FACILITY SAFETY

 

Click on any of the following links for detailed information.

 

·        DOORS

·        EMERGENCY LIGHTING

·        EXITS

·        FLOOR OPENINGS

·        FLOORS

·        HANDRAILS

·        HOUSEKEEPING

·        ILLUMINATION

·        LADDERS

·        LUNCHROOMS

·        STAIRWAYS

 

 

DOORS

The employer must ensure that doors to and from a work area can be opened easily and are not obstructed.

 

A door used to enter or leave an enclosed hazardous area must be kept in good working order and have a means of opening it from the inside at all times.

(Occupational Health and Safety Code, 120)

 

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

The employer must ensure that there is emergency lighting if workers are in danger if the normal lighting system fails. Emergency lighting must generate enough light so that workers can leave the work site safely, start the necessary emergency shut down procedures and restore normal lighting. (Occupational Health and Safety Code, 186)

 

EXITS

The employer must ensure that every worker can enter and leave a work area safely at all times and that entrances and exits are in good working order. The employer must ensure that workers are familiar with escape routes from the work area.

 

Work entrances and exits must be free from materials, equipment and other obstructions that might endanger workers or restrict their movement.

(Occupational Health and Safety Code, 119)

 

FLOOR OPENINGS

The employer must ensure that any hole or opening that a worker may fall through is protected by a a securely attached cover, or a guardrail and toeboards.

(Occupational Health and Safety Code, 314)

 

FLOORS

The employer must ensure that a walkway is strong enough to support the equipment and workers who may use it, is at least 600mm wide, is wide enough to ensure the safe movement of equipment and workers, and has the appropriate toe boards and guardrails. (Occupational Health and Safety Code, 121)

 

HANDRAILS

The employer must ensure that a stairway with 5 or more risers is equipped with a handrail that extends the entire length of the stairway, is secure, and is between 800mm and 920mm above the front edge of the treads.

 

The posts supporting the handrail must be spaced no more than 3m apart.

(Occupational Health and Safety Code, 123)

 

HOUSEKEEPING

The employer must ensure that the work site is kept clean and free from materials or equipment that could cause workers to slip or trip. (Occupational Health and Safety Code, 185)

 

ILLUMINATION

The employer must ensure that lighting is sufficient too enable work to be done safely. A light source above a working or walking surface must be protected against damage. (Occupational Health and Safety Code, 186)

 

LADDERS

The employer must ensure that workers do not use a ladder to enter an area if there is another safe and recognizable way to enter or leave it.

 

Wooden ladders must not be painted.

 

The employer must ensure that a ladder used during the servicing of energized  equipment is made of non-conductive material.

 

A fixed ladder installed after April 30, 2004 must meet the requirements of PIP Standard STF05501, Fixed Ladders and Cages..

 

A worker must not work from the top 2 rungs of a portable ladder unless the manufacturer’s specifications allow the worker to do so.

 

The employer must ensure that a portable ladder complies with CSA standard CAN3-Z11-M81 (R2001) Portable Ladders.

 

The worker must ensure that a portable ladder is secured against movement and placed on a stable base, the side rails of the ladder extend at least 1m above a platform, and that the ladder is inclined with a gradient no more than 1:4, base:height.

 

The employer must ensure that a worker working from a portable ladder from which the worker may fall more than 3m uses a personal fall arrest system. A fall arrest system is not required while the worker is moving up or down the ladder. If it is not reasonably practicable to use a personal fall arrest system, a worker may work from a ladder without it if the work is light duty of short duration, the worker’s centre of balance is at the centre of the ladder at all times and the worker has one hand available to hold onto the ladder or other support.

(Occupational Health and Safety Code, 124 – 137)

 

LUNCHROOMS

The employer must ensure that workers do not eat, drink or smoke in parts of the work site contaminated by a harmful substance. (Occupational Health and Safety Code, 25)

 

STAIRWAYS

The employer must ensure that the width of treads and the height of the rise of a stairway are uniform and that the treads of a stairway are level.

 

A stairway with 5 or more risers must have the appropriate handrail. A stairway with open sides must have a handrail and an intermediate rail on each open side.

 

Temporary stairs must be at least 600mm wide.

(Occupational Health and Safety Code, 122)

 

 

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