92 CHAPTER 5 Fire Safety Learning Objectives: At the end of this chapter, you should be able to: • Describe the basic of fire • Explain fire safety planning • Draw escape route Author: Nuraiman bin Abd Rahman
5.1 BASIC OF FIRE • Fire is known as combustion reaction that release CO2 & H2O with heat and light. 3 Elements Needed to Ignite Fire: • Fuel : ANY combustible material such as petrol, methanol, paper or wood. • Oxygen : at least 16% oxygen is needed to sustain fire. • Heat : the energy necessary to increase fuel temperature to ignition point. Figure 5.0 Combustion Reaction Figure 5.1 Fire Triangle 93
CONCEPT OF FIRE TRIANGLE 16% is required for ignition Common causes of fire breakout: • Leaving cooking unattended • Smoking in bed • Children playing with matches, lighters or other fire sources • Mal-functioned stove, electrical appliances • Overloading of electrical sockets • illegal extensions of electrical wiring • Old electrical wirings • Short circuit • Improper storage of flammable chemicals • Lightning strikes 94
CLASSES OF FIRE Table 5.0 Classes Of Fire 95
TYPE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER Figure 5.2 Type Of Fire Extinguisher 96
MALAYSIA FIRE EXTINGUISHER LABLe Figure 5.3 Fire Extinguisher Lable 97
5.2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER MANAGEMENT POSITION OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER: • Should be placed in a safe, easily visible position. • Must be position 20 m away from any potential fire related location. • Can be reached easily. • If fire extinguishers are placed outdoors, a specific storage box needs to be installed. MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE: • Maintenance records (use date, refill date, expiration date) • Fire extinguishers need to be inspected once a month. • Used fire extinguishers need to be refilled. 98
Using extinguisher Malaysia Figure 5.4 Step Use A Fire Extinguisher 99
5.2 FIRE SAFETY PLAN A fire safety plan is an official document guiding the organization on procedures in the event of a fire incident. Importance of Fire Safety Plan: • Complying with Legal Regulations. • Protecting Property. • Protecting People. • Plan for Emergencies. What to be Included in a Fire Safety Plan? • A list of all major fire hazards and storage procedures for hazardous materials. • Emergency evacuation plan. • Procedures for all employees during emergency. • Procedures for regular maintenance on heat producing and heat preventing equipment. 100
Fire control method 101
Fire protection method Active Fire Protection Systems • In the form of suppression, extinguishers, sprinklers, alarms & extract ventilation, depending of a mechanical device. • Overall aim is to distinguish the fire by : • a) Detecting the fire early & evacuating the building • b) Alerting emergency services at an early stage of the fire. • Controlling the movement of smoke & fire. • Suppressing and/or starving the fire and fuel. Passive Fire Protection Systems • In the form of fire-rated doors, fire cabinet, barriers, ceilings & structural fire protection, & do not rely on the operation of any form of mechanical device. • Overall aim is to contain fire by : • a) Using fire-rated partitions & doors to prevent the fire & smoke from spreading from one compartment to another. • b) Delaying the collapse of the building structure by delaying the growth of the fire. 102
Flammable Chemicals management Flammable Chemicals : • Toluene • Benzene • Hexane • Hexene • Cycloalkane • Cycloalkene • Methanol • Ethanol • Isopropyl alcohol Handling Flammable Chemicals : • Understand the chemicals SDS. • Label flammable chemicals. • Store in flammable cabinet. • Wear appropriate PPE. • Never use flammable chemicals near potential ignition sources. Figure 5.5 Chemical Store 103
Emergency evacuation plan Step to Write an Emergency Evacuation Plan: • Evaluate the Emergency. • Determine Exit Routes. • Identify Safe Areas. • Develop Evacuation Procedures. • Discuss with Employees. • Conduct Training Exercises. Figure 5.6 Emergency Evacuation Plan 104
5.3 ESCAPE ROUTE Determine Escape Routes: • A workplace must have at least 2 exit routes • Exit routes must be as far away as practical from each other. • Doors should swing out in the evacuation direction and be unlocked from the inside. Figure 5.7 Fire Escape Plan 105
Assembly point Identify Assembly Point: • Is this area usually safe. • Is it easy to access emergency services (police and ambulance). • Does this area have good signal. • Will employees have difficulty finding this area. Figure 5.8 Assembly Point Sign 106
Formative Assessment List fire extinguisher with details: • Location • Series number • Expiry date 107
108 CHAPTER 6 Workplace Environment and Ergonomics Learning Objectives: At the end of this chapter, you should be able to: • Explain the workplace environment • Share workplace ergonomics • Express statutory requirements Author: Nuraiman Bin Abd Rahman
6.1 WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT Safe workplace environment is very important so that hazards that can be controlled in order to prevent accidents and work related disease. It is important to create a comfortable working environment so that workers feel less exhausted and stressed in places where they have to spend long hours. Creation of a comfortable working environment is also believed, will enable workers to put their abilities to use more effectively 109
SAFETY OF THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT The workplace can be a healthy and comfortable place to work in if the correct combination of these below element is maintained: • Indoor Air Quality • Lighting and Sightedness • Temperature and humidity • Noise and Hearing 110 Figure 6.0 Workplace Environment
INDOOR AIR QUALITY • Good indoor air quality (IAQ) is required for a healthy indoor work environment. • Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 (ICOP IAQ 2010) was introduced to set minimum standard for selected parameters that will avoid discomfort of the employees. • Sources of indoor air pollutants are environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), volatile chemical compounds and ozone emitted from photocopiers and laser printers. Control Measure: • Effective air filtration • Ensuring that adequate amounts of fresh air enter the building. • Locating equipment using solvents in non-airconditioned area with substantial air movement and/ or installing local exhaust ventilation. 111
LIGHTING AND SIGHTEDNESS • Natural lighting is the light that comes from the sun. • Light is used by people to see and carry out daily tasks more clearly and can be found in natural as well as electrical energy. • Frequent used of artificial lightings, which raises the temperature in the room and wastes a lot of electricity. • humidity in the space will rise, which could promote the growth of bacteria that are harmful to human health. • The amount of light that reaches a topic or a unit of work surface area is known as illumination and is measured in lux Average illuminance level recommended by MS 1525:2014 112 Figure 6.1 Lux Meter
TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY Temperature: • A comfortable temperature must be maintained. • Most people work comfortably at temperature between 20 - 26 degree Celsius. • Almost all office in Malaysia use airconditioning system to maintain the comfortable temperature. Humidity: • Refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. • The optimum comfort range for relative humidity is 40-60 per cent. • Low humidity can cause dryness of the eyes, nose and throat and may also increase the frequency of static electricity shocks. • High humidity, above 80% can be associated with fatigue and report of "stuffiness". 113 Figure 6.2 Hygro-Thermometer
NOISE AND HEARING • The Occupational Safety and Health (Noise Exposure) Regulations 2019 are guides to assist workplace owner on planning and implementing the requirements of the Noise Exposure Regulations. • The Noise Exposure Regulations define excessive noise as daily noise exposure level exceeding 82 dB(A) or daily personal noise dose exceeding fifty percent or maximum sound pressure level exceeding 115 dB(A) at any time or peak sound pressure level exceeding 140 dB(C). Noise Exposure Control Plan: • Restriction on working hours. • Rotating workers. • Using suitable PPE (ear plug) • Identify and mark noise level of workplace with warning sign. • Audiometric test (hearing worker functions) on tone of sounds & balance issues. 114 Figure 6.3 Audiometer
6.2 PRINCIPLES OF ERGONOMIC • Derived from the Greek words "ergon" meaning work and "nomos" means the rules. • The study of human relationships with equipment, machinery, procedures and work environment. • Nowadays, employees suffer from work related disorders and injuries due to their work conditions and its incompatibility with their needs. • This situation affects their safety, health and welfare, as well as that of organizations and societies. Workplaces Ergonomics principles: • Efficiency: reduce the movement needed to complete the task. • Quality: minimizes the mental fatigue of the employee. • Safety: human error, may cause serious safety violation and incidents. • Health: overexertion may cause physical fatigue that can cause chronic ergonomics symptoms. • Work Comfort: work within the employee’s capabilities and limitation enhance the employees’ comfort. 115
ERGONOMICS RISK FACTORS Ergonomics Risk Factors: • Awkward Posture • Forceful Exertion • Repetitive Motion • Static and Sustained Posture • Contact Stress • Vibration 116 Figure 6.4 Ergonomics Risk
HEALTH RISK OF NON-ERGONOMIC WORK Acute Injuries: • Acute injuries are injuries that happen immediately upon incident or in a relatively short time. • Muscle/skeletal damage due to slip, trip and fall while carrying loads are the examples 117 Figure 6.5 Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries Due to Slip, Trip and Fall
HEALTH RISK OF NON-ERGONOMIC WORK Chronic Muscle Strain and Ligament Sprain: • A strain is an injury to a muscle in which the muscle fibres and its connective tendons. 118 Figure 6.6 Chronic Muscle Strain And Ligament Sprain
HEALTH RISK OF NON-ERGONOMIC WORK Spine Disorders: • Spine disorders such as spondylolysis, bone spur and fractured vertebra can happen due to increased pressure onto the vertebral column during repetitive load handling. 119 Figure 6.7 Spondylolysis Spine
HEALTH RISK OF NON-ERGONOMIC WORK Disc Disorders: • Slipped disc occurs when the intervertebral discs become bulged and may compress the nerve, causing pains and discomfort. • This happens due to increased pressure of the discs (due to work with heavy lifting 120 Figure 6.8 Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc
HEALTH RISK OF NON-ERGONOMIC WORK Nerve Disorders: • Pinched nerve or compressed nerve may happen when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues, such as bones. • This pressure disrupts the nerve’s function, causing pain, tingling, numbness or weakness. 121 Figure 6.9 Nerve Disorder
SEATING CONTROL MEASURE Using Foot rest Handling in Seated Position 122 Figure 6.10 Seating Control Measure
STANDING CONTROL MEASSURE Working Position Lifting and Lowering 123 Figure 6.11 Standing Control Measure
WORKSTATION CONTROL MEASSURE Avoid Direct or Indirect Glare Non-slip surface (non skid surface) to avoid falling / sliding 124 Figure 6.12 Workstation Control Measure
6.3 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS Occupational Safety and Health (Noise Exposure) Regulations 2019 • To ensure that employers identify excessive noise, protect employees and control excessive noise level at the workplace. • Employer shall identify if the employees are exposed to excessive noise. • Hearing protection zone need to be identified with warning signs. • Noise risk assessor (NRA) to conduct noise risk assessment and implement the recommendations within 30 days after receiving report • Employer to provide training at least once a year. • Employer shall provide personal hearing protector to employee. 125
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS Seksyen 15(1) Akta Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan 1994 General Duties of Employers and Self-employed Persons to Their Employees. • It shall be the duty of every employer and every self-employed person to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees. 126
FORMATIVE QUESTION 1. Ergonomics is the science of a)designing computers b)designing chairs c)designing equipment and workplace for a comfortable and safe environment d)designing desks 2. The way we sit at our desk can greatly affect our health a)False b)Sometimes c)True 3. Sitting up straight is the most recommended position a)False b)Sometimes c) True 4. A recline position can take away pressure on your spine a) False b) Sometimes c) True 127
5.You should rest your wrist and not the palm of your hand for correct position of your hands during keyboarding a)False b)True c)Sometimes 6. Adjust your seat depending on the height of your mouse, keyboard, and monitor. Get a footrest if necessary. a)False b)True c) Sometimes 7.Light is measured in units of a)candles b)candlea c)light bulbs d)Lux 8.To reduce eye fatigue, you should a)Check monitor placement b)All of the other responses c)Blink d)Drink more water 9.MSDs account for approximately ___ of all injuries and illnesses. a)50% b)33% c)1% d)75% 128
10.Which of the following is an example of an ergonomic risk factor? a)PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT b)NEUTRAL POSTURE c)REST d)REPETITION 11.Posture is not important in regards to ergonomics. a)TRUE b)FALSE 12.What does MSD stand for? Ans. 13.Ergo means a)law b)work c)job d)Task 14.nomos means a)Law b)procedure c)Work 15.SIGNS OF MSD a)Loss of function b)Swelling c)Loss of color d)all of the above 129
130 REFERENCES: Main Reference Akta Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (Pindaan 2022), Kuala Lumpur : International Law Book Services. Additional References C. Ray Asfahl, David W. Rieske. (2010). Industrial Safety and Health Management, United States: Prentice Hall. Darhaman, HIRARC Study - A Practical Guide for Beginners: Occupational Safety and Health Guide, (2019), ISBN 978-1692867010. David L. Goetsch (2011), Occupational Safety and Health for Technologists, Engineers, and Managers:United Kingdom: Pearson Education Limited. Emilia, Workbook For Occupational Safety And Health Management System, (2019), UPM, ISBN 978-967-344-958-3. Hamzah, 2nd Edition, Guide To Fire Protection In Malaysia, (2017), Kuala Lumpur. Jan Dul, 2nd Edition, Ergonomics For Beginneers, (2001), USA, ISBN 0-203-21209-6. Stephen K. Hall, 1st Edition,Chemical Safety in the Laboratory, (2018), CRC Press, ISBN 9781315139173.
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