' Disease

Infection by Streptococcus Suis I I Dystrophy of the Cornea

Avian Chlamydiosis I Skin Cancer

Compensation of Occupational DiseasesAccording to the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation)

Ordinance and the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance, sufferers of the 49

occupational diseases are eligible for compensation under the law if they meet certain conditions.

Occupational Safety and Health ofand Community Services Sectors

Hazardous Factors Affecting Occupational HealthThe hazardous factors affecting occupational health can be broadly classified into the chemical,

physical, biological, ergonomic and psychological aspects.

1. Chemical Factors

Workers in the nursing, cleaning, washing and ironing and dry cleaning

businesses are often exposed to chemical substances such as soap,

detergent, dry cleaning agent, disinfectant, dirt-removing agent,

solvents, insecticide and sewage cleansing agent, etc. These chemical

substances can be absorbed by the body via skin contact or the

respiratory system, causing damage to the skin, eyes, throat or lungs.

Most of the detergents available in the market have not

been diluted. Using these highly concentrated detergents

in the cleaning process may lead to poisoning or burn (e.g.

acids or oxidants) caused by over-exposure. Some chemicals

contain metal allergens (e.g. nickel, cobalt, chromate, etc.)

which induce allergies easily.

Hairdressers and beauticians provide various services including

nail painting and hair colouring. The chemicals they use, such

as colourants and dyes, may affect the central nervous system

and irritate the respiratory tract, eyes and skin, leading to

allergic reactions such as headache and dizziness.

Beauticians also have to use various types of make-up products, some of which contain

different kinds of solvents, colourants, dyes, preservatives and other chemicals. They can

also cause skin irritation and even dermatitis.

To use chemicals safely:

-Avoid using undiluted detergents

- Do not mix different chemicals together

— Keep the workplace well-ventilated

-The employer should give proper training and

instruction to employees

- Wear suitable personal protective equipment such

as gloves, breathing apparatus, apron, etc.

Occupational Safety and Health ofSectors.

2. Physical Factors

The noise at amusement and entertainmentvenues can make workers feel annoyed andstressed, increasing their blood pressure or evenleading to occupational deafness.

Proper lighting is very important at any workplace.Not only can good lighting enable workers to seeclearly, reduce eyes discomfort and preventaccidents, it can also enhance efficiency.

Some beauty parlours provide laser beauty services and some amusement and entertainmentvenues have laser effects to attract customers. These laser devices may have different purposes,but whether they are used for beauty or performance purposes, these laser devices shouldcarry a laser level classification label from the manufacturer. The management should givetheir staff proper training according to the classification of the device, and provide themwith instruction and personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

Also, in laundries, the use of steamers forironing and the operating of washers anddryers usually make the factory hotter andmore humid. The problem of hightemperature should not be ignored,especially in the summer. More windowsshould be open at the factory; or fans andexhaust fans can be installed to improveventilation and lower the temperature.

Occupational Safety and Health ofjSaEnd Community Services Sectors

3. Biological Factors

Nursing workers may contract bacterial or

communicable diseases infection when taking

care of the elderly or patients.

If pricked by needles or hurt by sharp objects when handling

garbage, nursing workers or cleaners may be infected with

tetanus, hepatitis B or other infectious diseases.

Cleaners may be infected by leptospira through

contact with bugs, rats or their excrement.

Hairdressers, beauticians and masseurs may be infected with

respiratory diseases or skin diseases through close contact with

infected customers.

Indoor air quality - Bad air quality is found in many

workplaces of the personal and community service

sectors. Normal indoor air-conditioning may not be able

to dilute or carry away the harmful substances at the

workplace (e.g. the chemicals produced at dry cleaners,

hair salons, beauty parlours and during indoor cleaning

work, the steam of cleaning equipment, the smoke

released by smoking customers, etc.).

Occupational Safety and Health of

4. Human Ergonomic Factors

Manual carrying and lifting -Nursing workers often have tocarry and support the weight ofthe elderly or patients, etc. If theirposture is incorrect, their waistand back will be hurt easily.

In addition, bad working posturessuch as arching the waist when liftingitems from the floor, over stretchingmotions and the improper design ofequipment can increase the chanceof getting hurt. Standing forextended periods of time may causevaricose veins in the lower limbs.Poor ergonomic factors cancause waist, back, shoulderand neck pain, inflammationof the tendon sheaths,and ca rpa I t u n n e lsyndrome, etc.

Repetitive motion - Ironing, sweeping and cleaning,hairdressing, beautifying, massaging, and typingon the keyboard by a paging operator all involve alot of repetitive motions of the hand and forearm,which can easily strain the muscles and bones.

Occupational Safety and Health ofid Community Services Sectors

5. Psychological Factors

Moderate work pressure can boost the staff'sefficiency, energy and alertness, but too muchpressure can cause discomfort, down mood,anxiety and depression, exhaustion, reductionin productivity and even health problems likeheart disease, gastric ulcer, headache, etc. Workpressure can come from the work itself (toomuch or too little), working condition (noise,chemicals, etc.) and improper corporatemanagement, etc.

Ways to reduce work pressure:

• Strengthen communication and cooperation between themanagement and staff.

• Moderate work load and improve working condition.

• Enhance the relationship between staff members andintroduce more incentive and award schemes.

Provide training to strengthen the staff's ability to copewith pressure.

Allocate working hours appropriately.

• Honest communication.

• Learn to use self-relaxation skills.

• Pay attention to the early symptoms of stress.If you experience more stress than you cancope with, do not hesitate to seek professionaladvice and assistance.

Occupational Safety and Health ofices Sectors.

6. Other Factors

1. Shift dutyShift duty is very common in the personal and community service sectors, but this cancreate physical and social problems for workers. Because of the change in sleep pattern,workers who need to perform shift duty may have symptoms such as sleep disorder, stomachdiscomfort, chronic fatigue and moodiness. If the condition gets serious, it can causeheart disease. But many studies have pointed out that with a reasonable shift system andappropriate sleeping, eating and family life schedule, shift duty can also be safe and healthy.

• Construct and strictly adhere to a sleeping plan.

• Keep the bedroom quiet, turn off the phone, install light-blocking curtains so you can sleep during the day.

• Avoid coffee, tea and other stimulantsafter the middle of a night shift.

• Construct a diet plan that focuses onlight eating.

• Discuss the shift duty problems with families andfriends to earn their understanding and support.

• Participate in social activities and enhance therelationships with family members and friends.

• Do more exercises to stay healthy.

2. Violence at WorkService workers may encounter violence at work whichshould be taken seriously. Some customers use violenceas a way to express their emotion because of sickness,injury or under the influence of drugs. Workers shouldbe aware of such dangers to avoid getting hurt. Ask co-workers to help putting customers' emotions undercontrol when needed. The management should adopta set of guidelines for handling violence so thatemployees know how to react in violent situations.

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Occupational Safety and Health ofPersonal and Community Services Sectors

Hazardous Factors Affecting Occupational Safety1. Working at Height

• When cleaning high places, a steadyladder or stepping stool should be used.

• Extendable tools can be used when cleaningwindows.

• Do not stand on a chair or lean out of the windowto clean.

Occupational Safety and Health of;tors.

2. Electrical Safety

Electric shock, electric leakage and fire caused by electric socket overload can result in loss of

many lives and property. The management should arrange regular checkups of the electrical

equipment in use, including the wear and earthing condition of wires.

Preventing electrical appliances from causing fire:

• The installation of electrical appliances, connection of wires or

maintenance of electrical appliances should be carried out by

qualified and certified electricians.

• Install earth wires on electrical appliances.

• Use electr ical appliances with

double insulation design.

• Use earth leakage circuit breakers.0

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0 / • Avoid socket overload.

To prevent electric shock, pay attention to the following:

• Avoid operating electrical appliances under humid condition.

• Do not fix electrical appliances or electrical devices yourself.

• Before moving any electrical devices, turn

off the electrical supply.

Occupational Safety and Health ofCommunity Services Sectors

3. Fire Prevention and Fire Safety

The prevention of fire is very importantto any workplace; employers and themanagement have the responsibility toensure that every worker understandsthe safety agenda of fire prevention andthe emergency fire evacuation planadopted by the company, and to runregular fire drill exercises.

• Try the best to avoid smoking in the workplace; if you need to smoke, use an ashtray.Burning cigarette butts should be kept away from papers and flammable items. Rememberto extinguish cigarette butts before leaving.

• Do not store too much flammable substance in the workplace.

• Do not obstruct or lock exit doors and passages.Exits should lead to an open and safe area.

• Do not obstruct fire extinguishing equipment.Learn how to use emergency fire extinguishingequipment such as fire extinguisher, fire hose, etc.

• Familiarise with the escape routes and assemblypoint.

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Occupational Safety and Health of

4. Slip, Trip and Fall

Slip, trip and fall are the most common accidents, but with suitable arrangement, accidentssuch as mis-stepping and tripping can largely be avoided. The prevention measures aresimple and do not cost any money, and will even bring other benefits.

1. Good working and housekeeping approach

• Pay attention to the right working procedures from the start. This can effectivelyminimize the risks of mis-stepping and tripping.

• Choose a suitable flooring material and replaceor fix torn carpet as soon as possible.

Make sure there is adequate lighting and properly designated working areas and passageroutes to avoid collision or over-crowding.

• C lear obst ruc t ion items,randomly placed items andwires that lay across passages.

nil and Community Services Sectors

2. Cleaning and repairs

• Train workers to use various cleaningfacilities correctly.

• Select suitable cleaning methods andtools.

When cleaning the floor, put up warning signs to warnpeople that the floor is wet.

Carry out all repair procedures,including regular checkups, testing,fixing and cleaning, etc., and recordrelated information for reference inthe future.

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Occupational Safety and Health ofictors.

Prevention and Control of the Occupational Safety and Health HazardsA responsible employer should set up a plan for the protection of employees' occupationalsafety and health. Such plan should include:

1. Finding and Identifying the Potential Hazard atthe Workplace

• Inspect the workplace;

• Refer to occupational safety and health publications;

• Consult employees;

Check the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), etc.

2. Assessing the Occupational Safety and Health Risks

Different occupational safety and health hazards should be assessedwith different approaches to analyze the level of risk associated. Suchapproaches include measuring work frequency, physical strengthrequirement the toxic level of chemicals and the concentration of theirvapour in the air, analyzing theresults of accidents, conductingsurveys, and assess the existingcontrol measures, etc. The resultsshould be compared with theexisting statutory requirements.

Occupational Safety and Health ofid Community Services Sectors

3. Control Measures

If the result of risk assessment shows an unacceptable risk level, employers should adopt

appropriate control measures.

A. Engineering Control

Substitution of harmful substances

Substitute highly toxic substances with low-

toxic or non-toxic ones, e.g. detergents, dry

cleaning agents, colourants,

Isolation

Separate services that release chemical vapour from other services to avoid or minimize

the chance of exposure by workers and other customers.

• Change of working method/equipment

Choose well-designed or extendable hand-held tools such as brushes, brooms, and mops

or use mechanical equipment for assistance.

• Local exhaust

Local exhaust equipment should be

used when diluting or using volatile

detergents to exhaust harmful

substances directly from the source

and avoid contaminating indoor air.

• Ventilation system

Import large amount of fresh air to

dilute indoor air contaminants.

Occupational Safety and Health of

B. Administrative Control

• Body check

Provide pre-employment and regular body

checks in order to arrange suitable works for

employees and diagnose occupational diseases.

• TrainingProvide adequate training to teach workers the

proper work methods.

• Work allocationReduce the amount of time during which workers

are exposed to hazardous factors and let them have

adequate rest.

• Sanitary facilitiesProvide adequate and convenient cleaning facilities

and lavatories.

• Risk monitoringDevelop and implement risk monitoring plans.

• Health educationEducate employees on how to work and

live healthily.

• VaccinationPrevent employees from contracting and

spreading serious diseases.

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and Health ofi Community Services Sectors

II

C. Personal Protection

When engineering and administrativecontrols do not work or are unable to lowerthe risk to an acceptable level, personalprotective equipment should be used.

Personal protective equipment should be chosen properly. Theymust comply with the standard and suitable for the workingenvironment and the hazards concerned. Employers should alsoprovide adequate training and supervision to ensure the employeescan correctly use and maintain the equipment. In addition, it is alsoimportant to store adequate spare parts for replacement and keeprelated records.

ConclusionYou now have some basic knowledge of the major occupational safety and health hazards inthe personal and community services sectors and their control measures. Occupational safetyand health is a matter of immediate concern that should be taken seriously by different sectors.We hope that the management and employees of different sectors can identify the potentialhazards in their working environment and job nature, and adopt suitable control measures toprotect the safety and health of employees.

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X44163324

HKP 363.11 G29Occupational safety and healthof personal and communityservices sectorsHong Kong : the Council,

Date Due

N( T FOR LO .N

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH COUNCIL

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Copyright ©2005 Occupational Safety & Health Council 1/05 (01)