Safe System of Work

A formal systematic, documented process of examining a work,

Identifying the hazards & define safe work methods by ensuring
safety of Person, Equipment, Material & Environment
• Factors to be considered in developing a SSW
Nature of the work, Hazards & Risk involved
Legal requirements
Competency of person identifying hazards & doing the
work, PPE requirements, Level of supervision
Equipment design, adjustability, suitability for work &
environment, inspection & maintenance
Quality & quantity of material, waste management
House keeping requirements, availability of Atmospheric
monitoring, Emergency procedures & communication
Recommendations fromAuditors, Insurance, Risk assessor,
accident investigator etc
 Risk Assessment
A formal systematic documented process of Identifying the hazards,
evaluate risk and recommend control measure in order to eliminate
Hazard or reduce risk to acceptable level as far as reasonably practical
• Steps of Risk Assessment
– Identify the hazard
– Identify who (number of people) might be harmed
and how they might be harmed.
– Evaluate the risk and recommend control measure
– Record all significant finding and implement
control measure
– Review as and when required
 Hazard Identification
Health & Safety hazards can be identified by
• workplace Inspections( Using technique of observation,
Interview, Examination of records)
• Reference to:-
• Legislation:
‐ Standards, guidance documents.
• Manufacturers’ information:
‐ Safe use, maintenance, cleaning.
• Incident data:
‐ Accidents, near-misses,
ill health.
• Task analysis:
‐ Analyses job components before the job starts.
Identify who might be harmed & how
• Workers/operators/ helpers/ supervisors.
• Managers/Maintenance staff.
• Cleaners.
• Contractors.
• Visitors/ Inspectors.
• Members of the public
(also trespassers).
Identify Unsafe Acts & Conditions
 Evaluate the Risk& Recommend
Control measures
• Risk ( Likely hood X Severity) can be evaluated
using
– Qualitative method ( Using terms like, High,
Medium , Low)
– Semi quantitative method( Using numericals &
action verb for Severity, likelihood & Risk rating)

▪ Reasonably Practical Control measures need to

recommended as per hierarchy of controls
 Record Significant Findings&
Implement control measures
• Significant finding need to recorded as a
matter of evidence of management
commitment and reference for review.
• Ensure that all implemented control measures
are effective in preventing accident, ill health
and no additional hazard/ risk is generated.
 Review
•Significant change in:
• Process.
• Substances.
• Equipment.
• Workplace environment.
• Personnel.
• Law.
•If it is no longer valid:
• Accident.
• Near-miss.
• Ill health.
• Periodically, e.g. annually.
 Risk Assessment Team
• Manager responsible for the work & area of
operation
• Technical Specialist
• OHS specialist
• Supervisors
• Workers involved in the task
 Qualities of a Risk Assessor
(Factors to be considered when selecting team for Risk
Assessment)
Knowledge about
– Hazards & Risk involved in their job
– Technical knowledge
– Legal requirements applicable
– Selection & use of reasonably practical control measures.
– Emergency procedures& communication
• Skill
– Report Writing
– Inspection, Communication, Experience
• Attitude
– Dedication, committed
 Criteria for Risk Assessment to be
suitable and sufficient
• Risk assessment is suitable when it meet with the
Nature of job, legal requirements & sufficient when the
residual risk is reduced to Acceptable, tolerable level
within ALARP.
• For which
– State the name/competence of assessor., sign, date
– Identify significant hazards and risks.
– Identify persons at risk.
‐ Workers and others, e.g. visitors and vulnerable.
– Evaluate effectiveness of current controls.
– Identify additional controls.
– Record significant findings.
– Enable employer to prioritise controls & check
effectiveness after implementation.
– State validity period for review if there is no
significant change.
 Criteria for Risk Assessment to be
suitable and sufficient
• Risk assessment is suitable when it meet with the Nature of
job, legal requirements & sufficient when the residual risk is
reduced to Acceptable, tolerable level within ALARP
For which:-
• All hazards need to be identified by a competent team & the
name, signature mention on it along with date.
• All people who can be affected need to be identified
especially the vulnerable category along with how they can be
affected.
• Risk need to be evaluated using qualitative or semi
quantitative methode .
• Evaluate effectiveness of existing control measure before
recommending additional controls.
• All finding need to recorded, implement controls, evaluate its
effectiveness.
• Put a date for review ( annually)unless required
 People requiring special risk
assessment:
• Young people.
• New or expectant mothers.
• Disabled workers.
• Lone workers.
 Why Young Persons need special risk
assessment?
• Under 18 (national law).
• Lack of experience.
• Physical and mental maturity.
• Poor risk perception.
• Influenced by peer group.
• Eager.
• Control measures:
‐ Prohibit certain high-risk activities, e.g. high-risk machinery.
‐ Restrict work patterns and hours, e.g. no overtime.
‐ Additional Training
‐ Work only under supervision.
‐ Enforce PPE use
 Identify factors you will consider when deciding the
level of supervision required for young workers
• Nature of work, Hazards & Risk involved in it
• Legal requirements for the job.
• Level of knowledge
• Age
• Qualification
• Project experience
• Behaviour pattern seen during interview
• Medical reports & perceptions
• Presence of negative peer
• Availability of resources : eg PPE, Training facility,
communication
• Recommendations: Risk Assessor, Auditors etc.
 Why Pregnant Woman need special
risk assessment?
• Pregnant lady involves more This needs to be Controlled
than one life and the baby
may be affected from Hazards:
by:
• Certain chemicals, e.g. lead. • Eliminate them from
• Certain biological agents, e.g. certain high risk activates
rubella virus. Eg: Night shift, lab work
• Manual handling. • Buddy system
• Temperature extremes.
• Maternity leave
• Whole-body vibration.
• Ionising radiation. • Review emergency
• Night shifts. procedure & First Aid
• Stress.
measures
• Violence.
• Noise
Why Disabled worker need special risk
assessment?
• Select as per Health and
fitness criteria for some
• Have difficulty in jobs
– Sensing the hazard
• Modify equipment as per
– Communicating the hazard need
– Responding to hazard
• Rearrange the workplace
as the needs
Eg Ramp in place of stairs
• Provisioning of safety
device
• Buddy system
• Review emergency
procudure.
Why Lone working needs Risk Assessment
Precautions
Hazards
• Remote supervision.
• Lack of assistance if
things go wrong. • Logging workers’ locations.
• Communication with • Mobile phones or radios(if
colleagues more permitted).
difficult, • Lone-worker alarm systems.
(Out of eyesight, Out of
earshot) • Procedures for lone workers.
• Emergency procedures.
• Training for workers.
• No lone working for high-
risk activities, e.g. confined
spaces.
(if reasonable Practical)
 A university employees security guard after
working hours. Identify steps you can take to
ensure his OHS?
• Eliminate lone working with • Increase frequency of Inspections.
buddy system if practicable. • Training on all foreseeable
• Security cabin emergencies
• High wall around campus • SOP for lone working
• Security gate • Remote supervision: CCTV, GPS,
• Access control : ID card Visit Patrol, Log book
• Panic Alarm • Prohibition signage: Trespassing
• Communication device • Risk assessment
(Phone) • Shift work, Health check up
• Welfare, Emergency procedures
• PPE based on climate/ culture.
 When PTW is used
• Use only for High Risk Activity.
• Use only for non routine works
• When work is done outside the designated
area.
• Where information need to be passed to all
concerned about the high risk activity.
• Where ever Isolations/ LOTO required.
 4 elements of PTW

1. Issue.

2. Receipt.

3. Clearance/return to service.

4. Cancellation.

May also be an extension

 Issue
• Permit Number
• Date, Time, Location of work
• Nature of work
• Duration of work
• Details of Equipment, Material , People involved
• List of hazards
• Details of controls applied
Additional Informations
• Details of PPE
• Atmospheric monitoring reports/ house keeping details
• Topic of TBT
• Isolations (LOTO)
• Emergency communication measures
Name of the person issuing permit, Sign, Date, Designation
 Receipt
• Declaration from the workers that they are
fully competent to do the work, fully aware of
the hazards, controls to be applied including
the emergency procedure & communication,
takes responsibility of the equipments,
materials they use.
• Name, Sign, Date, Designation of permit
receiver
 Clearance
• Declaration from the work participants that
the work finished safely, men & material
exited safely and the workplace may be
handed over.

• Name, Sign, Date, Designation of people

cleared
 Cancellation/Extension
• Declaration that the workplace has been
inspected and found safe after clearance.
• Isolations can be removed.
• Service can be resumed
• Name of the person cancelling the permit,
sign, date, time, designation
• If the work is not finished permit may be
extended under conditions.
 Reasons why a PTW may fail
• PTW remaining as a paper work
• All hazards not identified
• Control measure not provided/ applied
• Communication about the work not done
• Isolations, LOTO not applied/ removed
• Permit issued, hazard identification by
incompetent person
• Equipment material unsuitable for
work/environment & changed during work
• No proper clearance after job(eg: tools leftout)
• Cancellation/ extension with out inspecting
workplace or by incompetent person.
 Why Hot work needs PTW
Hazards Precautions
• Remove flammable
• Radiation exposure(UV) materials.
• Metal Fume • Fire-retardant
• Ergonomic issues from blankets/screens.
posture • Floor swept of debris.
• Stress due to continuous • Floors damped down, if
focus, hot environment necessary.
• Fire/Explosion • Fire extinguishers at hand.
• Electric shock • “Fire-watcher” present.
• Falling of cylinders • Post-work checks to ensure
• Trip hazards no smouldering embers.
• Only competent people to
work
• Use Fire resistant PPE
• Follow appropriate welding
methode
 Why Hot work needs PTW
Precautions
• Only competent worker to do hot work
Hazards • They must wear flame resistant
• Radiation exposure(UV) PPE/RPE
• Metal Fume • Must have TBT, Supervision & Job
• Ergonomic issues from posture rotation.
• Stress due to continuous focus, hot • Use only quality assure equipment/
environment material after inspection/ maintenance.
• Fire/Explosion • Use of safety device- earthing, flash
• Electric shock back arrestor, fire extinguisher with fire
• Falling of cylinders watcher.
• Trip hazards • Remove all combustible material, cover
things which cannot be removed, damp
wooden floors and provide flame proof
screens in the hot work area.
• Use metal catch tray and Local Exhaust
system, signages, spot lighting.
• Follow manufactures recommendation
and safe welding methodes.
• Work must be justified
Why Work on live electrical line needs
PTW
Hazard Precautions
• Electric shock • Justify the work/ if possible work on
• Fire / explosion dead system.(Isolation/LOTO)
• Burn • Reduce voltage if justified
• Arching • Barricade work area to prevent
unauthorised access
• Maintain safe distance from Overhead
lines
• Use non conductive materials/tools
• Use of earthing, fuse, RCD etc
• Only competent people to work
• Ensure supervision/ Signage
• Job rotation for workers: reduce Fatigue
• Emergency procedure
• Use insulated rated PPE
 Why Confined Space need SSW
Hazards Precautions
– Enclosed in nature • Only minimum Competent people.
(ventilation will be • Supervision.
restricted and access/ • Communication.
egress may be difficult). • Atmospheric testing/monitoring.
– One or more foreseeable • Ventilation.
specified risks exist: • Removal of residues.
– Fire or explosion. • Isolation, lock off of
in-feeds and out-feeds.
– Loss of consciousness • Isolation, lock off of
from gas, fumes, electrical/mechanical hazards.
vapour, lack of oxygen. • PPE.
– Drowning. • Access/egress.
– Asphyxiation from • Fire prevention.
free-flowing solid. • Lighting.
– Loss of consciousness
• Suitable equipment, materials to be
used.
from temperature.
• Emergency/rescue procedures.
1.What arrangements shall be done when
people need to work alone?
2. Explain why young people are vulnerable to
accidents?
3.On what conditions a risk assessment can fail?
4.Explain factors to be considered when
developing SSW?
5. Explain the principles of Risk Assessment?
6. Why a PTW system is used for some work
activities? (3M)
7. What type of work activities would you use a
PTW? (5m)
8. What do you need to have in place for PTW to
work in practice? (8 M0
9. What roles should be allocated in a PTW?
(4m)