HAZARD, TYPES OF HAZARD AND HAZARD IDENTIFICATION (cont'd)

-->

There are five basic methods you can use to identify workplace hazards
before an accident occurs:

• informal observations, and formal observation programs;
• comprehensive company-wide surveys;
• Individual interviews;
• Walk-around inspections; and
• Documentation review.

1.             Informal observation and formal observation program

An informal observation process is nothing more than being watchful for hazards and unsafe behaviors throughout the work shift. No special procedure is involved. All employees should be expected to look over their work areas once in a while.

Observation is important because it can be a great tool to effectively identify behaviors that account for 95 percent of all workplace injuries. The walkaround inspection, as a method for identifying hazards, may not be as effective as observation in identifying unsafe behaviors.

2.    Comprehensive company-wide surveys

Comprehensive surveys ideally should be performed by people who can bring to your worksite fresh vision and extensive knowledge of safety, health, or industrial hygiene. Because there are few professional consultants equipped to do comprehensive surveys in all three areas, the best approach is to use a team consisting of outside specialists

3.    Individual interviews

When conducting the interview keep the following tips in mind:

• Put the person at ease.
• Keep the purpose of the interview in mind: It's to get the employee's help in determining the types of hazards that exist in his or her work area. Go to the work area to conduct the interview. Just because you are familiar with the location or the employee's job, don’t assume that things are always the same.
• Explain the purpose and your role. Tell the employee exactly why you are conducting the interview to reduce any initial reluctance to participate.
• Stress that the information given is important. It may help eliminate hazards that have the potential to kill, injure or produce illness. Information given may also help to make the work procedure more efficient too.
• Be friendly, understanding, and open minded. Try to keep the interview informal. Your approach is important. Make sure they sense that you care about their safety.
• Be calm and unhurried. If you are agitated, or in a hurry to get the interview over, you'll be sending a negative message that the employee will see.
• Let the individual talk. Don't interrupt while they are talking. It's easy to think you have all the information. Many important facts may not be uncovered if you cut them off.
• Ask background information, name, job, etc . . . This just helps to smoothly transition into the actual interview. Small talk...then get to business.
• The key initial statement. Ask the witness to tell you about the hazards they are aware of. Don't ask them if they know of any hazards: they could easily just say "no."
• Don't ask leading questions. They are not on trial.
• Ask follow-up questions. This will help to clarify particular areas or get specifics.
• Do not put the person on the defensive. If there are hazards present, don't in any way question the employee in a manner that might accuse or blame them of wrong doing.
• Try to avoid yes and no answer questions. Ask open-ended questions. One effective question is..."Tell me about the procedures for..."
• Actively listen. Repeat the information given. Rephrase. Communicate to understand.
• Take notes. Notes should be taken very carefully, and as casually as possible. Let the individual read them if desired.
• Use a tape recorder. But always get permission from the employee first. Offer to give them a copy of the tape if they hesitate.
• Thank the employee. Conclude the interview with a statement of appreciation for their contribution.
• Be available. Ask them to contact you if they think of anything else.
• Provide feedback. If possible, advise the person the outcome of the interview.

4. Work Around inspection
Comprehensive surveys are not the same as interviews or inspections. An interview is a verbal exchange conducted one-on-one, preferably in private, and has the potential to gather more information. An inspection is often done by employees at the workplace who walk around observing the workplace and asking questions in public.

The term "inspection" means a general walk-around examination of every part of the worksite to locate conditions that do not comply with safety standards. This includes routine industrial hygiene monitoring and sampling.

What should be inspected
A methodical inspection will follow a checklist based on the inventory of hazards and the preventive actions and controls designed to reduce or eliminate worker exposure. Regular site inspections should be designed to check each one of those controls to make sure that hazards are contained.

Who should inspect
1.         Supervisors (managers)
2.         Employees
3.         Safety committee

5.        Writing reports
A written record will help ensure:

• Assignment of responsibility for hazard correction.
• Tracking of correction to completion.
• Identification of problems in the controls system when the same types of hazards keep appearing even after correction is verified.
• Identification of problems in the accountability system.
• Identification of hazards for which no prevention or control has been planned.

Of course, having such written records will be most helpful if someone knowledgeable reads them in the safety and health program. This person then can provide top managers with summaries of problems.

Controlling Hazard 1. Elimination – removing the source of hazard.
2. Substitution – change the source of hazard
3. Engineering – redesigning the source of the hazard
4. Administrative - reducing the exposure level of the hazard
5. PPE- control of exposure of hazard

Ebola outbreak in Nigeria

There has been series of Ebola outbreak in this country of recent... I just want enlighten us on the Ebola virus and its prevention.

History

—Named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), near the first epidemics.

—Two species were identified in 1976:

¡Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) and

¡Sudan ebolavirus (SEBOV)

—Case fatality rates of 83% and 54% respectively.

—A third species, Reston ebolavirus (REBOV), was discovered in November 1989 in a group of monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) imported from the Philippines.

—Ivory Coast ebolavirus – Only one case. Unlucky scientist.

—A hemorrhagic fever (severe illness with bleeding) caused by a virus known as Ebola.

—One of the most lethal viral infections with a high mortality rate (death rate) during outbreaks

—No Vaccine and no treatment is available

—Most people with Ebola die – up to 90% rate 

Incidents 

—The outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in some countries in Central and West Africa have claimed the lives of over 100 people while others at large are still receiving treatment in various isolated locations.

—Presently, a suspected case of this disease involving a Liberian who had recently arrived Nigeria was reported. 

—Patrick Sawyer a Liberian, who worked for the West African nation's Finance Ministry, took an ASKY Airlines flight from Liberia to Ghana, then on to Togo and eventually to Nigeria where he was immediately taken into quarantine until his death.

Therefore, it becomes imperative to create awareness and educate all Nigerians especially residents in Lagos on how to prevent this deadly disease.

Transmission

—Transmitted from infected animals like fruit bats, monkeys, gorillas etc to people

—Direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected or dead victim.

—Indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids but cannot be transmitted through air

Clinical Observation 

—Incubation period: 2-21 days                                              

—Stage I (unspecific):

      -Extreme asthenia (body weakness)

       -diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, anorexia

        abdominal pain

       - headaches

       - arthralgia (neuralgic pain in joints)

       - myalgia (muscular pain or tenderness), back pain

       - mucosal redness of the oral cavity, dysphagia (difficulty in     swallowing)

      -  conjunctivitis.

      -  rash all over body except in face

    ** If the patients do not recover gradually

  at this point, there is a high probability that 

 the disease will progress to the second phase, resulting in complications which eventually

 lead to death (Mupapa et al., 1999).

—Stage II (Specific):

     - Hemorrhage (bleeding)

     - neuropsychiatric abnormalities

     - anuria (the absence of urine formation)

     - hiccups

     - tachypnea (rapid breathing).

    ** Patients who progressed to phase two EHF almost always die. (Ndambi et al., 1999)

—Late Complications:

    -Arthralgia (joint pain)

    - ocular diseases (ocular pain, photophobia and hyperlacrimation)

    - hearing loss

    - unilateral orchitis( inflammation of one or both of the testes)

  

  ** These conditions are usually relieved with the treatment of 1% atropine and steroids

Prevention

—Do not travel to areas where the disease is endemic (avoid traveling to all the affected African Countries)

—Stay away from any patients who may have the disease if an outbreak is suspected;

—Do not touch an infected person (alive or dead) or their body fluids, including blood, vomit, faeces, urine etc.

—STOP eating bush meat or any meat which source you are not sure of

—Adhere strictly to simple hygiene principles like washing your hands frequently with soap or use a hand sanitizer; washing fruits and vegetables properly before eating them etc

—Avoid buying foodstuff, clothing and/ or other personal materials from markets/ shops that share the same vicinity with live or roasted 'bush meat' dealers or sellers.

—Cull infected animals with close supervision of burial or incineration or cremating of carcasses may be necessary to reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission

—Gloves and other appropriate protective clothing should be worn when handling sick animals or their tissues