Unit 4 - Laboratory Techniques and their Application
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Unit 4A - Understand the importance of health and safety in scientific organisations
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Unit 4 - Laboratory Techniques and their Application
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PEARSON (PEARSON)
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Unit 4 - Laboratory Techniques and their Application
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Unit 4A: Laboratory techniques and their applications
Introduction:
During this assignment, I will talk about how two organisations follow the health and safety
legislations, describing any hazards that appear in the work place and the management of health
and safety. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the legislation that highlights how there is
a duty for employers to provide care and an environment where the employees work, to be safe
and in good working condition. This law effects the company in a significant way as making sure
the working environment is safe ensures that there will be less incidents occurring leading to less
time employees take off due to injury which will not affect the speed the organisation moves at.
All of these points lead to the business becoming more productive and making more money.
Hazards within the working environment
Biological hazards
Bacteria, viruses, blood or and bodily fluids are all examples of biological hazards within the lab.
Anyone working inside the lab could be at risk if they come into contact as this could cause the
individuals to react severely. This could also result in any diseases breaking out which could lead
to a big outbreak happening depending on how infectious the hazards are.
Electrical hazards
Electric shocks, exposed wiring and adding too many plugs to a socket are all examples of
electrical hazards. It is important the correct procedures are followed when workers are using
electricity because any mistake could lead to fatal consequences which could either be the
employees getting severely hurt or even dying.
Working at heights
When working at heights, it is important that the correct procedures are followed because if they
do end up slipping or falling, they can injury quite badly and possibly break their arm or bones.
Death or paralysis could occur if they end up falling from really tall buildings and banging their
heads or just having a bad landing.
Explosives
When working with explosives, you it is critical that the correct procedures are followed. If they
are not followed correctly, the individual runs the risk of accidentally setting off the explosion,
which could end damaging the individual severely and possibly even death.
Chemical hazards
Acids, cleaning products and spillages are all examples of chemical hazards. Failure to keep any
of the chemicals in a safe place would result in any of the employees either slipping and hurting
themselves or getting some onto their skin which may result in a rash forming.
Health and safety measures in place to protect employees
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
, This legislation highlights how the employers need to make sure to carry out a risk assessment
and if anything noted down needs adjusting, then the correct changes can be made. This is
important as it helps keeps everyone safe, making sure a reduction in absences takes place
causing more people to turn up to work in a health condition resulting in the working
environment become much more efficient. The duty of the employees in regards to the health
and safety at work is that if they spot any hazards, that they are reported as soon as possible.
They need to always ensure that if any new courses are brought out in relation to health and
safety, that it is fully complete so the employees know exactly what they need to know to keep
themselves safe. Any protocols that are established in relation to health and safety are followed
by the employees.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE is clothing that is used to protect the body from any injury or infection that could be
developed doing a specific task. Examples include – gloves, goggles and helmets. This is really
important as this helps keep the body protected from serious injury, this makes sure that that the
employees are safe and that the company is working at a more efficient rate due to less staff
being hurt. For example, if any liquids where very flammable, the employees would make sure to
wear clothing that are resistant to heat, likewise, you would make sure that if any dangerous
chemicals where being handled – you would wear both safety goggles and safety gloves to ensure
that it doesn’t get onto your skin.
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
This legislation is in place to ensure that the employers make sure that any hazardous substances
are controlled and not in a position where any individuals could harm themselves. A substance
which is hazardous to health is anything which could affect an individual’s health, this could
then lead to complications further down the line. An example of this is if a chemical was to get
onto a person’s hand and a rash is formed. A COSHH assessment is carried out by; firstly,
making sure to note any important details about any substances that may be currently used.
Then, any health risks are to be evaluated. After that, any results you attain, you would want to
make a note of these down and add the control measures you thought of beforehand. Finally, you
need to make sure your keeping track of the performance whilst ensuing an evaluation of the
assessment has taken place.
Manual handling operations
This legislation is in place to ensure that adequate equipment is provided to ensure that any form
of lifting is done so carefully and so that the person who is doing so is safe. Some causes of
musculoskeletal disorders at work are; temperature, vibration, poor communication, speed of
work and the posture used whilst working. An example of an employer assessing the risk of
injury from any hazardous manual handling operations is how the employer would first need to
look at the task and assess how heavy the load is. From then on, they should try to find a suitable
person who can life the load without the chance of them injuring themselves. For example, the
employer would not as a small, weak worker to pick up a large, heavy box as this would then
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