1. understanding potential dangers, risks, hazards and accidents

1. Understanding potential dangers, risks, hazards and

accidents

What do you think a hazard is?

Hazards Hazard is ‘a potential danger or risk’ (oxford dictionary)

Examples of work hazards Slips, trips and falls Hazardous substances Fire Electricity Hazardous substances (e.g. solids,

liquid gasses, mists and fumes.

Dangers Danger is the possibility of suffering harm or injury (Oxford dictionary)

Slips, falls and trips (damages to bones, muscles and joints)

Fire (Hazardous smokes and toxic fumes ,burns can cause death/harm)

Electricity (Faulty electrical appliances can also lead to fires. As well as causing injuries and loss of life, fires cause damage to plant, equipment and property)

Hazardous substances (injury or even death through inhalation, ingestion and dermal exposure.

Risks ‘A probability or threat of damage, injury, liability, loss, or any other negative occurrence that is caused by external or internal vulnerabilities, and that may be avoided through pre-emptive action.’ (Business dictionary)

Who is most at risk at work ?

Anyone can be exposed to the dangers of electricity while at work and everyone should be made aware of the dangers.

Those most at risk include maintenance staff, those working with electrical plant, equipment and machinery, and people working in harsh environments such as construction sites.

Answer

How are risks controlled?

Controlling the risks As part of managing the Health and safety at workplace you must control risks. Risk assessment process must be carried out to identify what might cause harm to people and ways of controlling and preventing them from happening. Identify hazards Who might be harmed Evaluate the risks Record your findings Regularly review your risk assessment

Accidents ‘An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury’ (Oxford dictionary)Most accidents occur when: Smooth cleaned floors are left wet Spills are not cleaned up quickly and

effectively Floor in bad condition

2. How to identify hazards

Dangerous Material What types of material can be classed

as dangerous? Plastic Paper/cardboard

Prevention Correct disposal of materials Store in a secure area

Unstored Tables and Chairs Common cause of accidents and injuries

Prevention Stack appropriately Store in ‘out the way’ areas or easily

avoidable areas.

Manual Handling Most common cause of injuries in a

retail environment Correct technique when lifting

3. How to ‘fix’ hazards

SLIPPERY FLOOR

What would you do?

Answer? Proper use of warning signs

Advanced training for cleaning personnel

Look out for shiny floors

Secure a appropriate ventilation system

UNSECURED CORDS

What would you do?

Answer? Use of cable fixers and -covers

Report old cords and electronics

Replace systems within a certain time frame

GASLEAKS

What would you do?

Answer? Leave the building immediately

Warn your colleagues on your way out

Call local Fire department/Police

Keep a safe distance

4. Customer safety

Customer/Employee Safety Businesses have a ‘duty of care’ for staff and

importantly customers who are temporarily visiting the premises.

"Slip and fall" is a term used for a personal injury case in which a person slips or trips and falls, and is injured on someone else's property. (Adviceguide.org.uk, 2013)

Dangerous conditions must be present, such a loose tiles, loose carpeting, loose shelf fixtures, spillages, and other hazards which could a potential accident BUT have not been sign posted or made aware of with the business involved, and the business has made NO ATTEMPT to remove the hazard.

What to do if a accident happens in store? First a customer should try and make a record of

details such as: Time and Date accident occurred? Where did the accident occur? What was the cause of the accident? Any witnesses present at the time of accident?*And if possible photographs of evidence can be taken to help back the customers claim. And finally it is advised a customer reports the

accident to a member of staff in store so it can be recorded in their accident book so it does not occur again.

Questions a customer should ask if hurt? Firstly it has to be established that the

possessor or property owner had knowledge of the dangerous condition, in order to prove this a number of questions have to be asked:

Did the owner/Possessor create the condition? The Owner /Possessor knew about the condition

which existed but failed to correct it? Or the condition which caused the accident

existed for a certain length of time the owner/possessor had time to correct it after the accident. Why didn’t they do this prior to a consumer getting hurt? (Matthews, 2013)

How the customer makes a claim? First the customer has to make a employee aware of

the accident. The accident should be recorded in a “Accident Book” In every case, medical evidence will be required and it

is necessary to show that the person you are making a claim against owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care (were negligent), and that the injury you sustained was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of that negligence. (Thelegalline.co.uk, 2013)

Seek legal help once evidence and medical information has been gathered from a legal solicitor.

How employees can prevent this… If a hazard is found, it is advise a employee sign posts

or removes the hazard. Or if a spill is too large, cleaning staff or management

is informed of the area which is affected and the employee stands near the area to make others aware.

If boxes are left lying around, clean them up. To prevent obstruction of fire exits or even accidents.

If items don’t fit shelves or are too heavy remove them and make someone aware.

If loose wires are present make a manager aware and try and stay close until the right person is contacted.

Spot the hazard…

In the pictures handed out there is numerous hazards.

As groups:- Identify the hazards how it can be dangerous for

customers.- Are any signs needed or anyone need to be

made aware of?- Acting as an employee, How you as an

employee would act if coming across the hazard.

Wet Floor

Blocked Fire Exit

Smashed Bottles

Cluttered Space

5. What to do if a co-workers is working unsafely?

What would you do?

Stages of DangerVery High Level Danger – Leave The Building!

High Level Danger – I

mmediate Attention 5 minutes

Medium Level Danger – Maximum 1 hour

Low Level Danger – Everyday Occurrences

Low Level Dangers (Examples)A Colleague Could:

Leave Wires On The Floor (Non Walkways) Leaving Hanging Wires, Or Other Hanging Objects

Slippery Surfaces (Non Floors) Larger Items Blocking Walkways Tripping Hazards (Larger Items)

Dusty Or Dirty Floors Dirty Counters

Answer?Dirty counters!

Did you know that kitchen areas harbour more germs than any room in your home or workplace, including the bathroom! So if your retail outlet serves food, make sure

you keep counters clean.

Medium Level Dangers (Examples)

Slippery Floors (Spillages) Smaller Tripping Hazards

Noise And Vibration Asbestos

Lack Of Training Electronics Near Water Dirty Counters (Food)

Sharp Edges

Answer? Lack Of Training!

Some Of The Results Of Not Training Staff Properly Are:

Unhappy Staff Low Productivity

Unsafe Working Environment Increased Expenses Loss Of Customers

High Level Dangers (Examples)

Working Unsafely At Heights Misuse Of Hazardous Substances

Improper Disposable Of Hazardous Substances

Lack Of Control System (Safety Procedures) Improper Use Of PPE Lack Of Equipment

Lack of training

Very High Level Dangers (Examples)

Fires Floods

Major electricity problems Asbestos disturbance

Gas leaks

Asbestos Information http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpwB

wYIa9EM

Who to speak to?

Low level Dangers?

Speak with your colleague personally

Your first point of call will be to discuss with the colleague in question

You can point out what is dangerous about their activity and possible

consequences Give suggestions to ‘fix’ the problem

If employee is continuing to work unsafely, report to supervisor

Medium Level Dangers?

Speak with your supervisor

Explain the situation Why? Where? When? What? How?

If regarding another member of staff, explain you have pointed out the

potential dangers to them, (which will hopefully save time)

If supervisor refuses to do anything take the matter to management

High Level Dangers?

Speak with your manager If your supervisor is unresponsive then

management may need to be informed Why? Where? When? What? How?

HSE

Very High Level of Danger?

Very High Level of Danger Raise the alarm!

Leave the building Ring the emergency services or

equivalent service!

Surprise Quiz!

You have 1 minute to discuss in your teams what these dangers should be classed as and who to report it to?

Noise and Vibrations Improper use of PPE

Larger items blocking walkways Misuse of hazardous substances

Answers Noise and vibration – Medium level danger –

Supervisor

Improper use of PPE – High level danger – Management

Larger items blocking walkways – Low level danger – speak with colleague

Misuse of hazardous substances – High level danger – Management

Thank you so much!Any questions?

References Adviceguide.org.uk. 2013. Citizens Advice - Personal injuries. [online]

Available at: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/law_w/law_legal_system_e/law_personal_injury_e/personal_injuries.htm [Accessed: 25 Oct 2013].

Fraserbrown.com. 2013. Accidents in a Shop. [online] Available at: http://www.fraserbrown.com/accidents-in-a-shop [Accessed: 30 Oct 2013].

Matthews, J. 2013. Proving Fault in Accidents on Dangerous or Defective Property | Nolo.com. [online] Available at: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/proving-fault-accidents-dangerous-property-30139.html [Accessed: 30 Oct 2013].

Thelegalline.co.uk. 2013. Shop and Supermarket Accidents. [online] Available at: http://www.thelegalline.co.uk/injuries_in_public_places_shop-supermarket-accident-claims.aspx#previous_claims_shop_supermarket_accidents [Accessed: 30 Oct 2013].