1. Health and Safety The Legal Side Health and safety of the workforce
Health and Safety at Work Act makes employers legally responsible for the health and safety of their employees.
Employers MUST provide safety equipment and training, maintain machines, have a safety policy and first aid facilities.
Employees are legally responsible for using safety equipment provided as well as safety guards on machines and wearing protective clothing.
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

2. Health and Safety Risk Assessment Risk Assessment
The Health and Safety at Work Act says that employers must do a RISK ASSESSMENT for each stage of production.
This must say what must be done to make the work area safe for employees.
A Health and Safety Inspector has to check the risk assessment.
The risk assessment looks at:
Using tools and equipment
Using materials and chemicals
Correct protective clothing
Safe working practices
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

3. Health and Safety Risk Assessment
When doing a risk assessment you must first identify any potential risks or hazards and then put precautions into place to minimise the risk, e.g. warning signs or placing barriers or guards.
When writing a risk assessment you must think:
What could go wrong?
What effect would this have?
What can I do to prevent it happening?
What precautions should I take to minimise the risk?
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

4. Risk Assessment Checklist
Health and Safety
Risk Assessment Checklist
STEP ONE: look around the work area for any hazards
STEP TWO: identify any equipment such as machinery, tools or materials in the work area that could cause a hazard.
STEP THREE: decide who might be harmed by using the equipment and how they might be harmed; for example; a broken needle en left in fabric could injure a worker or a consumer.
STEP FOUR: list each risk that you find and evaluate the level of risk as high, medium or low. Decide whether the instructions for using the equipment are right or need changing to improve health and safety.
STEP FIVE: add a measure to prevent the risk happening; for example, introduce specialist clothing such as masks when handling powdered dye to reduce the risk of allergic or asthmatic reactions.
STEP SIX: every time the equipment you use is changed, review your assessment and revise as necessary.
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

5. What do health and safety officers do?
Carry out risk assessments
Organise training, including first aid
Display warning notices, safety rules and fire exit signs
Make sure that machinery and equipment is stored safely
Make sure that machinery and equipment have safety guards and is safe for use
Make sure that machinery and equipment is tested regularly for safety
Check that workers wear protective clothing: ear defenders, masks, safety gloves and footwear
Make sure that all processes are safe and will not damage the employees’ health
Make sure that chemicals are recorded, stored and used safely then recycled and disposed of safely
Check that the workplace is safe, clean and tidy with good ventilation to remove fumes and has noise-level control.
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

6. Health and Safety Tools and Equipment
Sewing machines should be fitted with
Guards to minimise the risk of finger and eye injuries
Dust extractors to minimise the inhalation of dust
Emergency stop buttons
When working with sharp objects (scissors, knives)
Take care, use non-slip mats and steel safety rules with craft knives
Point blades away from the body when carrying them, and put covers on the blades
Wear thimbles when using pins and needles
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

7. Health and Safety Chemicals
Most chemicals have COSHH (control of substances hazardous to health) guidelines which tell you the hazards, how to use, store and dispose of the chemicals safely and what protective equipment to wear.
When using toxic chemicals (like dyes) you need good ventilation to avoid inhaling vapours, protective clothing for the skin, and safety glasses.
Flammable solvents should be kept away from sources of ignition.
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

8. Health and Safety Protective Clothing
Wear chain mail gloves when using cutting machines
Wear rubber gloves and eye protection when using chemicals
Tie hair back or wear a hair net to stop hair getting caught in machinery
Wear ear protection when using noisy machinery
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

9. Health and Safety Working Practices
The room layout must be safe. There must be enough space around each machine.
Walkways and exits must be kept clear, and workspaces should be kept tidy.
There must be enough light, preferably natural light
Safety notices should be displayed and safety training given
Employees must take regular breaks so that they don’t get tired and lose concentration
Machinery must be well maintained and checked for safety.
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

10. Automated Machinery + Computers
Health and Safety
Automated Machinery + Computers
These can increase safety by helping with materials handling, especially when loads are heavy. They can also assist with fast running machinery where heat or sharp blades or needles are involved.
Safety devices are used to check that the machine settings are correct and stop the machinery in an emergency.
For the exam:
You need to be able to detail possible hazards, safe working practices, protective guards, clothing and systems in place to protect workers.
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.

11. Automated Machinery + Computers
Health and Safety
Automated Machinery + Computers
These can increase safety by helping with materials handling, especially when loads are heavy. They can also assist with fast running machinery where heat or sharp blades or needles are involved.
Safety devices are used to check that the machine settings are correct and stop the machinery in an emergency.
For the exam:
You need to be able to detail possible hazards, safe working practices, protective guards, clothing and systems in place to protect workers.
KEY WORDS:
Risk assessment,
health and safety, hazard,
AQA says:
You must understand that health and safety in the work place is important. You need to understand risk assessments in relation to the correct and safe use of tools and equipment. The correct and safe usage of materials, chemicals, solvents, flammable and toxic substances used in textile manufacture. The need for correct protective clothing and safe working practices.