Strand 10 Maintenance & Safety — Outcome 10.1 Site Safety (Mechanical Engineering Study Notes)

Safety Regulations

Legally enforceable requirements created to prevent workplace injuries.

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration; the main regulator for workplace safety in the U.S.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

The codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

Consensus Standards

Best-practice documents created by professional organizations that define recognized safe practices.

HAZCOM

Hazard Communication Standard; ensures chemicals' hazards are communicated to workers.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

A standardized document that provides information on the hazards and safe handling of chemicals.

Working at Heights

Safety considerations necessary when working from elevated surfaces to prevent falls.

Confined Space

A space large enough for a person to enter that has limited entry/exit and is not meant for continuous occupancy.

Permit-Required Confined Space

Confined spaces that have specific serious hazards, requiring special safety measures before entry.

Risk vs Hazard

Hazard is a source of potential harm; risk combines likelihood and severity of harm.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

A process that breaks down tasks to identify hazards and define controls.

Risk Matrix

A tool that plots the severity of harm against the likelihood of occurrence to prioritize controls.

Hierarchy of Controls

A ranked set of strategies to reduce risks, from elimination to personal protective equipment (PPE).

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)

A safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous machines are properly shut off and not started up again before maintenance is completed.

Stored Energy

Energy that can cause a hazard even when equipment is powered off, such as gravitational force or spring tension.

Emergency Eye Wash Station

A unit for immediate flushing of the eyes when exposed to harmful chemicals or particles.

Emergency Shower

A unit used to rinse contaminants off the body or clothing during a chemical spill.

First-aid Measures

Actions taken to provide immediate care for injuries before professional medical help is available.

Fire Alarm

A system designed to detect and alert occupants of a fire.

Muster Area

A designated safe location where personnel assemble after evacuating a site.

Egress Route

The path taken to exit a building or area in case of emergency.

Flammables

Materials that can catch fire and burn easily.

Pinch Point

A point where two parts of machinery come together and can pinch or crush a body part.

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Clothing and equipment worn by individuals to protect against hazards.

Authentication

The process of verifying that safety measures have been established and adhered to in the workplace.

Non-Routine Conditions

Situations that deviate from normal operations and often present increased risks.

Verification in LOTO

The essential step to ensure that machines cannot be inadvertently restarted while maintenance is being performed.

HAZCOM Training

Instruction provided to workers about chemical hazards, labels, SDSs, and safe handling practices.