Health and Safety Team Inspection Essay

Executive Summary The need to maintain a safe and healthy environment especially in the workplace has become a major goal in global corporations. In Canada, Health and Safety laws have been put in place to ensure employers take reasonable precaution to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Employees on the other hand, have an obligation to comply with the laid down health and safety policies and apply them accordingly. Health and safety inspection are the best way to identify potential workplace hazards before they cause a health and safety or a problem. The main purpose of this project is applying our knowledge of occupational health and safety in the workplace situation by identify and assessing workplace hazards and recommending control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk of identified hazard. It is important from every employee and employer point of view to recognize each and every hazard. It also enables us to know the health and safety measures that can be analyzed during inspection. As a team we can easily recognize what are the responsibilities of an employer, supervisor and employee. Through this project we as a team will get a golden opportunity to understand the risk involved in every hazard. The inspection was carried out at Centennial College Residence located at 940 Progress Avenue, Canada. For the inspection, we focused on the kitchen/storage and the atrium area on which our findings are based on. To help with our findings we also interviewed an employee who works in a storage room as a cleaner. We asked him about the PPE’s used while working he showed us the PPE’s which they use while working in a storage room. He also accompanied us to the inspection of storage room. Overall the college residence has taken reasonable steps to maintaining a safety and healthy environment taking into account the number injuries associated with the accommodation industry However, this report shows nine (9) of our findings, most of which were safety related hazard and mostly work practice hazard. They required little$0-$600 or no cost to implement recommendation s per hazard. H&S Pre-Inspection: Key Insights: The 1st piece of information gathered was that of Marta Borowskas’ (the Residence & Conference Centre General Manager) WSIB Certification. This certificate officially states that she has successfully completed both Part 1 and 2, which is the Basic Certification and also Workplace-Specific Hazard training. This then means that she is the delegated JHSC representative for the Residence and gives her authority for the successful running of Health & Safety programmes. We received the Colleges’ Occupational Health & Safety policy and protocol for reporting Health & Safety hazards during our information gathering processes. This was issued on the 14th April 2010; an updated 2011 version is in the process of being issued, by Centennial College President & CEO Ann Buller. This highlights the Colleges firm stance on Health & Safety importance as it is being endorsed by the President herself. This document outlines the purpose, scope, rules & regulations and policy specific content and clearly defines the parameters with which they are analysed. We also looked at the Health & Safety notice-board, which was centrally located and readily visible. We noted that they had included the names, roles and responsibilities and contact details (e-mail, addresses and tel. Number). Most importantly of all it clearly made particular reference to each of their respective individual skill and training certification levels also. We also gained access to the Residences’ MSDS forms, Propane for example. There is a vast amount of relevant information divulged on each MSDS form-sheet, these include the chemical formation, classification and DOT Hazard Class, its boiling and freezing points, and under what chemical categorisation it is filed under. It also gives First Aid directions to undertake. Other documentation we received outlined the college’s stance on work refusal situations among college (and residence) employees. The whole process and stages along the process of coming to a successful resolution is outlined clearly in the adjoining Appendices’ diagrams. Also attached is the company’s policy on what to do in times of violence in the workplace. Logistics: The inspection of The Centennial Residence was carried out on Sunday the 3rd April. All group members were in attendance in order to be truly thorough with our inspection. In order for this inspection to happen, we had to first gain approval from the General Manager of the Residence,  Marta Borowska. This was done in an informal manner and she was of great help to our cause aiding us with as much information as was at hand to her. Inspection Procedure Details: We identified that we would need to bring some helpful equipment with us. At a basic level of course pens, pencils, paper would be essential. We also brought a camera, latex gloves and measuring tape. A thorough inspection of the residence should take roughly an hour or more to complete. Floor Plan: An appropriate floor plan was drawn, complete with accompanying legend, and the most efficient route, which would fully inspect all areas, was devised. As evidenced within the floor plan, our inspection area encompassed the atrium and adjoining storage room, and corridor entering the atrium of the residence. Particular potential hazards such as uncovered switch board, inappropriate placing of table and crack in the ceiling, was found. For the Floor Plan see Appendix (1) Inspection and Findings: Checklist for the inspection: Yes No N/A Comments 1. Are floor plans posted? The floor plans were posted on every entry and exit. 2. Is there a clear fire evacuation procedure posted? The fire evacuation were posted beside every fire extinguishers 3. Inspect all the fire extinguishers and record on inspection tag. Yes every extinguisher had the record and inspection tag. Every 11th March. 4. Are the fire drills conducted monthly? Date of last drill. Drills are conducted monthly. The date of last drill was 17th March. 5. Are doors unobstructed and protected against obstruction? No obstacles were found in front or back of any doors. 6. Are all exit lights on? Yes the exit lights were lit on. 7. Is there evidence of exposed wires or frayed cords? Yes on of the switch board was not covered and the wires were coming out of it. 8. Are the electronic outlets, switches and lights adequately covered and working? One of the switch board was not covered. And all the sockets were not covered. 9. Have all the hazardous substances been labelled clearly? Yes all were labelled clearly. 10. Are the hazardous materials (WHMIS) MSDS sheets filed in binders on the premises? Yes they are field in binders on the premises. 11. Are the flammable materials stored in proper location? Yes they were stored properly. 12. Are smoke detectors working properly? Yes they are working properly. 13. Are carbon monoxide detectors working properly? Yes they are working properly. 14. Are elevators working properly? Yes elevators were working properly. 15. Observe any personal using improper lifting techniques? Did not notice any employees lifting something in an improper way. 16. Are storage cleaned regularly? Yes storage are cleaned regularly. 17. Are employees wearing the required protective equipment/ Yes according to the conversation with an employee they wear the required equipment while cooking. 18. Is the location of the 1st aid kit clearly marked, known and accessible to the work area and adequately supplied? Yes they were clearly accessible. 19. Is the eye wash station maintained and accessible? Yes it was accessible. 20. Is the emergency bag in designated location and sealed? Yes it was located properly and was also sealed. 21. Filters in exhaust system cleaned at least daily? Cleaned daily. 22. Was perishable or potentially hazardous food properly stored at the correct temperature? Yes the food in the kitchen was stored in proper temperature. 23. Was there enough space to walk through the storage room? In the storage room the small moving shelves with wires in it were obstacle for us to move around in the room. 24. Was there proper ventilation in the kitchen? No there was no proper ventilation in the kitchen. 25. Was there the list of health and safety committee? Yes there was the list of health and safety committee present. 26. Was there H & S policy statement? Yes they had health and safety policy statement. Major Findings We started our inspection from the atrium area of the residence. It is a very clean open space area with the billiards table and a table soccer table to play in Middle West part of the atrium. And to left of south of the areas there were some chairs with a table to sit and do the work. We as a health and safety team entered the area with a strong inspiration to find hazards. Hazard 1 Broken Hot Tub Fence: We entered from the front door and move left to the sitting area as it was very clean and clear to be honest we were inspecting with our eyes open to find a hazard suddenly we looked the spa. It was nicely covered with a brown coloured fence and a board written on it to identify the area. One of the members from our team inspects the fence very closely and he found out that the fence is broken. Fence was tilted out from the original position. It was at the lower part of the fence. It can be really dangerous as someone walking close to the fence suddenly can catch the fence and can cause some serious injuries by falling down on to the ground. We took the picture of this hazard as from the picture it is clearly seen that the fence is broken at the ground level. This hazard can’t be ignored easily it looks very simple but it’s very dangerous in aspect to the result. (for picture, appendix 3) Hazard 2 Loose Light frame As we walked down the stairs in the atrium area we noticed very loose light frame that was attached to a wall. I was so loosed that its sides were starting to come out. On examining this hazard we found out that the fame was missing few screws and this was the reason it was coming off the wall. As shown in the picture the light frame is very loose, people walking on the stairs can accidently come in contact with the loose light frame. This can lead to dangerous electric shock or a fall from the stair case. This type of hazards cannot be identified at the first look. It requires deep inspecting (for picture see appendix 4). Hazard 3 Open Electric Circuits. We then moved to south of the atrium. As we were moving towards the elevator we saw an electric socket completely open on the wall. It was placed exactly beside an elevator’s wall. Wires from the socket were completely exposed. As its position was below the wall so it’s very hard to see it. But a person walking or waiting for the elevator can easily make contact with it. These circuits carry electrical currents which are harmful and can result to electric shock, leading to serious injuries or death. (For picture see appendix 5) After completing the inspection of the common hall we went to a room which was combined as a kitchen and a storage room located south of the atrium area. The kitchen was on the left side and the storage room was on the right side of the door. In order to make it simple lets name the storage section as A and the kitchen section as B. The thing separating these two rooms was a thick wall without any doors. In other words if we stand at the entrance of the room we can see the first aid tool kit, eye washer and fire extinguisher in front of us. After entering the room if we go right we will find the storage room where tables, trays boxes, etc. was stored. If we look at the storage section we can see two rooms. We have named these rooms as a1 and a2. The 1st room i.e. a1 was filled with extra tables, trays, and the other decoration things. The other room i.e. a2 contained various shelves and these shelves were filled with boxes, table cloths, wires, etc. On the other side i.e. on the left side there was a kitchen (section B) there were 2 gas stoves, 3 refrigerators and a long passage where cooking vessels were stored. Hazard 4: Heavy Tray on boxes As we entered a1 part of storage section we saw a heavy tray made of steel, which was not placed properly by the employees. It was exactly situated in the center of the room a1. It was placed on the empty boxes and these boxes were light in weight. The tray was very heavy and if it fell on employees it can hurt badly. The tray was kept without any proper support. In other words it can be said that the tray was half placed on the boxes. The workers were not following the work practices properly and this can lead to an accident  in the storage room.(for picture see appendix 6). Hazard 5: Oil on the floor The floor at the entrance of the room there was a large amount of oil on the floor; the south direction (entrance) of the room a1. This is a safety hazard because any employee can hurt himself/herself by slipping on the floor due to the oil on the floor. This can also be categorized under work practice hazard as it is the duty of the employees to keep the workplace clean in order to avoid accidents. (For picture see appendix 7). Hazard 6: Tables not properly place In the room a1 we saw were some huge tables which were not placed properly. The tables were placed to lean on the wall and positioned in a way that could hurt anyone and can cause a serious injury.These tables were seen on the left side as we enter in room a1. (For picture see appendix 8) Hazard 7: Small moving shelves After inspecting the room 1 we moved towards room a2 in room a2 there were two big shelves (not movable) on the left side of the room and some boxes were on the right side of the room. The way in the middle was blocked by the small moving shelves and due to this there was no enough space to walk in the room. These shelves were full of wires and other heavy materials such as laptop and speakers which created more difficulty walking through the room. An employee can fall and can cause an injury because of these obstacles. Hence this can be considered as a confined space hazard. (For picture see appendix 9) Hazard 7: Heavy Boxes on shelves On the left side of the room a2 there were two big immovable shelves which contained of boxes table clothes, empty plates, glasses, etc. There were few boxes that were big in size and contained heavy material in it. These boxes were kept on the top of the shelves and some part of these boxes was coming out of the shelves. In other words we can say that the boxes were not fitting in the shelves. This can be considered as a material hazard because these boxes can fall on someone. It can also be considered as a work  practice hazard because it is carelessness of the employees to keep the boxes on the top of the shelves even if they are not fitting there. This hazard can be dangerous to anyone and can cause some serious injuries. There are two pictures showing these hazards. (For pictures see appendix 10). Hazard 8: Crack in Ceiling Looking up, a crack in the ceiling was seen in room a2. This crack was in the ceiling which was situated right behind the door of entrance of room a2. This can be considered to be a very dangerous hazard because this crack can lead to breakdown of ceiling resulting in injury or death of the person standing below the ceiling. This hazard comes under the category of ergonomics or workplace design hazard. (For picture see appendix 11). Hazard Inspection Analysis and Assessment Here we determined the level of risk of the hazards we identified from our inspection and make recommendations based on it. Risk is the probability of an injury expressed as a percentage. The calculation of risk for any hazard will be Risk= Probability X Consequence X Exposure. Where probability refers to the chance that something will happen, consequence refers to the result of injury that could arise from the hazard. Exposure is the number of times a contact is made with the event (IAPA, 2006). For our Inspection we followed these scales Probability Scale: Scale from 1 to 10 0-1: Unlikely Occur 2-5: Possibly will occur in time 6-7: Probably will occur in time 8-10: Likely will occur immediately or short after exposure to the hazard Consequences Scale (severity): Scale from 1to 10 0-1: Negligible; may not affect personnel safety, or health, but still in violation of specific criteria 2-5: Marginal; may cause minor injury or minor occupational illness which may result in lost workday(s), or minor property damage 6-7: Critical; may cause severe injury, occupational illness, or major property damage 8-10: Catastrophic; may cause death or loss of a facility Exposure Scale: Scale of 1-10 This refers to the number of people who are regularly exposed to the identified hazard and frequency of the exposure. 1) Kitchen and Storage Room Large Amount of Oil on the Floor Should be cleaned from the floor by using an absorbent to get the bulk of oil off the ground and then applying soap or degreaser to remove remaining film Engineering Control Pre control $5 for soap or degreaser Employees bear more responsibility to address this hazard as soon as possible The supervisor should make sure this is done as soon as possible 2) Kitchen and Storage Room Deep cracks in the Celling Repair the cracks on the celling. Have a builder come in to inspect it to First you have to determine what is needed whether plaster or sheet rock Engineering Control Pre- contact Employing the services of a builder might cost $19.25 to $52.50 The supervisor has to inform the employer about this and employer has to take reasonable steps to eliminate this hazard As soon as possible The supervisor should make sure this is done as soon as possible 3) Atrium Open-cased Socket Cover it with new exterior Hire electrician Turn off electricity. Replace socket with new covered one, turn power back on Engineering Control Pre contact Contact Control $50 – $90 (after electrician labour + call out fee) The employer should be informed and should address it accordingly As soon as possible The employer and supervisor 4) Kitchen and Storage Room Heavy Boxes on shelves not placed properly The weight of each box should be checked to determine if the shelf is strong enough to support it, boxes should be pushed in, far away from the edge of the shelf. Engineering Control Pre-Contact No cost 5) Atrium Light fixture Purchase new fixture Remove faulty fixture Replace old broken light with new Engineering control Pre -Contact $10 – $50 Employer 21st April The supervisor has to ensure that this recommendation is implemented 6) Kitchen and Storage Room Small moving shelves (Confined Space Hazard) Small shelves which are movable have to be cleared immediately to clean the path. It should be placed on the sides to prevent. Also the materials on it should be removed and placed in secured place Engineering Control Pre- control No cost It is again the part of the employee who works in the maintenance department and it doesn’t cost an extra penny as this lies in the employee duties and responsibilities As soon as possible to prevent any accidents Supervisor of the storage room has the duty to inspect the store room. Supervisor should make it clear to all his employees about the possible accidents that can occur if the storage room is not properly spaced. 7) Atrium Hot Tub Fence Mend/Replace the fence. Hire carpenter to come take measurements Tear down fence. Erect this new fence in its place. Ensure protective clothing such as gloves and booths are worn Engineering Control Contact Personal Protective Equipment $120 – $600 The Employer should be responsible for this since it involves funding. 1st May The supervisor has to ensure that this recommendation is implemented 8) Kitchen and Storage Room Large Tables not placed properly Tables should be removed from the wall and placed in an area where no can have direct contact with it. Engineering control Pre contact No cost The worker and the supervisor As soon as possible The supervisor 9) Kitchen and Storage room Heavy Tray (Work Practice Hazard) Tray has to be moved and kept it in as safe place. Preferably it should be stored securely in a shelve or cupboard to prevent it from falling Engineering Control Pre control No cost It is part of the employee who is responsible in maintenance of the Storage room cleanliness. As soon as possible It is the duty of the head of the storage room (supervisor) employee to inspect at least once every day. It’s the responsibility that should be assigned the employee by the Employer. Other Recommendations and Best Practices: To ensure that health and safety is maintained to its maximum standard, the JHSC should ensure that regularly inspections are carried out at least once every 3months (WSIB, 2003). Importantly it is recommended that the kitchen and storage area be redesigned and organised to improve health and safety. The main reason, tools and others materials are not kept properly is due to lack of space in this work station. Also Administrative control such as training should be giving to employees especially those who work in the kitchen and storage area, they should be thought on safe ways to organize and plan their work.