The Module covers some kinds of special works such as welding, explosion-prone environment, excavations,  demolition works. 

Welding poses a range of well-known and subtle hazards to health and safety. These can act quickly or may  show up only in the long term. They can be rapidly fatal (electric shock or exposure to cadmium fumes) or  have delayed effects (lung cancer over time). Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. Excavations includes any  man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface formed by earth removal. Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavation-related accidents to result in fatalities. Other  potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile  equipment. 

Demolition work involves many of the same hazards that arise during other construction activities. However,  demolition also involves additional hazards due to a variety of other factors. All demolition, dismantling and  structural alterations must be carefully planned and carried out in a way that prevents danger by practitioners  with the relevant skills, knowledge and experience. 

The main aim of occupational risk assessment is to protect workers’ health and safety. Risk assessment helps  minimize the possibility of the workers or the environment being harmed due to work-related activities. It also  helps keep your business competitive and productive. In many countries, under the health and safety laws all  employers must carry out regular risk assessments. In practical terms, a risk assessment is a thorough look at  your workplace to identify those situations, processes and so forth that may cause harm. 

The objective of the Work Permit system is to identify hazards associated with a non-routine job, and to  develop precautions required to control each identified hazard. Work permits can help prevent workers from  causing damage or injury when they face hazards associated with specific jobs.

Employers have duties concerning the provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) at work. Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as “PPE”, is equipment worn to minimize exposure to  serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical,  radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment may  include items such as gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, coveralls,  vests and full body suits. 

PPE should be used as a last resort. Wherever there are risks to health and safety that cannot be adequately  controlled in other ways, the Personal Protective Equipment has to be supplied.

Lifting and hoisting operations are one of the major causes of fatalities and serious incidents. The Module is  based on current experience and best practice for preventing such incidents. The number and severity of  injuries may be greatly reduced by preparing and planning for lifting, and practicing safe lifting and handling  techniques. 

Supervisors are responsible for the safety and health of their employees. This holds true when ensuring that  employees are using tools safely. Workers should be trained in safe procedures for working with tools.  However, safe practices when carrying or storing those tools may not be thoroughly covered. Tools, machines  and appliance can pose a serious safety risk when they are misplaced or improperly handled by workers. 

Electricity is a familiar and necessary part of everyday life, but electricity can kill or severely injure people  and cause damage to property. Electricity is one of the leading causes of death and injuries at work. The Module Electricity covers the key elements to consider when devising safe working practices and is for  people who carry out work on or near electrical equipment. It includes practical information for workers who  are dealing with electricity in their workplaces and for managers and supervisors who control or influence the  design, specification, selection, installation, commissioning, maintenance or operation of electrical equipment. 

Fire is a very high risk in any location. The main goal of fire prevention is to train employees to take  precautions to prevent potentially harmful fires, and be trained on how to face fire situations. Practical  exercises on use of fire extinguishers and fire-fighting equipment, and evacuation plans which may be  organized at workplaces 

A dangerous substance is a product that, when used, is potentially harmful to people or the environment.  Improper use of dangerous substances may lead to very serious consequences. The damage can be health  damage such as poisoning and irritation, but it can also include fire, explosion or soil pollution.

An important element of any system for prevention of major incidents is the establishment of a facility specific emergency plan. Emergency planning seeks to minimize the effect of an incident both inside and  outside a facility, and requires timely application of defined procedures by people with adequate training and  resources. For this to happen, plans and procedures specific to relevant activities at the facility must have been  developed, documented and tested prior to the occurrence of an event.

Accident prevention requires the creation and maintenance of a safe working environment and the promotion  of safe behavior. Accident prevention began as a reactive process. This was based largely on waiting for accidents or health  problems to happen and then devising and implementing some form of control to prevent these types of  accident or health hazards from re-occurring in the future. As a result, such controls that are found in industry  have been strongly reactive in their nature. The Module covers issues related to the nature of accidents, accidents factors, prevention and registration. 

Occupational Safety and Health is a field composed of an wide variety of subjects. Frequently, there is differt understanding of the aims of OSH, of the principles and fundamentals that should guide its action and even of  the meaning of OSH concepts. This lack of common language hinders the establishment of a shared viewpoint  and basis for fruitful work on OSH. This Module has the aim of serving as a reference guide in this regard and  of giving general information on most common hazards that exist in most enterprises.