Identifying Work Place Hazards Construction Essay

Identifying Work Place Hazards Construction Essay Injuries at the place of work are of major concern for all people involved in the business operations for an organization. The issues which cause accidents took place in the workplace and work-related ill health are called as Hazards. The demand for methodical organization of OHS hazards and their associated risks applies to all business/unions/organizations etc and all activities and functions within an organization. It is of worth importance to differentiate b/w hazard, risk and exposure when undertaking risk management. Hazard is the probable for harm, or unpleasant effect on an employees health. Everything that can cause injury or illness to anybody at or near the place of work may be called as hazard. Risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause injury or ill health to anyone at or near a workplace. The level of risk increases with the severity of the hazard and the duration and frequency of exposure or vulnerability. Vulnerability/exposure happens whenever anybody comes into contact with a hazard. Risk management process consists of four steps; Identifying the Potential Hazards Assessing The Risks Associated With The Hazards Controlling the risk Reviewing the process The first and most significant step in reducing the probability of an accident/mishap is hazard identification. This means recognizing all workplace situations or events that can lead to cause an injury or illness. The second step is an evaluation of the level of risk of the hazards that have been identifies during the first step. This step engages in collecting information and building conclusion. It is imperative you consider the level of the damage/destruction or consequence from a hazard and the likelihood of harm occurring. If your assessment is that an unacceptable risk to health and safety exists, you must introduce controls to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. There are three categories of, you might take, while control measures. You can; get rid of the hazard reducing the risk introducing back-up controls (this point will be applied, after all other options in the last two categories have been worn out). The third step in successful risk management is to initiate and maintain systems which provide opportunity for day to day evaluation and review procedures. Evaluation means examining control measures to ensure risks are eradicated or minimized and no unacceptable risk is being caused by new hazards. The assessment system applies to the risk management process on the whole and checks the process is working efficiently to identify hazards and manage risks. Management of the Risks is an organizational issue and a productive program needs the assurance and cooperation of all. All the program managers and their staff need to recognize the fundamental importance of OHS risk management, for it to work. The most valuable practice is implanting OHS risk management into daily usage at all levels of an organization. Best practice can be achieved if you can integrate risk management principles and practices into everyday business practice. 1. IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS Hazard identification The 1st step in minimizing the probability of an accident/mishap/disaster is hazard identification, which relates to identify all situations or events that may cause to an injury or illness. Eliminating/minimizing place of work hazards requires a methodical approach. It is necessary to try and anticipate all potential hazards at the workplace recognized as the what if? approach. What is of Hazard? It is a source or potential source of any individuals injury, illness or disease. Anything which might cause to an injury or illness to anyone at or near the place of work is a hazard. While a number of hazards are quite clear and easy to recognize, others are not; for example exposure to noise, chemicals or radiation. Classes of hazard Hazards are classified into five different types. They are Biological hazards comprises of animals, Bacteria, Insects, Mildew, Mould, Vermin, Viruses. Chemical hazards comprises of chemical stuff such as acids or poisons and those that may cause to fire or explosion, cleaning agents, dusts and fumes from various processes such as welding. Mechanical and/or electrical hazards comprises of cranes, dangerous goods, Electricity, Equipment, fork lifts, hoists, Machinery, pressure vessels. Physical hazards comprises of air quality, excessively loud and prolonged noise, falling objects, fire, Floors, heat and cold, ladders, manual handling (lifting, pushing, pulling), poor lighting, radiation, slippery surfaces, Stairs, steps, ventilation, vibration, work platforms. Psychosocial environment hazards comprise of workplace stressors occurred due to a variety of sources. Note: some chemical and physical hazards can direct to explosion, fire and other safety hazards. METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING HAZARDS The 1st step in control of a hazard is to recognize and list them. Many other methods which are useful for identifying hazards, includes; benchmarking against or liaising with similar workplaces. considering Occupational Health Safety implications, when analyzing work processes. consulting with workforce, health safety responsible persons and OHS Committee members receiving feedback from workers can often give precious information about hazards, since they have hands on experience in their area of work injury and ill health records evaluate your employees compensation data and ensure the occurrence, mechanism agency of injury, and the cost to the organization. The organization can be altered to examine the information of presence of hazards investigating workplace incidents and near hits reports in some cases there may be more than one hazard contributing to an incident performing walkthrough surveys, checking or safety audits in the workplace to review Health Safety system of the organization. 2. ASSESS THE RISKS Assessment of risks When a hazard has been identified, do a risk assessment. A risk assessment process means you collect information about every identified hazard consider the number of people exposed to each hazard and the duration of the exposure use the information to assess the likelihood and consequence of each hazard use a risk assessment table to work out the risk associated with each hazard Factors for consideration The following factors should be considered during the risk assessment process; the hazards nature posing the risk combinations of hazards injuries or illnesses types predictable from exposure consequences of duration and exposure to the hazard layout of workstation workplace working stance and position new work processes introduction employees skill experience level personal characteristics of employees exposed to the risk (colour blindness or hearing impairment) existing control measures in place such as the use of clothing and personal protective equipment. TABLE FOR RISK ASSESSMENT Using risk assessment table is the one method of assessing risks. Record the risk rating for each hazard you have identified. To construct an assessment matrix, you can; set up a specialist risk assessment team get expert/specialist recommendation brainstorm within the workplace, particularly with employees, health and safety representatives and OHS committee members they are often a valuable source of information and experience. Before introducing new or changed work practices, substances or plant review your original assessment. It is good management to do regular reviews. CONSEQUENCES LIKELIHOOD Very Likely Likely Unlikely Highly Unlikely Fatality HIGH RISK HIGH RISK HIGH RISK MEDIUM RISK Major Injuries HIGH RISK HIGH RISK MEDIUM RISK MEDIUM RISK Minor Injuries HIGH RISK MEDIUM RISK MEDIUM RISK LOW RISK Negligible Injuries MEDIUM RISK MEDIUM RISK LOW RISK LOW RISK Risk Assessment Table USING A RISK ASSESSMENT TABLE By using risk assessment table, assessments of likelihood and outcomes can be translated into levels of risks. High risk areas can be given first priority for removal or control in the place of work. Consequence or extent of the injury or illness were it to happen, can be rated in the following way; Fatal accident Serious or major injury (severe damage to health which may be permanent, wanting medical attention constant treatment). Such damage is likely to grip significant time off work Minor injury (temporary health damage, which may need medical attention but partial ongoing treatment). This is less possible to involve significant time off work Insignificant injuries (first aid only with little or no lost time). Unlikely to involve more than 1 day off work. Likelihood, or the chance of each of the situations or events actually occurring, can be rated in the following way. Very likely (bared to hazard continuously) Likely (bared to hazard occasionally) Unlikely (could occur but only rarely) Highly unlikely (could occur, but probably never will) This categorization would be used very rarely. Acting on the findings The probable conclusions which might be drawn from risk assessment process and the actions that might be taken are listed below; 1. Risks are not significant now and not likely to increase in future. Actions end current assessment and record assessment details review assessment if situation changes or in 2 years provide induction and ongoing training follow safe working procedures 2. Risks are considerable but already effectively controlled, could increase in the future. Actions conclude safety measures to retain controls and reducing the chances of higher exposure occurring conclude extra measures for regaining control if a high risk event occurs, despite safety measures conclude if monitoring or health observation is required to check efficiency of controls if situation changes or in 2 years then review assessment give orientation continual training reassure that safe secure working measures are followed. 3. Risks are significant now, and not adequately controlled. Actions recognize and employ instant measures for stopping or controlling exposure consider stopping the process commence review of longer term control requirements re-evaluate exposures when the upgraded control measures are in place determine if monitoring or health surveillance is required provide induction and ongoing training ensure that safe working measures are followed But if there is still uncertainty about risks and not enough information is available or unsure about the level of exposure, then the following actions should be considered. Acquire more/additional information. Apply good practice to minimize exposure until more information is available Get specialist advice if necessary Arrive at conclusion 1, 2 or 3 and take the appropriate actions. Summary of key points Assess all reasonably foreseeable workplace hazards which may affect the health or safety of employees or other persons at work. Ask yourself how serious could it be? what is the likelihood of its occurrence? what is the significance of the risks? are risks assessed following the hazard identification exercise? are risks to others considered? are records of assessment maintained? which identified hazards create a significant risk? 3. CONTROL THE RISKS Control measures Once a hazard has been identified then the correct course of action is to use control measures which normally fall into three categories which are as follows; get rid of the hazard reduce the risk use backup controls when all other options in the previous categories have been exhausted. The best way to control a hazard is to eliminate it. The elimination of a hazard is the first choice in a system called the hierarchy of controls. Hierarchy of controls The order of priority in hazard control is as follows; get rid of the hazard from the place of work completely. This is considered to be the best method to control a hazard. Removal of a noisy machine from a quiet area is an example of exclusion. Substitute or modify the hazard. This can be done by replacing it with something less dangerous, for example, by using a paint which does not contain asthma- encouraging agents. Isolate the hazard. This can be done by physically eliminating it from the place of work. Use engineering methods to control the hazard at its source. The tools and the equipment can be redesigned and the local exhaust ventilation systems could be used to block the cause of a hazard. Use of administrative controls is management strategies that can be introduced to ensure the health and safety of workers. introducing personal protective equipment (PPE) as a provisional measure for reducing exposure to a hazard. 4. MONITOR AND REVIEW A continual and repeated process Risk management programs are recurring; once the hazards related to current workplace are controlled successfully, then the process does not stop. Systematic monitoring and reviews must be implemented because of the probable for new hazards to be introduced into a workplace. These hazards can be due to a change in work environment (moving to a different office, staff reduction) the introduction of new staff with different skill/ knowledge levels. the introduction of new work practices or procedures the use of new technology, equipment or substances Planning Effective forward planning is an integral part of monitoring and reviewing risk management. You must address all issues before introducing new equipment and work procedures. For example, planning allows you to include OHS compliance into tender specifications for new equipment or services. Record keeping Record keeping is an important part of monitoring and review. Systematic records will help to identify hazards and review the effectiveness of risk controls. Keep records which show details of workplace inspections worksheets/checklists used to identify hazards methods used to assess risks control measures implemented reviews of workplace systems of work, or health and safety audits any action that has been taken to fix particular hazards instruction or training done to ensure staff competency health surveillance of staff maintenance of plant and equipment. Achieving the desired results It is important to keep checking that solutions to your workplace hazards are achieving the desired result. You can only ensure your control methods are working by regular monitoring and review. Meeting best practice Good hazard management will result in compliance with set performance indicators. This is a positive sign that your agency is on the way to OHS best practice. Achieving best practice in OHS risk management results in increases in staff morale decreases in workers compensation costs promotion of a safety-conscious culture in the workplace. Summary of key points Has the program achieved its purpose? Does it work? Is it being adhered to? What has been done to control the hazard and what remains to be done? Are new hazard control measures required?

Media Violence Essay

With each final draft submitted, a Student/Teacher Memo must be included. This memo will take the place of a cover page. This memo asks you to answer the following questions: 1. What was your purpose? What effect were you trying to achieve? There are a total of three minor purposes in this paper: first, to define media violence; second, to write why media violence should be extinguished from the society; third and final, to write how media violence could be extinguished from the society. The overall purpose, on the other hand, is to encourage the extinguishing of media violence by laying out its negative effects, particularly to the youth society. 2. What was interesting about the process you went through in writing this paper, and what did you learn from it? The interesting thing about the process when I wrote the paper was the portion when I was asking myself why, indeed, has youth violence continued to prevail, even if there had been laws and regulations in relation to controlling this event. I realized that the law had not really sunk into the lives of the citizens. 3. What was the most difficult about this paper, and what did you learn from the attempt? The most difficult portion was trying to explain, in detail, how media violence affects the behavior of a child or a youth. From that attempt, I learned that, in an argumentative paper, there is nothing better than having many references around. 4. What do you see as the strengths of the paper, and what would you try to do if you were to revise it some more? I think that the strengths of the paper have something to do with the exhaustive description of each stage†¦ each picture that can be brought to light. If I would revise it some more, though, I would add extra pages on more exact proposals, and more on the negative consequences of the proposals. 5. What’s not a part of your paper that you think might help a reader understand or appreciate it more? What didn’t you put in? Are there certain events or feelings or memories that led you to write on this topic or to take this approach? I think it would be better if there are portions on the laws and regulations that were approved or amended by the constitution in connection to media violence. It would also be good to insert a true-to-life case where media violence appeared to be the major cause of crime in a youth’s life episode. 6. What feedback or reactions did you get at various times in this paper, and how much did you make use of them, if at all? Any other kinds of help-from classmates? teachers? others? My recent feedbacks or reactions were fine. I used them to increase information that is more detailed and descriptive. Yes, there is always help from teachers and friends. 7. What kind of feedback or response would you like from your reader? I would definitely want a feedback that is positive and inspiring. Name Professor Course 6 June 2008 Proposal Argument: Media Violence Should Be Extinguished from the Youth Society David Buckingham wrote that â€Å"[R]epresentation begins at a very young age† (16). The television, for example, displays an array of shapes, colors, and sounds. For those who are below the age of two, the television may appear to be a ‘magic window’ where tiny creatures live and exist. By the time they reach two years old, they seem to understand that the television is a medium that displays things and events. Then by the time they reach kinder, they get to have the ability of perceiving the relationship between pictures in the media and those that are in real life. As they enter elementary, they get to see that there are different types of shows, such as cartoons or entertainment shows; they start to explore the relationship between reality and fiction. By middle childhood, they get to have the ability to get motivated or inspired by pictures represented in the media. By early adolescence, they begin to develop social understanding on what they perceive, relating it to real-life incidents, and creating a tendency to relate things in life with what they see or hear in the media. This paper talks of the negative effects of media violence to the youth society. In the end, it will be evident what media violence is, and how and why media violence should be extinguished from the youth society. In connection to media, intense guidance is greatly needed when and before a child reaches the adolescence period. Media has its greatest power over the youth during this vulnerable state of early adolescence, for it is the time when they perceive images according to their belief and understanding, labeling them as positive or negative, based on their perception of what it is†¦ then they act out what they see in it.

History of State and Federal Prisons Essay

The history of state and federal prisons have similar ideals; the state and federal systems have to rely on each other at times for housing each others criminals. A state prison is usually run by that particular states government and they house individuals that have committed crimes against the rules and sanctions of the each state also known as blue collar criminals; the federal prisons house individuals that have committed crimes against the rules and sanctions of the federal government and are called a white collar criminal. State and federal prison systems more or less have the same levels of security; low, minimum, high, max, and super-max. Before federal prisons were created prisoners that were on a federal level had to be housed within state and local prisons. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confines felons convicted of federal crimes and in several large cities pretrial defendants are held in federal jails pending trial (Foster, 2006). The federal prison system began in the 1930’s when President J. Edgar Hoover passed and signed a bill that gave permission for the federal prison system to have a building or federal facility to house it’s prisoners. The first federal U.S. Penitentiary was created in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas this prison was constructed out of an old military prison prison (Foster, 2006). The state prison system was based and founded on the legal reforms of the 18th century â€Å"Age of Enlightenment, (Foster, 2006);† in the 19th century the state prison systems continued to base themselves around the Auburn model (Foster, 2006). Most states began with one state prison and now each state consists of more than 20 prisons, with the exception of the state of Texas that has 100 prison facilities. When state prison systems started men, women, and juvenile offenders were housed together up until it was determined that women, men, and children should have separate facilities to prevent s exual abuse, pregnancy, assault, and the impressionable surroundings of hardened criminals on juveniles. The State facilities offer halfway houses for offenders to be able to go to work then come back to the house on a daily basis for a certain amount of time until the director of the halfway house History of State and Federal Prisons Page 2 and the courts feel as though a person is ready to be put back into society; rehabilitation facilities are also available to help criminals that are drug offenders, or any substance abuse offender kick their habit and give them mental support to stay on the straight and narrow. Overcrowding and funding are the biggest problems in the Department of Corrections today; I think that if we could go back to letting convicts do jobs while in prison and making them pay for their own crimes both with time and money earned from working while in prison this would cut down on the overcrowding as well as funding issues. History of State and Federal Prisons References Foster, B. (2006). Corrections: The fundamentals. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

The Portrayal of Women in the Media Essay examples

The Portrayal of Women in the Media Redbook magazine are devoted to selling products ranging from shoes to shampoo. The entire magazine only has only 210 pages. Approximately 6-8 min of every half hour television show is produced by ad agencies. Americans are bombarded with advertisements. We see them everyday in many different forms and through different mediums. Advertisers study America’s population through a systematic breakdown and analysis of our likes and dislikes in relation to our differences. These differences include gender, sexual orientation, economic status, location, race, ethnicity, and more. Advertisers have substantial knowledge of what appeals to each of these demographics and how these demographics will respond to†¦show more content†¦Because each hemisphere has properties associated with it, this information is extremely relevant to the advertising industry. In what academia has denoted as the modern era, the reader (those to whom the advertisement is directed) was seen as a passiv e unbiased entity. The postmodern view, however, sees the reader as an active part of the â€Å" communication triad† (figure 1) (Stern; Holbrook, 1994). This means that the reader actively contributes to the exchange of information. If different readers interpret the text (the ad) differently, the author (advertiser) needs to create a text that will be interpreted the correct way by a specific reader. Knowing how women think allows the advertisers to create ads that women will interpret in a positive way, therefore increasing their likelihood to buy the product. Women depend on the left hemisphere, which responds better to audio stimuli. Practically, this means women respond in a positive manner to sounds. Television and magazine medium reach more of the female population than radio. This means several things. 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