1. Scale of production Learning ladder You must:
identify a variety of hazards and risks in a variety of situations and suggest control measures.
understand the concept of hazard and risks, and how this is calculated to give an overall risk assessment.
You should:
identify a range of health and safety signs and legislation, and explain their use.
understand the responsibilities of a designer with regards to health and safety.
You could:
understand the consequences of poor health and safety procedures.
identify a range of health and safety labels that appear on products.
© Folens 2009

2. Health and safety in the workplace
The prevention of an injury to a worker is important as it concerns people’s health and well being.
It can also impact on production and result in legal costs.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 makes employers legally responsible for the health and safety of employees who, in turn, are responsible for following safety rules and using safety equipment.
Inspectors visit workplaces regularly to check that standards are met.
The next slide indicates hazards that have to be assessed by law.
There are also laws relating to the safe use of equipment and machinery, the use of protective clothing, the use of computers and the transport and handling of heavy loads.
ISO 9000 quality assurance systems are used by many manufacturers to help them outline systems that have been put in place.
Source:
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3. Potential hazards in the workplace (1)
Machine guards used to prevent injuries
Ergonomic work stations
Appropriate disposal of waste
Keeping fire exits unblocked and unlocked
Ventilation to avoid a build up of dust or fumes
Appropriate working temperatures
Appropriate breaks for workers
Good layout of building and rooms
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4. Potential hazards in the workplace (2)
Use of protective clothing when appropriate, e.g. goggles, masks, gloves, footwear, hard hat, overalls, chain mail safety gloves.
Chemicals and dyes stored and labelled according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) (1994).
Safe working practices and codes of conduct agreed, e.g. accident and evacuation procedures, training and labels on using equipment and tools.
Displaying appropriate safety signs as visual reminders.
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5. Safety signs in the workplace
What it means
Examples
Indicates a risk area
Instruction not to do something
Instruction to do something
Warning sign
First aid, exits
Fire extinguisher
Hazardous substances
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6. Risk assessment
The Health and Safety at Work Act requires regular risk assessments to take place and control measures to be put in place.
Risk assessment involves the assessment of hazards (the unsafe act or condition) and risks (how likely it is something will happen and how serious it would be). These are usually expressed in numbers so that you get a graded risk.
Control measures are the things put into place to reduce the risks and potential hazards.
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7. Task 1: risk assessment
Identify the hazards, risks and control measures of the following manufacturing processes:
Manufacturing process
Hazard
(what the unsafe act or condition is)
Risk
(indicate low, medium or high risk of the hazard happening and consequences, e.g. burns)
Control measure
(what needs to be put in place to reduce the risk and eliminate the hazard)
Using a sewing machine
Using an overlocker
Using an iron
Using dyes
Using pins
Using scissors
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8. Health and safety and the designer
Designers have a responsibility to assess any health and safety risks involved in the design, manufacture and end use of products.
They have to consider what the product will be used for and if there are any safety implications.
They also have to assess whether the product will need to withstand fire, high temperatures, sun, rain, and so on.
It is important the end user is also considered so that a product is designed to meet their safety needs, e.g. a child.
Appropriate fabrics also have to be chosen so that they are suitable for the intended purpose.
Designers have to make sure a product meets the standards of all the countries it will be sold in.
Designers also have to consider the safety implications of any waste that is created, e.g. disposal of chemicals, and whether this can be reduced.
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9. Health and safety and the consumer (1)
There is a variety of safety laws designed to protect the consumer.
Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (BS 5852) states that textiles materials in furniture and furnishings must be fire retardant.
The Sale of Goods Act states that products must be of ‘satisfactory quality’, ‘fit for purpose’ and ‘as described’.
The Consumer Safety Act relates to fire and safety hazards, including specifications for children’s nightwear, anoraks and toys.
The Trades Descriptions Act says that claims made about the performance qualities of a product must be true.
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10. Health and safety and the consumer (2)
Products for young children have strict safety requirements, e.g. no stuffing, wadding, loose fibre fabrics or loose components, as these are choke hazards.
Toys and nightdresses must not be able to catch fire.
Fastenings must not be made to look like food .
No use of hazardous substances.
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11. Safety labels on products
There is a variety of labels that indicate to the consumer that a product is safe.
Children’s nightdresses and dressing gowns have to be flame retardant by law and must have labels that say ‘Keep away from fire’.
All new furniture and covers for furniture as well as soft furnishing fillings have to, by law, carry permanent labels that meet BS regulations as well as card swing tickets.
The BSI Kitemark and CE mark also indicate a product meets set standards.
The Lion mark indicates a toy meets safety standards.
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12. Task 2: symbols What do the following symbols mean? BS 5852
Toxic substance
Ear defenders must be worn
Highly flammable
BSI Kitemark
PN: See notes fro previous slide - if in doubt consult Paul
DOM – I think we need to loose some pix! Hopefully 5 will be sufficient to loose – let’s loose hardhat, goggles, fire extinguisher, no smoking, Hazard warning. If you need to loose more take out any that are red lined!
Answers from left to right top to bottom:
Hardhat
Hazard warning
BS 5852
No smoking
Toxic substance
Ear defenders must be worn
Highly flammable
BSI Kitemark
Danger of electrocution
Goggles must be worn
Fire extinguisher
Lion mark
First aid
Harmful substances
Nearest fire exit
Danger of electrocution
Lion mark
First aid
Harmful substances
Nearest fire exit
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13. Vocabulary
Health and Safety at Work Act
ISO 9000
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH)
Risk assessment
Hazard
Risk
Control measure
Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations (BS 5852)
Sale of Goods Act
Consumer Safety Act
Trades Descriptions Act
Lion mark
Write down an explanation for three of the things you have learned about today.
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14. Extension (2)
Give two dangers when using an industrial sewing machine and explain how the risk can be corrected or controlled.
Revision tip
Practise answering this question using a variety of different situations, e.g. ironing, fabric cutting, carrying and lifting heavy rolls of fabric.
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15. Extension (3)
Explain why waste materials in doorways can be dangerous and how the risks can be corrected or controlled.
Revision tip
Practise answering this question using a variety of different situations, e.g. engineer repairing machine while it is switched on, machine operators having lunch at work station, poor seating at computers and machines.
© Folens 2009