http://engineeringhut.blogspot.

com/2010/11/safety-
precautions.html
Safety Precautions:
(A): General Machine Shop:
1: Be sure that all machine’s have effective and properly working guards that are
always in place where machine’s are operating.
2: Replace guards immediately after any repair.
3: Don’t attempt to oil, clean, adjust or repair any machine while it is running, stop
the machine and lock the power switch in the off position.
4: Even after the power is off, don’t leave the machine until it has stopped running.
Some one else may notice that it is still in motion and be injured.
5: Don’t operate any machine unless authorized, to do so by the instructor or under
his supervison.
6: Don’t try to stop the machine with your hand or body.
7: Always see that work and cutting tools on any machine are clamped securely
before starting.
8: Keep the floor clean of metal chips or curls and waste pieces, put them in
container provided for such things.
9: Don’t operate machinery when the instructor is not in the workshop.
10: When working with another worker only one should operate machine or
switches.
11: Don’t rest against the machine.
12: Concertrate on the work and don’t talk unnecessary while operating machine.
13: Don’t talk to others when they are operating a machine.
14; Get first aid immedietly for any injury.
15: Be sure you have sufficient light to see clearly check with the supervisor if you
don’t enough.
Clothing and Safety Equipment:
1: Always wear safety glasses, or face shields designed for the type of the work
operating any machine
2: Wear safety shoes if heavy work is being done.
3: Wear clothing suited for the job, wear shoes with thick soles.
4: Don’t wear rings, watches, braslets or other jewelry that could get could get
caught in moving machinery.
5: Don’t wear neck ties or loose turn clothing of any kind.
6: Wear shirts or uppers with sleaves cut off or rolled above the elbows.
 7: Always remove , gloves before turning on or operating a machine. If material is
rough and sharp then gloves must be work place or handle material with machine
turned off.
House Keeping:
1: Keeping floor free of oil,grease or any other liquid. Clean up spilled liquid
immedietly they are sleeping hazards.
2: Aisles should be clear, at all time to avoid tripping of other accident.
3: Store materials in such a way that they cannot become tripping hazards.
4: Don’t leave tools or work on the table of a machine even if the machine in not
turning. Tools or work may fall off and cause the fact of injury.
5: Put tools always when not in use.
6: Place the scrap box.

http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/fac
ulties/sebe/abe-
students/workshop/rules-safety
Workshop rules and safety
considerations
Workshop safety is everyone's responsibility, the following rules have been put in place to ensure
the safety of all students and staff. Please read the safety rules carefully before entering the
workshop.

Workshop rules
 Student affected by drugs or alcohol are not permitted in the workshop
 Students with any health problems that may affect workplace safety (e.g. medication, epileptic fits)
must report these conditions to the workshop staff
 Notify the workshop staff of your arrival
 No food or drink in the workshop
 Wear the correct protective equipment for the tools you are using – ask if in doubt
 All chemicals (e.g. glues and paints) must be checked through Chemwatch and with workshop
staff before use
 Immediately notify the workshop supervisor of any faulty or broken equipment
 Ask how to use the tools safely
 Make sure your work piece is fixed securely before work commences
 Keep leads up off the floor
 Keep clear of any person operating tools and machinery (bumping an operator or get tangled in
the lead could cause serious injury to you or the operator)
 Do not talk to anyone operating electrical equipment and machinery
 Keep your work area tidy
 Clean up any spills immediately
 Wash hands after using equipment and materials
Ensure your safety in the workshop
When entering workshop
Pick up your hearing and eye protectors and immediately report to the workshop supervisor.

When exiting the workshop

Check that any tools you have been using have been put away in the appropriate spots, cleaned up
your work area and notify the workshop staff.

Clothing & footwear

 Safety glasses and hearing protection - every person entering the workshop must collect these
items from just inside the door. They must be worn at all times.
 Students that wear glasses should be aware these are not safety glasses, they are only impact
resistant and may shatter, safety glasses must be worn.
 All loose clothing (eg shirts hanging out) must be tucked in.
 Safety boots or enclosed shoes must be worn in the workshop. Do not enter under any
circumstances without this footwear, there are no exceptions to this rule.
 Long hair has to be tied up including fringes.
 Remove rings and loose jewellery before operating machinery they can be a hazard.
Behaviour
Fooling around and practical jokes in the workshop will not be tolerated. These students will be told
to leave.

First Aid
All accidents, cuts and abrasions must be reported before leaving the workshop. If an accident does
happen, no matter how small, it must be reported to the workshop staff and an Accident Report
Form filled out. Filling out this form is imperative for any future complications resulting from an
accident.

Fires or other emergencies

Think before reacting to any emergency in the workshop, ensure you are reacting safely before you
assist in an emergency. Do not attempt to fight any fire unless you have been trained to do so.

Machinery usage
 When students are operating machinery all other students are to stay clear and not to talk to the
operator. If you feel uneasy or unsafe operating any tools or machinery in the workshop, inform the
workshop supervisor and help will be provided.

Machinery that students are not allowed to operate includes:

 Drop Saws
 Sac Panel Bench Saw
 Thicknesser
 Bench Rip Saw
 Lathes
 Pressure Testing Machine
 Milling Machine
 Plastic Moulder
 C.N. Router
 Circular Saws
 Laser
Tools to be used only under strict supervision include:

 Router and Trimmer.

 All other tools may be used by students as long as they have been inducted into the workshop,
and been tested in there capability to use them.
 Records are kept as to which tools each student can operate.
 Students are not permitted in the office of the workshop.
 If tools are required, ask the work supervisor.

http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/11182-hand-protection

Hand protection
How can workers stay safe when wearing gloves around
rotating machinery?
September 29, 2014

No Comments

HAND PROTECTION PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ROTATING

MACHINERY

Responding is Joe Geng, vice president, Superior Glove Works Ltd., Acton, Ontario.
When you work in a manufacturing plant, personal protective equipment such as gloves can be a
major safety factor. Gloves protect your hands from heat and other temperature concerns,
chemicals, and cuts and bruises.

However, many employees wear gloves when working with major machinery that rotates or has
other heavy moving parts. This is one situation in which PPE can actually lead to injuries instead
of protecting the worker. Wearing gloves or loose clothing around heavy machinery is severely
dangerous and should be avoided due to the risk of entanglement.

Injuries from entanglement

Injuries from entanglement can take many forms and vary in severity. Machinery such as bench
drills, lathes, paint-stirring machines, CNCs, and stump grinders are a few types of machinery
that can end up entangling gloves or other loose clothing. Injuries can range from bruises and
cuts to broken bones and even the loss of fingers or limbs.

These injuries can result regardless of how experienced the worker is at using the machine in
question, and regardless of whether the machinery has a guard on it. Loose clothing and gloves
can easily slip under or around a guard and become entangled.

OSHA guidelines
According to OSHA, loose-fitting clothing should be avoided around machinery, and employers
are responsible for maintaining safe “housekeeping practices” to avoid entanglement hazards.
Some of these practices include:

 Keep the area surrounding machines clean and clear of hazards such as oil, debris and
other materials that put staff at risk for falling.
 Keep the work area large enough to allow plenty of clearance around machinery.
 Ensure employees are not wearing loose-fitting clothing, gloves, jewelry or anything that
can become entangled in machinery.
 Keep machines away from high-traffic areas, or any area where distracted employees
may be in danger from the equipment.
 Train employees about entanglement hazards, operating procedures, the proper and safe
use of guards, and reporting procedures.

PPE is not always appropriate

PPE such as gloves can be a very important factor in preventing workplace injuries but should be
worn only when it is appropriate for the task being performed. Workplace policies and
procedures should specify where and when PPE is appropriate.

When employees are using rotating machinery, regulations should specify that all clothes should
fit snugly, long hair should be tied back and gloves should not be permitted. If the situation
requires gloves for some other environmental reason (sharp edges, chemicals or temperature
concerns), gloves should be tight and form-fitting, and of a variety specifically chosen to reduce
the risks of entanglement. However, this is a last resort, and if possible no gloves should be worn
around rotating machinery.

The risks of wearing gloves when using rotating machinery cannot be overstated. To minimize
risks to staff, employers need to closely examine their policies regarding this issue and recognize
situations in which protective equipment is actually dangerous.

Sources:

www.workcover.nsw.gov
www.osha.gov

https://www.globus.co.uk/wearing-safety-gloves-in-the-machine-shop

Wearing Safety Gloves in the

Machine Shop
By Nick Green | 07.12.16
PRINT THIS PAGE

Should gloves be used by those operating

rotating machinery?
The knee-jerk response has been a resounding no. General thinking has been that gloves should be
avoided where EXPOSED rotating machinery is used as the operator has an increased risk of being
caught up and drawn into it. In short, glove wearing had the potential for increased risk in these
environments.

But is there a case in today’s modern heavy engineering environments - with a growing emphasis on
fully enclosed, computer operated machinery - to rethink the use of technical safety gloves?
The dangers of working in a machine shop environment, with exposure to powerful, rotating
machinery was made clearly apparent to me at a very early stage in my quest for engineering
knowledge when a student got his school tie caught up in a lathe chuck at low speed. Luckily for
him, in the 80s it was ‘cool’ to pull out strands of your tie to make it a different colour than it should
be, thus causing the tie to break easily and pull him to safety.

A clear and present danger?

Although there remains a clear and present danger of wearing hand protection where exposure to
rotating equipment is present, thankfully the modern day machine shop has changed considerably
with precision machining of aerospace aluminium and titanium often undertaken by fully enclosed,
computer controlled machines.

This and the focussed approach to engineer out major risks from working processes has resulted in
significantly reduced risk exposure for the operator from rotating equipment. However, not all risks
can be engineered out and whilst hand protection should be seen as a last resort, it is still required
to protect against mechanical risks which pose a very real threat to workers, mainly from handling
pre and post-machined components; handling, changing and maintaining multi-faced modern cutting
tools and even from cleaning and maintenance programmes that expose workers to equipment.

It’s difficult to calculate the exact ratio of dry and wet cutting and machining operations in the UK
without physically visiting every one in every location. However, based on my experience of
supporting many of the UK’s leading aerospace, automotive and manufacturing companies, I am
confident that it hovers around the 50:50 mark.
The introduction of coolants, water and oil emulsions and other lubricants in the engineering process
can increase the risks for operators. Whilst they aid cutting; not only do they reduce grip and control
when handling components but they also increase the potential for dermatological risks.

Getting the balance right

Human interaction remains an essential part of the

job with traditional machining operations, such as manual lathe, milling machines or pedestal drilling
tasks where the rotating part of the machines, are guarded but perhaps not completely and are still
within the operators’ reach. So the goal is one of balance.
Hand protection is especially important where synthetic or water based coolant is present where
there is potential to splash or contaminate the operator.
 Handling pre and post-machined components ranging from small inner aircraft skin brackets made
from titanium through to six cylinder engine blocks for 21st century excavator engines requires a
large degree of secure grip and control.
Wearing a glove that provides the right mechanical protection for handling these type of components
is only one important facet in the glove-selection process and those selected should offer the right
level of cut and abrasion performance. However, if the glove being worn doesn’t offer the right
amount of grip, regardless of the cut level index, the glove will underperform or not protect as it
should. So it is important to consider the combination of both mechanical and grip performance.

And just as the engineering environment has changed, so too has the development of
technical hand protection.

One example is the introduction of nitrile foam palm

coatings, combined with new innovative technical cut resistant yarns as evident in the SHOWA S-
TEX 376 from Globus. This safety glove can be worn in the machine shop for securely handling dry
or lightly oiled ferrous and none ferrous materials, bar stock as well as pre- and post- machined
medium and heavyweight components. The flexible fully coated nitrile base level coating provides a
barrier to oils, greases and a myriad of cutting fluids thus reducing the risk from contact skin
diseases.
The glove belies its dexterity and comfort by providing a high level of cut resistance (in ISO 13997
tests, a sample of the glove was able to withstand up to 22.4N of force on the blade before achieving
‘cut-through’ of the liner sample). This makes it robust and durable enough to protect from precision
edged machined parts and components, yet dexterous enough to fasten and secure the smallest
carbide tips to cutting arbours.

Any operator wearing a range of hand protection providing secure grip and control when handling
awkward or heavy or oily / greasy components will also benefit from;

 Increased posture

 Reduced musculoskeletal damage

A glove designed to improve grip on such surfaces, allows the wearer to confidently handle the
material, move it from A to B or load it safely in to a chuck or vice without any abnormal posture or
body compensations arising from lack of grip, control or the worry of dropping it.

Conclusion
Should gloves be used for operating rotating machinery? Whilst the answer remains no, there are in
many instances requirements for hand protection in the traditional and more modern machine
shops. For example, when handling and or loading heavy and awkward metallic parts, that are often
oily, greasy or indeed polished, into machine chucks. Be it manual lathes, milling machines or
pedestal drills, the need for secure grip and increased control and thus reducing the risk of muscular
skeletal injury or trapped fingers is essential.
Therefore, the solution is to wear gloves that offer increased grip in those environments that
include nitrile foam palm coatings in conjunction with technical fibres that protect from minor nicks
and cuts, then removing the glove when operating the machinery.
There are other environmental risks too, such as contamination and contact from coolants, cutting
fluids and lubricating emulsions that increase the efficiency of metal cutting applications. It is
important to protect the operator from extended contact from these substances which are applied
during the cutting operation. A robust nitrile disposable glove will offer a sound barrier to them and
should any rogue swarf or similar sweep the hand, the glove will fracture or burst and not create a
drag or pull-risk to the wearer.

https://careertrend.com/13374999/osha-regulations-on-long-hair-around-machinery

OSHA REGULATIONS ON
LONG HAIR AROUND
MACHINERY
By Rachel McGinnis; Updated July 05, 2017

Just check my long hair. image by Frenk_Danielle Kaufmann from Fotolia.com

Having long hair when working around machinery can cause serious injuries and even
death. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employees to cover
and protect long hair in certain settings to prevent it from getting caught in machine
parts. OSHA works to prevent accidents like these from happening by developing
guidelines referred to as the primary personal protective equipment standards. Outlined
in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910 Subpart I, workers are
required to adhere to these guidelines in hopes that the work environment can be free
from unnecessary injury.

Dangers of Loose, Long Hair

Having long hair that is not properly secured can be extremely dangerous because it
can become caught in moving machine parts. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, there are about 5,000 deaths per year from workplace
accidents, some of which involves workers being pulled into machines by loose clothing
or hair. Additionally, workers’ hair becoming entangled in equipment, even when non-
fatal, is a serious problem that can cause injuries such as scalping and facial
disfigurement.

OSHA Regulations
OSHA has set forth regulations so that this type of accident can be prevented.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that their employees have securely fastened
their hair. If they do not, employers can face hefty fines. Employees are required to
cover and protect long hair to prevent it from getting caught in machine parts such as
belts, chain and rotating parts. Employees are also encouraged to pay close attention to
work pieces that have slots or other surface profiles that may increase the risk of
entanglement. They should keep clothing, loose jewelry and hair away from rotating and
moving parts, as they may become caught.

Acceptable Hairstyles
Hair long than four inches can be drawn into machine parts such as suction devices,
blowers, chains, belts and rotating devices. It can even be drawn into machines
guarded with mesh. Therefore, hair must be securely fastened with a bandanna, hair
net, soft cap or the like. According to OSHA regulations, “securely fastened” means that
hair is tied back into a bun or a knot without any loose locks. Ponytails are acceptable
for the most part, though if hair is extremely long, ponytails may still be blown into a
machine part by the wind or sucked in when the worker bends down.

https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/All/aet12204

Safety Up! - On Lifting Techniques

Agri-News
PDF This Week
 (124K)

Farm Safety Home Page

Lift and learn | 10 Steps to

safe handling | Hazards of
heavy lifting | Team
lifting | Dos and don'ts of
lifting | Pain and strain
prevention | The last
word | References

Farm work can be a back-

breaker, literally. Lifting,
loading, bending, shovelling,
pushing, pulling and hoisting
are all tough physical jobs.
The stress and strain can
lead to muscle strains, torn
ligaments and chronic back
problems. In fact, estimates
suggest nearly one third of
all workers’ compensation
cases involve back injuries
and improper lifting
techniques are responsible
for a large percentage of
back injuries among farm
workers. You can prevent
back problems later on by
learning to lift properly
starting now.

The key is to know the job,

know the hazard, and know
the drill. Knowing the job
means getting trained ahead
of time to ensure you can do
your work safely. Once
you’re on the job, you need
to be alert to recognize
potential hazards that may
put you or coworkers at risk.
Finally, when you identify
hazards, you need to know
the drill – how will you safely
manage or avoid them?

Lift and Learn

Farm work is hard work. It
can take its toll on your body
– bones, muscles, tendons
and ligaments. All that lifting,
stretching and straining can
lead to backaches, shoulder
pain, problems in the arms
or legs, even disabling
physical conditions. The
reality is that sprains and
strains are more likely to
 happen if the body is used
incorrectly. Know the job.

To use your body correctly,

you must learn to lift without
using your back. If a load is
too awkward or heavy to lift
alone, ask for help. Don’t be
a hero and end up hurt.
Remember, it’s a job, not a
competition. Also, remember
that just knowing how to lift
heavy items isn’t enough –
you need to train and
practice to do it well. Have
you ever seen a really small
person hauling heavy feed
sacks with apparent ease?
The secret lies in taking the
proper stance and getting
the right grip. Learn it. Your
back will be forever grateful.

10 Steps to Safe
Handling
1. Size up the load and check
conditions. Don’t try to lift it
alone if the load looks too
heavy or awkward. Ensure
there is enough space for
movement, the footing is
good and no obstacles are
in your path. This
preparation will help prevent
you from tripping or
stumbling.
2. Be sure your balance is
good. Feet should be
shoulder-width apart, with
one foot beside and the
other foot behind the object
being lifted.
3. Bend the knees; don’t stoop.
Keep the back straight, but
not vertical. (Tucking in your
chin will straighten your
back.)
4. Grip the load with the palms
of your hands and your
fingers. The palm grip is
much more secure. Tuck
your chin again to ensure
your back is straight before
you lift.
5. Use your body weight to
start moving the load. Allow
the lifting action to come
from the big, strong muscles
in your legs, rather than the
weaker muscles in your
 back.
6. Keep your arms and elbows
close to your body while
lifting.
7. Carry the load close to your
body. Don’t twist your body
while carrying the load. To
change direction, shift your
foot position and turn your
whole body.
8. Watch where you are going!
9. To lower the object, bend
the knees. Don’t stoop. Set
the load down. If you are
placing it on a bench or
shelf, set it on the edge and
then push it back into
position. Make sure your
hands and feet are clear
when placing the load.
10. Make it a habit to follow this
procedure when lifting
anything, even a relatively
light object.
Hazards of Heavy
Lifting
Working on the farm
involves many different
tasks in a day. It’s very easy
to forget to take time to
consciously think about the
potential hazards of each
new task before you start.
When it comes to safe lifting,
this is a very easy mistake to
make. If you don’t slow
down and think about what
you’re doing, you might
realize too late that you’ve
just been throwing hundreds
of pounds of hay bales with
your lower back. Ouch!

Lower back pain is most

often associated with
manual lifting of heavy
objects, a common
requirement of farm work. If
you find you’re having low
back pain, it may mean you
need to revisit the steps to
safe lifting, and practice to
protect your back from
further damage. Know the
hazard. Here are some
lifting hazards to watch out
for on the farm:
 Lifting objects that weigh
more than 10% to 15% of
 your body weight (anything
heavier than 25 pounds
probably fits this
description).
 Lifting repeatedly,
regardless of how heavy the
object is.
 Awkward body posture while
handling heavy objects.
 Working in an awkward
position for a prolonged
period of time.
 In addition to lifting,
musculoskeletal physical
stresses to watch out for
include: forceful gripping,
bending, twisting, kneeling,
squatting and using vibrating
equipment.
 Any prolonged activity, such
as driving (especially if the
equipment vibrates).
 Slips and falls.

Team Lifting

If the weight, shape,

or size of an object
makes it tough for one
person to handle,
team up. Workers
should be close to the
same size for team
lifting. One worker
should be responsible
for control of the
action to ensure
proper coordination.
Work together!
Injuries can happen if
one of you lifts too
soon, shifts the load,
or lowers it
improperly.

DO DON’T
 Tuck in Use your
the chin back
to keep muscles to
the back do lifting.
as  Try to lift
 straight an item that
as is too
possible heavy or
while awkward.
lifting.  Twist your
 Lift with body while
the carrying an
strong object.
leg  Attempt
muscles. team lifting
 Ask for without
help with proper
the coordinatio
heavy, n.
awkward
items.
 When
possible,
use
mechanic
al
equipme
nt to
move
heavy
items.

Pain and Strain

Prevention
Knowing how to avoid or
manage identified hazards is
the key to staying safe on
the farm. You’re young and
capable, but you don’t have
to hurt yourself to prove it.
When heavy work presents
itself, find ways to get the
job done in less dangerous
ways.

Know the drill. To prevent

damaging your body while
you work:
 Use mechanical lifting
equipment if it is available –
loaders, forklifts and hoists
were designed for this
purpose.
 Plan your jobs to reduce the
chance of injury.
  Keep reach to a minimum,
and lift as close to your body
as possible.
 Ask for help if the load feels
too heavy.
 Always work in teams of two
to lift objects heavier than
15% of your weight.
 Alternate lifting tasks with
other jobs.
 Keep your body in good
physical condition – maintain
a fitness conditioning
program.

The Last Word

It’s up to you to take
personal responsibility for
your safety on the job. When
you use proper methods to
lift heavy objects, you
protect yourself against
injury and make your work
easier. The key is to take the
time to think about what you
are going to do before you
bend over to pick something
up. Over time, safe lifting
technique can become a
healthy habit that will help
your back last a lifetime.

References
Rural Ergonomics, Farm
Safety 4 Just Kids, Earlham,
IA, www.fs4jk.org
Safe Lifting and Carrying
Techniques, Farm Safety
Association Inc., Guelph,
ON.

https://www.ccri.edu/safety/lab_safety_for_students.html

Lab Safety for Students

 INTRODUCTION
 EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTIONS
 EYE PROTECTION
  CLOTHING
 FOOD, DRINK AND CIGARETTES
 BUNSEN BURNER
 CHEMICAL HANDLING
 FIRES AND FIRE ALARMS
 CLOTHING FIRES
 SAFETY DATA SHEETS
 CHEMICAL SPILLS
 ELECTRICAL SAFETY
 COMPRESSED AIR
 TOUCHING, TASTING AND SMELLING
 OSHA BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS STANDARD
 IMMUNIZATION
 PREGNANCY
 CHEMICAL DISPOSAL
 INJURIES
 VISITORS

INTRODUCTION
For the safety of students and instructors, the following general rules are to be followed
for all laboratories, machine shop and studio courses. A written policy specific to each
type of lab, such as chemistry, human physiology, dental hygiene, phlebotomy
photography, machine processes, etc., must be given to students on the first day of each
lab course. Each specific policy should be at least as restrictive as this general policy and
may be more stringent depending on each department's needs.

EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Safety instructions and procedures for each experiment are given at the beginning of the
lab period. For your protection and that of others, you must be present to hear this
information. If you are not, you may not be allowed to do the experiment and will receive
no credit for the lab. Never perform unauthorized or unsupervised experiments. Never
enter the lab unless an instructor or a paraprofessional is present.

EYE PROTECTION
Chemical splash goggles meeting OSHA requirements AINSI Z87-1-1979 are sold in
the campus bookstores. These goggles must be worn in chemistry laboratories at all
times and in other laboratories using extremely hazardous substances even if you yourself
are not engaged in an experiment at the moment. If you wear eyeglasses, most goggles
will fit over them. Goggles are to be put on as soon as you enter the lab. Do not remove
them until you are ready to leave the lab. If you do not follow the rules for wearing safety
goggles, you will be asked to leave the lab and will receive a zero for the day's
experiment. In certain biology and allied health laboratories, other suitable eyewear may
be used at the discretion of the instructor and department chair.

It is unsafe to wear contact lenses in the lab. A chemical splashed into the eye will be
trapped against the cornea by the contact lens, increasing the likelihood of eye damage.
Vapors such as hydrogen chloride or ammonia are absorbed by some lenses and can
cause severe irritation or injury. You are strongly advised not to wear contacts in the lab.
If possible, you should wear ordinary glasses under your goggles or other suitable
eyewear.

Chemical eye injuries are best treated by prompt and prolonged flushing with
water. Your instructor will demonstrate the use of the eye wash fountain. If you get
something in your eye, have someone lead you the eyewash immediately. If you see
someone else in trouble, bring that person to the eyewash. Hold the eye open in the
stream of water to get complete flushing of the eye and flush for 15 minutes or more.
Report any eye injury or irritation to your lab instructor immediately.

CLOTHING
Wear only appropriate clothing in the lab. Not allowed are loose flowing sleeves or
blouses, bulky jewelry, scarves, shorts, miniskirts, bare feet, sandals and open toe shoes.
Required are tight long sleeves or short sleeves, slacks or mid-length skirts and regular
shoes or sneakers. Wear a plastic apron over your clothing to protect you from corrosive
or hot liquids. Keep purses and book bags out of the way. Hang outerwear on the coat
rack; do not leave it on the benches.

FOOD, DRINK AND CIGARETTES

No food or drink of any kind are allowed in the lab. Even wrapped candy, gum or
cigarettes may not be put on benchtops because they may become contaminated.
Smoking is banned throughout the College and it is never allowed in any laboratories due
to the obvious hazard presented by flammable liquids and gases. Do not put anything that
has been in the lab, such as a pen, in your mouth. Wash your hands before leaving lab to
avoid carrying toxic materials out with you.
BUNSEN BURNER
Your instructor will show you how to light a Bunsen burner and how to avoid strike back,
or burning of gas at the base of the burner. Do not leave the burner on when it is not
needed and be careful that it does not ignite your hair or clothing. Turn off the main gas
valve when the burner is off. Any object you heat remains a burn hazard for some time,
so treat all glassware, iron rings and clamps as if they are hot. The Bunsen burner,
especially if there has been strike back, can also become very hot.

CHEMICAL HANDLING
When dispensing chemicals, read the label carefully before you start and measure the
appropriate amount as indicated by the experiment directions. Do not take an excess. To
avoid contamination and a possible violent reaction, never return unwanted chemicals to
their containers. Do not put your dropper into a supply bottle. Do not lay stoppers on the
benchtop. When heating chemicals in a test tube, do not point the test tube at anyone or
look down into it. Always dispense and dilute concentrated acids in a fume hood. To
avoid overheating and spurting, never add water to an acid; always add acid to water
slowly with stirring. Always give a warning when carrying a container of a hot or
reactive chemical past anyone in the lab.

FIRES AND FIRE ALARMS

Learn the location of each fire extinguisher. Your instructor will demonstrate the use of a
fire extinguisher as well as other techniques for putting out minor fires. If a fire does
occur in the lab, notify your instructor and move away from it carefully to avoid causing
an accident. Know the locations of all laboratory exits before a fire occurs.

In case of a fire alarm, whether planned or unexpected, shut off any burner, hotplate or
running water you are using and leave the lab as quickly as possible in an orderly
manner. Your instructor will tell you beforehand which emergency route to take out of
the building. Once out of the building, walk clear of the exits so you will not hinder
anyone else's escape.

Long hair must be tied back behind your head. Long bangs must be secured with a
hairnet. Hair can easily ignite from a burner flame and cause serious face and scalp burns.
Flammable liquids such as acetone, hexane, and ethanol must be stored and dispensed in
the hood. Even if there are no flames in the lab, do not take supply bottles of flammables
out of the hood.
CLOTHING FIRES
Extinguish burning clothing by using the drop-and-roll technique or by dousing with cold
water or using the emergency shower if it is immediately available. If your clothing
catches fire, do not run or take other action that will fan the flames. Immediately drop
down and roll on the floor to extinguish the flames. Laboratories are also equipped with
fire blankets for extinguishing clothing fires. Your instructor will use one if necessary to
smother the flames completely. After a clothing fire is extinguished, remove
contaminated clothing carefully to avoid further damage to the burned area. Remove heat
with cool water or ice packs until tissue around burn feels normal to the touch. The
injured person should be covered to prevent shock. Get medical attention immediately by
calling 911 and the security office for your campus.

SAFETY DATA SHEETS

Safety Data Sheets (SDS's) which list the properties and hazards of chemicals are
available for all materials used in the lab if you have concerns or questions about any
substance you use. Your instructor will teach you to read and interpret SDS's and will
provide SDS's for selected substances. The instructor can also supply you with the SDS
of any substance on request.

CHEMICAL SPILLS
A solution spilled on your clothing or skin, especially a concentrated acid or alkali, can
be dangerous. Wear a plastic apron to protect against this type of accident. If a spill gets
on your body, wash it off immediately under the safety shower and remove any
contaminated clothing. A spill on your hand or arm should be washed off in the sink
without delay. Inform your instructor of any accident. Large spills on a benchtop or floor
require your instructor's help for proper cleanup.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Keep water away from electrical devices. Never touch an electrical appliance, switch or
plug with wet hands. Never touch an electrical device and a water pipe or other ground at
the same time. To pull out a plug, grasp the plug firmly; do not yank the wire. Report any
defective or malfunctioning equipment to your instructor at once.

COMPRESSED AIR
Compressed air may be used only for purposes specified by the instructor and only when
the user is wearing eye protection. Compressed air must never be used to clean clothing.
Never point the air nozzle toward anyone's face or body.

TOUCHING, TASTING AND SMELLING

Never deliberately taste anything in the lab. Acids and alkalis can cause severe mouth
burns. Substances such as lead salts are very toxic even though they may taste sweet.
Supposedly safe substances such as glucose may be contaminated. Never pipet solutions
by mouth. It is easy to ingest a solution accidentally. Use a rubber pipet bulb to provide
suction. Never touch any chemical with your bare hands. Use appropriate containers to
dispense liquids and a spatula for solids. Use rubber gloves to clean up spills or
contamination. Keep hands away from your face, especially from eyes and lips.
Reactions that generate poisonous gases or fumes must be done in a hood. The lab
manual and your instructor will advise you about this. Never inhale large amounts of any
gas. Some are very irritating or toxic. Do not smell chemicals indiscriminately. To smell
something, first ask your instructor’s permission; then waft a small amount of vapor
toward your nose with your hand and sniff cautiously.

OSHA BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS STANDARD

NOTE:

While the College’s insurance policy covers costs associated with a patient injured by a
student in the course of the student’s clinical training, it no longer covers the cost of
treatment for student injuries or bloodborne pathogen exposures. Students are therefore
solely responsible for their medical expenses and will be expected to pay the facility that
renders treatment. Students who are injured or exposed are advised to follow the protocol
at their clinical site or at their own health care provider. If a student has no regular health
care provider, Miriam Hospital can provide treatment. The cost of treatment at Miriam
Hospital will be the student’s responsibility.

The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard was enacted to reduce the occupational
transmission of infections caused by microorganisms that may be found in blood and
other potentially infectious materials. All laboratory classes that involve the handling of
potentially infectious materials must adopt the standard and enforce it stringently.
Students will be trained in the following: Explanation of the Bloodborne Pathogens
Standard; explanation of the epidemiology, modes of transmission and symptoms of
bloodborne diseases; explanation and implementation of the exposure control plan;
procedures which may expose persons to blood and other potentially infectious materials.
The following infection control procedures will be in effect:

 Lab coats worn in labs at all times and removed before leaving the lab. Lab coats not
worn outside labs.
 No food or drink allowed in labs.
 Benchtops disinfected before starting any lab and disinfected after labs are completed.
 Gloves worn whenever blood or any potentially infectious material is handled.
 Hands washed with antimicrobial agent before donning gloves and after their removal.
 Gloves rinsed, removed and discarded in trash container, or if necessary, in biohazard
container before leaving lab.
 Face shields worn when indicated by risk involved.
 Universal precautions followed whenever biohazard specimens are handled.
 No mouth pipetting.
 Long hair tied back.
 All potentially biohazardous material disposed of in marked biohazard containers.
 No bending of used needles.
 No recapping of used needles except by OSHA-approved recapping device.
 Sharps discarded in special puncture-proof containers.
 Infectious spills cleaned up with the appropriate disinfectant.
 Instructor always notified in case of mucous membrane exposure or needlestick or cut
injury involving infectious material.
 Wounds and exposure sites cleansed thoroughly with soap and water.

Incidents to be reported are as follows: In case of obvious injury, Incident Report filed
with Security Department with a copy sent to the Chemical Safety Coordinator. If
incident involves exposure of skin or mucous membranes to potentially infectious
material without breaking the skin, exposure recipient's confidentiality will be maintained
by filing an internal report with the department and the Safety Coordinator only.

IMMUNIZATION
Programs such as Phlebotomy, Nursing, dental Hygiene and Medical Laboratory
Technology require students to have proof of immunity or immunization to certain
diseases, including hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, rubella, measles and mumps.
Students must provide proof of immunity or be vaccinated in order to enroll in these
programs. The cost of vaccination is the students’ responsibility. The hepatitis B
vaccination is recommended for all health care workers and others whose jobs involve
exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. Hepatitis B vaccine is
offered free of charge to College employees in that category.

PREGNANCY
The lab experiments in this course have been designed to minimize unnecessary exposure
to hazardous substances. However, it is not advisable for pregnant women to be exposed
to any chemicals. If you are pregnant, suspect you are pregnant or become pregnant
during the semester, ask the instructor for a list of the chemicals used in the experiments.
Show the list to your physician and follow his or her recommendation.

CHEMICAL DISPOSAL
Few chemicals can be poured down the drain without interfering with the action of a
sewage plant or harming the environment when residues of the chemical reach the water
table or ocean. For this reason, never to pour any chemical into a sink drain unless told to
do so by your instructor. Never put any chemical into the trash where it might start a fire
or contaminate a landfill. Specific instructions will be given for chemical disposal before
each experiment. Labeled containers will be placed in the hoods for collecting each toxic
waste. These wastes will later be removed from the College premises by a certified
disposal company. Ask your instructor if you are in doubt about any procedure. Paper
towels, litmus paper, matches and wooden splints must be thrown in trash receptacles, not
the sinks.

INJURIES
All injuries, no matter how slight, must be reported to the instructor for evaluation and
referral to the school nurse and Security. If there is any doubt about the severity of an
injury, call Security instead of moving the victim. When helping an injured person,
College employees and students must make every effort to avoid contact with blood and
other body fluids which may carry the viruses that cause AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis
C. Just as in a clinical setting, Universal Precautions must be observed. That is, assume
all body fluids are potentially infectious. First aid kits and disposable gloves are available
in all areas where injuries are likely. Mucous membrane or broken skin contact with body
fluids must be reported to the school nurse and to Security at once. The College has a
protocol for testing and counseling anyone who has been exposed to bloodborne
pathogens.

VISITORS
Visitors, especially children, are not allowed to visit laboratories, studios and machine
shops at any time, even if no work is being conducted at the time. Adult visitors are
allowed during special demonstrations and only with the expressed permission of the
instructor. Children are also not allowed in the laboratory prep rooms or, at the Warwick
Campus, in the corridor outside the labs.

http://www.ehstoday.com/news/ehs_imp_32825

How to Prevent Industrial Fires

Use a three-phase accident investigation process to identify basic causes and take
corrective action.

William H. Kincaid, CSP | Oct 31, 1996

Fires and explosions needlessly kill and injure employees and damage
billions of dollars worth of property and goods every year. Here are steps
you can take to keep your business from going up in smoke.

William Fries admits he was shocked. Fries, director, property services, Loss Prevention
Department, Liberty Mutual Group, thought he had seen and heard it all during his time
with the company, but this was a new one.

During a routine inspection, he asked a safety director at a pulp and paper mill if it had a
frequency problem with fires. He was relieved to hear that the company had never had a
big fire.

His happiness was short-lived as the safety director went on to explain that once a week,
a certain machine would cause a dust explosion, a small flash fire. The safety director
tried to reassure Fries, telling him that the vigilant machine operator had a garden hose
standing by and he "takes care of it."
"What if the operator was on break? What if he went to lunch or the bathroom when the
flash fire occurred? That small controllable fire could take the entire plant down," said
Fries, his voice rising with disbelief. "Those kinds of stories really shake me up."

Experts agree that there is no such beast as a fireproof facility. Too many elements are
involved to make those kinds of claims. A host of factors -- building design and
materials, machinery, wiring, fire supression systems, emergency response programs,
alarm systems, inspection and testing of fire response equipment and systems,
chemicals on site, training, housekeeping, end products -- can work alone or combine to
impact on fire resistance and prevention. But there are a number of ways, said Fries, to
avoid courting disaster like the safety director at the pulp and paper mill.

Protection and Prevention

Protection ensures that a minor event &emdash; a small containable fire in a trash can,
for example &emdash; does not turn into a catastrophic event which can devastate a
business, the lives of workers and a community. Prevention ensures that the trash can
fire does not ignite in the first place.

Fries cites one example of such an event: An electric eraser used by drafters at one
company was stored in such a way that the nose of the eraser pressed against the side of
the drawer. The contact caused the eraser to switch on and vibrate. The constant friction
caused the eraser to overheat and start a fire which spread throughout the room, fueled
by the stacks of papers and plans used by the drafters.

"If that eraser had been properly stored, that fire would never have occurred," noted
Fries. "Fires usually start small. Processes become so familiar that the workers lose
respect for them, become a little bit careless, and that's all it takes."
The answer, said Fries, is prevention. Experts focus on several aspects of prevention --
good housekeeping, good work habits, employee training and workplace inspection -- as
ways to avoid minor events and major catastrophes. According to figures from Factory
Mutual, three-fifths of fires and nearly three-fourths of property damage could be
avoided through preventive maintenance and frequent inspection and testing of
equipment and electrical systems; taking proper safety precautions during maintenance
operations; and using caution around open flames.

"Many of the fires we've responded to were due to inadequate work practices -- such as
cutting and welding operations without a fire watch [keeping a close watch on an area in
which hot work has been conducted for several hours after the work has been
completed]. Others were at areas which weren't cleaned up, did not have flammables
and combustibles properly stored or had grease or oil-soaked floors," said Scott Dornen,
a fire chief at Atlantic Richfield Co.'s (ARCO) Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, facility and a
member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

According to Dornen, such incidents at his location have declined in recent years due to
several factors. At the height of construction on the Alaska pipeline, ARCO had as many
as 120 contractor companies on site, all with different safety policies and procedures.
Many of those companies are gone, and with less construction and fewer operations and
employees, the opportunities for fires and explosions have diminished.

"It's the difference between the number of fires in a city of 100,000 people versus a city
of 1 million people," noted Dornen.

He added that many of the companies with which ARCO now contracts have improved
their maintenance, inspection and housekeeping, in part because of the high standards
ARCO maintains for its own operations.
 For example, before new facilities are constructed at ARCO or a new process
undertaken, the building plans go through an extensive design review which includes
the use of a 1-to-24 inch scale model. All engineering controls to prevent and protect
against fire and explosion are examined.

Dornen helps review the layout of fixed protection, such as sprinkler and alarm systems,
to make sure it is more than adequate to meet the challenges of the operations planned
for that facility. The scale models help Dornen and the safety department, with whom he
closely works, look for things like blocked emergency exits, dead-end aisles and
walkways, locations of storage areas for chemicals and inventory which are away from
potential ignition sources, and emergency escape routes. Through the use of such
models, they can also examine the placement of fire walls and doors to make sure that
fires can be contained in specific areas.

Building in Fire Safety

In addition to planning fire safety into the design of new facilities and processes, experts
suggest a close evaluation of the materials used to construct new buildings and/or
maintain older ones. Determining the fire protection factors for buildings and materials
can seem daunting, but James Martin, a property team leader with the Loss Control
Group, ITT Hartford Group, notes that many business insurers are willing to advise
their clients about fire prevention and protection.

He offers up this list of questions that safety professionals, building engineers and
emergency response personnel need to be able to answer about their workplace:

 What are the structural building materials?

 Are the walls, ceilings and floors, furniture, floor coverings and window treatments fire-
resistant?
 Do they meet or exceed current NFPA, Underwriters Laboratories and industry
standards, as well as state and federal codes?

 Are the fire suppression systems adequate to meet the needs of the facility and the
potential hazards?

 Is the local water supply adequate to meet the needs of the sprinkler system and
emergency responders?

 Are there adequate, properly marked emergency exits?

 Are there fire walls and doors to prevent or slow the spread of fire from one area to the
next?

Other suggestions from Martin include: surveying employees to make sure they know
what to do in case of fire; having a yearly training session which includes employees and
emergency responders from the facility and community; asking contractors about their
loss control practices and using contractors who have demonstrated safe work practices;
and not only inspecting sprinklers and alarms weekly, but also testing them on a regular
basis.

"I've seen situations where the water supply was shut off at the street, but the sprinklers
still showed water pressure on the inside valves. Anyone inspecting that system would
think it was working. If they tested it, they would discover there was no water," said
Martin.

He said that alarm systems should be hooked up to emergency generators as well as the
central power source. It's not inconceivable that in a fire or other emergency situation,
the main electrical system would shut down.

He also suggested using extreme caution when conducting maintenance operations

which involve drilling holes in ceilings and floors. Any pipe chases which travel between
floors must be properly sealed with a fire retardant material. Otherwise, they provide a
perfect opportunity for a fire to jump from floor to floor and engulf an entire building.
Finally, said Martin, get upper management involved and proactive about fire safety. If
management focuses attention and resources on fire prevention and proactive
maintenance, employees will understand that fire safety, good maintenance and
housekeeping are important parts of their jobs.

The True Cost of Fire

While no one wants to suffer through a fire, management might balk at some of the
expenses associated with fire prevention and protection, cautioned experts. The cost of
emergency response drills, building scale models, providing employee training,
purchasing state-of-the-art fire protection systems and materials for new buildings and
retrofitting older buildings with fire suppression systems can be high. But experts agree
that it is money well spent.

Figures from the National Fire Protection Association show that each year, some 85,000
fires occur in the workplace, causing an annual average of 89 deaths to employees and
customers and a whopping $1.856 billion in direct property damage. And that does not
take indirect costs, which can double or triple the damage amount, into consideration.

"The cost of a fire or explosion is much greater than the dollar amount of the damage,"
explained Mark Blank, engineering team leader, Factory Mutual System, Chicago.
"Imagine a group of sales people about to sign a big production deal who are left
hanging because the production line had to shut down as a result of a fire and they can't
promise a delivery date. It could take years to build back the business that is lost when
buyers turn to other suppliers."

He said that he has seen more than one corporation relocate operations from burned-
out facilities to other facilities rather than rebuild, and has seen companies take
insurance payments and rebuild in other cities or states where the costs of doing
business are lower.
"I've seen companies with only one facility go out of business because between the lost
business and production downtime and the amount of the loss which they couldn't
recover through insurance, they couldn't afford to rebuild. Plus, mortgage bills and tax
bills keep coming in, even when production is stopped," said Blank.

By all means, said Blank, purchase insurance. But, he added, the best insurance is
prevention.

"The U.S. has the highest fire incidence rate of any country in the world and the smallest
regard for fire. We tell kids not to play with fire and matches, but as adults, we seem to
forget why it's a bad idea. It's sad because fires would not occur if people would just take
the time to take precautions to prevent them," he said.

COST-SAVING WAYS TO SAVE LIVES

Not all fire prevention strategies involve expensive equipment or extensive remodeling.

According to Lawrence Oldendorf, who has 40 years experience in fire protection and
prevention and is president of Fire and Safety Engineering Services, Burbank, Ill., one of
the least expensive and most effective ways to prevent fires is through good
housekeeping techniques.

According to him, as many as 90 percent of all fires are caused or fueled by unneeded
combustibles. While combustibles can include oil-soaked rags and trash, it goes much
further than that.

"Extra packing boxes stored in the wrong place -- close to ignition sources -- are
combustibles. Chemicals stored near work areas instead of in flame- and explosion-
resistant drums and cabinets are combustibles," said Oldendorf. "Bottles of alcohol
stored on every desk in a cleanroom are combustibles."
 He noted that while it is easier to store bottles of cleaners and chemicals close to work
sites, it is a dangerous practice. It is also dangerous to store containers of flammable,
reactive and explosive chemicals in shipping cartons, unless the containers or cartons
are flame-resistant. "Storage boxes are inexpensive and storage cabinets can be
expensive," said Oldendorf, "but the cost of a fire is much more expensive."

To cut down on costs, he suggests keeping extra inventory of flammables to a minimum.

Less storage space is needed, said Oldendorf, and potential fuel sources for a fire are
decreased.

Other suggestions from Oldendorf include:

 Clean up oil and chemical spills immediately, and keep work areas free of any extra
paper, boxes or rags.

 Don't string electrical cords across floors or walkways where they can be stepped on and
frayed, opening your facility up to the possibility of an electrical fire.

 De-energize machinery before any maintenance work is started and thoroughly inspect
that equipment before the power is turned back on.

 Keep tools which cause friction or sparks away from areas where explosive and
flammable materials are present.

 If temporary scaffolding or partitions are erected, make sure they are metal or made
with materials treated with flame retardants.

 Use a temporary sprinkler system in areas where hot work is being conducted or for
areas being used to temporarily store flammable materials.

 Train employees in the various sounds made by the alarm system and what action they
need to take when an alarm sounds.

 Invite outside emergency responders into the facility and educate them about hazards.
Have an emergency plan in place and conduct a full-fledged emergency response drill at
least once a year.
 Routinely inspect and test fire extinguishers and check that all exit and direction signs
provide correct information, are in place and are well-lit even during a power outage.

SIDEBAR

TAKE THE HEAT OFF

Hot work is the cause of hundreds of industrial fires annually. Most are quickly
contained. Some fires snuff themselves out before employees even know they occurred,
while others destroy facilities and ruin lives.

Mark Blank, engineering team leader at Factory Mutual System's Chicago office, said
that the biggest challenge he faces is making people understand the concept of "hot"
work.

"People don't have fires every day. They think that it won't happen to them, that they
don't do anything which could contribute to a fire," said Blank.

What they don't understand is that any time they have open flames, sparks or hot
surfaces, they have a potential fire hazard. Cutting torches, propane torches, welding
and grinding operations, portable drills and internal combustion engines are all ignition
sources. Throw in some fuel &emdash; wood, paper, rags, oil, chemicals, alcohol,
gasoline &emdash; and it is a fire waiting to happen, said Blank.

"A cutting torch can reach 2,000 degrees. That's plenty hot to ignite just about
anything," he commented.

Any time a maintenance operation involving cutting, grinding or welding is undertaken,

he suggests conducting a step-by-step review of the process.

First, look for alternatives. Does a joint have to be welded or can it be bolted? Does a
bolt have to be drilled out or can it be cut off using hydraulic shears?
If alternatives do not exist, take the operation to another area whenever possible, one
which is outside the facility or in an isolated area away from fuel sources and employees.

If the operation cannot be moved, don't allow the process to be conducted until a permit
is issued which verifies that the location of the work has been properly prepared.

Preparation for hot work is extensive, noted Blank. A 35-foot distance is needed between
the hot work and combustibles. Anything which cannot be moved should be covered
with a welding tarp. If the work is being conducted in a building made of materials
which can burn, then the walls, floors and possibly ceilings in the area need to be
covered or treated with flame retardants.

Check that pipe chases are properly sealed so that sparks cannot fall between floors and
ceilings or back in walls. Many types of dust can burn or explode; eliminate or clean dust
hazards before beginning hot work. If the work is conducted in a room with an operation
involving flammable liquids, remove any containers of flammables and purge all
equipment of traces of flammable liquid.

"You have to understand that you are bringing a very hazardous operation into a place
not suited for it," said Blank, comparing it to lighting a cigarette in a dynamite factory.

Once the hot work is completed, the work is not over. At least one person needs to be
designated as a fire watch. He or she stands guard over the area for an hour to watch for
smoke or flames; makes sure that no flammables are brought back into the area; and
checks that the area remains closed off until the threat of a stray spark or flame has
passed. The area should continue to be closely monitored -- inspected every 20 minutes
or so -- for an additional 3 hours. For that reason, Blank suggests doing hot work at the
beginning of the day or at the beginning of shifts. He also suggests assigning an
employee to be a fire watch even if the work is conducted by an outside contractor.
 "An outside contractor might be very competent in his line of work, but not very
knowledgeable about fire protection and hazards at the facility. The contractor might
have different priorities and might just think that it's costing him money to have one of
his people stand watch rather than work on another job," said Blank. He said he
encourages building owners to retain the responsibility for providing a fire watch and
permitting the area for hot work.

"People don't understand the risk that exists. It might take less time to take a cutting
torch to a pipe, but there is a much greater potential exposure. You have to ask: Is it
safe? If the answer is no, then don't do it," counseled Blank.

SIDEBAR

EMPLOYEE FIRE TRAINING

In the event of fire, response needs to be safe and speedy.

Employees should be trained to do the following:

 Count the number of doors, machines or desks between their work areas
and the nearest exit. During a fire, they might need to find their way out in
the dark.

 Learn the location of alternative exits from all work areas.

 Know the location of the nearest fire alarm and learn how to use it.

 Post emergency phone numbers on or near all phones.

 Be sure that someone in authority knows about any disability that could
delay an escape and makes plans for a safe evacuation.

Employers must:
 Post building evacuation plans and discuss them during new-employee
orientations.

 Conduct regular fire drills.

 Include disabled employees in the fire emergency planning process.

 Train designated employees in the use of portable fire extinguishers and

designate employees who will help evacuate fire scenes.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

Occupational Hazards, November 1996, page 44

https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/compressed_air.
html.
What are the hazards of using compressed air?
First, compressed air is extremely forceful. Depending on its pressure, compressed air
can dislodge particles. These particles are a danger since they can enter your eyes or
abrade the skin. The possible damage would depend on the size, weight, shape,
composition, and speed of the particles. The pressure used to remove the particles from
machines and surfaces is also strong enough to blow the filings, shavings, chips and
particles of metal into the eyes, ears or skin of people. Compressed air can enter the
body where the skin is not present (i.e., ear, nose, rectum or any scratch or puncture in
the skin, however small) and can cause damage. There have also been reports of
hearing damage caused by the pressure of compressed air and by its sound.
Second, the compressed air itself is also a serious hazard. On rare occasions, some of
the compressed air can enter the blood stream through a break in the skin or a body
opening. An air bubble in the blood stream is known medically as an embolism, a
dangerous medical condition in which a blood vessel is blocked, in this case, by an air
 bubble. An embolism of an artery can cause coma, paralysis or death depending upon
its size, duration and location. While air embolisms are usually associated with incorrect
diving procedures, they are possible with compressed air due to high pressures. While
this seems improbable, the consequences of even a small quantity of air or other gas in
the blood can quickly be fatal.
Third, using air to clean forces the dirt and dust particles into the air, making these
contaminants airborne and creating a respiratory hazard.
Unfortunately, horseplay has been a cause of some serious workplace accidents
caused by individuals not aware of the hazards of compressed air, or proper work
procedures.

https://www.aircontrolindustries.com/dangers-of-compressed-air/

 Is it a good idea to use compressed air to remove dust from clothing,

components or work surfaces?
It is not a good idea to use compressed air to fulfil these tasks. Although many people
know using compressed air to clean clothes can be hazardous, it is still used because of
old habits and the easy availability of compressed air in many workplaces.
Most compressed air applications are not connected to electricity, so people do not
always consider what dangers may be lurking. But just as safety regulations must be
observed for electrical machines and tools, compressed air components must also be
treated with respect to avoid dangerous accidents.