Operational Hazards
The overall objective for this
module is that the participants
will recognize general safety
hazards and safe work practices
related to fixed facility work
Overview
 Common
safety hazards
 Safe work practices
 Preventing and treating heat and
cold stress
 Proper lifting and handling
 Confined space procedures
Expectations
 Define
a general safety hazard
 Identify general methods to prevent
accidents
 Recognize general safety-hazard
categories and related precautions
 Identify symptoms and prevention
measures for heat stress and cold
stress
Expectations
 Recognize
biological hazards
 Recognize ergonomic hazards
 Identify general precautions for
confined space work
 Identify potential fire hazards and fire
prevention strategies
What is an
Operational Hazard?
Operational Hazard
 Anything
on or around a work site
which may compromise worker
safety or health if appropriate control
measures are not implemented
Prevention of Accidents
 Aware
of changing conditions
 Take initiative to correct potential
safety hazards
 Understand the task
 Watch for weather conditions, wind
direction and unusual odors
Ten Common Causes of
Accidents
Poor instructions
 Poor planning
 Improper design
 Improper equipment provided or
used
 Failure to follow instructions

Ten Common Causes of
Accidents
 Neglect
or improper use of
equipment
 Faulty equipment
 Untrained personnel
 Uncooperative personnel
 Uncontrollable or unexpected
outside agents (e.g., weather or
sudden illness)
Death
Lost Time
Injury
Reportable Injury
Minor Injuries
Near Misses
Action
of
Others
Design
Motivation
Ability
Knowledge
Death
Maintenance
Conditions
Acts
Site Hazards
Heavy Equipment
Small Power Tools and Equipment
Hand Tools
Lifting and Carrying
Compressed Gas Cylinders
Electrical Hazards
Lifting Safely
Back injuries are the Nation’s
#1
Workplace Safety Problem
Lifting Safely

Preparing to Lift



Clear obstacles away
Heft to check weight
Performing the Lift



Square with object
Balance
Squat, bend knees, grip object, tighten
abdomen
USE YOUR LEGS
Safe Lifting Tips
Don’t life objects over your head
 Don’t twist
 Pace yourself
 Don’t reach over an obstacle
 Follow your workplace safety guidelines

Common Site Hazards
 Heat
stress
 Cold stress
 Biological hazards
 Confined spaces
Heat Stress
 Occurs
within 15 minutes
 Factors
to consider:
Poses serious health threats
 Environmental conditions (including
air temperature and humidity)
 Clothing
 Workload
 Individual worker characteristics

Forms of Heat Stress
 Heat
Syncope
 Heat Cramps
 Heat Exhaustion
 Heat Stroke
 Heat Rash
 Transient Heat Fatigue
Heat Syncope
 Fainting
 Frequently
occurs when a worker is
not acclimated to hot environments
Heat Cramps
 Caused
by excessive loss of salt
during sweating
 Symptoms

Muscle spasms in the extremities,
abdomen, or back
Heat Cramps
 Treatment
Massaging the cramped muscles
 Replenishing the victim’s water and
electrolytes

Heat Exhaustion
Victim suffers from a severe lack of fluids and
salts
 Symptoms








Pale or flushed skin
Moist skin
Headache
Fatigue
Nausea
Normal or slightly elevated temperature
Profuse sweating
Heat Exhaustion
 Treatment
Victim must rest in a cool place
 Drink water

Heat Stroke
 Most
severe form of heat stress
 Caused by a failure of the body’s
temperature regulation mechanism
Heat Stroke

Symptoms







Absence or reduction of sweating
Elevated body temperature
Skin is red, hot, and dry
Dizziness
Nausea,
Confusion
Treatment

Medical attention as soon as possible
Heat Rash
 Prickly
heat and transpires in a hot,
humid environment where sweat is
unable to evaporate
 Prevention
Worker must periodically rest in a cool
place
 Skin must be bathed regularly and kept
as dry as possible

Transient Heat Fatigue
 Causes
temporary discomfort
accompanied by mental and/or
psychological strain, which affects
task performance, coordination, and
alertness
 Treatment

Lessened by gradual adjustment to heat
conditions
Prevention of Heat Stress
 Maintain
adequate water intake
 Take breaks in a cool place
 Learn the signs and symptoms of
heat stress and respond at the
earliest point of detection
 Schedule heavy work or work in
PPE for cool times of the day
 Move work location to shade or
cooler area
Prevention of Heat Stress
 Have
workers drink 16 ounces of
water before beginning work
 Urge
workers to drink a cup or two of
water every 15 to 20 minutes
 Weigh
workers before and after work
to determine if fluid replacement is
adequate
Cold Stress
 Superficial
Frostbite
 Deep Frostbite
 Hypothermia
Superficial Frostbite
 Characterized
by the freezing of only
the outer skin layer
 Treatment

Protect the exposed area by placing
uncovered fingers under opposite
armpits or placing bare frostbitten feet
under clothes or against the skin of a
companion until pain returns
Superficial Frostbite
 NOTE:
DO NOT’S
Warm frostbitten parts by massaging
 Expose to an open fire
 Soak in cold water
 Rub with snow

Deep Frostbite



Characterized by the freezing of tissue beneath
the outer skin layer
Treatment
 Protect frozen parts from further cold
exposure
 Keep victim warm while being transported to a
hospital
NOTE: Protect frozen parts from additional
injury
Do not attempt to thaw them in the field
Hypothermia
 Characterized
by subnormal body
temperatures
 Treatment
 Keep victim warm
 Give warm beverages or soup
 NOTE: Alcohol consumption increases
risk
 NOTE: Death can occur
Prevention of Cold Stress
 Wear
proper clothing
 Maintain a proper diet
 Use shelter
 Monitor worker’s conditions
Biological Hazards
 Ticks
 Bees
and Wasps
 Spiders and Scorpions
 Snakes
 Rabid Animals
Ergonomic Hazards
 Study
of how a human physically and
mentally interacts with the workplace
 Notify manager or supervisor of
hazards
Material Handling
 Use
mechanical devices
Drum dollies
 Pallet dollies
 Push carts and dollies so you can see
ahead and around the load

Material Handling
 Do
it the easy way
 Push rather than pull
 Bend your knees, not your back
 Step with legs, don’t rotate
 Use ladders for high loads
 Wear steel-toed boots
 Pick up stacks in two steps
 Don’t block your visibility
Container Handling
 Hazard
Recognition
Detonation, fire and explosion
 Vapor generation
 Physical injury caused by lifting
improperly or moving containers

Container Handling
 Drum
Handling Safety
Use forklifts, dollies and pallet jacks
 Wear protective PPE
 Check drum for sharp edges or rust
 Plan the move and clear obstructions
 Manually lift with good technique
 Do not handle or move if safety is
questioned

Confined Space
 Adequate
size and
configuration for employee
entry
 Limited means for entry and
exit, one and/or small
openings
 Is not designed for
continuous employee
occupancy, such as small
utility spaces
Confined Space Permits
 Contains
or has the potential for
containing a hazardous atmosphere
 Contains a material that has a
potential for engulfing an entrant
 Has an internal configuration such
that an entrant could be trapped
 Contains any other recognized
serious safety hazard
Atmospheric Hazards
 Flammable
gas in excess of 10% LEL
 Airborne combustible dust which
meets LEL
 Oxygen concentration below 19.5%
or in excess of 23.5%
 An atmosphere which could result in
employee exposure in excess of PEL
Other Potential Hazards
 Mechanical
Hazards
 Slips, Trips and Falls
 ART - There is an “art” to preventing
slips, trips and falls
Awareness
 Responsibility
 Traction

Slips, Trips and Falls
 Awareness
Be alert throughout the workday
 Look ahead from the knee level
 Know where there are existing step
hazards
 Look for wet areas
 Look for obstructions and electrical
cords

Slips, Trips and Falls
 Responsibility
Everyone in the workplace must
assume responsibility for keeping a
safe work area
 One is more likely to be injured from a
slip, trip, or fall than from hazardous
chemicals
 Take the time to remove the hazard or
notify those who are able to do so

Slips, Trips and Falls
 Traction
Be aware of changing conditions
 Maintain good footwear with traction
 Enhance traction by using rough
surfacing, lowering slopes of ramps and
replacing low-traction surfaces

Fire Safety (Uniform Fire
Code)
 Check
with your local fire officials
 Flammables and combustibles may be
a large proportion of waste accepted
 Multiple hazards
PROPER STORAGE IS A MUST !