Safety in Hazardous Areas
Introduction
Safety in hazardous areas inside factory, plant or any company / organization is a paramount concern, as these environments pose potential risks to both personnel and assets.
The term “hazardous areas” refers to locations where the presence of flammable gasses, confined space, work at height, vapors, liquids, hot works, combustible dust, etc. which may lead any accident and turn workplace to hazardous areas.
Effectively managing safety in such areas is crucial to prevent accidents, protect lives and safeguard the integrity of the organization.
Safety and care must be taken while working in hazardous area. Undermentioned are minor accidental hazards:
1. Slipping accidents: It is common to see that workmen slip and fall due to only floor or due to wet floor condition.
2. Falling accidents: If open takes in level with the floor are not kept closed with suitable lids, people will likely fall into them. Similarly, wherever excavations are made for the sake of building, laying, foundation, etc. and if such excavation pits are not protected with suitable barricading with warming boards, men are likely to fall into such pits resulting in falling accidents.
3. Tripping accident: If unwanted object and scattered on the floor and walkways they happen to cause tripping accidents for those who pass through such area.
4. Hitting against: Accidents if some object like steel rods, rails and other object happen to extend into the walkways, they cause the persons to hit against such object.
5. Accident due to poor lighting: If materials or objects are stored on windows, they are likely to block the natural lighting available to the working area. If such areas visibility becomes poor and the same is likely to cause accidents. If natural lighting is not possible adequate lighting with artificial means should be made available which the area does not suffer due to poor lighting.
6. Accidents due to improper disposal of scrap or effluents: If the scrap, waste, etc. are not disposed of in a planned manner they get accumulation in the yard, blocking useful moving space. Environmental pollution due to untreated effluents, constitute bad housekeeping may lead occupational diseases.
7. Fire accidents due to bad housekeeping: Fire accidents can take place due to oily wastes, accumulation of dry leaves, faulty electrical wiring, etc. having seen in different types of accidents due to poor housekeeping. All areas must be maintained neat and clean to avoid accidents.