Cagayan de Oro | Health & Safety Network

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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Health and Safety Signs: Lost in Translation

I've come across these signs whose message & intentions are good but when translated - it comes out hilariously funny. Enjoy and share.

1. Who is being executed?

2. I can relate to the tiny grasses

3. Beware - be very aware!

4. Please be careful when you slip

5. Be informed - special for deformed only

6. New anti-terrorist weapon

7. Touching is not allowed - seek some help

8. Soup cheap, fast & easy

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING: Know the Danger !!!

Carbon Monoxide poisoning recently grabbed the headlines when an Indonesian housemaid was found dead and the other is still in critical condition undergoing treatment at a local hospital. This happened when they lit a coal fire inside their room to keep them warm. As a Health and Safety Professional, i am sharing this information to you so you may share and reach out to as many friends - to keep them safe from this deadly unseen hazard.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.

The real cause for concern in carbon monoxide poisoning in households or labour accommodation is the burning of charcoal to keep warm. Burning coal in closed rooms raises the concentration of carbon monoxide rapidly as there is no adequate ventilation to allow the gas to escape from the room. Obviously, when the concentration goes beyond safety levels, it results in poisoning.

How does CO (carbon monoxide) harm us?

Carbon monoxide is harmful when inhaled because it displaces oxygen in the blood, thus depriving the heart, brain, and other vital organs of it. The molecule attaches itself to the haemoglobin and obstructs absorption of oxygen causing tissue damage. Large amounts of CO can overcome you in minutes without warning, causing you to lose consciousness and suffocate, resulting in death.

Please refer to the chart below for further info.

CO exposure chart (exposures at 1 hour)

0-9 ppm (parts per million) CO | no health risk; normal CO levels in air.

10-29 ppm CO: problems over long-term exposure | chronic CO problems such as headaches, nausea- not the most dangerous level

30-35 ppm CO: flu-like symptoms begin to develop | especially among the young and the elderly

36-99 ppm CO: flu-like symptoms among all | nausea, headaches, fatigue or drowsiness, vomiting; most CO detectors sound off here

100 ppm + CO: severe symptoms | confusion, intense headaches; ultimately brain damage, coma, and/or death, especially at 300 to 400 ppm+

Note that the above symptoms are for exposure to carbon monoxide for one hour. Symptoms may become more severe at levels such as 36-99 or 100+ ppm (parts per million) over longer exposure. There will always be a problem, for almost any amount of time, if the CO levels in a particular space exceed 400 parts per million. Any room with levels of carbon monoxide at 400 ppm is an extreme emergency.

It should also be noted that the symptoms to each level of CO in the air is for a typical, healthy adult. Certain population groups, such as unborn babies, infants, children, the elderly or people with respiratory diseases may be more susceptible to low levels of carbon monoxide; 30 ppm and higher.

What are the other possible sources of Carbon Monoxide?

Steps to Reduce Exposure to Carbon Monoxide

1. It is most important to be sure combustion equipment or anything that burns fuel is maintained and properly adjusted.

2. Vehicular use should be carefully managed adjacent to buildings or in closed parking areas (normally at the basement).

3. Additional ventilation can be used as a temporary measure when high levels of CO are expected for short periods of time.

4. Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.

5. Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.

6. Ensure enough ventilation for the flue gas when fireplaces are in use.

7. Install carbon monoxide alarm if producing CO is inherent to the process e.g. power plants, boilers, roasters, etc.

So there you are, as Health and Safety Professionals, we should be aware of these "unseen" hazards in our workplace or even in our homes.

Be Alert - Be SAFE - Stay SAFE ...

Thursday, January 9, 2014

How much space am I entitled to at work?

What is the standard or minimum office space requirements per individual especially for person working in the office?

I was thrown this question when a drawing of a new office was submitted to our section for comments related to Health and Safety. So i browse and found this article from Health Safety and Environment - UK and found it interesting to share to all practicing or aspiring Health and Safety Professionals out there.

Regulation 10 of the Workplace, Health Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992 (of UK) states the following with regards to room dimensions and space requirements:

Every room where persons work shall have sufficient floor area, height and unoccupied space for purposes of health, safety and welfare.

The associated Approved Code of Practice and Guidance goes on to state:

Workrooms should have enough free space to allow people to get to and from workstations and to move within the room, with ease. The number of people who may work in any particular room at any one time will depend not only on the size of the room, but on the space taken up by furniture, fittings, equipment, and on the layout of the room. Workrooms, except those where people only work for short periods, should be of sufficient height (from floor to ceiling) over most of the room to enable safe access to workstations. In older buildings with obstructions such as low beams the obstruction should be clearly marked.

The total volume of the room, when empty, divided by the number of people normally working in it should be at least 11 cubic metres. In making this calculation a room or part of a room which is more than 3.0m high should be counted as 3.0m high. The figure of 11 cubic metres per person is a minimum and may be insufficient if, for example, much of the room is taken up by furniture etc.

The figure of 11 cubic metres does not apply to:

a.retail sales kiosks, attendants' shelters, machine control cabs or similar small structures, where space is necessarily limited; or

b.rooms being used for lectures, meetings and similar purposes.

In a typical room, where the ceiling is 2.4m high, a floor area of 4.6m2 (for example 2.0 x 2.3m) will be needed to provide a space of 11 cubic metres. Where the ceiling is 3.0m high or higher the minimum floor area will be 3.7m2 (for example 2.0 x 1.85m). (These floor areas are only for illustrative purposes and are approximate).

The floor space per person indicated above will not always give sufficient unoccupied space, as required by the Regulation. Rooms may need to be larger, or to have fewer people working in them, than indicated in those paragraphs, depending on such factors as the contents and layout of the room and the nature of the work. Where space is limited careful planning of the workplace is particularly important.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Top Twelve (12) Causes of Traffic Accidents in Dubai and How You can Avoid

Have you ever wondered what causes the major traffic accidents in Dubai in 2013? This dirty dozen or i call it deadly dozen list could also be true in other parts of the world. This 2014, we hope we can learn a lesson or two from these so we can live a healthy and safe year whether on the road and or in the workplace. This article was sourced from the data provided by Dubai Roads and Traffic Administration.

Sudden swerving of vehicles tops the list of causes of traffic accidents and was responsible for the death of 38 people in Dubai during the first 11 months of 2013, accounting for 25 per cent of total deaths in traffic accidents this year.

These are among a host of other deadly statistics that were shared by the Dubai Traffic Department with Emirates 24|7. According to the statistics, the sudden veering of vehicles led to the injury of 155 other people, with such injuries ranging from simple to medium and serious.

Overall, there were 148 deaths on Dubai roads due to traffic accidents in the first 11 months of the year, according to the statistics.

Meanwhile, the number of traffic accidents caused by sudden swerving or sharp turns by vehicles during the mentioned period rose by almost a quarter (24.1 per cent), to 635 incidents until the end of November 2013.

According to the statistics, the second deadliest mistake on Dubai roads in 2013 was that lack of alertness among road users, causing the death of 35 people and leading to the injury of another 277 people in the same period. A total of 295 such incidents were reported where the cause of the accident was motorists’ absent-mindedness or carelessness.

The third deadliest mistake that motorists made on Dubai roads in 2013 was of not leaving enough space between vehicles, causing 483 accidents that resulted in the deaths of 26 people and injury to another 104 individuals.

At No. 4 was driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, causing 324 incidents, resulting in 11 deaths and causing injury to another 84 persons.

Following DUI was jumping the red signal, which caused 158 traffic accidents, resulting in 6 deaths and injury to 232 people.

Entering a traffic junction before ensuring free exit was deadliest mistake number 6, causing 197 traffic accidents which resulted in 5 deaths and the injury of 224 people.

At No. 7 was non-compliance with the route, causing 183 traffic accidents, resulting in the death of 5 and injury to 107 people.

Surprisingly, excessive speeding came it No. 8, causing 42 traffic accidents and resulting in the deaths of 5 people and injuring another 35.

At No. 9 was neglect and inattention to vehicle maintenance, causing 38 traffic accidents which resulted in 4 deaths and caused injury to 68 people.

Impulsive driving caused 3 accidents, resulting in 4 deaths (no injuries reported from these three accidents).

At no. 11 - Bursting of tires also caused 8 traffic accidents, resulting in 2 deaths and 9 injuries.

Lastly, driving the vehicle in the wrong direction caused 25 accidents, resulting in 2 deaths and an injury to 27 people.

So there you are fellow drivers, lets ask ourselves - which wrong practice/s we are guilty of committing when we drive? this 2014, may we amend our ways and be a model of a highly defensive and responsible driver. How to avoid accidents? simply do not commit these practices mentioned above and always have the proper courtesy on the road.

Have a Healthy and Safe New Year and all through-out the year.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

World Record - Dubai's Greatest Fireworks Display New Year 2014

Now here's the site of World Record attempt - Greatest Fireworks Display of Dubai Atlantis. Click on the link below.

Fireworks by Grucci

Happy New Year Everyone. Let's look forward to a Healthy and Safe 2014