Unit 06

When in the work place you have to make sure that everything is safe. This goes for you and everyone else who you work with. This is very important because it could just take one thing to go wrong and something seriously bad could happen. You must make sure that all wires are safely tucked away so that nobody can trip over them and if you have been using any tools then make sure they're put away and not left on the path way for people to trip over. You must make sure that when you are lifting objects manually that you are lifting them properly to avoid back pain. If there is a wet floor you must place a wet floor sign next to where it is so that people can realise that its a hazard and so that they can be cautious when walking across the slippery surface. If there was a fire in the building you would have to leave in an orderly manner and assemble at the designated assembly point. The fire exits and the main stairway at the rear of the building. The first aid box is located at reception which is on the ground floor. If one of the computers wasn't working you would need to inform the boss of the company or your supervisor. You need to make sure that all wires are tidy and out of the way so that people can't trip up over them. I have identified a risk and potential hazard and I have took action by sending an E-mail to Paul Chambers.

When you are in the office you must look out for many things and you should know where they are for when an accident occurs. You must make sure that their are no trailing wires for people to fall over. You must make sure that you know where the nearest fire extinguisher is so that you can get it if you need to. You must make sure that sockets aren't overloaded so that a fire or electrical fault doesn't break out. You must make sure that shelf's aren't overloaded with stuff as they could fall off and hurt someone. You need to make sure that there is a first aid box near by in case something happens. You need to make sure there are no trip hazards so again trailing wires are a no go. You need to make sure that the computer glare isn't bad as this can cause pain to the eyes. When the day is over it is very important that you turn off all the computers and heaters as leaving them on would be a potential risk and a fire hazard could break out. Make sure that you check for trailing wires and that all chairs are tucked under the desks as again these could lead to trip hazards. According to the health and safety at work act it should be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees. Without prejudice it is the employers duty to provide training and documentation relevant to the health and safety practice within the company.

In the workplace there has got to be a certain temperature, there is no law for a minimum temperature but it should be at least 16°C or 13°C if a lot of the work is physical. If the workplace is a structure that has insulated walls or is for some reason very warm then the company should see to it that they place air conditioning or coolants in the building so that all the workers are comfortable and that the temperature is a nice one. When it's a hot day fans should be in place too. When at work you are entitled to breaks. A worker is entitled to 20 minutes uninterrupted break if they work for 6 hours or more and this break should be taken during work time and not at the beginning or end of the working day. A worker is entitled to an 11 hour daily rest during any 24 hour period. This means that when you have finished work you must have at least 11 hours to yourself/rest before you can work again the next day. An adult worker is entitled to 1 day off a week and this can be averaged over two weeks. If a young worker is working for more than four and a half hours then they are entitled to a 30 minute break. Young workers are also entitled to 2 days off each week and this cannot be averaged over two weeks.