Occupational Health and Safety Training: Ensuring a Safer Workplace

Last Updated on January 3, 2025 by Ranga

The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Training is divided into four key lessons, designed to equip you with the essential skills to protect and secure lives from immediate dangers.

This training is especially crucial for security guards and safety officers, as it provides the knowledge needed to manage workplace risks effectively.

Lessons in the OHS Training

1. Identifying Hazards in the Workplace
   Learn how to spot potential dangers in various work environments.
2. Assessing Risks of Workplace Hazards
   Understand how to evaluate the severity and likelihood of risks associated with identified hazards.
3. Workplace Safety and Emergency Signs
   Gain familiarity with safety and emergency signage to enhance preparedness.
4. Recommending Control Measures to Minimize Risks
   Develop strategies and recommendations to reduce or eliminate workplace hazards.

Importance of OHS Policy Knowledge

Every country has specific laws and regulations to safeguard the health and safety of employees in the workplace. As a security or safety professional, it is your responsibility to:

• Be well-versed in the Occupational Health and Safety policies of the country.
• Assist company management in maintaining a safe workplace by ensuring all employees comply with safety procedures.

By understanding and implementing these practices, you play a vital role in protecting lives and developing a culture of safety within the organization.

Key Information Occupational Health and Safety

• Every country has a government body which supervises workplace safety
• Identification and reporting of hazards by everybody is key to achieving health and safety success
• A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm

Hazard Identification

Patrolling is an essential duty of a security guard. While on patrol, you must regularly inspect the workplace to ensure the site is 100% secure from potential dangers.

Awareness of your surroundings and keen observation are key to identifying hazards. As a security guard, your focus should always be on detecting and addressing anything that could harm people’s lives or property.

Categories of Hazards

Hazards are categorized based on how they can cause harm. These standard categories are emphasized in global occupational health and safety (OHS) training:

1. Slips, Trips, and Falls
2. Falling Objects
3. Collision with Objects
4. Trapping Between Objects
5. Manual Handling
6. Machinery and Vehicles
7. Electricity
8. Hazardous Substances
9. Fire and Explosion
10. Noise and Vibration
11. Psycho-Social

Note: Each category includes numerous potential hazards. Regular workplace inspections ensure all possibilities are considered. The primary aim of OHS training is to develop the skills needed to save lives and prevent accidents.

Common Workplace Hazards

Below are examples of hazards within each category and their potential causes:

Slips, Trips, and Falls

• Causes: Wet surfaces, loose cables, uneven flooring, stairs, inappropriate footwear.

Falling Objects

• Causes: Poorly constructed materials, scaffolding, roofing materials, tools, and air conditioning units.

Collision with Objects

• Causes: Low-hanging structures, protrusions, and furniture in pathways.

Trapping Between Objects

• Causes: Machinery, doorframes, gym equipment.

Manual Handling

• Causes: Lifting, pushing, pulling, or throwing objects.

Machinery and Vehicles

• Causes: Industrial machines, workshop tools, forklifts, cars, and buses.

Electricity

• Causes: Overloaded sockets, faulty wiring, overhead power lines, inappropriate voltage.

Hazardous Substances

• Causes: Cleaning chemicals, pesticides, pool maintenance products, paints, petrol, and diesel.

Fire and Explosion

• Causes: Poor storage of flammable liquids, pressurized gases, improper appliance use.

Noise and Vibration

• Causes: Loud machinery, long exposure to high noise levels, vibrating tools or equipment.

Psycho-Social

• Causes: Stress, workplace violence, drug or alcohol abuse.

Workplace Inspections

While the OHS manager oversees workplace safety, security guards play a key role in identifying hazards and reporting them. Regular inspections contribute significantly to creating a safe environment.

Methods for Hazard Identification

1. Walking around for visual inspection.
2. Reviewing incident and near-miss records.
3. Performing work task analysis.
4. Reading Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and manufacturer instructions.
5. Staying informed about legal safety requirements.

Conclusion

For being the security or safety officer you may require occupational health and safety training from the relevant training institutes. Most workplace accidents occur because hazards are not identified in time. Regular inspections and a proactive approach to hazard identification can significantly reduce risks, ensuring a safer environment for everyone.

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