Safety and health must be seen in an integral way, a safe work environment provides a markedly positive psychological effect, which is reflected in an increase in productivity.
Some occupational risks that despite being impossible to eliminate but that can be controlled, such as electrical risk, become a sign of the commitment of organizations to improve working conditions and the acquisition of means of protection to be able to work safely. The identification and evaluation of the dangers and risks to the health and safety of workers constitute an essential stage in the management of safety in the company. Information through signage in its different forms as a complementary use of security.
Introduction
All management systems, from ISO 9000 to the European Model of Excellence for Total Quality, are increasingly aware of the importance of the individual in achieving goals. ISO 9000: 2000 is based on the 8 so-called Principles of Quality Management and precisely, Principle No. 3 refers to people and states “Staff, at all levels, are the essence of an organization and its total commitment and Involvement allows their capacities to be used for the maximum benefit of the Organization ”.
Statistics on occupational hazards in our country reflect that there is still much to be done in the field of industrial safety, since the absence of preventive measures leads to the generation of a large number of occupational accidents and illnesses. These factors lead to a series of consequences, in the first instance for the worker and his family, in the second, costs for the company that cause operating expenses to be higher, directly affecting productivity and product quality, and therefore have repercussions at the cost of social life. Companies hire healthy people and must prevent them from suffering accidents or illnesses in the course of work.
Occupational risk management
NC 18000: 2005 defines risk management as: “systematic application of management policies, procedures and practices to analyze, assess and evaluate risks or a process by which risks are identified, analyzed, evaluated, controlled and financed that the assets, human resources and interests of the entity, the community and the environment that surrounds it are exposed, optimizing the resources available for it ”.
Types of Occupational Risks and their characteristics
In a global or general way, risks can be presented in two ways:
- Objectively: specific to the task being carried out (electricity, height, etc.), it cannot be eliminated, but it can be minimized or controlled (personal protective equipment, etc.), and Subjectively: it is what people feel and have to do with individual and group fears and insecurities, beyond the security measures adopted.
Focusing the analysis a little more on objective risks, but without forgetting the importance of trust in the work performed, we can classify risks in two ways:
- Common or common sense risks: they are the obvious ones both in work tasks and in everyday life. (Eg falls at the same level) Technological risks: are those risks that are difficult to identify with the common sense of the workers themselves. (Eg ionizing radiation).
"Both classifications present certain types of risks, which, being common or technological, can represent, if they materialize, significant damages and losses, both to man and to materials and tools, including facilities."
In general, risks can be classified into five large groups as shown below:
- Physical Risks (noise, vibrations, ventilation, pressure, temperature, lighting, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation). Chemical Risks (dusts, vapors, liquids, gases, fumes, mists, solvents, etc.) Biological Risks (bacteria, fungi, insects, etc.) Ergonomic Risks (positions, bad design, inadequate operations, inadequate conditions, inadequate labor relations, etc.) Psychosocial Risks (mental burden, monotony, responsibility, etc.)
Source: Pavón Nuñez, Heribio (2006) show ppt Risk Management. Stgo from Cuba.
Electrical Risks: Low voltage and High voltage
Electrical hazard can be defined as the possibility of circulation of electrical current through the body.
Most common risks
Electric shocks can occur in two ways that for preventive purposes can be classified into direct and indirect contacts.
- Direct contact: The person comes into contact with an active part of the installation Indirect contact: The person comes into contact with an element that is not part of the electrical circuit and that under normal conditions should not have voltage.
Protection techniques
1. Protection against direct contact
- Removal of active parts. Isolation or coating of the active parts. Interposition of obstacles.
Away from the live parts: It consists of moving the active parts of the installation away to a distance such that they reach where people usually meet or circulate, that accidental contact with the hands is impossible, or due to the manipulation of conductive objects, when they are routinely used near the facility.
Insulation or coating of the active parts of the installation: It consists of covering the active parts by means of an appropriate insulation capable of preserving its properties over time, and which limits the contact current to a value not exceeding 1 m A. resistance of the human body will be considered as 2,500 ohms.
Interposition of obstacles: It consists of the interposition of obstacles, screens, barriers that prevent any accidental contact with the active parts of the installation. Protective obstacles must be securely fixed and resist the usual mechanical stresses that may arise in their function.
2. Protection against indirect contact
The protection systems are grouped into two classes: A and B. Class A protection systems reduce the risk by themselves by preventing contact between masses and conductive elements and making the contacts not dangerous.
Class B systems are considered as active systems and disconnect or cut the power supply when dangerous conditions are detected, these types of systems are based on direct grounding or neutral grounding of the receiver masses, associating a device automatic cut-off that ensures the disconnection of the installation as quickly as possible.
Protection systems against indirect electrical contacts: Class A
- Circuit separation. Use of small safety voltages. Separation between live parts and accessible masses by means of protective insulation. Inaccessibility of conductive elements and masses. Coating of the masses with protective insulation. Equipotential connections.
Protection systems against indirect electrical contacts: Class B
- Grounding of the masses and fault current cut-off devices. Grounding of the masses and fault voltage cut-off devices. Grounding to neutral of the masses and fault current cut-off devices.
Risks in handling High Voltage installations
The first thing we must define is that a high voltage installation is the entire set of devices and associated circuits in anticipation of a particular purpose: production, conversion, transformation, transmission, distribution or use of electrical energy, whose nominal voltages are higher than 1,000 volts for alternating current and 1,500 volts for direct current.
The risks derived from handling basically coincide with those described for Low Voltage and always referring to the electric current, that is, coming into contact with part or parts of the installation that have voltage, usually or not, and forming part of the circuit through which a certain electric current circulates.
In general, we can say that these risks derive from work in two large fields:
- Substations and transformation centers. High voltage overhead / underground lines.
Protection techniques
The risk we are dealing with is direct contact with a high voltage electrical installation, below we will indicate some general regulations:
- When work must be carried out on a high voltage installation, or in its proximity, it may be considered without voltage, if it has not been indicated as such or it is actually in discharge and the absence of voltage has been verified. It will be totally forbidden, even when using insulating gloves, as well as carrying out work on them, even if insulated tools are used.In the work and maneuvers on sectionalizers and switches, the following rules must be followed:
a) For the electrical isolation of personnel operating in high voltage, cutting devices including switches, at least two of the following protection elements shall be used:
- Insulating pole Insulating gloves Insulating bench or mat Equipotential connection of the manual control of the cutting input and maneuvering platform.
b) If the cutting inputs are actuated mechanically, precautions shall be taken to prevent their untimely operation (interlocking).
c) Signs will be placed on the controls of the cutting devices indicating, when appropriate, that they cannot be maneuvered.
Personal protection for the prevention of electrical risks
As is already known throughout the world, individual or personal protection equipment should be the last barrier between risk and the operator.
The main protections against this type of risk are referred to below.
- Use of glasses and face shields to protect the worker from the risks of intense heat, radiation and particle impacts. Use of insulating gloves to protect hands and arms. Use of dielectric helmets for head protection. Use of insulating footwear to protect the worker from the effects of current passing through the body.
Signaling
Signage has become the most necessary source of information in urban life and its interpretation will produce a correct response or cause chaos and accidents, such as traffic lights on public roads. In the workplace there are dangerous situations in which it is convenient for the worker to receive certain information related to safety and which we call safety signs.
Within electrical risks, those in charge of the operation of electrical systems have great responsibility for the safe performance of the personnel under their command and rely on the use of signaling to inform that certain equipment or installation is energized and therefore exists a potential hazard.
Safety signage concept
By signaling we mean the set of stimuli that condition the performance of the person who receives them in the face of circumstances that are intended to be highlighted. More specifically, safety signage is one that provides an indication regarding the safety of people and / or property.
For all signs to be effective and fulfill their purpose in accident prevention, they must:
- Attract the attention of those who are the recipients of the information. Disclose the information well in advance to be able to comply, it must also be clear and with a single interpretation. Report on how to act in each specific case. Real possibility of its fulfillment.
Its use is complementary to the security measures adopted, such as the use of guards or security devices: personal protections, emergency exits, etc., and its implementation will not, in any case, exempt the adoption of the measures of appropriate prevention.
Correct signage is effective as a complementary safety technique, but it should not be forgotten that, by itself, it never eliminates risk.
Signaling classes
Signaling, used as a security technique, can be classified according to the sense in which it is perceived in:
Optics
- Safety signs Safety notices Signage colors Beaconing Emergency lighting
Acoustics
Olfactory
Tactile
Safety signs
Are those that result from the combination of a geometric shape, a color (security color) and a symbol or pictogram, attributing to them a specific meaning in relation to the information related to security that is to be communicated in a simple and fast way, and whose compression must be universal.
In addition to the described signs, there is the additional or auxiliary sign, which contains exclusively a text and is used in conjunction with the aforementioned safety signs, and the complementary sign of permanent risk, which will be used in those cases in which geometric shapes are not used. standardized for the marking of places that pose a permanent risk of collisions, falls, etc. (such as pillars, gap protection, mobile equipment salient points, loading docks, steps, etc.).
Safety color
It is the one to which a specific meaning is attributed in relation to safety.
|
Safety color |
Meaning |
Applications |
|
Red |
Stop Prohibition |
Stop signs Prohibition signs
Emergency disconnect device. |
|
Yellow |
Attention Danger zone |
Hazard signage Marking of thresholds, low corridors, obstacles, etc. |
|
Green |
Security situation First aid |
Corridors and emergency exits signage Emergency sprinklers
First aid and rescue station. |
|
blue |
Obligation Indications |
Obligation to use personal protection Telephone locations, workshops, etc. |
Geometric shapes of signs
We all know that some people have abnormalities that prevent them from perceiving certain colors. To alleviate these drawbacks, signs with predetermined shapes are used to which, like the security colors, meanings are assigned.
Symbols or Pictograms
The geometric shape and safety color of the signs are complemented by schematic drawings that are arranged inside them to describe a specific situation and that serve to specify their meaning.
Symbols should be as simple as possible, details that are not essential to understanding the sign should be eliminated.
Conclusions
After addressing the types of risks and their characteristics, we focus on one of them called low or high voltage electrical risk, its types of contacts and the protection techniques addressing those of personal protection. The use of signage as a preventive form of security, as well as its geometric shapes and colors so that information reaches everyone clearly and precisely, simplifying itself as much as possible as a carrier of adequate and ideal information for each situation or place wherever used.
Bibliography
1. Assessment of occupational hazards.. Available at: http://www.mtas.es/insht/practice/evaluacion.htm
2. Guerra García Alexei. 2009 Application of a procedure to manage the Prevention of Occupational Risks, in an Integrated way and with a Process Approach, in the Construction Company of the Electricity Industry of Holguín (ECIE) Diploma work. Holguín University.
3. Hernández Cruz, A. (2005). Procedure for the Management of Risk Prevention in Highly Dangerous Activities in Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba, SA ETECSA. Holguin. Diploma work. Holguín University.
4. MAPFRE (1992). Safety at work. Management of Prevention in the Company. Ed. MAPFRE. Spain. 123 p.
5. Montero Martínez, Ricardo (1993). Reduction of work accidents by changing behavior towards safety. Mapfre Security Magazine. Spain. Year 13. Nr. 52. p 31-38.
6. NC 18 000: 2005. Occupational safety and health-Occupational health and safety management system-Vocabulary.
7. National Office for Standardization, Cuban Standard 76: 2000. Prevention of Occupational Risks. Vocabulary. 2000
8. Dangers and Risks.. Available at: http://www.eduardooyarzun.prevencion.20m.com/custom3.html
9. Sotolongo Sánchez, M. Monographs on Work Safety. Central University of Las Villas "Martha Abreu"..
10. Viñas, Silvio et al. (1987). Safety and Quality. Looking for synergy. MAPFRE Security Magazine. Spain. Year 18, Nr. 65. Second quarter. pp. 23-29.
