in working. Knowing the number
of people employed in an activity is
useful when we assess the risk. Even
knowing the special hazards help to
decide on priorities for assessment.
Use checklist to identify potentially
hazardous work activities and then
write the details of each one onto the
form. As you inspect the workplace,
you will probably find matters that
should be rectified before completing
the assessment (see Table 2).
Risk assessment
You must now assess the risks
associated with the hazards you have
identified. The hazards may have
serious consequences without proper
control measures. Estimate both
the probability and consequences of
failures. For each hazard, determine:
• The consequences like minor injury,
illness due to injury, disablement
due to injury, fatality or multiple
fatality, etc.
• How the risk is normally controlled?
If the control measures were to
fail or deteriorate, then what is the
likely outcome and how probable is
this?
The risk assessment ranking
table will help you to give each
hazard a risk ranking. The priority
increases with either probability
or consequences. The priority is
greatest if both ratings are large. Any
risk, complex, unusual and difficult to
assess may be recorded in the form
Special Assessment.
Job safety information
Appropriate information on the
hazards and control measures must be
provided to those at risk. The greater
the risk, the more detailed the control
measures required. First identify the
basic site rules for your workplace.
Decide which activities are adequately
controlled by these rules. Then,
identify which additional activities
are left. Those require specific
documentation of the special control
measures that must be adopted.
Complete a Job Safety Sheet for such
activities. Control measures can be
grouped into three categories: Physical
Safeguards; System of Working; and
Personal Protection.
Physical safeguards – Any
engineering control measure provided,
for example:
• Barriers and handrails,
Table 1: Hazardous conditions and their control measures
DANGER OF DUE TO CONTROL MEASURES
People falling Open stairways / Changes in level / Floor
surface uneven / Walking over fabric rolls
in fabric warehouse Put fences, railing. Mark
with yellow lines for
uneven surface
Falling materials Carton and fabric bale storage above
head height. Unprotected edges of work
platforms. Loading / unloading of bale,
carton, machine on truck Re-design storage
space. Use protective
helmets in loading bay
Dangerous
equipment Band knife and straight knife cutting
machine / Electrical equipment /
Pressurised boilers in finishing room Use protective wire
gloves
Lifting Equipment Fork lift trolleys / Lift / Hoist for goods
and passengers Dangerous
substances Toxic/corrosive/irritant/harmful
(certain chemicals used in spotting,
stain removing and garment dyeing/
processing). Flammable materials
(drycleaning chemicals) / liquids/LPG Label the bottles with
warning message
Health hazards Dusts / airborne cotton fibres / Gases /
vapours (spotting chemicals) Use masks
Radiations LASERS (marking lights in cutting table
& sewing workstations). Ultra Violet (UV
chambers in testing laboratory) Use protective goggles
Noise / Vibrations Poor quality machine table Basement Poor or choked ventilation Manual handling Handling of fabric roll in cutting dept.
Handling of garment bags in finishing
and washing dept. Loading / unloading of
bales, cartons, machines. Use Ergonomic
workstation for
minimizing injuries
Chemical hazards Textile testing laboratory analysis /
Garment dyeing and washing Label the bottles with
warning message
Vehicle movements Driving / loading / unloading Restrict personnel
movement in vehicle
movement area. Use
hooter
Maintenance Machine tool setting and
adjustment(Mechanic workshop).
Welding / brazing / fabrication Use eye protection, ear
plugs
• Ventilation systems, and
• Fixed or interlocked guards
System of working – The
arrangement for the conduct of the job,
for example:
• Permits or procedures for
authorization, and
• Requirements to be accompanied or
assisted
Personal protection – The equipment
to protect against injuries or ill health,
for example:
• Respirators, breathing apparatus,
mask,
• Protective clothing, gloves and
footwear,
• Eye protection, helmets, bump caps,
etc., and finally,
• Tie your hair back!
Any operator must be informed of the
risks involved in their job before they
start, i.e. during induction training. A
list similar to Table 3 can be of help.
Quality controllers of buying
companies working in your premises
also require Job Safety Information.
They are responsible for safe conduct
of their work. You are responsible
for their safety in work place. In
particular, they must be aware of your
emergency procedures.
Emergency arrangements
Emergency arrangements are
required to respond to situations of
serious danger that may arise like:
fire or bomb threat, serious injury
or ill health at work, flooding from
rainwater or burst pipes, explosions of
electrical items by short circuit, steam
boiler, etc. A five-point plan can be
applied as a standard framework for
emergencies, like:
Table 2: Potentially hazardous work activities
Department / Unit: Warehouse / Cutting Dept.
Warehouse / Cutting Dept.: S. Singh
Job Ref Activity (No. of Emp) Location
W1 Typist 2 Fabric warehouse
Special Hazard
W2 Band knife
cutting 1 Cutting department
Dangerous
equipment
Schedule of work activities
Hazards Location Nature of Control
Cutting finger in band knife Cutting dept Using wire gloves
Falling hair caught on machine belt Sewing dept Tie hair back
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