Define hazard Discuss causes of injury Discuss Recognize and Control Hazards Discuss types of hazards Discuss use of Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety Discuss fire Extinguishing systems Discuss where to get additional information

When you see a hazard in a workplace or at university, think about what you can do to make the area safe. Take some action.

Most injuries happen within the first year of work. Between 1993 and 1997, 8000 workers between the ages of were reported injured while on the job in Ontario. 41 workers were killed between In 1997, 65 workers lost an eye, an arm, or a leg.

Slips and falls Over-exertion Struck by, or against, an object Bodily reaction (toxic effects from chemicals) Burns

- Recognize hazards in workplace. Hazards are not always obvious. You need training, awareness, and experience to recognize them. If you don’t know, ask. Don’t learn it the hard way! - Control the hazards using the principles of elimination, reduction or substitution.

The 3 types of workplace hazards are: CHEMICAL HAZARDS PHYSICAL HAZARDS BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

-Every worker has the right to know about hazardous chemicals in the workplace. It is the duty of every employer to inform the workers about the substances which they may come into contact with and to provide and train workers about and necessary protective equipment required to perform their job. Workers have a duty to wear this equipment and to follow proper job procedures. -Hazardous chemicals can enter the body in several ways: they can be breathed in (inhalation), they can be swallowed (ingestion) and they can be absorbed through the skin (absorption). -- Workers may need to wear appropriate protective gloves, clothes. Hands must be washed with soap and water before eating or drinking or smoking.

Physical hazards include things like equipment, machinery, electricity, noise, heat and cold. Machinery can range from heavy machinery, like a press, to smaller equipment such as meat slicers or paper cutters. Serious, immediate injuries such as the loss of an arm or finger can result from working with machinery. Excessive noise levels or prolonged noise can damage the nerves in the ear causing temporary or even permanent hearing loss. In workplaces where noise is a hazard, safety precautions must be in place. These include engineering controls such as muffling devices, noise barriers or work separation.

- Workers who are most at risk from biological hazards are those who work with animals or plants, or in health or child care. - Biological agents are living substances that can cause illness or disease. They include bacteria, viruses and fungi. Bacterial are found in the air, water and soil and in living or dead animals or plants. - Viruses, bacteria and fungi can be passed from one person to another, either directly through contact with body fluids, or indirectly through breathing.

Many industrial and laboratory operations require the use of compressed gases for a variety of different operations.

Flammable or combustible Explosive Corrosive Poisonous Inert or a combination of hazards

Careful procedures are necessary for handling the various compressed gases, the cylinders containing the compressed gases, regulators or valves used to control gas flow, and the piping used to confine gases during flow.

The contents of any compressed gas cylinder must be clearly identified. Such identification should be stenciled or stamped on the cylinder or a label.

No compressed gas cylinder should be accepted for use that does not legibly identify its contents by name. If the labeling on a cylinder becomes unclear or an attached tag is defaced to the point the contents cannot be identified, the cylinder should be marked "contents unknown" and returned directly to the manufacturer.

Signs should be conspicuously posted in areas where flammable compressed gases are stored, identifying the substances and appropriate precautions (e.g., HYDROGEN - FLAMMABLE GAS - NO SMOKING - NO OPEN FLAMES).

This document was originally designed to focus on fire situations in chemistry laboratories. While it continues to mention laboratories, the information contained herein is broadly applicable to almost all workplaces. Fire is the most common serious hazard that one faces in a typical chemistry laboratory. While proper procedure and training can minimize the chances of an accidental fire, you must still be prepared to deal with a fire emergency should it occur.

Basic components of a fire are: fuel source of ignition oxygen process of combustion Commonly referred to as the "fire tetrahedron"

"CLASS A FIRE" MEANS A FIRE INVOLVING ORDINARY COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS SUCH AS PAPER, WOOD, CLOTH, AND SOME RUBBER AND PLASTIC MATERIALS.

"CLASS B FIRE" MEANS A FIRE INVOLVING FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS, FLAMMABLE GASES, GREASES AND SIMILAR MATERIALS, AND SOME RUBBER AND PLASTIC MATERIALS.

"CLASS C FIRE" MEANS A FIRE INVOLVING ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WHERE SAFETY TO THE EMPLOYEE REQUIRES THE USE OF ELECTRICALLY NONCONDUCTIVE EXTINGUISHING MEDIA.

"CLASS D FIRE" MEANS A FIRE INVOLVING COMBUSTIBLE METALS SUCH AS MAGNESIUM, TITANIUM, ZIRCONIUM, SODIUM, LITHIUM AND POTASSIUM.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOOT AND LEG PROTECTION BODY PROTECTION HAND PROTECTION HEAD, EYE AND FACE PROTECTION

LETTER CLASSIFICATION GIVEN AN EXTINGUISHER TO DESIGNATE THE CLASS OR CLASSES OF FIRE ON WHICH IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE. CLASS A – ORDINARY COMBUSTIBLES (WOOD, CLOTH, PAPER) CLASS B – FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, GASES, GREASES CLASS C – ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT CLASS D – COMBUSTIBLE METALS

Extinguishers shall be distributed so that maximum travel distances apply: Class A75 feet Class B50 feet Class CBased on appropriate pattern Class D75 feet

YOU CAN INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF SURVIVING A FIRE BY BEING PREPARED AND DOING THE RIGHT THING IN AN EMERGENCY.

EXITS: FIND THE LOCATION OF YOUR TWO CLOSEST EXITS, AND BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PATH OF TRAVEL TO THEM. ALARM: IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF THE NEAREST FIRE ALARM. KNOW WHAT THE FIRE ALARM SOUNDS LIKE, AND HOW TO CALL FOR HELP.

EVACUATION PLAN: Be familiar with the emergency evacuation plan for your building.

FIRE ALARM: Pull the nearest fire alarm to warn others of the fire danger; NEVER IGNORE AN ALARM. CALL 1-1-2: Reporting the fire immediately, or call from a nearby phone. Know your building address, and speak calmly and clearly.

A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. The risk is the likelihood that someone could be harmed by that hazard together with an indication of how serious the harm could be. The law doesn't require you to eliminate all risk, but you are required to protect people as far as is 'reasonably practicable'.