Safety in Physics
Julie Brannon
Health and Safety Adviser
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT
Responsibilities
Employer – ensure health and safety of employees and others
• Provide safe working environment
• Provide safe working methods
• Ensuring competence of staff etc.
Employee
• Work safely
• Co-operate
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Information
Available via ‘Insite’ – Health & Safety & Wellbeing
The University Policy -
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/healthsafetywellbeing
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
ACCIDENTS IN PHYSICS
Hand tool use
1
Postural
1
Struck fixed object
1
All non lost time
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Good Back Care
Good
guidance
available
on Insite
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Manual Handling is • The movement of a load
by human effort either
directly or indirectly
• Supporting a load
without moving it
• Pushing or pulling a load
• Intentionally throwing or
dropping the load
How injuries can occur
Main factors in
injuries
• Fatigue
• Poor posture
• “quickly get the job
done” attitude
The spine
The spine consists of
• Spinal Cord
• Vertebrae
• Intervertebral discs
• Ligaments
• Tendons
• Muscles
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Potential disc injuries
a disc can be likened to doughnut.

if you press down on one side of a doughnut
the jam will move to the other side.

if you press hard enough the jam will squirt out.

Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Ligaments, tendons and muscles
• Ligaments – straps which
stretch between bones
holding them together
• Tendons – the means by
which the muscles are
attached to the bones
• Muscles – provide the main
stability for the vertebral
column
• Cumulative strain - Injury
caused by twisting and
stretching repetitively
Other Injuries
•
•
•
•
Hernias
Fractures
Bruises
Cuts / Lacerations
– Use your PPE
• Gloves
• Safety
footwear
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Movement
• How a load is moved will determine how
the body is stressed, how quickly it
fatigues and how or if it is injured as a
result
• Pushing and pulling
• Fixed position
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Correct Handling
• Place the feet apart
to give a balanced
and stable base
• Have the leading leg
as far forward as
possible
Unlock the knees
• Bend the knees so that
the hands when grasping
the load are about level
with the waist
• But don’t over flex the
knees
• Keep the back straight to
maintain the natural
curves
Load close to body
Keep the load close to the trunk
for as long as possible
15
Diagonal hold
Keep the back straight,
maintaining its natural
curves (tucking the chin in
helps)
Lean over the load if
necessary to get a good
grip
16
Get a firm and secure grip
Keep the arms within the boundary
formed by the legs
The optimum grip may vary, but
should be secure
17
Feet in direction of travel
Don’t twist the trunk when
Turning to the side
Keep the knees relaxed…
18
Hyper-flexed knees
Consciously
keeping the back
straight…
…leads to
progressive
stiffening.
..and hyper-flexed
knees
19
Using the arms
• Grip
– Palms up is stronger
– Hand holds not necessary the best way to
lift
• Elbows
– The arms are stronger when the elbows
are closer to the body
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Problems of Manual Handling
•
•
•
•
•
•
The task
The load
The working environment
Individual capacity
Handling aid and equipment
Work organisation factors
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Office Work
Office work usually involves periods of sitting in front of a
computer or display
If not properly managed, it can lead to aches and pains
which can be debilitating.
Take time to set the workstation to suit YOU
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Interaction with computer

no glare from; overhead lights, windows, worktop surface

distance of VDU approximately 600mm

eye-line level with top of VDU
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
The desk

height approximately 660mm -730mm

width approximately 1200mm

depth approximately 600mm

adequate leg room underneath
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Interaction with keyboard

keyboard close to body; no need to overstretch

elbows at right-angles

wrists horizontal when inputting
position keyboard so that area that is
widely used is central to VDU screen

Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Interaction with mouse

locate close to keyboard

elbow close into side of body

alternate between left and right?

no sideways flexion of the wrist
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Posture

lower back supported

shoulders back

feet flat on the floor

thighs parallel to the floor

knees at right angle
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Assessment

self assessment available on Health & Safety web-page
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/healthsafetywellbeing/guidance/computerworkstations
if encountering problems you should
contact your line-manager or DHSO

Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Organising your
workstation
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Essentials for the desk
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Let’s not forget the other essentials
Pictures of our loved ones
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Let’s not forget the other essentials
Survival pack
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Let’s not forget the other essentials
Drinks
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
And we make a bit of space for
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Tidy work station

make sure that you have plenty of work space

get rid of unnecessary clutter

items used on a regular basis should be in ease of reach
make a conscious effort organise your work station on a
regular basis

Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Correct layout?
Immediate tasks
Less-immediate tasks
Lower-priority items
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Make a conscious effort
to organise your work
station on a regular basis
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Sometimes we just accept
the way things are, but we
do have the power to
change them!
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Some other everyday hazards in
the office
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
Hot water still
Microwave oven
Toaster
Paper shredder
Water dispensers
Fire
• Know the location of exits
• Know how to raise the alarm
• Know the sound of the alarm
If fire breaks out
• Raise the alarm
• Leave by the nearest exit
• Do not take risks
• Do not use lifts
• Go to evacuation area
• Do no re-enter building until told it is safe
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University
If you have an accident
• Call a first-aider if you are injured
• Ring 2222 if emergency services are
required
• Report the accident to your supervisor
Health and Safety is the responsibility of every one at the University