Occupational Safety, Health and Environment
Occupational Safety, Health and Environment
This domain checks hazard awareness and safe behaviour in workshops and on electrical or mechanical jobs. It includes PPE, isolation, fire, first aid, housekeeping, and waste handling.
Core rules
- Apply the hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, engineer controls, administrative controls, then PPE. PPE is the last line of defence, not the first.
- Use lockout/tagout for energy isolation: isolate, lock, tag, release stored energy, and verify dead.
- The fire triangle is fuel, oxygen, and heat. Water is unsuitable for live electrical fires; use CO₂ or dry powder and raise the alarm.
- Keep walkways clear, store flammable liquids in closed containers, and segregate waste such as oily rags, metal swarf, and e-waste.
- Report every near miss and injury; know the first-aid point and emergency number.
Worked example
Smoke comes from an electrical control panel. Do not throw water. Raise the alarm, evacuate if needed, and isolate the supply only if it is safe to do so. For a small, contained electrical fire, use a CO₂ extinguisher from a safe distance; for a larger fire, leave it to trained responders. The reasoning is that water conducts electricity and can expose the user to shock, while CO₂ leaves little residue in the panel.
Traps
Bypassing an interlock to save time; treating PPE as sufficient control; using water on electrical or oil fires; and failing to report a near miss because no one was hurt.