Occupational Safety, Health, Hygiene and Environmental Practices
What the domain covers
This domain covers workplace hazards, machine safety, fire prevention, chemical handling, ergonomics, personal hygiene, waste management, and environmental compliance in apparel units.
Core rules and concepts
- Common hazards: unguarded needles and cutters, slippery floors, poor lighting, dust and fibre fly, chemical exposure, and repetitive strain.
- Machine guards, needle guards, eye protection, and lockout procedures reduce injury risk.
- Chemicals need labels, safety data sheets, ventilation, gloves, and separate storage.
- Hygiene includes clean toilets, handwashing, safe drinking water, and no food in production areas.
- Waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle; effluent and fabric waste need authorised disposal.
Worked example
A worker sees oil leaking near a cutting table. Reasoning: the immediate risks are slips and a possible fire hazard. Stop work in the area, report to the supervisor, barricade the spill, use absorbent material, and dispose of contaminated absorbent as instructed. Clean the floor and check the machine before restarting. Do not wash oil into a drain or cover it with fabric waste.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating personal protective equipment as a substitute for machine guards.
- Mixing chemical waste with ordinary fabric waste.
- Ignoring ergonomic risks such as standing or sitting without adjustment.
- Describing hygiene rules without linking them to contamination control.
Exam focus
Identify the hazard, rank the risk, apply the control, and state the reporting step.