Unit 486: Occupational Safety and Health

1. Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health

• Overview of occupational safety and health (OSH)
• Importance of workplace safety
• Key laws and regulations (e.g., OSHA, local regulatory frameworks)
• Roles and responsibilities
  • Employers
  • Employees
• Benefits of a safe work environment

2. Hazard Recognition and Risk Assessment

• Definition and types of workplace hazards
  • Physical
  • Chemical
  • Biological
  • Ergonomic
  • Psychosocial
• Methods for hazard identification
  • Workplace inspections
  • Job safety analysis (JSA)
  • Employee reporting
• Risk assessment techniques
  • Risk matrix
  • Qualitative vs quantitative methods
• Risk mitigation strategies
  • Elimination
  • Substitution
  • Engineering controls
  • Administrative controls
  • PPE

3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Importance of PPE in worker safety
• Types of PPE
  • Head protection
  • Eye and face protection
  • Respiratory protection
  • Hand and skin protection
  • Hearing protection
  • Foot protection
• Proper selection criteria
• Correct use and fitting
• Maintenance and inspection
• Disposal procedures

4. Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Importance of emergency preparedness
• Developing emergency response plans
  • Identifying potential emergencies
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Communication plans
• Conducting emergency drills and exercises
• Training employees on emergency procedures
• Evacuation protocols and first aid

5. Occupational Health and Hygiene

• Impact of workplace conditions on health
• Exposure to hazardous substances
  • Chemical exposure controls
  • Monitoring and detection
• Ergonomics principles
• Noise control and hearing conservation
• Promoting a healthy work environment
  • Ventilation
  • Sanitation
  • Stress management

6. Incident Investigation and Reporting

• Purpose of incident investigation
• Types of incidents to report
• Investigation process
  • Gathering information
  • Interviewing witnesses
  • Root cause analysis techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagram)
• Reporting requirements and documentation
• Developing corrective and preventive actions

7. Safety Training and Education

• Importance of safety training
• Designing effective training programs
  • Tailoring to specific hazards
  • Adult learning principles
• Modes of training delivery
• Evaluating training effectiveness
• Promoting a culture of safety

8. Workplace Ergonomics

• Principles of ergonomics
• Designing workspaces for worker capabilities
• Identifying ergonomic risk factors
• Ergonomic interventions
  • Adjustable workstations
  • Proper tool design
  • Work-rest cycles
• Preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
• Promoting worker well-being through ergonomics