SPECIFIC HAZARD MANAGEMENT Drugs and alcohol Both illegal

SPECIFIC HAZARD MANAGEMENT

Drugs and alcohol Both illegal and legal drugs can affect health and safety and work performance. The physical effects of a drug can vary depending on the type of drug. Some drugs can react adversely when taken in conjunction with alcohol, or when combined with particular chemicals or substances being used in the workplace. Control measures include: Ø developing and implementing appropriate policy, guidelines and/or codes of behaviour Ø providing Employee Assistance Programs - including rehabilitation, counselling and corrective action where appropriate Ø correct usage and control of hazardous substances Ø testing for drug and alcohol.

Electrical safety Electricity is a major cause of facilities and serious injuries in industry. Electricity can cause: • electric shock resulting in death, burns and injury • fire • electrical explosion.

Control measures include: Ø switching off or disconnecting (isolating) all possible sources of electricity Ø treating all wires as live and testing the circuit immediately Ø using appropriately qualified and competent electrical workers and providing adequate training, instruction and supervision of all employees Ø ensuring supply remains isolated with the use of lock out equipment, tagging and isolating devices Ø using suitable insulation materials and equipment Ø ensuring proper maintenance, cleaning, inspecting, testing and storing of all electrical equipment Ø using warning notices and safety signs Ø working in pairs when working with electricity Ø implementing appropriate first aid procedures Ø being aware of the dangers of working near overhead powerlines Ø using PPE (eg. insulated gloves and footwear) Ø not allowing extension leads to be coiled tightly and overheated when in use Ø not allowing cables to be places on floors without protection or permitting trucks or trolleys to run over electrical cables Ø replacing frayed or damaged electrical cables and leads.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Employers who allow smoking in their workplace are at risk of being sued by either employees or members of the public who suffer ill health as a result of passive smoking. Passive smoking is breathing in environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). ETS contains over 4, 000 chemical compounds including 43 known carcinogens. The degree of exposure to ETS by non-smokers is determined by factors such as proximity to a smoker, the tar level of the cigarette, the number of cigarettes smoked, the size of the room, ventilation and the length of exposure.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke can contribute to: Ø eye irritation Ø cardio-vascular disease Ø lung cancer Ø asthma (particularly in children) Ø acute irritation of the respiratory tract Ø bronchitis, pneumonia and other chest infections. Control measures include: Ø developing a written non-smoking policy in consultation with employees Ø designating indoor areas as non-smoking Ø insulating physical barriers to prevent ETS exposure to nonsmokers Ø providing separate ventilation systems for smoking and nonsmoking areas Ø training staff about the effects of smoking and the reasons for a workplace non-smoking policy Ø informing staff through meetings, memos and notice boards