Chapter 9: Maintain Healthy, Safe and Secure Working Environment
1. Importance of a Healthy, Safe and Secure Workplace
Every organisation must provide its employees a workplace that is healthy (clean air, water, sanitation, ergonomic furniture), safe (free from physical dangers) and secure (protected from theft, violence and emergencies). A safe workplace increases productivity, reduces accidents and absenteeism, builds employee trust, and is also a legal requirement for the employer. Both the employer and the employees share the responsibility of following safety rules.
Occupational health and safety: the discipline concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people at their workplace by identifying hazards, assessing risks and taking preventive measures.
2. Basic Workplace Safety Rules
- Fire safety: know the location of fire extinguishers, alarms and exits; never block exits.
- Falls and slips safety: keep floors dry and clutter-free; use signboards for wet floors; wear non-slip footwear.
- Electrical safety: no loose wires, overloaded sockets or damaged plugs; switch off equipment after use; only qualified electricians should repair.
- Use of first aid: a stocked first-aid box and trained first aiders must be available; every injury must be reported.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): helmets, gloves, goggles, masks, ear plugs and safety shoes must be worn where required.
- Read and follow safety signs: prohibition signs (red circle), warning signs (yellow triangle), mandatory signs (blue circle) and emergency/first-aid signs (green square).
3. Workplace Hazards
Hazard: anything at the workplace that has the potential to cause harm to a person, property or the environment. Risk is the chance (probability) that a hazard will actually cause harm.
| Type of Hazard | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Environmental factors that can harm the body | Noise, extreme temperature, radiation, poor lighting, slippery floor, working at height |
| Chemical | Harmful substances in any form | Acids, cleaning agents, pesticides, paint fumes, gases |
| Biological | Living organisms causing disease | Bacteria, viruses, fungi, insect bites, contaminated waste |
| Mechanical / Electrical | Machines and electricity | Unguarded machine parts, faulty wiring, short circuits |
| Ergonomic | Poor posture or badly designed work set-up | Wrong chair height, repetitive movements, heavy lifting, long computer use |
| Psychological | Mental stress factors | Excess workload, harassment, job insecurity, long hours |
Hazard control steps: identify the hazard → assess the risk → control it (remove it, replace it, guard it, give PPE) → record and review regularly.
4. Accidents and Emergencies
An accident is an unplanned event that causes injury or damage (a fall, a cut, an electric shock). An emergency is a serious, often sudden situation that demands immediate action (fire, explosion, gas leak, flood, earthquake, medical emergency, violence). Every organisation must have an emergency plan that includes:
- Raising the alarm and informing the emergency services (fire brigade 101, ambulance 102/108, police 100 — or the single emergency number 112).
- Clearly marked escape routes, emergency exits and assembly points.
- Trained first aiders, fire wardens and regular mock drills.
- Reporting and recording of every accident and near-miss in an accident register.
5. First Aid
First aid is the immediate help given to an injured or ill person before professional medical help arrives. Its aims are the three Ps: Preserve life, Prevent worsening, Promote recovery.
- Cuts and wounds: wash hands, clean the wound with clean water, apply pressure with a sterile pad to stop bleeding, cover with a dressing.
- Burns: cool under running water for at least 10 minutes; do not apply ice, ointments or burst blisters; cover loosely with a clean cloth.
- Fractures: do not move the injured part; support it with a splint or sling; take the person to a doctor.
- Electric shock: switch off the supply first (or push the person away using a dry wooden stick — never touch directly); then give first aid and call for help.
- CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation): chest compressions with rescue breaths, given when breathing or heartbeat has stopped, until medical help arrives.
6. Fire Safety and Evacuation
Fire needs three things together — fuel, heat and oxygen (the fire triangle); removing any one extinguishes the fire. Classes of fire: Class A (wood, paper, cloth — use water), Class B (flammable liquids — use foam/CO2), Class C (flammable gases), Electrical fires (use CO2 or dry powder, never water).
To use a fire extinguisher remember PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep from side to side. If your clothes catch fire: Stop, Drop and Roll.
Evacuation rules: on hearing the alarm, stop work and switch off machines if safe; leave by the nearest exit calmly — walk, do not run; do not use lifts; help persons with disabilities; go to the designated assembly point; report to the supervisor for the head-count; never re-enter the building until it is declared safe.
7. Healthy Living and Healthy Work Habits
- Eat a balanced diet, drink sufficient water, sleep 7–8 hours and exercise regularly.
- Maintain personal hygiene — wash hands, keep nails trimmed, keep the workstation clean.
- While working on a computer: sit upright with back supported, keep the top of the screen at eye level, feet flat on the floor, and follow the 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds; take short stretch breaks.
- Manage stress through breaks, time management, yoga/meditation and talking to someone you trust; avoid tobacco and alcohol.
Exam Tip: Learn the six types of hazards with two examples each — "classify the hazard" MCQs are very common. Also memorise the difference between hazard (potential to harm) and risk (probability of harm), and the emergency numbers (112 all-in-one).
Exam Tip: Two acronyms fetch easy marks: PASS for using a fire extinguisher and Stop-Drop-Roll for clothes on fire. For evacuation questions, always mention: nearest exit, no lifts, assembly point and head-count.