Hazards arising from Telecommunication Engineering Activities (Term Paper Sample)

PRINCIPLES OF SAFETY AND HEALTH
Term paper
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1 Hazards arising from Telecommunication Engineering Activities
Telecommunication engineering plays an important role in electrical and computer engineering whereby it enhances communication from one point to another. However, the activities undertaken pose serious hazard to employees. Some of the activities involved in telecommunication engineering includes; carrying out work on all parts of the network in order to provide network connections to customers, installing and repairing equipments, climbing overheard distribution poles, dealing with customers directly in their homes, and dealing with cabinets located on the sides of pavements in order to provide connections and repair. During these tasks, a worker might be exposed to hazards. The following are hazards associated with each activity undertaken during telecommunication process by a worker.[KANOKNART LEELARDCHAROEN, Interdependent response of telecommunication and electric power systems to seismic hazard (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2011) 35.] [BV Elsevier, ‘Systematic occupational health and safety management: perspective on an international development,’ Chemical Health and Safety, Vol. 8, no. 6, (2001) 150.]
Activity

Hazard

Carrying out work on all parts of the network

An injury such as fractures or sprains
Upper body disorder and back pains
Electrical shock or burns
Work stress

Installing and Repairing equipment

Electrical shock
Awkward body posture
Falling of objects and employee

Working in all weathers

Hyperthermia and Hypothermia conditions.

Climbing overhead distribution poles.

Falling hazards
Electrical shock

Dealing with customers in their homes

Electrical shocks
Hypothermia and hyperthermia conditions
Struck by moving vehicle
Work stress

Working on cabinets located on sides of pavements.

Electrical shock
Awkward body posture
Work stress
Struck by moving vehicle

2 Potential control measures of each hazard in order to reduce its risk to an employee.[TIM BENSON, Principles of health interoperability (New York 2014) 25.]
Hazard

Control measure(s)

Falling Hazards

Provision of PPE e.g. pole climbers, helmets
Using well-positioned ladders when working on overhead
Cleaning any spillages on the floor
Working areas kept clear of obstruction
Avoiding storage of heavy items overhead

Electrical shock

Equipment must be tested and labeled with specific voltages
Repair damaged socket and insulating life wires
Operate electrical appliances in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
Wear protective equipment e.g. safety gloves

Work stress

Work for a shorter period of time and in turns

Hyperthermia and Hypothermia conditions

Put on appropriate clothing and reduce the time of exposure

Struck by moving vehicle

Provision of warning signs
Wearing highly visible clothing
Installing speed cameras and bumps

Poor lighting

Provide adequate lighting in the area

3 Most appropriate control measures
According to Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, section 2, Part (1) under General duties states, “it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of all his employees”. The following are the most recommended control measures for each hazard identified kin order to comply with the Act.[Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, c.37, s.2 (1)]
Hazard[JANIS, RICHARD R and TAO, WILLIAM K. Y, Mechanical and electrical systems in buildings (2015) 37.]

Recommended Control measure(s)[ISO, ‘Risk Management- Guidelines’ , 31000:2018, (accessed 08 April 2018).]

Falling Hazards

Provision of PPE’ e.g. pole climbers, helmets
Using well-positioned ladders when working on overhead
Working areas kept clear of obstruction
Avoiding storage of heavy items overhead

Electrical shock

Equipment must be tested and labeled with specific voltages
Operate electrical appliances in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
Wear protective equipment e.g. safety gloves

Work stress

Work for a shorter period of time and in turns

Hyperthermia and Hypothermia conditions

Put on appropriate clothing and reduce the time of exposure

Struck by moving vehicle

Provision of warning signs
Wearing highly visible clothing
Installing speed cameras and bumps

Poor lighting

Provide adequate lighting in the area

4 Justification of control measures and recommendations[ISO, ‘Quality Management Systems- Fundamentals and Vocabulary’ , 90000:2015, (accessed 08 April 2018).]
Hazard Category

Control Measure

Justification and Recommendation

Falling Hazards

Provision of PPE
Cleaning spillages
Work area kept clear from obstruction.
Storing heavy items at acceptable height

Reduces impact to an employee, thus recommended
Reduces the risk, hence recommended where necessary
Minimizes the chances of a hazard to occur. Does not eliminate the hazard, applicable in some areas
Eliminates risks of falling objects hence recommended

Electrical Hazards

Operating equipments with manufacturer’s instructions
Testing electrical appliances for voltages and labelled.
Repair of damaged sockets and insulating life wires
Wearing proper PPE

Reduces chances for shock. Recommended
Minimizes chances of shock hence recommended.
Lower the chances of electrical shock, it is necessary where applicable.
Reduces the impact of the body and exposed wires. Does not eliminate the hazard. Used as last resort where necessary.

Work stress

Reduced working hours

Reduces stress to employee who might be tired. Recommended where applicable and due to company policy.

Hyperthermia and Hypothermia conditions

Provision of appropriate clothing
Reduce time of exposure

Reduces chances to suffer from cold/heat diseases when exposed for longer periods. Recommended and used depending on the condition.
Minimizes the duration of a worker being exposed to heat/cold conditions. It is recommended where necessary

Back pain and work-related upper body disorders

Use of trolley to transport heavy cabinet boxes and cables
Avoid manual handling of bulky items

Reduces chances of exposure to back pains hence recommended.
Minimizes upper body disorder and back pains. Recommended for particular tasks (heavy tasks).

Struck by moving vehicle

Provision of warning signs
Wearing high visibility clothes
Installation of speed cameras and bumps

Provide warnings showing work in progress thus reducing risks of hit by vehicle. Recommended when working on pavements
Enhances visibility by vehicle drivers thus reducing the risks of being struck, however, it depends on the context on the clothe. It is recommended while undertaking tasks in pavements
Reduces vehicle speed but not physically prevent the speed. This measure is appropriate in limited areas thus recommended where necessary

5 Final Risk Assessment Report
RISK MATRIX[ISO/IEC Guide, ‘Safety Aspects — Guidelines for Their Inclusion In Standards’ , 51:2014, (accessed 08 April 2018).]
Probability

Severity


Insignificant 1

Minor
2

Moderate
3

Major
4

Critical
5

Rare 1

Low 1

Low 2

Low 3

Low 4

Medium 5

Unlikely 2

Low 2

Low 4

Medium 6

Medium 8

High 10

Possible 3

Low 3

Medium 6

High 9

High 12

High 15

Likely 4

Low 4

Medium 8

High 12

High 16

Extreme 20

Almost Certain 5

Medium 5

Medium 10

High 15

Extreme 20

Extreme 25

Explanation of Risk Ranking[ISO, ‘Risk Management- Guidelines’ , 31000:2018, (accessed 08 April 2018).]
Risk level

Risk Description

Actions to be taken

Low

If an accident/incident would occur, there is low likelihood that an injury will occur.

Carry on the task with existing controls

Medium

If an accident/incident was to occur, there is the likelihood of an injury to occur. An injury that seeks first aid.

Additional control measures might be put in place

High

If an accident/incident was to occur, there are chances of an injury that might require medicinal treatment

There must be control measure before the task is performed

Extreme

If an accident was to occur, the injury might lead to permanent disability or death

Consider alternative measures in undertaking the tasks. The most appropriate measures have to be in place

Table of Risk Assessment[Govt. U.S. Human health risk assessment, Accountability Office (Washington, D.C.), 2016.]
Work Activities

Related Risk(s)

Severity
...