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Principle~
of~Ontro

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PREVENTION

Avoid the risk e.g. eliminate the hazard or task
Evaluate risks which cannot be avoided
Combat risks at source
Adapt the work to the individual
Adapt to technical progress
Replace the dangerous by the less dangerous
Develop a coherent prevention policy
Give collective measures priority over individual
measure
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GENERAL HIERARCHY OF CONTROL

Eliminate: remove trailing cables
Reduce: use low voltage electrical equipment
Isolate: cover dangerous machinery with guards

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Control: limit time and frequency of exposure

PPE: Issue safety footwear
Discipline: enforce rules and procedures

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SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK

OPERATION OF PERMIT-TO-WORK

A step by step procedure for carrying out a

task safely, identifying the hazards, assessing
the risks and the precautions needed to
eliminate or reduce the risks.

Identify the task (where and when)

Identify the hazards
List the precautions to eliminate or reduce
the hazards
Additional precautions

FACTORS IN DEVELOPING A SAFE

SYSTEM OF WORK

Time limits

1) Select the task to be studied

Issue by competent person

2) Identify the hazards

Receipt by person in charge of work

3) Develop the safe system looking at:

materials/equipment/environment/
people

Completion

4) Implement system
5) Monitor the system

PERMIT-TO-WORK
A formal written procedure requiring
written confirmation that certain actions
have been carried out to eliminate or
control risks before a specific high risk
activity is carried out.

WHERE PERMITS NEEDED:

Confined spaces
Electricity

Cold work

..

Cancellation

CONFINED SPACE
Any space where there is a specified risk of
serious injury from hazardous substances or
conditions within the space.

What are the hazards in a confined

space
Fire or explosion
Loss of consciousness due to increased body
temperature
Loss of consciousness due to asphyxiation
Drowning
Asphyxiation due to free flowing solids

Hot work

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Confined space examples: cellars,

excavations, sewers, silos, tanks, vats

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Avoiding entry
Modify confined space so
entry not required
Have work done from outside
.

Precautions for working

in a confined space
Permit -to-work
Competent staff
Appoint a supervisor
Isolate

WHY PPE USED AS

LAST RESORT

FACTORS AFFECTING
THE WEARING OF PPE

Does not eliminate the

hazard

Fit

Does not reduce the hazard

Only protects the wearer
Always fail to danger
May introduce new hazards
Relies on worker to use it
May not be worn correctly
It may be uncomfortable

Ensure suitable size of entry

Worn for only part of task of

shift

Gas purging

Wrong size

Ventilation

Used when damaged

Regular testing of the

atmosphere

Not properly maintained

Special tools and lighting

Management may not

enforce wearing

PPE
Communications

SELECTION OF PPE

Limit working time

What are the hazards

Emergency procedures

Type of equipment
Made to suitable standards

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Comfort

PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Storage

Benefits of PPE

Training

Often low cost

Cost

Can be used as short term

measure
Portable for worker away from
base
Disposable PPE reduces risk
of infection

Compatibility

Health of worker
Period of use
. Comfort
Maintenance
Training
Interference
Management commitment
Peer pressure

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SAFETY SIGNS

Automatic warning devices

SAFETY SIGNS

Check the worker has

returned home

Prohibition (circular, red, white

background)

PPE

FACTORS TO BE
CONSIDERED
IN DRAWING UP
EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES:

Warning (triangular, yellow,

black edging)

Emergency action if worker

becomes ill

Type of emergency (fire,

bomb, chemical spillage etc.)

Type/location of workplace

Mandatory (circular, blue,

white symbols)
Safe Condition (green, white
symbols)

LONE WORKER
FACTORS TO BE
CONSIDERED
Work location
Type of work
The equipment
Manual handling
Sex of the worker
Emergency facilities
Lack of training
Lack of supervision
Limited communication

PRECAUTIONS FOR
LONE WORKERS
Information on hazards
Training to deal with
hazards
Regular contact

AIMS OF FIRST AID:

To preserve life, prevent
deterioration and promote
recovery

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Emergency service contact

and response time
Appointed persons to deal
with the emergency
Communication systems

ASSESSMENT
FOR FIRST AID
REQUIREMENTS
The nature of the work and
the size of the organisation
Past history and accident
type

First Aid/medical facilities

Evacuation procedures
Effects on surrounding
community
Post emergency action e.g.
repairs, media, investigation

The nature and distribution

of the workforce
Remoteness of site from
emergency medical
services
The needs of travelling,
remote or lone workers
Employees working on
shared sites
Absence of first aiders due
to holidays etc.
Compliance with legal
requirements

Supervisors regularly visiting

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Principles of Control
SYLLABUS
Overall Aims
On completion of this
Element, candidates will
understand:

fundamental strategies
for controlling hazards
and reducing risk

providing appropriate

training, information and

supervision to workers,
including role, categories
and features of safety
signs

the various hazard

control and risk reduction
methods available

Content

protective measures,
(e.g. engineering control)
over individual protective
measures, (e.g. personal
protection) concepts of
'safe place' and 'safe
person'

GENERAL HIERARCHY
OF CONTROL

General principles of
prevention:

elimination I substitution

avoiding risks

changing work methods

evaluating unavoidable
risks

isolation I segregation

engineering control

Personal Protective
Equipment (requirements,
benefits and limitations)

controlling hazards at
source

patterns

adapting work to the

individual

progress

SAFE SYSTEMS OF
WORK

replacing the dangerous

by the less I nondangerous

expectation that the

employer should provide
safe system of work

developing a coherent

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adapting to technical

prevention policy

importance of worker
involvement in the
development of safe
systems

importance and relevance

of written procedures
the distinction between
technical, procedural
and behavioural controls

development of a safe
system of work with
specific examples of
confined spaces and lone
wmking in relation to
systems of work
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analysing tasks,
identifying hazards and
assessing risks

introducing controls
and formulating
procedures

instruction and training

in the operation of the
system

monitoring the system

role of competent persons

in the development of safe
systems

giving priority to collective

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PERMITS-TO-WORK

operation and application

typical permits and circumstances in which

they may be appropriate, (e.g. hot work,
work on electrical systems, maintenance of
process equipment)

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND

ARRANGEMENTS

importance of developing emergency

procedures in relation to fire, first-aid and
other emergencies

principles, role and requirements of

emergency medical response I first-aid
provision

arrangements for contacting emergency

and rescue services

coverage in relation to shift work and

geographical location

SPECIFIC INTENDED LEARNING

OUTCOMES
The intended learning outcomes of this
Element are that candidates will be able to:

develop and apply safe systems of work for

general work activities
explain the key elements of a safe system
applied to the particular situations of
working in confined spaces, lone working
and travelling abroad

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explain the role and function of a permit-towork within a safe system of work

assess the adequacy of emergency

procedures and provision.

References
HSE
Books

2000

L7 4: First-Aid at Work
Approved Code of Practice.

HSE
Books

1998

L 101: Safe Work in

Confined Spaces Approved
Code of Practice.

HSE
Books

1998

INDG 98: Permit-to-Work

IOSH

1999

Systems.

Safety in the Global Village.

describe the general principles of control

and a basic hierarchy of risk reduction
measures that encompass technical,
behavioural and procedural controls

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