If the organization of the workplace is faulty
it can lead to an unsafe environment throughout the workspace
making it prone to unsafe behaviors and a higher occurrence of accidents and incidents
If the cleanliness or organization of the workplace environment are inadequate
it can lead not only to accidents but also to occupational diseases
In a workplace where machinery and facilities are present, accumulated dust on machinery or floors
can increase the concentration of dust, leading to the possibility of work-related illnesses
In workplaces using organic solvents or chemicals
spilled organic solvents on workbenches or floors can evaporate, leading to potential intoxication
Additionally, inflammable substances
can lead to industrial accidents such as fires or explosions
Poor tidiness or organization before and after using machinery, equipment, and facilities
can lead to the accumulation of debris, trash, and dust
resulting in decreased precision
shortened lifespan, breakdowns, and potential troubles
In workplaces dealing with hazardous substances
tidiness, organization, and cleanliness are particularly important
In workplaces using hazardous gases, organic solvents, etc.
poor tidiness, organization, and cleanliness can lead to confusion, misoperation, container conductivity issues, and breakage
Leakage or evaporation of hazardous substances can lead to incidents such as fires or explosions
Poor cleaning of machinery and equipment using hazardous substances
can also result in fire or explosion hazards
Poor tidiness, organization, and cleanliness
make it difficult to identify safety and health hazard prevention signs or labels
or signs of machinery operation systems
leading to unsafe conditions, misoperation, misjudgment
and causing significant accidents and incidents
Instances of industrial accidents due to poor tidiness and organization include
accidents caused by stumbling over objects on the workshop floor
Inside a factory, a worker stumbled over
objects on the floor and lost balance
hitting their head on stacked steel plates, resulting in a fatal accident
To prevent such accidents
it's essential to tidy and organize the workplace, ensure clear pathways
wear safety helmets correctly
and be careful or prohibit unsafe behaviors
Let's examine workplace tidiness and organization
regarding pathway clearance, workshop floor maintenance, designated areas for raw materials or semi-finished products
and the removal of trash and dust
We will have a look into these 4 sections
Firstly, to ensure clear pathways, maintain a width of at least 80cm and mark them clearly
keep them flat
and prevent obstacles, oil, water, etc.
from accumulating on or near the pathways to ensure obstruction-free movement
Unnecessary items such as scrap, tools, or oil on the workshop floor
can cause slipping or tripping hazards
so unnecessary objects should be cleared from the workshop floor
Raw materials and semi-finished products should be
segregated by type and stored in designated areas for easy access
Accumulation of garbage, dust, and oil residue during work
can lead to unforeseen accidents or incidents
so thorough cleaning is necessary to maintain a clean workplace
Regarding the tidiness and organization of machinery and equipment
let's divide it into four categories: the vicinity of cutting edges, the surroundings of moving parts,
areas around workers, and cleaning of machinery and its vicinity
Machine tools typically involve rotating or reciprocating motions with significant force
so placing hand tools, measuring instruments, materials, or similar tools
too close to cutting edges poses risks
Moving parts of machines generate significant rotational or kinetic energy
which may protude outside
so leaving drawers or workbenches with tools, materials, etc.
close to moving parts can lead to hazardous situations
Areas around machinery and workbenches close to workers
are prone to poor tidiness and organization
with raw materials, cutting tools, extension cords, and work tools
often placed in unsafe positions, requiring caution
Machines are prone to getting dirty
Machines and their surroundings tend to accumulate dirt due to iron filings,
cutting oil splashes, leaks, etc., which can not only dirty the machine itself
but also create a messy environment, requiring thorough cleaning
Let's examine the tidiness and organization of electrical facilities
dividing it into maintenance around electrical facilities, removal of unnecessary items inside electrical facilities,
separation of electricity from moisture, and organization of tool cords
We will go through these 4 concepts
Maintenance around electrical facilities involves
ensuring that objects near switchgear cabinets exposed to charging parts
are kept away to prevent electric shock
short circuits when contacted with an object
electric burns, or blackouts
Unnecessary items inside electrical facilities should be removed
Electrical facilities are sensitive to dust and debris
To avoid interference with contacts, which can degrade its performance, cause short circuits, or increase heating
regular cleaning is essential, and unnecessary items should not be placed inside switchgear boxes
Control panels, distribution boards, switch boxes, and other switch types
may malfuction if dust or debrish accumulates, or becomes dirty
Also, when operational signs or labels are too dirty to see
It may be a cause misoperation
Additionally, placing tools or objects inside electrical facilities
can lead to electric shock or short-circuit accidents
Electrical facilities need to be kept separate from moisture
especially in areas with water present
where waterproof measures or insulation devices should be used
Electrical facilities must prevent the contact of water
and equipment using water should be kept at a distance
Next, we should organize power cords properly
If power cords are combined and run across the floor
they can cause tripping hazards during passage
and if multiple power cords are plugged into a single outlet without proper labelling
mishandling is likely, and moreover as daisy-chaining multiple plugs
can lead to overheating and increase the risk of fire, it should be avoided
The power cords of electrical facilities
are often extended from the outlet to the floor
or hung from a high place
but this should be cautious as it can easily lead to disorganization
Regarding the organization of hand tools
we will examine them in four categories: suitable hand tools for their purpose, inspection and maintenance of hand tools,
organization during hand tool usage, and storage
It is necessary to use hand tools suitable for their intended application
While there are many types of hand tools, deviating from their designated purposes poses inherent risks
It's essential to keep tools of appropriate types and sizes in easily accessible locations
The utilization of substitute tools due to the unavailability
of suitable equipment for a task can lead to hazardous outcomes
Using improperly sized tools
such as substituting a wrench for a hammer can pose significant risks
Furthermore, modifying tools
such as extending wrench handles with pipes, is inherently perilous
Regular inspection and maintenance of hand tools are paramount
Defective or worn-out tools must undergo proper disposal or be repaired by authorized personnel prior to use
Impact tools like hammers, steel files, and punches
necessitate immediate sharpening or dressing
upon deformation or gap formation to mitigate risks following with potential hazards from flying debris
Inadequate maintenance of tools with cutting edges during operations
can diminish efficiency and escalate the risk of accidents
Deterioration of screwdriver tips can compromise bolt integrity,
diminish efficiency, and increase safety risks
Organization and tidiness during hand tool usage is imperative
Particularly, maintaining a clutter-free workspace
and meticulous selection of work areas are critical
When working at heights
precautionary measures must be implemented to prevent
hand tools from falling during work and to mitigate slip hazards for hands
Disorganized workspaces can lead
hands and feet to become unstable
increasing the likelihood of injuries from overexertion or adopting unusual postures
It also increases the likelihood of
risks from falling tools or slips during working at heights
In environments with substantial oil usage, hand tools are susceptible to slippage, especially oil-coated handles on tools like hammers are unsafe
Ensuring convenient access to necessary hand tools is essential, and establishing organized tool rooms or cabinets and categorizing them by type and size is important
Used hand tools should be promptly stored in designated areas, particularly those featuring blades or sharp ends, which should be securely covered
High-speed rotary grindstones necessitate storage in dedicated racks or containers to mitigate the risk of accidents
Also, storage in damp or humid environments can compromise their structural integrity, warranting careful storage considerations
In addressing cleanup procedures during working in heights, we will explore fall prevention measures, management of falling objects, workshop organization during grinding tasks, and post-operation cleanup protocols
To prevent falls, adherence to safety protocols, including the utilization of helmets, safety harnesses, and safety ropes during precarious tasks like ladder climbing, is imperative
Ensuring the secure fastening of hand tools and equipment in use with robust straps to prevent slippage is crucial
Moreover, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent their slip or falls during temporary storage
Designating secure areas for the storage of essential items is paramount to prevent falls and mitigate the risk of items being displaced by strong winds
Prompt removal of leftover materials is advised to maintain a safe working environment
At height workshops, avoiding the placement of objects in restricted zones and installing shelves, ropes, etc., in hazardous areas with appropriate "No Entry" markings is recommended
Safe designated material storage areas and maintaining meticulous organization are critical at height workshops
Given the risk of falling objects at height workshops, implementing restricted access measures
and distinguishing between safe or not safe areas for material placement
is imperative to prevent accidents
Post-operation cleanup entails the thorough removal of unnecessary materials, comprehensive area cleaning,
verification of used material and hand tool quantities and conditions, and diligent inspection and maintenance
Proper restoration of fall prevention measures after the use of hoisting openings, edges, and pits is essential
Neglecting to remove leftover materials after work
can lead to accidents during dismantling scaffoldings or machine operations
Regarding the management of hazardous materials, we will examine gases, organic solvents, and chemicals
Steel cylinders containing hazardous or toxic gases should be securely stored and allocated to designated areas
Strict segregation of materials by type
ensuring gases are kept separate from oxygen
to mitigate explosive oxidation reactions upon contact, is essential
Storage temperature should be maintained below 40°C, with adequate ventilation
and prohibition of smoking or any other fire hazard-inducing activities in storage areas
Organic solvents exhibit both flammable and non-flammable properties
Both types pose the risk of intoxication. Flammable substances can trigger fires or explosions
while non-flammable ones, often highly toxic (There are similar types of flammable ones)
can cause oxygen depletion
Proper labeling of organic solvent containers, specifying contents and flammability
and as it can lead to fire, intoxication, or oxygen depletion
it is advised to securely seal containers to prevent evaporation
Ensuring meticulous organization and promptly addressing spills in storage and usage areas are crucial
Adequate ventilation, deployment of local exhaust systems, use of protective masks, and prohibition of fire usage in areas with flammable materials are essential safety measures
Chemicals like acids, alkalis, etc. are frequently highly toxic
Strong acids or alkalis should be stored to prevent contact
as it can cause severe eye or skin injuries
Clearly labeling chemical containers with substance names and storing them on suitable racks or plates is recommended, and acids should be stored in non-corrosive containers
Regular maintenance and provision of protective gear like gloves and goggles during hazardous material handling is essential
Concerning transportation safety, we will discuss the securing of transport routes, proper stacking of goods, maintenance and use of transportation equipment, and maintenance of lifting devices
Manual handling or transportation of goods accounts for a significant proportion of workplace accidents
underscoring the importance of organized workplaces and secure transport routes to mitigate risks
An abundance of obstacles on the floor increases the risk of tripping or slipping while carrying loads
Uncleared transport routes may necessitate carrying goods overhead or navigating them, potentially leading to accidents
Poor working conditions or inadequate lighting impair the ability to ensure safety while carrying loads in dimly lit areas
Ensuring proper stacking and securing of transported goods to prevent collapse or shifting during transport is crucial
Methodically determining placement locations and safely stacking goods according to type, size, and shape
while maintaining uniform gaps between items for ease of removal, is advisable
It is recommended to layer heavier or larger items at the bottom and lighter ones at the top, with height limitations to prevent instability
Employing crisscross stacking patterns for long items to prevent collapse and storing smaller items in boxes or containers on shelves is required
Efficient and safe transportation necessitates the use of appropriate transport equipment
so preparing transport equipment prior work
and systematic organization for easy access and storage, are mandatory
Positioning aids like stools or ladders in convenient locations for easy access during work tasks
and ensuring an adequate quantity of lift equipment relative to the workspace to avoid unused equipment