Hazard: The workplace
The workplace itself can create hazards and, therefore, must be designed with safety in mind – for example, non-slip surfaces, designated walkways (particularly where vehicles are involved), good ventilation, adequate levels of lighting, good maintenance and housekeeping, limits on loads and heights, etc.
Good design and effective layout are essential in every workplace and should take into account the likely hazards of the work activities.
There must be enough space for people to be able to do their jobs safely. Cramped conditions can result in accidents, particularly if people are involved in hazardous activities.
Appropriate safety precautions must be provided in hazardous areas, such as loading bays and pits or when working at height.
Buildings must be solid, secure and constructed from materials that are appropriate to the work activities – for example, allowing for damp atmospheres or fire resistance.
Floors must be suitable and have even surfaces without holes or sudden changes in level. Anti-corrosion and non-slip finishes may be necessary in some workplaces.
Staircases should be designed to enable safe use – not too steep or slippery and without any loose edges that could cause someone to trip. Staircases should always have a handrail. Open staircases are best avoided or should at least be guarded.
Escalators and moving walkways must have various safety devices to make sure that they work safely. They should have at least one easily identifiable and accessible emergency stop control.
Various safety measures, such as sight panels, are needed for swing doors, while powered doors need safety devices to prevent crushing and trapping.
It must be easy to open and close windows and this must be possible without endangering other people – for example, where a window opens onto a walkway.
The design must also make it possible to clean the windows safely.
Some areas of glass and other transparent materials need to be constructed of safety material or protected against breakage. They should be marked, such as with textured or coloured strips, if there is any risk of people walking into them.
The temperature at work should not be too hot or cold. The precise temperature depends on a number of things, including the type of work being carried out and the typical clothing worn.
The recommended minimum temperatures are:
- 16ºC for office work and similar non-physical activities
- 13ºC where there is physical work
Whilst there is no legal requirement for a maximum temperature in a workplace, a risk assessment should be undertaken if the temperature is felt to be too high.
Where it is not possible to achieve a suitable overall air temperature, organisations should consider:
- insulating hot equipment
- increasing ventilation levels
- providing local heating or cooling equipment
- providing suitable clothing
- reducing the time that people spend in hot or cold conditions – for example, by job rotation or more
- frequent breaks
- providing those who are working in hot conditions with easy access to drinking water and changes of clothes
Organisations must also take into account the hazards and risks linked to heating and cooling systems. These could include burns from hot surfaces, fire from overheated equipment and Legionnaires’ disease linked to wet air-conditioning systems.
Good ventilation can significantly improve working conditions and efficiency. Natural or artificial ventilation, or both, is required to remove moist, warm or contaminated air and replace it with fresh air.
Adequate levels of lighting must be achieved everywhere in order to maintain safety and reduce eye strain. Particular consideration should be given to areas such as stairways, gangways, entrances and exits. Emergency lighting should also be provided where necessary.
Poor lighting is likely to increase the risk from other hazards, such as trailing cables.
Where display screen equipment is used, lighting is very important and should provide minimum levels of glare and reflection on the display screen.
Buildings, facilities and equipment must be regularly and thoroughly checked and maintained to make sure that they are safe.
Rubbish and waste materials must not be allowed to accumulate. They should be kept in appropriate containers and removed regularly. The workplace must be kept clean and tidy.
Storage racks must be appropriately designed and constructed using suitable materials. Measures must be taken to prevent damage, such as regular checking and maintenance, defect reporting, limits on loads and heights, careful working practices and training and supervision.
Some workplaces present particular hazards and require additional controls. For example, construction sites, mines or quarries.