Workshop safety - common hazards
Carpentry, welding, panel beating and paint spraying are just
four of the jobs that could be associated with workshops. All too
often a lack of good housekeeping and regular cleaning result in
accidents such as cuts and pulled muscles. A lack of protection
when welding could result in "arc eye" or respiratory problems; oil
on a floor could result in slipping; permanent or temporary
deafness can result from a lack of hearing when panel beating.
Have a look around your workshops and as a start think about
cleaning the place up making sure everything is in the right
place.
Legislation
Visit our Health and Safety
Regulations pages.
Common hazards
The following are just a few examples of common safety faults
found in workshops:
- guards or screens not on equipment
- gas cylinders not chained to a wall
- lack of adequate ventilation
- no safety signs
- hidden or missing safety notices
- machinery left unattended when running
- obstructed emergency cut out switches
- cluttered workbenches
- chemical substances in unmarked containers
- blocked fire exits
- loading bays not fenced off
- trailing wires
- no barrier cream
- flickering lights
- incorrect ambient temperature
- no electric shock treatment poster
- missing or inadequate covers over inspection pits
- improvised tools
- top heavy shelving
- missing, damaged, or misused machinery guards