B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation SR

Student Resource
Subject B-7a:
Occupational Health And Safety In
Aviation
Copyright 2008 Aviation Australia

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, transferred, sold, or
otherwise disposed of, without the written permission of Aviation Australia.
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Part-66 Subject
B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation
CONTENTS
Definitions
Study Resources
Introduction
OH&S Responsibilities
7.1.1-1
Identification and Reporting of Work Place Hazards
7.1.2-1
Safety Precautions Associated with Aircraft Maintenance Operations
7.1.3-1
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
7.1.4-1
Emergency Equipment
7.1.5-1
Issue B: January 2008
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DEFINITIONS
Define
To describe the nature or basic qualities of.
To state the precise meaning of (a word or sense of a word).
State
Specify in words or writing.
To set forth in words; declare.
Identify
To establish the identity of.
Itemise.
List
Describe
Represent in words enabling hearer or reader to form an idea of an object or process.
To tell the facts, details, or particulars of something verbally or in writing.
Explain
Make known in detail.
Offer reason for cause and effect.
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STUDY RESOURCES
B-7a Student Resource
Aviation Australia Learning Guide
Queensland Government Department of Industrial Relations Web Site detir.qld.gov.au
Queensland Government OHS Website
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INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this subject is to give you an in depth knowledge of Occupational Health and
Safety (OH&S) issues relating to the maintenance environment in the aviation industry.
On completion of the following topics you will be able to:
Topic 7.1.1
OH&S Responsibilities
Explain the procedures when manually handling equipment and materials.
Explain the employer and employee responsibilities, rights and obligations
with respect to OH&S.
Explain the safety precautions and procedures to be observed in the
workplace environment.
Explain the potential hazards in relation to improper workplace housekeeping
practices.
Explain the hazards and safety precautions associated with advanced
composite material.
Explain the procedure for waste disposal of the various substances
encountered in the workplace
Topic 7.1.2
Identification and Reporting of Work Place Hazards

Explain the causes and effects of accidents.
Explain personal and institutional responsibilities with regard to behaviour,
practices and hygiene in the workplace environment.
Explain the major functions of safety committees and representatives.
Explain the major danger areas applicable to the workplace environment.
Illustrate conditions that constitute a fire hazard in the workplace environment.
Explain material safety data sheets.
Complete a workplace hazard/accident report.
Topic 7.1.3
Safety Precautions Associated with Aircraft Maintenance Operations

Explain standard symbols for dangerous situations and substances in the
workplace.
Explain standard symbols and colour markings on emergency controls and
other aircraft markings.
Appraise the hazards and safety precautions associated with electricity,
gases, oxygen, oils, chemicals, fuel and Fuel Tank Safety in the aviation
maintenance environment.
Topic 7.1.4
Personal Protective Equipment

Illustrate the methods of entry of poisonous substances into the body.
Explain why jewellery, watches, metal rimmed glasses must be removed
before working on mechanical and electrical equipment.
Illustrate various personal protective equipment and applications as used in
the workplace.
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Topic 7.1.5
Emergency Equipment
Explain the various types of fire extinguishers and their relationship to the
different classes of fire.
Appraise emergency equipment in the working environment.
Explain the use of emergency equipment.
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TOPIC 7.1.1 OH&S RESPONSIBILITIES

Introduction
Most workplace accidents are avoidable. If people took time to identify hazards that exist
there and deal with them, workers would enjoy a happier and safer workplace.
The cost of workplace accidents is high. For every dollar paid out in workers compensation,
the employer can pay out many times that amount in hidden or indirect costs.
The victims of accidents can suffer:
death,
disability,
pain,
loss of earnings, and
reduction of self-esteem.
Their families often suffer as well.

The workplace may:
lose a trained worker and output,
suffer damage to plant and machinery,
incur fines and prosecutions, and
be sued by workers or their families.
Resultant loss of reputation can ruin a business.

The supervisor or other workers may:
lose valuable production,
have to do extra work,
lose time doing reports, and
feel responsible.
N.P. Accidents can also affect the States workforce, and even upset the balance of trade if
exported goods cant be produced. The community pays dearly for workplace accidents!
Enforcing and obeying the law helps to reduce these costs.
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Topic 7.1.1: OH&S Responsibilities

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On completion of this topic, you will be able to:
Explain the procedures when manually handling equipment and materials.
Explain the employer and employee responsibilities, rights and obligations with
respect to OH&S.
Explain the safety precautions and procedures to be observed in the workplace

environment.
Explain the potential hazards in relation to improper housekeeping practices.
Explain the hazards and safety precautions associated with advanced composite
materials.
Explain the procedure for waste disposal of the various substances encountered in
the workplace.
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Manual handling
Australia has up to 100 000 cases of occupational back injuries a year. Forty-five per cent of
these involve five or more days off work and almost 10 per cent result in periods of up to six
months lost from work.
Every year, over 13 000 claims are lodged with Work Cover. Compensation costs alone are
$22 million, and total costs to industry and the community are several times greater.
Poor workplace design, poor work practices and inadequate training cause most back
injuries. Since these causes can be controlled, the majority of back injuries can be avoided.
Manual handling is 'any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower,
push, pull, carry, or otherwise move, hold, or restrain any animate or inanimate object'.
Since 1991, part of employers' and workers' obligations has been the control of risks
associated with manual handling injuries.
The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 requires all at a workplace to ensure the health
and safety of others.
The penalty for a breach of the Workplace Health and Safety Act causing serious injury or
death is a fine of up to $150 000 for a body corporate or $30 000 and/or six months
imprisonment for an individual.
Worker obligations
Workers should follow instructions and act in a way that does not place their own or any other
person's health and safety at risk. All workers must make sure that wherever possible:
methods of work and work procedures are followed
mechanical aids and any assistive devices made available are used
where mechanical aids aren't provided or practical, team lifting procedures are used
manual handling training sessions are attended and learned principles are applied
in the workplace.
Employer obligations
Employers should provide a workplace designed to minimise risk of back injury. This
includes design of work organisation, workstation layout, plant, equipment and containers
used in the workplace.
Where manual handling cannot be designed out of work and is necessary, employers must
provide a combination of the following as applicable:
mechanical lifting devices
enough staff for team lifting procedures
training and supervision for team lifting
adequate information, instruction, training
supervision to enable workers to work safely.
Discussions should be held between:
the workers carrying out manual handling work,
health and safety representatives, and
employers to set out the workplace's manual handling policy.
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Manual handling
Manual handling leads to a large number of industrial accidents including strained backs,
damaged spinal discs, strained shoulders, hernias and injured hands and feet.
Many manual handling injuries result in permanent disabilities and thousands of work days
lost.
Where manual handling must occur, adopting preferred lifting, moving, and handling
techniques is strongly recommended.
Rhythmic human movements need to be adopted in manual handling of materials. Avoid
sudden or jerky movements.
Control of manual handling risks not only reduces back injuries, but improves productivity and
efficiency in the workplace.
The spine
Standing is a natural posture for the human spine. The spine is not suited to lifting loads
when the upper part of the body is acutely bent or twisted because of the forces put on the
lower back region (lumbar region).
When the back is bent, the mere weight of the upper part of the body puts stress on the
lumbar discs. It's not surprising that 95 per cent of all disc injuries occur in the three lowest
discs where spinal movement and stress are greatest.
Fig. 1 shows the configuration of the spine in a straight back, whereas Fig. 2 shows the spine
in a bent back.
If you lift with a bent back (Fig. 2), the intervertebral discs are compressed on the front of the
backbone and stretched over the back (Figs. 3 and 5). Also, the bones of the spinal column
at the back are separated from each other. This means that extra pressure is put on the soft
tissues and can result in severe strains or ruptured discs, as shown in Figs. 4. and 6.
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How much can a worker lift?

From a standing position, you should avoid lifting of loads over the 16-20 kg range. As
weight increases from a safe lifting load of between 16 kg to 55 kg, the percentage of: healthy
adults who can safely lift, lower or carry the weight decreases sharply.
Mechanical assistance should be provided to reduce the risk of injury associated with these
heavier weights. Trained and supervised team lifting should be used when mechanical
assistance is not practical.
Repetitive manual handling, workers with special needs, and lifting from unusual positions
require special consideration. For example, while you are seated, loads over 4.5 kg should
generally not be lifted.
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How to lift low-lying objects safely

Adapting workplace design and using mechanical lifting aids are the best ways to deal with
manual handling problems.
But when manual lifting is unavoidable, it is essential to follow manual handling principles
when lifting low-lying objects to reduce the risk of back injury.
Step 1
Make sure your path of travel is clear.
Step 2
Size up the load (weight, size and shape). Consider your physical ability to handle it. If in
doubt, get assistance. Avoid the lifting of loads that weigh more than 16-20 kg.
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Step 3
Place your feet close to the object to be lifted.
Step 4
Adopt a balanced position by bending your knees in a semi-squat to a comfortable degree

and get a good handhold. Lift the load, keeping it close to the body. Try to keep the natural
curves in your spine while lifting.
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Step 5
Use your leg muscles to lift the load and allow it to rest in fully extended arms. Lift smoothly
and rhythmically. Avoid sudden accelerations or jerky movements.
Step 6
With the load comfortable in your hands and arms, move your feet in the direction of travel
don't twist at your hips or shoulders.
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Step 7
Setting the load down is just as important as picking it up. Using leg muscles lower the load
by bending your knees in a semi-squat to a comfortable degree. Don't let go of the load until it
is secure.
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High risk work practices
Handling awkward shapes

or big loads
Handling weights which are

too heavy and beyond a
workers capacity
Handling on unstable work

surface underfoot
Repetitive and/or long

duration of manual handling
Awkward twisting
movements while handling
Obstructed pathway
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Over-reaching while handling,

i.e. lifting from below mid thigh
or above shoulder height
Carrying objects away

from the body
Insecure grip and poor lifting

position, with feet too close
together while handling

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Handling loads
You should always make an assessment of the load you are to carry and only lift it if it is
within your capabilities to do so. If in doubt, use mechanical aids such as a trolley. However,
with repetitive manual handling, workers with special needs or those lifting from seated or
unusual positions should handle only loads of a much smaller capacity. If you are not sure,
ask your WH&S officer about this.
Even though manual handling back injuries can be avoided, Australia still has over 100 000
cases per year, resulting in approximately 13 000 claims lodged with WorkCover. At present,
compensation costs around $22 million; however, the cost to you and your employer is far
greater in terms of time, productivity lost and pain suffered. It is best to learn the correct way
of lifting.
To avoid the risk of costly back and other injuries:
avoid twisting movements and bending your back
dont lift if the weight is too heavy
check to see if your path is obstructed
dont over-reach or lift from an unstable work surface, and
grip correctly; keep your feet together and use your knees to lift.
Summary
Workplace health and safety legislation has been developed to protect the safety of all
employees in the workplace. However, it has been established that all personnel have
certain responsibilities, including a duty to notify and due diligence. This places the onus on
all personnel to accept responsibility for their own action or accept the consequences.
Accepting responsibility is less debilitating than the consequences and also much safer: not
only are you protecting yourself in the workplace, you are also protecting your co-worker.
It is all too easy to injure your back. It is a delicate balance of vertebrae held in place with
cartilage. It is up to you to protect the long term health of your back. Do not lift above your
capacity, ask for help or use appropriate equipment.
Be sure to follow the correct lifting techniques to avoid minor and major damage to your
spine.
As can be seen from advanced composites, the process of manufacturing and exposure to
such products can be extremely hazardous to your health. There are measures which need
to be implemented in order to protect the worker from such dangers. They include such
things as PPE, administration controls, health and hygiene measures and engineering
controls such as exhaust fans and isolation procedures.
Other measures include symbols and signs in the workplace. These signs and symbols play
an extremely important part in the workplace because they picture the areas that need to be
signed. These pictures stand out much better than words and are extremely visible.
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Responsibilities in the Workplace

Employer
Ensuring the health and safety of workers is the obligation of the employer.
Managers, supervisors or team coordinators are responsible for making sure that you have:
adequate lighting
a clean and tidy work area
safe machines and materials
safety signs and safety equipment
chemicals stored separately, safety guards, standard operating
procedures (SOPs)
job rotation
safe working practices and facilities for workers
first aid equipment, toilets and wash basins
lunch rooms
information, instruction and training.
Employee
A worker has the following obligations at a workplace:
to comply with the instructions given for workplace health and safety at the
workplace by the employer or supervisor
to use personal protective equipment if the equipment is provided by the worker's

employer and the worker is properly instructed in its use
not to wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided for workplace
health and safety at the workplace
not to wilfully place at risk the workplace health and safety of any person at the
workplace
not to wilfully injure himself or herself.
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Safety Precautions and Procedures to be Observed in the Workplace Environment

Environment management systems
Organisations need to develop environmental management systems to cover all of their
activities. The system should meet international standards (ISO 14001), and address
environmental issues by integrating the environment into daily business operations.
Your general environmental duty

When applied to your workplace, your general environmental duty is to ensure that you take
all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise environmental damage
resulting from your work.
How can you do that?
Be more aware and better informed know about your environmental responsibilities.
Help identify environmental risks and impacts in your work.
Help develop and implement reasonable and cost-effective ways to minimise

environmental risks.
Ask for help if you are not sure.
Your duty to notify

You must tell a supervisor or team leader immediately if you become aware of an activity that
is causing or could cause environmental harm (gas leak, chemical spill). If your supervisor is
unavailable, or takes no action, notify your senior manager.
Duties of management
Managers, supervisors and team leaders must
plan and act to minimise environmental risks and impacts as part of your daily
operations and emergency procedures, and
ensuring that your staff fully understand and are fulfilling their legal duties.
Due diligence
Exercising due diligence means taking all reasonable care by establishing a proper system
to prevent an environmental problem occurring, and taking responsible steps to ensure the
effective operation of that system. Systems used to implement a due diligence program will
help organisations comply with all environmental legislation, reduce long-term costs and
improve their public image.
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Potential Hazards in Relation to Improper Housekeeping Practices

Ways to make your workplace safer
(a)
Adopt good housekeeping practices.
Good housekeeping will often minimise hazards by removing the cause of accidents. Some
practices include:
(b)
keeping rubbish away from work areas
ensuring access to fire extinguishers and exits is not obstructed
keeping passages and stairways clear
wiping up spilt oil, liquids and grease
cleaning up areas after working
using metal containers for greasy or paint-stained rags or waste
not accumulating waste or scrap
keeping work areas/benches and machines uncluttered, and
not leaving loose tools on running machinery or equipment.
Attend health and safety training.
You should attend all training courses on health and safety aspects which affect you. If you
miss an important session, make an effort to receive the instruction another way, for
example, attend the next session or ask to read the notes.
(c)
Wear personal protective equipment.
Normally office workers dont need PPE other than footwear which completely covers the
foot. However, many occupations within any organisation require office-based workers to go
into the field. In this case, you will be given specific PPE. You must be properly trained in
the PPE you use and know where to access it.
(d)
Keep fit and healthy.
Keeping yourself fit and mentally alert through having a good diet, doing regular exercise,
attending to medical problems and getting enough sleep will help to reduce accidents and
absenteeism brought about by carelessness, stress and fatigue. Heeding the following
advice can improve your well-being.
Drugs and alcohol can cause dependence, with people unable to do a full days work
properly. They are strictly prohibited at work.
Develop good posture at work, whether you spend long periods standing or sitting at a desk.
Keep yourself well-groomed, clean and neatly attired. Observe hygienic practices such as
washing your hands regularly. This is particularly important for any organisation employees
involved with sewage treatment, transport or maintenance. Ensure that your immunisations,
such as hepatitis, are up-to-date.
Dont ignore medical problems that may be nagging you. See a doctor before they lead to
other problems.
Maintain a healthy balance between work and your personal life. This will keep you happier
at work and at home and less stressed.
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If you find work stressful through having too much or too little work to do, or by work being
monotonous or lacking in stimulation, talk to someone about it. This may be a supervisor,
team leader or counsellor. Compensation payouts for stress-related illness are substantial
and can be reduced if people heed the signs before a major problem occurs.
Safety precautions and short and simple rules
No unauthorised access to workshops without supervision.
No unauthorised use of equipment.
Wear protective gear.
Wear only closed toe shoes.
No jewellery or loose fitting clothing.
Contain long hair and beards.
Walk - dont run.
If you dont understand, ASK.
No food or drink.
Read all material safety data sheets and labels.
Be aware of emergency procedures, exits and emergency buttons.
Read and understand any safety signs, instructions and notices.
Think before you act.
Clean up as you work to avoid dangerous clutter.
Accidents associated with poor housekeeping practices
Slips, trips and falls from debris and greasy floors, especially if lighting is poor.
Cuts and lacerations from protruding parts, stores or objects.
Fire danger from waste products or poorly stored materials.
Health risks from the dusts and fumes of hazardous materials that are badly stored
or used.
Short and simple consequences

You may lose access privileges to workshops if you violate any safety rule, or cause injury or
damage to persons or equipment.
Safety precautions in workshops

Construction laboratories and workshops are places to experiment, be creative and use skills
and talents to construct models, furniture and other design prototypes.
However, these activities in design and development are often unpredictable. The use of
exotic materials, unorthodox use of tools and equipment and a rapid change in the activities
as new design ideas develop and change, sometimes make it difficult to respect safety
regulations.
Safety = common sense

Stop and think before you act, and ask the technical staff for advice before you start on an
unfamiliar process. They have an enormous amount of knowledge and experience to guide
you in a safe manner to achieve your ideas.
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The wrong tool for the job

It is sometimes tempting to use available equipment or tools in a way not originally foreseen
or to do some work for which they have not been adapted or designed.
All equipment and tools can be used to undertake a variety of tasks, but if you dont know the
limits or use them the right way, trouble is just around the corner!
If you have the slightest doubt about the suitability of the operation, ASK advice from the
technical staff. They will ensure that the necessary precautions are taken and adequate
safety equipment made available or alternative equipment can be used.
Don't think of the safety organisation as being there to stop you from doing interesting things.
It is there to help you achieve success.
As well as the workshop where you are working, technical staff have access to other
resources within the organisation that can usually carry out special processes that cannot be
handled in workshops.
Consult, ask for advice and help from technical staff thats their job and they want to see
how proud you are of the finished project.
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Clean up your mess!

It is the responsibility of ALL workshop users to keep the surrounding work area clean and
tidy at all times and not cluttered with the materials that you are using for your project.
Areas around machines and walkways are specially marked to prevent accidents.
Dont block them with materials or obstacles that may restrict access or emergency
evacuation, or simply clutter up the working space and make safe and efficient working more
difficult.
At the end of the session, that magical SOMEONE is supposed to wave a magic wand to
clean up the mess! Technical staff are not employed to clean-up after you. Cleaning
equipment is provided and time is usually allocated at the end to clean down the benches,
machinery and sweep the floor around your work area.
Making a mess, when using a workshop, is a fact of life. You cant produce a masterpiece
without cutting, sanding, sawing or drilling that special creation.
However, accidents usually occur when people do silly things, are in a hurry or are
surrounded by a huge pile of off cuts that get in the way of the next stage of the process.
Is it safe?
Some materials, solutions and solvents are unsafe when they mix or come into contact with
other substances. They must be used in well-ventilated areas and under fume extraction
hoods.
Any materials or solutions that you bring into the laboratory or workshop MUST be shown to
the technical staff to assess if there is any risk in their use in the area.
Technical staff provide material safety data sheets (MSDS) of the common materials used
within the laboratory or workshop. Before you decide to try some special type of material,
ASK what safety hazards may be likely and whether special precautions and processes need
to be undertaken.
Verify that all safety equipment that you need for a particular job is present before starting the
activity.
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When things go wrong

Even when all the safety precautions are in place, sometimes things go wrong and
emergency procedures must be implemented.
Get to know the work environment, in particular where to find the:
fire extinguisher
fire aid kit
emergency stop buttons
telephone and emergency number
emergency exits.
A place for everything everything in its place

Laboratories and workshops are operated by well organised technical staff who provide
multiple sets of tools and equipment for your use.
Leaving a heap of tools lying around on the workbench is inviting an accident to happen.
When you have finished using it, put it back in the rack or cupboard for others to use and
keep your work area uncluttered.
If a tool is broken, blunt, or you break it, tell the technical staff; they usually wont bite your
head off, because these things happen all the time as students are learning and
experimenting with new skills.
If a tool it is damaged or unsafe to use, then it is YOUR responsibility to inform them.
Dont just return it to the cupboard, as the next user could be seriously injured.
Safety signs
Signs surround us in everyday life to inform us to Go Left, Slow Down, Stop and a multitude
of other instructions.
In workshops, picture safety signs use universal symbols to:
prevent accidents
signal health hazards
indicate the location of safety, first aid and fire protection equipment
give clear guidance and instruction in emergency procedures
form part of the total safety information system of the area.
Picture safety signs warn of hazards or risks that are present in the workplace and inform
users in the workplace how to avoid that hazard or risk, or its effects.
In addition to the picture signs, many individual machines and processes have detailed signs
explaining "step by step" instructions to use them safely.
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The following figure will assist you to identify common signs.
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Signs and symbols

The signs and symbols that you see in the workplace are to help remind you or tell you about
something. Safety signs can be different types: pictures only, word only, both pictures and
words. They fall into four general categories:
Informational signs give you information about the area you are
in. They are usually rectangular or diamond shaped and can
also be a tag system.
There are a great number of informational signs; their types will
vary according to the workplace.
Prohibitionary signs tell you must not do something.

It is usually a red circle with a line through it from the top left to
the bottom right.
Some other examples would be No eating, No flames & No
drinking.
Warning signs advise you of potential hazards. There are a

variety of conditions where, by law, certain signs must be used.
Mandatory signs tell you when you must do something.

It is for your safety and could be a life or death situation.
There is no suggestion here it is a must do instruction.
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Safety signs are colour coded for easy recognition

Red & black
Prohibition You must not
Yellow & black
Caution Be careful
Green & white
Emergency
Blue & white

Mandatory
You must wear this
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7.1.5 Hazards and Safety Precautions Associated with Advanced Composite

Materials.
This topic will take you through the hazards and safety precautions associated with
advanced composite material. But to do this, you need to know what an advanced
composite and a composite material is.
What Is A Composite Material?

The term composite is used to describe 2 or more materials that are combined to form a
much stronger structure than either material by itself. The most simple composite is
composed of 2 elements:
a matrix which serves as a bonding substance (glue)
a reinforcing material
A widely used common composite material in all walks of life from sporting equipment, to
boating, aircraft parts and even furniture and playground equipment is fibreglass
The reinforcing material is a glass fibre cloth material which can be folded or scrunched up
just like a piece of clothing. The matrix or glue is a resin compound, in liquid form,
consisting of 2 parts which when mixed together, form a solid plastic compound after a
curing process. So when we impregnate or soak the glass fibre cloth with the mixed resin,
the end result after the resin has cured is a high strength reinforced plastic.
Glass Fibre Cloth
Resin
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The concept of composite materials is not new. The oldest manmade building material,
adobe (mud brick), is a composite formulae. Adobe is produced by combining 2 dissimilar
components (mud and straw) to form building bricks. After the bricks are allowed to cure in
the sun, the resulting building block is substantially stronger and more durable than either
of the original components. The centuries old ruins of the Anasazi Indians in south-western
Colorado, are proof of the durability of this simple composite material.
Adobe
What Is An Advanced Composite Material?

As technology in aircraft has developed, so has the technology in the materials that they
are made from. To make an aircraft fly faster, higher and longer, we need to reduce it's
overall weight while still maintaining airframe strength. The use of expensive, high
performance resin systems and high strength, high-stiffness fibre reinforcement instead of
metal alloy structure, has allowed this to happen due to their superior strength to weight
ratio.
The much stronger and stiffer fibres of Boron, Graphite (Carbon) and Kevlar have given
composite materials structural properties superior in several ways to the metal alloys they
have replaced. The term Advanced applies to these composites.
Boron fibre
Graphite (Carbon) fibre
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Where Are Advanced Composites Used?

Advanced Composites are used extensively on military and commercial aircraft. Flight
controls, landing gear doors, skins, panels, antennae and radar covers, are just a few
examples of where advanced composites can be used on aircraft to reduce the weight
while maintaining a required strength.
The Horizontal Stabilizer on a F-14 Tomcat Fighter aircraft is constructed from Boron
Epoxy composite material. By using boron epoxy in place of a metal alloy equivalent, a
weight saving of 19% was made.
The Boeing 737 uses approximately 1500 pounds of composite material, providing a weight
saving of approximately 600 pounds or 29%, when compared to conventional sheet metal
construction.
The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter airframe is constructed from approximately 60% of composite
material. This had made a 30% weight saving compared to a metal alloy equivalent.
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Advanced Composite Hazards

There are specific hazards involved with advanced composite materials, whether they be
during or after manufacture. You haven't learnt about composite manufacture as yet, and
indeed may not depending on which trade stream you take. You still need to be aware of
the hazards associated with it as you may become exposed to it while other tradesmen in
your workplace carry it out. You also need to be aware of the potential health and
maintenance hazards that advanced composites present.
Hazards during manufacture

During manufacture there are 4 things that can present a hazard:
the matrix or resin system
the reinforcing or fibre material
the solvent or cleaning compound
dusts
Matrix or Resin Hazards

There are a number of different kinds of resins used in advanced composites manufacture
which present similar hazards. If you treat them all the same you will be left in no doubt the
problems they can cause.
Uncured resins can present a significant dermal exposure hazard. In many workplaces,
manual handling results in potential skin exposure. This can result in skin irritation, rashes
and subsequent dermatitis if contact is prolonged. Skin sensitization to the resins can also
develop, and may require a change of work assignment.
Exposure to vapours emitted from resins may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and
respiratory tract. Irritation may be severe enough to cause bronchitis and pulmonary
edema. If exposure is prolonged, respiratory sensitisation (an allergic, asthmatic type
reaction) may occur.
There has been some analysis carried out to suggest that some elements contained in
certain resins may cause reversible liver toxicity and damage to the retina when absorbed
through ingestion and inhalation. They are also classified as a suspect human carcinogen.
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Reinforcing Fibre Hazards

Most of the reinforcing materials used in industry have the potential to cause eye, skin, and
upper respiratory tract irritation, as a result of the mechanical-irritant properties of the
fibres. Skin rashes are common with fibre contact.
Carbon-fibre may be associated with an increased risk of skin cancer.
Solvents
Like resins, there are a number of different kinds of solvents used in advanced composites
manufacture which present similar hazards. If you treat them all the same you will be left in
no doubt the problems they can cause.
Many of the solvents used in advanced composite processes are volatile and flammable.
Most are skin and eye irritants, and some may be readily absorbed through the skin. They
may cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, and prolonged contact with the liquid may result
in defatting of the skin and resultant dermatitis. In high concentrations, narcosis is
produced, with symptoms of headache, nausea, light-headedness, vomiting, dizziness,
poor coordination and unconsciousness. Some solvents have the ability to depress the
central nervous system.
Technical literature including MSDSs from the solvent supplier should be consulted about
any chemicals used with advanced composites.
Dusts
Dusts may be generated in several ways in advanced composite processes. The most
common dust-generating processes are machining and finishing of cured parts and repair
of damaged parts. Much of the dust generated in these processes can be very fine and
can be readily inhaled. Dusts may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory
tract. Irritation may be severe enough to cause bronchitis and pulmonary edema. If
exposure is prolonged, respiratory sensitisation (an allergic, asthmatic type reaction) may
occur. Contact with the skin may cause skin irritation, rashes and subsequent dermatitis if
contact is prolonged.
More dust is usually generated in finishing and repair processes, since large surface areas
are involved. Grinding, routing and sanding are frequently used methods in both
processes. The repair process may require the use of abrasive blasting, as well as
sanding, to remove existing paint or coatings. Ingredients of the paint or coating being
removed, such as lead or chromates, may also be of concern. The repair process may
also require cutting or sawing to remove the damaged part area, and both may generate
significant amounts of airborne dust.
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Advanced Composites Component Hazards

There are hazards associated with composite aircraft components that you need to be
aware of when working on and around these types.
Here is an example of how delicate composite components can be.
You are working on an aircraft and drop a tool on a metal alloy panel. The result is a small
dent which is 2 thousandths of an inch deep. The probable outcome would be that the
damage would be classed as negligible, and would remain as is without repair.
While working on that same aircraft, you drop that same tool on a composite panel. The
size of the dent is also the same. As you don't want to get into trouble for damaging the
panel, you think that the damage will be "O.K.", so you don't tell your supervisor about it.
But because of the delicate nature of composites, the extent of the damage doesn't stop
there, even though it is all you can see.
The sudden impact of the tool has also cracked the resin between the fibre plys which
greatly reduces the strength of the panel. The aircraft goes flying and the panel breaks off
in flight and hits the vertical stabilator. The aircraft only just makes it back, and is found to
need a new stabilator and of course a new panel at a cost of over $100 000. An
investigation is launched into the incident which finds that it was all caused by you dropping
your tool on the composite panel.
The moral to this example is to be extra careful while working around aircraft. If you cause
some damage, report it to your supervisor no matter how small you may think it is. If you
had reported this damage when it happened, it would have been fully investigated and
repaired at a fraction of the cost, and you would more than likely have gotten a pat on the
back for not keeping it to yourself.
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Precautions
Good workplace controls are essential in controlling exposure to process materials. Many
of the materials, particularly the resins and fibres, present a potential dermal exposure
hazard. Many of the solvents and some of the resins present a potential inhalation hazard.
Some materials present both a dermal and inhalation hazard. Ingestion may be a potential
exposure hazard, but usually involves poor personal hygiene or contamination of eating
facilities.
Keeping this in mind, when working with or around composite manufacture or repair
processes, always keep your health at the forefront of your mind. If you can smell the
resins, solvents or generated dust waste, it means that it is getting into your system. You
must either wear your Personal Protective Equipment or vacate the area until all airborne
contaminates have dissipated. These contaminates may not affect you immediately, but it
is more than likely that you will suffer health problems in the future.
Most Advanced Composite manufacture and repair procedures (especially the ones that
involve grinding, routing and machining and the use of solvents) should be performed
under an extraction unit. Where it is not practical to do this, the procedure should be
performed in a well ventilated area at a time when the fewest employees are present.
Grinding composites under an

extraction unit.
Sanding composites outside

in a well ventilated area.
If you are unsure of the hazards that a particular substance presents, request from your
employer or OH & S representative a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheets. These will
tell you exactly what hazards are associated with the substance, and what precautions you
need to take.
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Waste disposal
The hazards associated with the product may also apply to the waste. Therefore it is
important to dispose of any waste in an appropriate and safe manner.
Items that require disposal include the following:
all substances collected as spills or leaks
containers that have been emptied after a leak or spill, including broken bags, fibreboard drums, and any objects such as pallets that may have absorbed the spillage
heavily contaminated equipment and clothing
surplus or redundant product
non-returnable containers that contain residue.
Methods of disposal
The local waste disposal authority should be consulted on the suitability of the proposed
method of disposal.
The suppliers of the products may also provide advice.
Job knowledge and training

All personnel working with chemicals must be familiar with the hazards of such chemicals.
They should have an understanding of MSDS for the chemicals being stored and be familiar
with the actions to be taken in case of poisoning by these chemicals.
Operators need to be trained in dealing with spillage and fire fighting, and should be familiar
with the requirement for protective equipment and clothing for these operations.
Other employees should, as a minimum, be aware of the relevant handling hazards, including
fire risk and symptoms of poisoning, and have knowledge of the action required in an
emergency.
All people using chemicals or employed at storage area should receive training appropriate to
their duties and responsibilities, which should include:
The nature of the work and safe use of equipment.
The properties of and hazard associated with the substances being kept for use.
The location of first aid equipment and fire protection equipment.
The correct use of personal protective equipment, its care and maintenance, and
actions to be taken in various emergencies, including spills and fire.
N.P. Regular simulated emergency exercises, including fire drills and spillage-handling
procedures should be included in the training. Such exercises should be conducted at least
annually.
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TOPIC 7.1.2 IDENTIFICATION AND REPORTING OF WORK PLACE

HAZARDS
Introduction to Identification and Reporting of Workplace Hazards
Most workplace accidents are avoidable. If people took time to identify hazards that exist
there and deal with them, workers would enjoy a happier and safer workplace.
How do you know if something in your workplace is a hazard? Hazards are dangers at work.
You might have a hazard to do with noise, machinery and equipment, electricity, manual
handling, hazardous substances, working in confined spaces, working in the sun, working in
public places. This topic will look at some of these areas.
Explain the causes and effects of accidents.
Explain personal and institutional responsibilities with regard to behaviour, practices

and hygiene in the workplace.
Explain the major functions of safety committees and representatives.
Explain the major danger areas applicable to the workplace environment.
Illustrate conditions that constitute a fire hazard in the workplace environment.
Explain Material Safety Data Sheets.
Create a workplace hazard/accident report.
Topic 7.1.2: Identification and Reporting of Workplace Hazards

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Causes and Effects of Accidents

Although there are many definitions of a mishap, we chose this one as a starting point: A
mishap is any unplanned or unintentional event, no matter how serious, that stops or
interrupts your work and results in personnel injury and/or property damage.
There are three basic elements of a mishap:
1. An unplanned or unintentional event.
2. Work stops.
3. Injury or property damage
Here is an example that illustrates the three basic elements of a mishap:
Youre trying to loosen a large nut with a wrench. The nut is rusted tight. As you apply extra
pressure to the wrench, the wrench slips.
You stagger backward and strike your head on a stanchion behind you.
In this example, there were three distinct happenings:
1. The wrench slipped.
2. You staggered backward.
3. You hit your head on a stanchion behind you.
This example fits the definition of a mishap. It was unexpected; it interrupted your work; and,
as you would agree, you made contact that caused personal injury or property damage.
Mishaps are a pain! This is especially true when, after a mishap has occurred, you look back
and say If only I and finish with a had, had not or did not.
With that in mind, its important for you to understand that you are both the number one
cause and the number one cure for mishaps.
We know you want to do the best job you can. Youd better start right now!
However, do you associate safest with best? If not, two facts that form the basis of mishap
prevention are:
1. Mishaps are caused.
2. The only way to stop them is to prevent or eliminate the causes.
The more you know about the causes of mishaps, the better equipped you will be to prevent
them.
A practical definition of a mishap cause is anything and everything that contributed to the
mishap.
The most common causes of mishaps are:
1. You, and
2. Your environment.

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They could include:

1. Your unsafe actions or the unsafe actions of your co-workers.
2. An impaired physical or mental condition of the people who caused or influenced
the unsafe actions.
3. Any defective or otherwise unsafe tools, equipment, machines, materials, buildings,
compartments, or other aspects of the work environment.
At least two of every three workplace accidents are caused by either a workers failure to do
(or not to do) something, or a worker taking short cuts when performing a task. We call this
human error. In other words, YOU cause most of your own mishaps.
The following are some of the many factors that can lead you to mishaps:
1. Inadequate training and lack of job experience.
2. Inadequate or outdated procedures in technical publications.
3. Inadequate posting or listing of the safety precautions you should observe when
performing a task.
4. Behavioural factors, especially negative types of motivation.
5. Medically related factors that reduce your ability to work safely.
6. Communication problems caused by a breakdown in passing, receiving, or
understanding information.
7. Poorly designed equipment, such as improperly placed controls.
Most accidents are preventable. However, through ignorance or misunderstanding, there is a
common belief that they are the inevitable result of unchangeable circumstances or fate.
This belief is untrue, because it fails to consider the basic law of cause and effect to which
accidents are subject. In other words, accidents do not occur without a cause: most
accidents are the direct result of some deviation from prescribed safe operating procedures.
One purpose of safety rules is to remind the individual of the dangers inherent in the work.
Training in the observance of safety precautions can be instrumental in avoiding preventable
accidents and in maintaining a work environment which is conducive to accident-free
operation. Operating procedures and work methods adopted with hazard prevention as a
specific criterion do not expose personnel necessarily to injury or occupational health
hazards. Accidents which are about to happen can be prevented if the cause is detected and
appropriate remedial action is taken.

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Inadequate training and experience

Many mishaps occur because of inadequate training and lack of job experience. You may
find yourself assigned a task that is clearly beyond your skill level. This may be because of
an operational requirement or an emergency that requires prompt action. Or your supervisor
may not be aware of your limitations.
These situations may cause you to misread instructions, take short cuts, or make other errors
that could result in a mishap. Also, your chances of a mishap increase when you are not
aware of the hazards associated with a particular task. Its this lack of awareness that can
keep you from taking the necessary precautions.
In simple English:
1. DONT TAKE SHORT CUTS.
4.1.
ASK FOR HELP.
If you think a task is too hazardous, it probably is. And before you attempt to do it, seek
guidance and become familiar with its associated hazards.
CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS
Inadequate or outdated procedures
When a mishap occurs, examine the procedures you followed just before the mishap. They
may be in error or they may not provide enough detailed how-to information. Or perhaps
the technical manual was not updated when a piece of equipment was upgraded or replaced.
As a result, you could inadvertently be using the wrong procedures for a particular task. If
this is the case, take the initiative to complete the required paperwork to update the technical
manual.
Inadequate safety precautions

You must be aware of the safety precautions associated with the job or task you are
performing. They must either be posted in your work area or listed in the technical manual
youre using. If they arent available, you could be attempting something hazardous and not
even know it. Make sure you read ALL applicable precautions. Even if you have performed
the task before and are familiar with it, its possible that new or revised precautions exist.

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Behavioural Factors that Cause Mishaps

Your behaviour is much more complex than the equipment you operate and maintain.
Equipment, regardless of how its designed and powered, is predictable in its response to
certain cues or signals. If a piece of equipment quits working, you can isolate the fault to a
specific part with the use of test equipment and schematics. This isnt true for you. Your
behaviour while performing a task is based on a combination of factors that comes from your
unique experiences, knowledge, attitude and motivation.
Each of the above factors can affect your behaviour regarding safety. Behaviour that leads to
a mishap is usually caused by undesirable attitudes and motivations.
Attitudes
Attitudes are complex mental states that affect your reaction toward some object, event, or
state of affairs. They cause you to form opinions and act in certain predictable ways, some
favourable and others unfavourable.
Attitudes that do not support safe behaviour hamper mishap prevention. And they can also
cause mishaps.
Motivations
Motivations are incentives for specific acts. Your behaviour is based on your motivation, and
your motivation is shaped by your attitudes. Ensuring that you have positive motivations
toward job safety is clearly a very complex problem. Its complicated because you do not
simply react to the basic needs of comfort, security, affiliation and self-fulfilment. Your
motivations on and off the job are also greatly affected by the attitudes, feeling, tensions and
emotions of the world around you.
The following are some undesirable motivations that can lead you to mishaps in the
workplace:
Motivation to save time and effort
Motivation to maintain personal comfort
Motivation to gain approval and attract attention
Motivation to express resentment
Medical factors that cause mishaps

Medical factors such as illness, physical impairment, alcohol abuse, fatigue, and motion
sickness, can cause mishaps. These factors are frequently associated with either a high
tempo of operations that prevents proper rest and nourishment or with events carried over
from a recent return from leave or liberty.
Illness
Your ability to work safely is sometimes affected by illness or the side effects of medicine.
Temporary illnesses like colds, flu, dizziness, heat stress and nausea can weaken your
physical abilities. They can either reduce your strength, stamina and coordination, or disrupt
your concentration, mental alertness, memory and reasoning ability.
These side effects of medication, such as drowsiness, sluggishness and lack of coordination,
can sometimes lead to mishaps.

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Physical impairments
Any pre-existing physical impairment, such as a lower back injury, a slipped disc, or a hernia,
may make you more susceptible to mishaps. Mishaps can also stem from visual and hearing
defects. Common visual problems include colour blindness, faulty depth perception,
farsightedness and nearsightedness. Hearing defects cause mishaps if they prevent you
from hearing instructions or a warning signal.
Alcohol abuse
Some people think alcohol is a stimulant. Nothing is farther from the truth. Alcohol is a
chemical depressant. It acts as a general anaesthetic for the parts of the brain that suppress,
control, and inhibit thoughts, feelings, and actions. Alcohol typically impairs your judgment,
gives you unrealistic confidence, slows your coordination, and degrades your performance.
These effects are present whether you feel them or not. Its these effects that cause the risktaking type of behaviour that can lead you to unsafe acts that cause mishaps.
Fatigue
Fatigue is not an all-or-nothing factor. It begins when you start a task, and it increases as
you continue to perform the task. At some point during the task, fatigue can become great
enough to impair your performance. It can decrease your work output, change your attitude,
and reduce your motivation to observe safety precautions. But long before this happens,
fatigue will decrease your awareness and reflex actions. At this point mishaps can occur.
The following are some symptoms of fatigue:
Lower quality of performance
Irritability
Impatience
Forgetfulness
Confusion
A higher number of errors
The following are some frequent causes of fatigue:
Hard work, long hours and lack of sleep
Environmental stress, such as heat, cold, noise
Inadequate lighting, and vibration
Boredom and monotony
A change in routine
Suppose, for example, youre accustomed to working days and sleeping nights. If you switch
to working nights and sleeping days, you will probably experience fatigue.
The results of fatigue vary from person to person, but fatigue always reduces your mental
alertness, increasing the chances of a mishap occurring.

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Communication problems that cause mishaps

Mishaps can occur when there is a breakdown in the passing, receiving or understanding of
information. The most common communication problem is misunderstanding the message
being sent to you. Your brain reacts to what it thinks it hears, not necessarily what it hears.
Mishaps can also stem from language barriers. You cant understand a message if the
person sending the message doesnt speak clearly enough.
Equipment design factors that cause mishaps

Poorly designed equipment and improperly placed controls can cause mishaps. Controls
that cant be reached quickly and easily, emergency controls protected by cumbersome
interlocks, and displays that are difficult to read are examples of design problems that can
cause mishaps.
Mishap prevention
Why is mishap prevention necessary? The aviation business is deadly serious. Its
conducted by professionals, restricted to limited resources, and allows no room for error.
Mishaps produce errors. Therefore, when mishaps are reduced, error is reduced, and
readiness is improved.
The aviation industry also considers your safety to be as important as productivity. Unlike
most civilian businesses whose safety efforts are directed at reducing on-the-job mishaps,
aviation industry mishap prevention efforts give you complete coverage, both on and off the
job, regardless of your duty status, location, or mission.
Mishap prevention is a vital part of your job. By preventing mishaps, you avoid injury to
yourself and damage to your equipment. When you think of mishaps, you probably think of
deaths. But in 2000, aboard ships and submarines and ashore, for every death, there were
mishaps that resulted in equipment damage or personal injury.
Mishap prevention is the process of eliminating mishap-producing causes. The goal of the
aviation industrys mishap prevention program is to prevent mishaps from occurring or, once
they have occurred, to prevent them from recurring. The aviation industrys mishap
prevention program consists of activities directed to eliminate
(1) unsafe acts of persons and
(2) unsafe mechanical, physical, or chemical working conditions.
The best way to prevent mishaps is to eliminate the factors that lead to mishaps. This can
involve anything, from a minute of extra effort by you that costs nothing, to lengthy planning
and work by many people at considerable cost. It all depends on the nature of the unsafe
condition.
The authority to correct an unsafe condition may involve any level of the chain of command.
The following four avenues are available to you.
Order correction where authority permits. If you have the authority to do so, dont
delay ordering unsafe conditions corrected. Delay means exposure of other people
to the unsafe condition. If youre uncertain about the best correction method, talk to
your supervisor immediately.

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Report conditions to higher authority. If you dont have the authority to correct the
unsafe conditions, then promptly report the hazardous or potentially hazardous
conditions to your supervisor. Be ready to offer some suggestions about how to
correct the unsafe condition. Your ideas may help to speed the correction.
Correct the problem at the source. Dont stop with just correcting the unsafe
condition. Find its source and begin your corrective actions there. If you have the
authority to correct the problem at the source, then do so. If the problem involves
people, then point out the unsafe condition and correct the workers causing it. Hold
on-the-spot training if needed. If you dont, youre inviting repetition of the unsafe
practice.
Take temporary precautions. You may need to delay correcting an unsafe condition
because of a shortage of funds, personnel, or equipment. If this happens, take
whatever temporary precautions you need to protect both yourself and your coworkers from the unsafe condition until it can be corrected. These precautions may
include securing the hazardous areas, disconnecting power sources, posting
warning signs, and giving verbal warning to workers.
Whatever precautions are necessary, take them promptly to reduce the exposure of any
hazardous condition to all personnel.
Remember
Accidents in the workplace cause millions of dollars to be paid out in compensation, not to
mention the grief and pain they can cause, especially in severe cases. It is therefore
extremely important that personnel are trained correctly and are aware of their
responsibilities with regard to themselves and co-workers.
Up-to-date processes need to be in place at all times, and safety precautions must be
highlighted to workers and clearly visible in the workplace to avoid unnecessary accidents.
Behaviour related to accidents in the workplace is usually related to poor attitudes and
motivation. This is why employers should always ensure the wellbeing of the worker. A
happy worker is usually a safe worker.
However, accidents can be prevented by taking a proactive approach reporting dangerous
situations or faulty machinery in the workplace, and accepting responsibility for it. There is
no point in saying, Someone else will fix it. This may be the cause of an accident involving
yourself and/or a co-worker, so report it.
This is why we have safety committees and representatives in the workplace, to encourage
safe working practices and provide a channel for you to report any faults, etc. whether it be to
your representative or on a hazard report form or both.
You need to take IMMEDIATE corrective action. This is especially true in situations that pose
an immediate hazard to life or health. Dont delay because you may not have the authority to
correct such an unsafe condition. In emergencies, YOU HAVE IT! Just be sure you dont put
yourself or others in danger of being hurt. And if you cant SAFELY correct the problem,
inform your supervisor about it immediately.

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Health and hygiene

It is important that you think about the effect of what you do at home and in the workplace
and how it affects your health.
The general hygiene principles you use from day to day at home are a good start to keeping
you safe in your workplace.
At work there are hazards, including biological hazards. You need to identify those hazards
and learn how to look after yourself in your work day.
Compliance with the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 means that the risks of injury at
all workplaces need to be identified, assessed and controlled.
Regulations prohibit exposure to a risk or prescribe ways to minimise exposure to a

risk.
Advisory standards state ways to manage exposure to risks common to industry.
Industry codes of practice state ways to manage exposure to risks typical in a part
of industry.
Where there is no regulation, standard or code, you must exercise due diligence.
Employers should provide:
A documented workplace health and safety policy which has guidelines for infection
control when workers and first aid personnel are exposed to the risk of infection
Up-to-date instruction about appropriate safe work practices
Ongoing training and supervision
Personal protective clothing and equipment where required
An effective system of injury and illness reporting and follow-up

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Keeping fit and healthy

Keeping yourself fit and mentally alert through having a good diet, doing regular exercise,
attending to medical problems and getting enough sleep will help to reduce accidents and
absenteeism brought about by carelessness, stress and fatigue.
Heeding the following advice can improve your wellbeing. Drugs and alcohol can cause
dependence, with people unable to do a full days work properly. Employees must inform
their employer if they are taking any medication that may impair their ability to do tasks.
Develop good posture at work, whether you spend long periods standing or sitting at
a desk.
Keep yourself well-groomed, clean and neatly attired.
Observe hygienic practices such as washing your hands regularly. This is

particularly important for aerospace technologies employees involved with sewage
treatment, transport or maintenance. Ensure that your immunisations, such as
hepatitis, are up-to-date.
Dont ignore medical problems that may be nagging you. See a doctor before they
lead to other problems.
Maintain a healthy balance between work and your personal life. This will keep you
happier at work and at home and less stressed.
If you find work stressful through having too much or too little work to do, or by work
being monotonous or lacking in stimulation, talk to someone about it. This may be a
supervisor, team leader or counsellor. Compensation payouts for stress-related
illness are substantial, and can be reduced if people heed the signs before a
breakdown occurs.

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Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)

Compliance with Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Act means that risks of injury at all
workplaces need to be identified, assessed and controlled.
Regulations - prohibit exposure to a risk or prescribe ways to minimise exposure to

a risk
Advisory standards - state ways to manage exposure to risks common to industry
Industry codes of practice - state ways to manage exposure to risks typical in a part
of industry
Where there is no regulation, standard or code, you must exercise due diligence.
OH&S Act is governed by the Australian Commonwealth Government with each State and
Territory established local Health and Safety Committee.
In Queensland OH&S is regulated by the State Government under The Queensland
Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (WH&S)
Health and Safety Officers/Committee Members

Who is your Workplace Health and Safety Officer and committee member?
What do they do?
Help fix safety problems.
Know the safety law.
They are part of occupational health and safety committee meetings with managers,
supervisors or team coordinators.
Investigate incidents.
Your WHS Officer is.
Health and safety representatives

Who is your Workplace Health and Safety Representative (WHS) rep?
What do they do?
Go to safety training.
Help fix safety problems.
Know the safety law.
They are part of occupational health and safety committee meetings with managers
and supervisors or team coordinators.
The law gives the occupational health and safety representative power to raise
safety problems with your employer.

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Your occupational health and safety representative can communicate with managers and
supervisors or team coordinators about health and safety problems. This is called
consultation.
Consultation is about everyone having the chance to talk about how to fix safety problems in
the workplace.

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Consultation can happen through:
Workgroup and team meetings
Occupational health and safety committee meetings
Discussions with supervisors or team coordinators
Discussions with your supervisor or team coordinator and the health and safety
representative
Workplace audits and inspections
Your WHS representative is.
Workplace health and safety committees

Health and safety committees are made up of workers and employers who meet to discuss
health, safety and welfare in the workplace.
Health and safety committees assist in developing health and safety policies, and consult
with the employer on changes to policies or procedures.
At least half of the committee members must be workers.
The committee must meet at least once every three months.
Members of the committee who represent workers are elected by the workers. They are
usually health and safety representatives.
If your supervisor, team coordinator or health and safety representative cannot fix a safety
problem, it should go to the committee to be discussed.
Remember
Under the Workplace Health and Safety Act, both employers and employees have obligations
with regard to ensuring peoples health and safety in the workplace.
Standards, regulations or industry codes of practice are in place to help reduce the incidence
of workplace accidents. Under the Act, penalties will be incurred for breaches.
Employers must instruct workers in safety measures and employ measures to ensure the
safety of anyone in or near the workplace. One way to ensure this happens is to implement
safety committees. This is why the majority of industries have safety officers and committee
members in place.

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Employees have a duty to conduct themselves in a manner that will not harm themselves or
others, to carry out certain safety measures and to use protective clothing and equipment
provided. They must be constantly on the lookout for hazards and notify employers of
problems. Training in standard work and emergency procedures such as evacuations is the
best way to keep the workplace accident-free.
Section 36 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 tells you what you have to do to
work safely.
DANGER AREAS
Introduction to Noise
Noise is probably the most underestimated hazard in the workplace. Workers run some risk
of permanent noise induced hearing loss when exposed to high levels of noise in their
workday.
The effect of noise on the human body has been long documented. There are basically two
types of hearing loss.
The first is associated with the outer or middle ear, with some type of damage occurring to
the eardrum or bones of the middle ear.
The second is associated with damage to the nerves and cells of the inner ear which convert
vibrations to messages to the brain.
Hearing loss can happen over a long period of time, in which the worker does not realise the
loss is occurring.
Noise is a major hazard. It can damage your hearing and affect your health in many ways.
For example, it can cause:
Headaches
Constant ringing in the ears
Stress
High blood pressure
Increased heart rate
Noise can reach unacceptably high levels. Irreparable damage to hearing can be caused by
exposure to loud noise for short periods of time or lower noise levels for extended periods.

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How the ear works

Sound waves in the air are converted by the ear into impulses, which travel in the auditory
nerve to the brain, where they are perceived as sound.
The outer ear canal conducts the sound waves to the eardrum(1), on the inner side of which
three small bones(2) amplify the vibration and conduct them to the organ of hearing in the
inner ear(3). Nerve endings in the cochlea(4) transmit the vibration as impulses through the
auditory nerve(5) to the brain(6).
EXAMPLES OF PLANT NOISE

Source
Noise Level
One centrifuge at one metre
87.9 dBA
Centrifuge hydraulic pumps
78.9 dBA
Basin 3 & 4 Dry Well
90.6 dBA
4.2.6 x daily dose
Motor Room Floor
85.9 dBA
1.5 x daily dose
Pump Room Floor
94.2 dBA
7.6 x daily dose
Motor Room Lift
86.4 dBA
1.5 x daily dose
1.7 x daily dose

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EXAMPLES OF NOISE EFFECT ON PEOPLE
Effect on People
Sound level in dBA
Sound Source
Highly Injurious
140
Pain Threshold
130
Jet Engine
120
Rivet Hammer
110
Chainsaw
100
Sheet-metal workshop
85
General standard in Aust

for 8 hours
Injurious
Heavy traffic
80
Irritating
60
Normal conversation
50
Low conversation
40
Quiet radio music
30
Whispering
20
Quiet urban room
10
Rustling leaves
Hearing threshold
Consider the charts and their relation to the workplace.

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Dealing with noise in the workplace

Noise control
Getting rid of noise completely is impossible. What we can do in the workplace is reduce the
noise emissions and protect ourselves from what remains.
Once a noise problem is discovered, action needs to be taken to get rid of or to control it.
Remember to use the hierarchy of control when dealing with noise.
Hierarchy of control

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Personal protective equipment

Workers who are exposed to unacceptable levels of noise will be provided with suitable work
instructions and PPE to reduce their exposure to harmful levels. If you have any concerns,
contact your supervisor or Workplace Health and Safety Officer.
After assessing noise levels, you should select appropriate hearing protection, such as
earplugs or earmuffs. A comfortable fit is an important consideration when choosing hearing
protection.
All approved hearing protection should comply with AS 1270; hearing conservation programs,
if applicable, should be based on AS 1269.
Summary of noise
What happens if the noise level is measured and it is too high?
Remember the different ways of controlling hazards. Use the hierarchy of control.
Machinery and equipment

Check your plant and machinery regularly, possibly using a checklist, so that it will stay in
safe working order. If faults are discovered, do not use the machine. Put in a report to have
it serviced immediately.
Take care when working with moving vehicles, for example, trucks and cranes, or near power
lines.
The use of high visibility clothing may be useful in these areas.

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Electricity
The human body makes an excellent conductor of electricity, so it is important that safe work
processes are adopted when you use electricity.
Electrical hazards may be due to:
Cracked or faulty insulation
Overheating equipment
Damp conditions
Ways to ensure safety around electricity include the following:
Wear correct clothing, such as non-conductive footwear and remove metal watches,
jewellery and belts with metal buckles.
Keep power cords away from heat and water. Protect and run your power cords at
heights where they wont be damaged, for example, away from sharp objects and
traffic.
Have earth leakage devices installed so that current is cut immediately if power is
short circuited.
Wooden or fibre glass ladders are best used when you are working near power lines
or performing electrical work, as they are non-conductive.
Attend to faulty tools and equipment by having them checked regularly, and ensure
that cords are not frayed.
Turn off all power sources after use.
Hazardous substances
If you handle hazardous substances, make sure you are aware of the special regulations
which apply to hazardous substances.
Employers must train workers to use hazardous substances properly when it is part of their
job.
A workers primary protection is the label. Storage containers of hazardous substances must
be correctly labelled in English, but dont assume all people can read and understand the
labels. Discuss it with the person in detail before use or storage.
Check frequently that storage containers are not damaged or have not deteriorated over time.
Users must also be referred to the relevant Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
Locate the MSDS in your workplace. These sheets provide information about:
The dangers involved in using chemicals and substances
Precautions for use
Health effects and relevant first aid procedures

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Working in the sun

Many aircraft maintenance employees carry out their daily work in full sunshine. Working in
the sun without adequate protection can cause dehydration, headaches, sunstroke and skin
cancers.
To reduce the effects of the sun, you can:
Drink water or keep up your fluid intake
Wear a broad-brimmed hat
Apply at least 15+ sunscreen
Wear long-sleeved, close-weave shirts and trousers
Wear neck protectors under hardhats, and
Avoid working unprotected for long periods between 11 am and 3 pm.
If you find a hazard at work you must tell your supervisor/team coordinator.
Safety representative
After you have told your occupational health and safety representative and your team
coordinator or supervisor that there might be a problem in your work area, they will need to
come and have a look.
Recognising Fire Hazards

In order to understand how fire extinguishers work, you first need to know a little bit about
fire. Four things must be present at the same time in order to produce fire:
Enough oxygen to sustain combustion,
Enough heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature,
Some sort of fuel or combustible material, and
The chemical, exothermic reaction that is fire.
Oxygen, heat, and fuel are frequently referred to as the "fire triangle." Add in the fourth
element, the chemical reaction, and you actually have a fire "tetrahedron." The important
thing to remember is: take any of these four things away, and you will not have a fire or the
fire will be extinguished.
Essentially, fire extinguishers put out fire by taking away one or more elements of the fire
triangle/tetrahedron.
Fire safety, at its most basic, is based upon the principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition
sources separate.

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Industrial fires can be caused by a variety of

hazards, including unprotected or faulty
equipment, unsafe storage of combustible
materials, inadequate ventilation, failure to
follow established safety guidelines (such as
smoking in restricted areas), inattention,
human error, and arson. Fortunately, most of
these fire hazards can be recognised (and
corrected) by knowing your company's safety
procedures and keeping alert to potentially
dangerous situations.
Major causes are electrical faults and carelessly discarded smoking materials.
Since most fires can be avoided, fire prevention should be a common objective throughout all
levels of organisations
Fire safety becomes everyone's job at a worksite. Employers should train workers about fire
hazards in the workplace and about what to do in a fire emergency. This plan should outline
the assignments of key personnel in the event of a fire and provide an evacuation plan for
workers on the site.
Regulations define certain fire safety measures such as ensuring means for detecting and
fighting fire, escaping from workplaces in the event of a fire and requiring employers to
include fire hazards in their risk assessments.
The basic requirement of most regulations is that all premises meeting certain specified
criteria must have a valid fire certificate. Fire certificates are issued by the fire authorities.
Regulations define certain fire safety measures such as ensuring means for detecting and
fighting fire, escaping from workplaces in the event of a fire and requiring employers to
include fire hazards in their risk assessments.
The basic requirement of most regulations is that all premises meeting certain specified
criteria must have a valid fire certificate. Fire certificates are issued by the fire authorities.
Managing Fire Safety

Fire safety management should include consideration of the following:
Maintaining security procedures & preventing storage of combustible materials next

to buildings
Storage & use of Highly flammable substances (eg solvents & solvent based
products) & oxidising agents (eg. halogenation materials)
Elimination of ignition sources (eg sparks, heat & naked flames)
Management of dust extractors & dust collection systems
Maintenance of clear escape routes & exit doors
Management of waste & rubbish

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Provision of information & training
Provision & maintenance of appropriate equipment

eg detectors, alarms, emergency lighting & extinguishers
Appointment of fire marshals
Development of emergency procedures & practice drills
Arrangements for raising an alarm & contacting the emergency services
Fire Risk Assessment

A fire risk assessment will help determine the chances of a fire occurring and the dangers
from fire that your workplace poses for the people who use it. The assessment method may
follow the same approach as that used in general health and safety risk assessments.
For fire risk assessments there are five steps that need to be taken:
Identify potential fire hazards in the workplace (eg combustible materials, sources of
ignition).
Decide who might be in danger in the event of a fire (eg employees, visitors,
contractors, vulnerable persons).
Evaluate the risks arising from the fire hazards and carry out necessary
improvements.
Record your findings and any actions taken and communicate to your employees.
Keep the assessment under review and revise it as necessary.

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Identify Fire Hazards: For a fire to occur it needs sources of heat & fuel. If these hazards can
be kept apart, removed or reduced, then the risks to people and business are minimised. In
order to do this you must first identify fire hazards in your workplace.
Identify Any Combustibles: These can be divided into two main groups; combustible fuels
such as paper, wood cardboard etc; and highly combustible fuels such as thinners, solvents,
polyurethane foam etc.
Identify Any Sources of Heat: All workplaces contain heat/ignition sources; some will be
obvious such as cooking equipment or open flame heating or processes. Others may be less
obvious such as heat from chemical processes or electrical equipment.
Identify Any Unsafe Acts: Persons undertaking unsafe acts such as smoking next to
combustible materials etc.
Identify Any Unsafe Conditions: These are hazards that may assist a fir to spread in the
workplace, eg if there are large areas of hardboard or polystyrene tiles etc, or open stairs or
shafts that can cause fire to spread quickly, trapping people and involving the whole building.
Identify Location & Persons who are at Significant Risk:
Consider the risk to any people who may be present. In many instances & particularly for
most small workplaces the risk(s) identified will not be significant, & specific measures for
persons in this category will not be required. There will, however, be some occasions when
certain people will be especially at risk from fire, because of their specific role, disability,
location or the workplace activity. You need to consider matters carefully if:
Visitors or contractors are present on site.
Persons are disabled eg physically, visually, mentally etc
People are unable to react quickly.
Persons are isolated or away from surface level.
You must consider all persons; ask questions in particular of visitors to your work-place, not
all disabilities are obvious. You need to put special provisions in place.
Reduce & Evaluate Risks & Determine if Existing Arrangements are Adequate, or Need
Improvement.
If the building has been built & maintained in accordance with building regulations & it is
being put to its designed use, it is likely that the means of escape provisions will be adequate,
or you will be able to decide what is required in relation to the risk. Having identified the
hazards, you need to reduce the chance of a fire occurring & spreading, thereby minimising
or removing the chance of harm to persons in the workplace by:
Removing the hazard altogether;
Reducing the hazard to the point where there is little or no risk;
Replacing the existing hazard with a safer alternative;
Segregating the hazard from the workplace;
Developing a prevention policy and culture to ensure hazards do not occur in the
workplace. This should be a dynamic assessment, involving preplanning if
introducing new processes or working practices, and appropriate control measures
put in place.
The measures mentioned should be straight forward using basic common sense, having the
additional benefits of business continuity by managing risks.

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Evaluate the risk

Attempt to classify each area as high, normal or low risk. If high risk you may need to
repeat the previously mentioned steps.
Low Risk - Areas where there is minimal risk to persons lives, where the risk of fire
occurring is low, or the potential for fire, heat and smoke spreading is negligible and people
would have plenty of time to react to an alert of fire.
Normal Risk - Areas will account for nearly all parts of most workplaces. Where an outbreak
of fire is likely to remain confined or spread slowly, with an effective fire warning allowing
persons to escape to a place of safety.
High Risk - Areas where the available time needed to evacuate the area is reduced by the
speed of development of a fire, eg highly flammable or explosive materials stored or used
(other than small quantities under controlled conditions). Also where the reaction time to the
fire alarm is slower because of the type of person present or the activity in the workplace.
The Findings: The findings of the assessment & the actions (including maintenance) arising
from it should be recorded. It should indicate:
The date the assessment was made;
The hazards identified;
Any staff and other people especially at risk;
What actions need to be taken, and by when (Action Plan);
The conclusions arising;
Prepare The Emergency Plan: The aim of the plan is to ensure that in the event of a fire
everyone, including contractors, casual employees and visitors are sufficiently familiar with
the action they should take, and that the workplace can be safely evacuated to a location
where persons will not be in danger. The employer is responsible for preparing the plan, and
in most small workplaces this should not be difficult. In smaller workplaces it may simply take
the form of a fire action notice.
Training: All staff should receive induction and regular training related to the action(s) to be
taken in case of fire, in particular, evacuation procedures, fire extinguisher training (where
appropriate) and any specialist duties assigned eg assisting disabled persons to safety.
Escape routes should be walked regularly and an evacuation drill practised at least annually.
And contractors should also be informed of the relevant procedures, in particular evacuation
and other matters such as permits to work etc.

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Monitor & Review on a Regular Basis

The fire risk assessment is not a one-off procedure. It should be continually monitored to
ensure that the existing fire safety arrangements and risk assessment remain realistic. The
assessment should be reviewed if there is a significant change in the occupancy, work
activity, the materials used or stored, when building work is proposed or when it is no longer
thought to be valid.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
To maintain a safe working environment, all substances, compounds and materials used in
the workplace must be identified.
MSDS give details of:
contents of substances
physical and chemical properties of substances
health hazards information
first aid procedures
precautions for use
safe handling and storage procedures.
This data must be readily available for user reference.
Summary
If you notice any hazards in the workplace, you must report them to your supervisor and/or
safety committee. However, a Hazard Report Form should be filled out if action is not taken.
You should always remember that hazards in an aircraft environment can become an FOD
danger and cause severe damage to aircraft.

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Reporting Hazards and Accidents in the Aircraft Maintenance Environment

The Hazard Report Form
If you notice anything hazardous in your workplace, you should report it to your supervisor or
Workplace Health and Safety Officer.
However, if action is not taken to rectify the matter, you should fill out the Hazard Report
form.
A copy should be given to your supervisor and additional copies sent to your Workplace
Health and Safety Officer and the Workplace Health and Safety Coordinator for your
business. If more people reported hazards, the accident rate might be reduced and fewer
people would be seriously injured at work.
Report of Injury, Illness or Dangerous Event Form

The Report of Injury, Illness or Dangerous Event form is used to record all work injuries, work
caused illnesses and dangerous events. It can be completed and transmitted either:
Manually. (This form is blue and in triplicate. It is sent to the places detailed at the
bottom left-hand corner of the form).
Electronically. (Copies are sent to the same addressees as detailed above).
The form details include the following:

1. The front page of the form explains how to use the form.
2. The second page lists codes you can use to describe the:
Type of injury
Part of body injured
Incident description
Major cause, and
Action to rectify
3. The third page is where you record your details.
Note
Organisations require that all work injuries, work caused illnesses and dangerous events be
recorded within three days.

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TOPIC 7.1.3 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH AIRCRAFT

MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
Introduction to Safety Precautions Associated with Aircraft Maintenance Operations
The operations carried out in the Aircraft Maintenance Industry are unique to this industry.
Therefore the dangers to personnel and equipment are also quite unique.
Explain standard symbols for dangerous situations in the workplace.
Explain standard symbols and colour markings on emergency control and other
aircraft markings.
Appraise the hazards and state the safety precautions associated with electricity,
gases, oxygen, oils, fuel and chemicals in Fuel Tank Safety and the aviation
maintenance environment.
Safety Signs
Safety signs and colour are useful tools to help protect the health and safety of employees
and visitors at your workplace.
Safety signs are used to:
draw attention to health and safety hazards
point out hazards that may not be immediately obvious
provide general information and directions
remind employees where personal protective equipment must be worn
indicate where emergency equipment is located
warn where certain actions are prohibited.
Colour attracts attention, and can be used extensively for safety purposes. For example,
colour can be used as an additional safety measure to indicate the contents of pipes and the
nature of the hazard.
The choice of colour also draws attention to the severity of the hazard. For example, a
dangerous hazard is communicated by the colour red.
When employees are aware of the hazards around them and take the necessary precautions,
the possibility of an accident or injury is minimised.
However, while safety signs and colours are valuable in warning of hazards, they are not
substitutes for eliminating or reducing hazards, whenever possible.
This guideline will help you to effectively use safety signs and colour in your workplace.
Topic 7.1.3: Safety Precautions Associated with Aircraft Maintenance Operations

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Standard Symbols and Colour Markings

Sign categories
There are three basic sign categories, they are:
regulatory
information
warning.
Each category is distinguished by its shape, and is subdivided into sub-categories that can
be recognised by their colour.
Green Permission
allows an action
Red - Prohibition
prohibits an action
Regulatory
A circle indicates that
Blue - Mandatory
requires an action
Red - Fire - provides

information on fire
equipment
Green - First
Aid/Safety
Equipment
provides information
on first aid and safety
equipment
Information A square indicates
Blue - Information
provides general
information or
directions

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BLACK on yellow background

Caution indicates potential risk
RED on white background

Danger warns against definite danger that can
cause irreversible and serious injury, or
death
Warning
A triangle indicates
caution or danger
MAROON on yellow background

Radiation indicates radiation risk
Symbols
A sign usually consists of a symbol, which is a letter or picture surrounded by a border of a
definite shape and colour, as shown in the examples below.
The symbols used simple, easy to learn and recognise. They Include simple wording to help
reinforce the message or to provide additional information. Recent studies indicate that the
most effective signs are those that combine a symbol with a brief verbal message.
Parking
permitted
9:30 am - 10:00
Fire hose
Emergency
Shower station
CAUTION
Crane
Smoking and
open flames
prohibited
DANGER
Electrical
hazard
Eye protection
must be worn
Drinking
fountain
CAUTION
Radioactive
materials

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Symbols for hazardous materials

By law, hazardous materials received in the workplace must be identified by special symbols
on container labels. These symbols indicate the nature of the hazardous material, such as
compressed gas, oxidising material, or toxic material. For information on the symbols to use
and their colour restrictions, consult the Controlled Products Regulation under the federal
Hazardous Products Act. You may know these special symbols as the WHMIS symbols.
Safety colours
While there is no legislation requiring the use of colour in the workplace, colour can be used
to indicate hazards or point out safety equipment. For example, colour can be applied on:
indicator lights or buttons
pipes
separate work areas
machinery
vehicles
aisles, floors and stairs.

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Indicator lights or buttons

With the extensive use of colour in our daily lives, we have learned to associate certain
colours with specific meanings. For example, red on a traffic light means stop. These
associations should be taken advantage of in the workplace to help employees easily
recognise the message associated with colours and respond quickly, as in the case of
indicator lights and control buttons.
Colour
Indicator Light
Button/Control
Red
Danger or alarm
Stop/off
Yellow
Caution
Caution/Intervention needed
Green
Safe condition
Start/on
Colour
Meaning
Examples
Yellow
Caution
Steps, guardrails, low beams, storage cabinets for

flammable materials, containers for corrosives or
unstable materials.
Orange
Warning
Hazardous parts of machines which may cut, crush or

injure a worker inside of movable guards or the inside
of transmission guards for gears, pulleys, chains, etc.;
exposed parts (edges only) of pulleys, gears, rollers,
cutting devices, power jaws, etc.
Red
Danger or stop
Containers of flammable liquids;

emergency stop bars; stop buttons.
Fire protection
equipment
alarm boxes;
fire extinguishers;
exit signs.
Green
Safety
Indicates location of:

first aid services, first aid kits, stretchers,
emergency exit routes, safety equipment, such as
emergency safety showers.
Blue
Safety
information
Signs requiring use of personal protective equipment,

information signs,
directional signs.
Black
Markings for
traffic routes,
housekeeping
Traffic routes,
aisle and floor markings.

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Posting sign
Signs should be clearly visible, positioned in the line of sight, and free from any obstructions
or clutter.
Keep signs well-lit. Observers should be able to read a sign easily and recognise its safety
colour. Lighting should also be sufficient to make any hazard being pointed out clearly
visible.
A sign should be posted within an appropriate distance to the hazard it is meant to highlight.
An observer must have enough time to read the message and do whatever is necessary to
keep safe.
Related signs should be placed side by side, but NO more than four signs in the same area.
Unrelated signs should be posted far apart to eliminate confusion.
Directional signs should be visible from all directions. Include arrows on exit signs wherever
the direction is not obvious. Directional signs should be posted at intervals, so that the route
to take is always clear.
Signs hung from ceilings should be at least 2.2 metres (7.2 feet) above the floor.
Using Easy-To-Read and Easy-To-Understand Signs

To help employees and visitors understand signs quickly plain English should be used and
symbols that can be learned or recognised easily.
Keep symbols should be kept as simple as possible; details that don't make the message
clear should be eliminated.
Avoid using signs that contain only verbal messages, as these are the least likely to be
complied with. In situations where compliance is critical because of a hazard, a sign is most
effective and most likely to be complied with when it contains the following information:
1. a signal word such as danger or warning
2. a hazard symbol
3. information on the consequences if the hazard is not avoided
4. instructions on how to avoid the hazard.
Multilingual signs may be used to help employees whose first language is not English.
Uppercase letters should be used for the first letter of the first word, and lowercase letters for
the rest. Commands or cautionary words should be in Uppercase. The lettering style should
be clear and easy to reads

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Use appropriate cautionary words. For example:

DANGER to warn of an immediate or grave hazard that will definitely cause serious,
irreversible injury or death.
WARNING to draw attention to a potential risk that could result in serious injury or death.
CAUTION to alert people to potential risk that can cause minor or moderate injury. It may
also be used to warn against unsafe practices.
Set a limit of one message to a sign. To convey more than one message, use separate signs
or a multipurpose sign as shown below.
DANGER
Confined space
Unauthorized entry
is dangerous and
prohibited
Aviation Dangers and Safety Precautions Associated with the Aircraft Maintenance
Environment
Introduction
The purpose of the aviation occupational safety and health program is to enhance
airworthiness by establishing an aggressive occupational safety and health program which
will reduce injuries, illnesses or deaths and material loss or damage and maintain safe and
healthy working conditions for personnel.
The occupational safety aspects of the program address the elimination or control of hazards
that can result in immediate injury or death.
The occupational health aspects are primarily concerned with the identification and
elimination, where possible, of adverse health effects of hazardous and long term sub-acute
exposures to chemical, physical and biological agents.
This includes effective exposure control where hazard elimination is impossible or impractical
and also, the diagnosis and treatment of work related illness and injuries.

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Support equipment safety

General safety precautions that apply to working on/around aircraft and industrial plant
equipment (IPE) also apply to most support equipment.
The dangers inherent in high voltage and toxic chemicals are but a few of the safety and
health hazards encountered in working with support equipment.
Certain support equipment requires certification, qualifications or licensing for the operators.
Hearing conservation program

All personnel working in proximity to noise generating devices such as aircraft turbine
engines, auxiliary power units and support equipment must wear hearing protective devices.
Personnel are required to have periodic hearing examinations. These hearing examinations
are to be determined by level of noise in the working area, in accordance with set procedures
NATO Symbols common in civil aviation use.
The following symbols have been borrowed from NATO and may be found on large
commercial transport aircraft.
Normally, aircraft fairing and access panels are identified by the aircraft manufacturers alphanumeric code, while servicing panels are placarded with their description.

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Hazardous Material Control and Management (HMCandM)

Hazardous material (HM) is any material that, because of quantity, concentration, or physical
or chemical characteristics, may pose a substantial hazard to human health or the
environment when purposefully released or accidentally spilled.
Hazardous waste (HW) is any discarded material (liquid, solid, or gas) which meets the
definition of HM and/or is designated as a hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) or a State agency.
Great care must be taken in handling, using, and storing hazardous materials and in the
accumulation of hazardous waste for disposal, to prevent injury to personnel and the
environment. Special precautions and an effective program to manage HM and HW are
required.
The maintenance of safe and healthful working conditions for HM/HW is everyones
responsibility.
Fluid Line Identification
Aircraft fluid hoses, pipes and tubing are identified by colour coded decals strips. The name
of the fluid is printed across the decal followed by a standardised symbol. Normally, the
symbol will identify the direction of flow.

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Sign Maintenance
Safety Signs and placards should be maintained in good legible condition. Inspect signs
during regular workplace inspections.
Replace worn, damaged and outdated signs and placards
Change signs that are often misunderstood.
Repaint or replace safety when colours have faded.
There are many dangers associated with the aviation working environment, including liquid
breathing oxygen, FOD batteries, wheels, tyres and fuel tank safety.

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Propeller Safety
Do not fool around with propellers, many people have been seriously injured by turning a
propeller. If the engine ignition is active turning a propeller can make the engine start or
kick.
Safety precautions associated with propellers are:
Treat propellers as live at all times..
Be aware that propellers may appear stationary under the effect of strobe lighting
Check the Paperwork

Before carrying out work on ANY aircraft always check the paperwork to ensure you are
familiar with the maintenance status of the aircraft. Often systems have been deactivated or
are in the process of repair and maintenance.
Maintenance personnel have been killed or seriously injured while carrying out maintenance
Carelessly operating a system without checking first, may have disastrous consequence for
others.

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Foreign object damage (FOD)

The ingestion of foreign objects and debris into jet engines currently accounts for the largest
percentage of unscheduled engine changes.
FOD is often caused by poor housekeeping, poor maintenance practices and everyday
carelessness. The active use of protective covers, FOD walkarounds, and a positive Tool
Control Program are a few of the steps that can be taken to control, or eliminate this problem.
If you see FOD, pick it up and dispose of it properly. FOD disposal bins are strategically
placed around airport terminal areas and inside hangars
.

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Tyre Safety
Handling and servicing of aircraft tyres and wheels
The potential danger to personnel who are involved in handling, maintenance or servicing of
aircraft tyres and wheels require that they receive on-the-job training under the supervision of
a qualified supervisor.
Aircraft tyres can be a lethal store of energy, some inflation pressures exceed 250 psig .
When working on aircraft wheels and tyres always ensure the following:
Inflate to the Maintenance Manual (MM) recommended pressure
Use the MM recommended gas Large commercial typically use dry nitrogen. Small
general aviation aircraft use compressed air.
Use a regulated supply. Not high pressure, uncontrolled filling can rupture the tyre
with dire consequences.
Deflate the tyre before attempting to split the wheel. Failure to do so can, cause
fatal injuries due to the wheel separating with explosive force.
Following new tyre fitment, inflate the tyre inside a cage. Failure to do so can cause
fatal injuries if the tyre ruptures or the wheel separates.
Personnel will not be permitted to work independently until they have demonstrated removal
and replacement of a wheel assembly, including wheel bearing cleaning and lubrication, if
applicable, while under the supervision of a qualified technician. They must also have
successfully completed an examination administered by a qualified RTO and certified using
local procedures.
When deflating a tyre DO NOT remove a valve core from the valve body, back it out far
enough to release the pressure. People have suffered serious injury when hit by a valve core
ejected at high velocity by the tyre pressure. Allow the tyre to deflate before removing the
valve core.

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Large aircraft wheel and tyre assemblies are heavy and require special handling equipment
and procedures to avoid injury.
Aircraft wheels are two piece assemblies; it is therefore good practice to deflate the tyre
before removing the wheel assembly from the landing gear axle. This prevents catastrophic
failure of the wheel assembly, personal injury or death should the wheel tie bolts (which hold
the two halves of the wheel together) be loose, broken or missing.
Aircraft Oxygen Systems

Aircraft oxygen systems can be either a fixed or portable; some aircraft have both. Oxygen is
normally used only in an emergency, it is vital to the preservation of life at high altitude
following the failure of the cabin pressurisation system.
The flight crew regularly test their oxygen system and will use it from time to time to meet
operational requirements. This is the main reason for the depletion of emergency oxygen and
the continual need for replenishment and servicing.
Personnel should report contamination (odours) in aviation breathing oxygen systems. The
flight crew will ground the aircraft if they detect any problems with the oxygen system.

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Handling Of Aviation Breathing Oxygen and Gaseous Nitrogen

Personnel dealing with gaseous oxygen or nitrogen should be aware of the dangers
associated with the use of high pressure systems.
Oxygen itself will not burn, however, combustion cannot occur without oxygen. Before a fire
can eventuate there must be fuel, oxygen and an ignition source.
Objects burn more readily in oxygen than in air. The flammability of common clothing
materials in a 100% oxygen environment is raised to a level where it can be ignited by a
slight electrostatic spark. As the atmosphere becomes more oxygen enriched, the ignition
temperature of all fuels decreases and since most substances will burn in an oxygen
enriched environment, a potential fire hazard exists when handling oxygen. Comparing
circumstances for a 100% oxygen enriched environment at standard atmospheric pressure,
with that of air at the same pressure:
There is a 1000 fold increase in the ignitability of most substances and a five fold
increase in burning rate.
Smothering is ineffective as an extinguishing agent (this means that extinguishers

which rely on starving the fire of oxygen will be ineffective, CO2, Foam, DCP)
In an oxygen enriched environment any source of ignition can be the beginning of a

drastic sequence of events causing immense danger to both persons and property, eg
electrical arc/spark, burning cigarette, combustion engine, or even a electrostatic
spark.
Oils and greases are extremely hazardous substances in enriched oxygen

environments. These and some other materials will explode when subjected to low
pressure oxygen. Do not permit oxygen-enriched air to come in contact with organic
materials or flammable or combustible substances of any kind
Never use oil or grease on an oxygen component, or a component likely to come into
contact with an oxygen enriched environment.

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Aircraft Storage Oxygen Bottles

Typically, most commercial jet aircraft use gaseous oxygen stored in steel cylinders at1850
psi. The main reason for using gaseous oxygen is its ease of handling and the fact that it is
available at most of the airports used by such aircraft.
High pressure cylinders are made of steel or high strength steel alloy some cylinders are wire
wound to make them shatter proof
Do not discharge below 500 psi. This alleviates the possibility of moisture ingress.
High pressure aircraft bottles are always painted green, Wakefield green in commercial
aircraft use. White lettering with the words AVIATORS BREATHING OXYGEN must be
painted on the bottle and must be visible for inspection. High pressure bottles can be
installed horizontally or vertically in the aircraft.
Replenishment Cylinders
Oxygen is supplied from the commercial manufacturers in extra high pressure (EHP)
cylinders; the maximum pressure of these cylinders is 3600 psi. In Australia Commercial
oxygen cylinders are painted black with a white neck.
When servicing aircraft oxygen cylinders do not deplete the replenishment cylinders below
500 psi, this avoids possible ingress of air and moisture which can corrode the cylinder
internally.
Oxygen Cart
When servicing oxygen systems ensure a serviceable oxygen cart is used.
Ensure only aviators breathing oxygen is used.
Oxygen is used for breathing ONLY, NEVER use oxygen in a nitrogen system.
Liquid oxygen (if used) requires special safety precautions, due to its extremely low
temperature and its explosive nature.
Protective clothing, face shields, gloves, apron and shoes are mandatory for handling liquid
oxygen handling

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Compressed Dry Nitrogen Servicing Equipment.

Nitrogen cylinders are painted grey. High and low pressure dry nitrogen is extensively used in
servicing aircraft and in aircraft maintenance.
Dry nitrogen is used for tyre inflation, pressurising aircraft hydraulic system accumulators and
landing gear oleo struts etc.
Personnel working with nitrogen servicing equipment must comply with proper safety,
operating, and maintenance procedures.
Safety Precautions
General precautions for all systems
Never use any oil or grease in, on, or around oxygen systems.
Never use oxygen to dust off components or the work area.
Never expose oxygen systems to high temperatures or ignition sources (50 m).
Never open an oxygen valve rapidly, this could produce a rapid rise in
temperature.
Always follow manufacturers instructions and adhere explicitly to the published

overhaul and or company repair procedures.
Only use tools which form part of an oxygen composite tool kit
Never improvise or substitute parts or materials when maintaining oxygen

systems.
Always ground a system before servicing.
Check and recheck that only aviators dry breathing oxygen is used when refilling
After any form of maintenance on a gaseous or liquid system, smell a small

amount of oxygen. Any abnormal odour is reason for rejection of the system until
corrected.
Always be on the lookout for damaged threads, scratched or bent tubing, dented
cylinders or containers or any other evidence of abuse. Replace all suspect
equipment.
Gaseous oxygen system precautions
Never allow a gaseous system to remain at or near its minimum pressure, as

water tends to accumulate in the system.
Always be positive of the pressure range of a system when filling it, as
introduction of high pressure oxygen into a low pressure system could be
disastrous.

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Electrical Safety
The human body depends on two body functions to maintain life:
breathing or respiration
heartbeat or circulation
To maintain these two functions the brain, via the bodys nervous system, sends tiny
electrical pulses to the muscles that control breathing and circulation. Should there be a
failure of these two functions, life will be in danger.
When the body is exposed to an electric shock, the shock will cause current to flow within the
body that can interfere with the electrical impulses that control the respiration and circulation
functions. The degree of interference is dependent upon:
where the current flows within the body
the amount of current flowing
the duration of the electric shock
Reaction of Human Body to Electric Shock

The human body is not designed to withstand a continuous application of electricity.
As seen, muscular contraction caused by an electric shock can lead to serious injury or
death.
Current (milliamperes) Effect
up to 2 mA limit of perception
2 mA to 8 mA sensation becomes obvious and more painful.
8 mA to 12 mA muscle spasms and pain
12 mA to 20 mA unable to control muscles, it becomes impossible to let go of a

live conductor.
20 mA to 50 mA if current flow is across the chest, interference with the heart and
lung muscles may stop breathing.
50 mA to 100 mA if current flow is across the chest, heart commences ventricular

fibrillation (VF) the heart ceases to beat effectively and instead quivers or
fibrillates very rapidly sometimes at 350 beats per minute or more. A person
cannot survive this condition for more than a few minutes without emergency
treatment.
100 mA to 200 mA heart stops beating
above 200 mA severe burns.
Aircraft battery safety

There are three basic types of storage batteries in use: lead acid, nickel-cadmium and silverzinc. Personnel working with storage batteries must be aware of the type of electrolyte
(either acid or caustic), its corrosive effect and the possibility of explosion of the by-product
gas. Sparks, naked lights, welding equipment, etc. used in close proximity to batteries could
cause explosions.

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Fuelling Safety
Care must be taken at all times to maintain a safe working environment. Ensure refuelling
and defuelling operations are performed in accordance with:
aircraft maintenance manual
local instructions (relevant to airport/operator)
To prevent fuel flow induced static electricity build up becoming a fire hazard, prior to any
fuelling operation, ensure the following:
Refuelling vehicle is correctly positioned and earthed
Aircraft is correctly earthed to refuelling vehicle
Fuel hose fitting is correctly earthed to aircraft.
Fuel Tank Safety

The fuel tanks of large aircraft are hazardous places to work.
Regardless of the type of fuel carried in the tanks they contain toxic vapours from fuel and
chemicals, the danger of explosion and chronic illness or death is always present.
WHandS regulations must be followed and precautions taken when ever fuel tanks are
opened for maintenance and inspection. Precautions must be taken when performing the
following tasks:
Defuelling.
Earthing (Grounding) the aircraft.
Removing fuel tank panels.
Removing trapped fuel.
Venting.
Testing for fuel vapours.
Entering a fuel tank

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Defuelling
Before maintenance can be performed on a fuel tank it will need to be defueled. On large
aircraft defuelling is often carried out by one of the following methods:
Transferring fuel to another tank.
Transferring fuel to an aviation fuel supply company tanker.
Depending on the aircraft type, defuelling is the reverse to refuelling and can be carried out
manually or automatically. Fuel remaining after the defuelling operation is normally drained
into drums via the under-wing fuel drain valves. Small quantity of trapped fuel can be mopped
up after the tank is opened. Small aircraft may be defueled through their tank drain valves
into drums.
Defuelling should be performed out-side of the hangar, but this is not always possible.
Regardless of the aircraft size or type the aircraft must be earthed (grounded) while
hangared. During the defuelling operation the grounding procedure is the same as for
fuelling. When draining fuel from the aircraft into drums the drum must earthed to the aircraft
and to the hangar or tarmac earth point.

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Safe Tooling
Never use in electric power tools in locations where flammable gases are or may be present
in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or flammable mixtures.
Electric power tools produce sparks which may ignite fuel vapour.
Use manual hand tools such as screw drivers, speed-braces etc to remove fuel tank panels.
Pneumatic tools are also acceptable as these do not produce sparks.
Explosion Proof Lights

Explosion proof lights are intended for use in locations where flammable gases are or may be
present in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or flammable mixtures.
Approved low voltage explosion proof lights must be used inside and in the vicinity of an
open aircraft fuel tank. Never use naked flames and never use an ordinary lead light or torch
(flashlight) in or near an open fuel tank. These types of lights can ignite flammable mixtures if
the globe shatters or the switch arcs.

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Definitions - Explosion Hazard

Lower Explosive Limit (LEL):
The concentration of the contaminate in air below which the propagation of a flame
does NOT occur on contact with an ignition source.
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL):
The concentration of the contaminate in air above which the propagation of a flame
does NOT occur on contact with an ignition source.
The LEL for Jet A1 is 0.7 percent.
Fuel Tank Venting

It is necessary to keep the concentration of the tank vapours in the air below its lower
explosive limit. Continuous venting of the fuel tank removes volatile fuel and chemical
vapours. Venting also removes the vapours from cleaning solvents and other substances
taken into the tanks by maintenance personnel.
Gas Detectors
To minimise risks, fuel tank entry procedures recommend an extensive series of precautions
and tank entry must only be carried out by approved personnel.
The atmosphere inside the tanks must be continuously monitored to ensure toxic
concentrations do not exceed legally allowable levels. An adequate level of oxygen for
breathing must be maintained.

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Gas detectors measure the concentration of combustible vapours, they also registers an
alarm when the concentration reaches explosion hazard levels. (Levels between the LEL and
UEL) For health reasons, safe exposure to fuel tank atmospheres below the LEL is time
weighted against the concentration percentage, the higher the concentration the shorter the
time allowed. Time weighting must be calculated.
Exposure Limits
Time Weighed Average: (TWA)
The average airborne concentration of a particular substance when calculated over

a normal eight hour work day, for a five day work week.
Fuel Tank Entry

Fuel tanks may be classified as confined space if the atmosphere inside fails to meet health
standards, Commonwealth and State confined space regulations will then apply.
Fuel tank entry is a team task and the team members must be trained and authorised for the
task. There are three team members, they are:
Confined Space Entrant.
Standby Person.
Alternate Standby Person.
The Confined Space Entrant will perform the maintenance inside the fuel tank.
Breathing Equipment
Specialised safety equipment is required to enable maintenance personnel to enter large
aircraft fuel tanks where toxic concentrations exist. The safety equipments include.
Two filtered air supplies minimum 170 L/min.

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Primary Rig use by the Confined Space Entrants is connected to shop

compressed air supply.
Standby Rig used by the Standby Person uses compressed air

cylinders or, bottles
Face mask respirator for each person

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Primary Rig and Standby Person Duties

The primary rig is used for breathing by the Confined Space Entrant and its operation and
security is monitored by the Standby Person.
The Standby Persons job is to ensure the safety of the Confined Space Entrant. The
Standby Persons tasks include the following:
check all cylinders are fully charged,
ensure hose connections are secure,
maintain and monitor shop air supply and the Confined Space Entrant,
control hose movements and prevent tangles,
switch air supply to the air bottles if warning sounds or confined space entrant is in
distress, and assist in exit of entrant,
Monitor gauges, if primary air supply pressure falls below 85 PSI, switch to
emergency air and the entrant is to be recalled.
Standby Rig and Alternate Standby Person Duties

The Standby rig is used for breathing by the Standby Person. In an emergency, its operation
and security is monitored by the Alternate Standby Person.
The Alternate Standby Persons job is to take over the responsibilities of the stand by person.
In an emergency, where the Standby Person has to enter the fuel tank to rescue the Confined
Space Entrant, the Alternate Standby Persons responsibilities include:
monitoring both of the entrants and control their hose movement,
Monitoring the air pressure gauges on both primary and secondary rigs,
Change air supply bottle if warning whistle sounds.
Specialised Training
Specialised Confined Space Entry (CSE) training is a prerequisite for entering aircraft fuel
tanks, CSE duties are voluntary and the task should take the health, fitness and general
wellbeing of the volunteer into consideration.

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TOPIC 7.1.4 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Introduction to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
There are hazards in every working environment. Dangerous substances and poisons are
one such hazard in the aviation working environment, especially the maintenance side of it.
Whether it be the fuels or oils that are used to run the aircraft, or the chemicals and solutions
used to maintain the aircraft, they are all hazardous to our health.
Illustrate the methods of entry of poisonous substances into the body
Explain why jewellery, watches, metal rimmed glasses must be removed before
working on mechanical and electrical equipment.
Illustrate various personal protective equipment and its application as used in the
workplace
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Entry of Poisonous/Hazardous Substances into the Body

Hazardous substances or chemicals can make you sick or injure you if you come into contact
with them. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) must be used when you are working with
hazardous substances.
Different hazardous substances have various effects on the body. It is important that you
recognise whether the substance you are working with is hazardous or not.
What is a hazardous substance?

Hazardous Substances Advisory Standard
The purpose of the Hazardous Substances Standard (Part 13 of WH&S Regulations 1997) is
to give practical advice on ways to manage specific risks that arise when hazardous
substances are used at workplaces. The Standard commenced on 1 July 1998 and expires
on 1 May 2004.2.
A hazardous substance is a substance for which a Material Safety Data Sheet

(MSDS) has been prepared.
An MSDS must be given to your employer by the supplier when the hazardous
substance is first supplied to your workplace or when you request it.
We use hazardous substances almost every day of our lives: it may be antiseptic for a cut,
paint for the walls, or a cleaning product for the bathroom or toilet. They may seem
harmless, but even these ordinary things can make you very sick if they are used incorrectly.
Personal habits and hygiene have an important bearing on safety and health.
All persons exposed to chemicals MUST follow the following directions;
Avoid eating, drinking, smoking or going to the toilet during the mixing, application or
clean-up process.
After handling chemicals, always wash your hands before eating, drinking, smoking or
using the toilet, and after work.
Immediately attend to injuries such as cuts and abrasions.
Clean protective clothing, gloves and footwear for on-site wear should be available
and be used where appropriate.
PPE, eyewashes and safety showers should be kept clean, serviceable and ready for
immediate use.
Check all equipment for leaks and any operative problems; keep records.
Ensure the application system is accurately estimated to minimise the amount of

chemical that must be disposed of.
How do hazardous substances enter the body?

Breathing in
Breathing in of vapours and dust is the main way that hazardous substances enter the body.
In the lungs, chemicals are absorbed from the air directly into the bloodstream and are
carried to all parts of the body. Dust particles are not absorbed into the blood, but they can
penetrate the lung and remain there, causing a lot of damage.
Skin or eye contact

Some chemicals can enter the body easily through the surface of the skin, while others can
enter through cuts or scratches on the skin.
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Eating or drinking
People can swallow food and drink which has been contaminated with chemicals in the
workplace, or through chemicals on their hands. Dust particles in the air can be swallowed.
Disease
Getting a disease is not like catching a cold. Diseases usually develop slowly.
If you are aware of your body and notice any changes, you might be able to get help before
your health gets any worse.
Have regular check-ups with your doctor. He will talk things over with you and do some
special tests to check your health.
Make yourself aware of biological hazards in your workplace. There can be a variety of
pathogens (illness-causing bugs) involved in the working environment.
There are three major ways bugs or contaminants can enter your body.
Through the lungs
One of the greatest risks is inhalation through the lungs. Occupational lung disease develops
when lungs are continually exposed to hazards. It usually takes months or years to develop.
We all breathe without really thinking about it it just happens naturally. And if you've ever
tried to hold your breath, you know that you can't for very long.
How you breathe

You breathe in and out anywhere from 15 to 25 times per minute without even thinking about
it. When you are working, your breathing rate goes up again, without you thinking about it.
You breathe so regularly that it is easy to take your lungs for granted. You can't even stop
yourself from breathing if you try!
Your lungs are located within your chest cavity inside the rib cage.
They are made of spongy, elastic tissue that stretches and constricts as you breathe. The
airways that bring air into the lungs (the trachea and bronchi) are made of smooth muscle
and cartilage, allowing the airways to constrict and expand.
Your lungs are complex organs, but what they do is take a gas that your body needs to get rid
of (carbon dioxide) and exchange it for a gas that your body can use (oxygen).
The lungs and airways bring in fresh, oxygen-enriched air and get rid of waste carbon dioxide
made by your cells. They also help in regulating the concentration of hydrogen ion (pH) in
your blood.
Through the digestive system

There is less risk through swallowing of hazardous substances: wash your hands before
eating food.
When lungs fail

Diseases or conditions of the lung fall mainly into two classes:
those that make breathing harder
those that damage the lungs' ability to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen.
Conditions that minimise or prevent gas exchange include
Pulmonary oedema: Fluid between the alveolus and pulmonary capillary builds up,
which increases the distance over which gases must exchange and slows down the
exchange.
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Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), commonly referred to as rotten egg gas, H2S or sewer
gas. It is toxic and has caused numerous fatalities within confined spaces.
Smoke inhalation: smoke particles coat the alveoli and prevent the exchange of
gases.
Diseases that influence the mechanics of breathing include:
Asthma: The bronchioles constrict, reducing the size of the airways. This cuts down
on the flow of air and makes the respiratory muscles work harder.
Emphysema: The lungs become stiff with fibres and become less elastic, which
increases the work of the respiratory muscles.
Bronchitis: The airways become inflamed and narrower, which restricts the flow of air
and increases the work of the respiratory muscles.
Asbestosis: breathing in of asbestos particles.
Silicosis: breathing in of silica particles.
Through the skin

Absorption through the skin is another major route of entry for toxic substances.
Problems can also arise when the skin is broken (cuts or abrasions, contact with sharps);
bugs can enter the body.
How the skin works

The average human body is covered by about 20 square feet (2 square meters) of skin. Skin
is the only organ that is constantly exposed to potential irritation. And, with so many things
coming into contact with your skin daily, you're bound to get an irritant or two.
Skin is one of the most amazing organs in the human body.
It is hard for us to think about it as an organ, however. We tend to think of organs as boxy
things. Your heart, liver, kidneys those are obviously organs. But skin is an organ too,
especially if you look at the dictionary definition of "organ", like this definition from the
Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary:
"Organ
(a) differentiated structure (as a heart, kidney, leaf, or stem) consisting of cells and
tissues and performing some specific function in an organism, and
(b) bodily parts performing a function or cooperating in an activity "
By that definition, skin is definitely an organ.
Skin is made up of very specific cells and tissues; and their collective purpose is to act as the
boundary between you and the world. One of the neat things about skin that makes it
different from a lot of other organs is the fact that it does have to deal with the real world.
Therefore it is loaded with sensors, and it also has a very tough layered design so that it can
handle realities of the environment like abrasion and sunlight.
Needle stick injuries
The Workplace Health and Safety Act require that employers ensure the health and safety of
all workers at work.
Employers therefore should take appropriate measures to control risks to workers from
injuries which penetrate the skin.
Workers who are typically at risk come from a wide range of occupations: medical, nursing,
health care, dental, laboratory and mortuary workers, first aiders and rescue and emergency
workers, because of discarded needles and other sharp objects.
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Penetrating wounds break the normal protective barrier provided by the skin and allow the
entry of infection. This commonly results in a simple infection where the tissues around the
wound itself become swollen, red and tender.
All injuries should be reported and checked regularly for signs of inflammation and infection
to ensure that healing occurs.
Such infections may become serious and require extensive treatment.
Sometimes cuts and puncture wounds allow life-threatening infections to enter the body.
The presence of skin wounds will increase the risk to individuals of life-threatening infection.
The risk from these diseases occurs only where a sharp object has been previously
contaminated with the blood of an infected person. There is a need for special caution
whenever workers come into contact with sharp objects which could be contaminated by
human body fluids.
Body parts that can be affected in the workplace
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Removal of Jewellery and Metal Rimmed Glasses

Always make sure that before using a piece of machinery you are trained in how to operate it
correctly and, where authorised, to maintain it. You must know how to STOP it in an
emergency.
Always make sure that you are wearing the appropriate protective clothing and eye wear and
that all machine guards are properly in place. Do not wear dangling jewellery, rings,
watches, or loose clothing which could get caught in machinery.
Do not wear metal-rimmed glasses, as these may become a conductor for electrical current
should they come into contact with electrical current. In addition, rings and watches can also
cause severe burns and sometimes death when they come into contact with live electrical
wiring.
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PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to any clothing or equipment which when
correctly worn or used reduces the exposure to foreseeable risks of injury or disease.
Your first obligation is to follow good practice and procedures for safe working conditions.
Remember, personal protective equipment is the last measure of control. You should look at
the other measures first.
Hazards may be controlled in a number of ways and some methods of control can be better
than others. These control measures are listed below in the preferred order of
implementation:
Elimination modification to the process, method or material to eliminate the hazard

completely.
Substitution replacing the material, substance or process with a less hazardous one.
Engineering change plant / work processes to reduce or eliminate risk to personnel

or isolate personnel from the hazard by safeguarding, by space or by time.
Administration adjusting the time or conditions of risk exposures/probation/training.
PPE using appropriately designed and properly fitting equipment where other
controls are not practicable.
The most effective form of hazard control is elimination and the least effective is the
use of PPE. However, it may be necessary to implement a combination of the above
control measures.
This hierarchy of control should be systematically followed to have the greatest effect on
hazard control.
Using the hierarchy of control, first you should try not to breathe in or touch the chemical but
if you cannot do this, you need to wear your PPE.
Responsibilities
What do you have to do with your personal protective equipment?
1. Follow the instructions given by employers to ensure health and safety.
2. Do not misuse anything provided by your employer.
3. Use the equipment as youve been trained.
4. Wear it when you need to.
5. Look after it and keep it clean.
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What does your employer have to do?

1. Provide you with personal protective equipment.
2. Train you how to use it properly.
3. Replace equipment if it is broken.
4. Make sure it fits you.
When do you wear your personal protective equipment?
When you feel unsafe
When told by your supervisor or team coordinator or your workmates
When your Material Safety Data Sheet tells you to
When a warning sign tells you
If there is a chance of injury, wear your personal protective equipment.
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Head protection
Hard hats are a common form of protection. They are used
mainly to protect you against falling or protruding objects.
They also protect your hair and head from dust and other air
borne contaminates.
Wide brim hats are necessary to protect the worker in the

outdoors from UV rays.
Sunscreen would also be used in conduction with the shade
hat to protect the skin from the sun.
Hearing protection
After assessing noise levels, you should select appropriate hearing protection, such as
earplugs or earmuffs. A comfortable fit is an important consideration when choosing hearing
protection.
All approved hearing protection should comply with AS 1270; hearing conservation programs,
if applicable, should be based on AS 1269.
Earmuffs give a better overall protection for the ear than ear plugs, but in some cases both
could be worn to give better protection.
Ear muffs
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Eye protection
Safety glasses should be worn in the plant at all times. Safety glasses have hardened lenses
and sometimes wings on the arms of the frames to protect the eye from the side.
When you are working with chemicals, more comprehensive eye wear is necessary to avoid
splashes into the eye. Full safety goggles protect the eyes and a full face shield protects the
entire face.
Whilst you are working in certain circumstances, it may be advisable to wear a hard hat with
a full face shield.
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Hand Protection
A variety of hand protection is available to the worker:
Leather gloves to protect against heat, cuts and abrasions.
Vinyl gloves with fabric reinforcement when working with chemicals. These
gloves are called gauntlets and come halfway up the arm.
Non-cut gloves when working in an area that could contain broken glass,
hypodermic needles and other sharp objects.
Leather Palm Safety Gloves (General purpose)
Cotton Rubber Palm Coated Gloves (non slip)
Heavy Duty Rubber or vinyl Gloves (Chemical resistant)
Kevlar Gloves (cut and abrasion resistance)
Woven Cotton Gloves (Low heat resistant for use in hot

areas, e.g. handling hot engine components or wheel brakes)
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Body protection
Overalls are the best protection for the body. Many types of suits are available, depending
on the situation you are working in. Remember that the skin is the largest organ of the body,
and as such needs protection.
Fire risk. Cotton overalls are used here, as there is less likelihood of static electricity
building up in your body which could cause a spark. Synthetic overalls will melt and
cause burns to the skin where it touches. Cotton overalls will not burn but only
smoulder thereby minimising damage to your skin.
Fumes and vapours. Here synthetic is the better choice, as they are less absorbent
than cotton.
Absorbent materials. An overall plus an acid suit is best here, to prevent the skin from
absorbing dangerous materials.
Cotton Overalls
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During a spectacular pit fire at the 1994 German Grand Prix, Benetton driver Jos Verstappen,
who was wearing a uniform of DuPont Nomex aramid fibre, escaped with only minor burns
after being engulfed in flames. Flame-resistant garments of Nomex help protect workers
across a broad cross of industries, as well as professional fire fighters, race car drivers, U.S.
military personnel and the NASA astronaut crew.
Synthetic overalls
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Foot protection
Safety shoes which meet Australian standards are designed to protect the feet from damage.
A variety of types is available.
Leather with steel toecaps, to protect the toes from falling weights and from studding
the toe on hard objects.
Rubber kneeboots, to protect the feet in wet areas.
Anti-static soles. They prevent a static build-up in the body when you are working
with flammable materials, thereby reducing the risk of a spark.
Breathing protection
A variety of breathing protection is available.
Basic cloth or paper masks protect from dust.
Cartridge and canister masks protect from fumes.
Air respirators (see AS1715 for correct use).
Carefully read the instruction label on all apparatus, to ensure that you are using the correct
protection for the job at hand.
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Machinery
Always make sure that before using a piece of machinery you are trained in how to operate it
correctly and, where authorised, to maintain it. You must know how to STOP it in an
emergency.
Always make sure that you are wearing the appropriate protective clothing and eye wear and
that all machine guards are properly in place. Do not wear dangling jewellery, rings,
watches, or loose clothing which could get caught in machinery.
Do not wear metal-rimmed glasses, as these may become a conductor for electrical current
should they come into contact with electrical current. In addition, rings and watches can also
cause severe burns and sometimes death when they come into contact with live electrical
wiring.
Keep long hair tied back.
You must operate machinery in adequate light, and should turn it off when it is not in use.
Never distract others who are using machinery.
On no account should machinery be operated when you are tired or under the influence of
drugs or alcohol. You will be a liability to yourself and others.
Any defects in machinery must be reported to your supervisor or manager and the machine
taken out of service.
PPE
Operators must wear personal protective equipment whenever they are performing the
following tasks:
mixing loading
cleaning and maintenance of application equipment
cleaning up spills
rinsate disposal
any other activity likely to result in direct contact with the chemical.
When handling chemicals, it is important to avoid skin and eye contact.

The following PPE must be worn:
body wear
gloves
footwear
eye protection.
CAUTION: Refer to the MSDS to determine the minimum equipment to be worn when you
are working with the chemical of choice.
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Storage of PPE
The following PPE shall be provided, as appropriate, at premises on which chemicals are
stored or handled:
PVC jacket and trousers, or overalls
Elbow length protective gloves of rubber or PVC, complying with AS/NZS 2161.2
Chemical goggles or full face shield, selected in accordance with AS/NZS 1337
PVC or rubber boots conforming to AS/NZS 2210.2
Washable hat with wide brim, or safety helmet as specified in AS/NZS 1801
All PPE shall be maintained in a fit state of repair.

A storage cabinet shall be provided for personal protective equipment to:
protect such equipment and clothing from contamination, and
segregate it from normal clothing.
Care and maintenance of PPE and clothing

PPE and protective clothing shall be:
cleaned after use
maintained in accordance with the requirement to the relevant Australian standards
disposed of in an appropriate manner if heavily contaminated and deemed unfit for

repair
kept separate from other clothing
be laundered appropriately
not laundered with the family washing.
Summary
Personal protective equipment is designed to minimise risk to your body. It is not a total
protection. Always use the hierarchy of control first.
Personal protective equipment, like a car seat belt, will only be effective if used correctly and
in conjunction with appropriate operating procedures relevant to specific industries. Make
sure the equipment fits properly and is not damaged. This is why the proper maintenance
care of all PPE is extremely important. Remember, it is everyones responsibility to ensure
the inspection of PPE is carried out on a consistent basis.
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TOPIC 7.1.5 EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Introduction to Emergency Equipment
Fire can be one of the most devastating of all industrial emergencies. Each year, accidental
fires in the workplace cost thousands of people their livelihoods and, for thousands more
their lives. Perhaps the saddest fact of all is that most of these fires could have been
prevented. By recognising fire hazards and learning how to correct them, you can help
prevent fires and save lives.
Explain the various types of fire extinguishers and their relationship to the different
classes of fires.
Appraise emergency equipment in the working environment
Explain the use of emergency equipment.
Emergency situations and equipment

The emergency plan should be part of the training of all personnel and should include, where
appropriate;
actions to be taken
a list of contact telephone numbers for emergency services
MSDS ready for easy access in the event of an emergency.
In an emergency
Do not panic.
Rinse any contamination off the body.
Seek professional medical assistance.
First aid
A first aid station should be provided and maintained in a clean area, wherever chemicals are
stored. It should comprise, as a minimum;
an appropriate first aid kit
eyewash facilities.
It is recommended that at least one person in the workplace is trained in first aid.
Follow specific first aid instructions on MSDS if accidental exposure to chemicals has taken
place by ingestion, inhalation, or splashing onto skin/eyes.
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Handling Workplace Emergencies

Workplaces have emergency procedures in place to assist employees if a serious mishap or
accident occurs. You must know and understand these procedures. Procedures are writtendown steps or detailed actions you should take in the event of an emergency, for example, an
accident, fire or chemical spill.
An emergency response plan should be in place in your workplace.
It will contain details about:
what to do in an emergency
your chain of command in an emergency
communication procedures in an emergency
the site you are working on
the building you are working in
evacuation procedures.
In any emergency, you should do these things:
Raise the alarm.
Stay calm.
Keep yourself out of danger first.
Do what you can to help and then leave the area.
If a person in authority gives you instructions, follow them.
Go to the designated assembly point so you can be accounted for.
Remember, know the plan and be prepared. You wont have time to stop and ask questions
during the real thing.
Fire Emergencies and Classes of Fire

Fires are common occurrences in workplaces. Luckily most of them are put out quickly
before much damage is done or before anyone is hurt. Within the aerospace industry, you
should follow the Fire and Emergency Evacuation Plan for the workplace you are at. Training
in this procedure is compulsory for all at a workplace.
Trained fire wardens assume control of situations requiring the evacuation of a workplace.
They liaise with emergency services personnel and their orders must be followed.
You need to find out who your fire warden is.
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Prevention of Fire Hazards

You can help prevent fires at your worksite, by following these guidelines:
Keep equipment and machinery clean and in good operating condition.
Make sure that all electrical equipment is protected.
Never overload circuits.
Store flammable/combustible materials in appropriate containers away from heat

sources.
Keep work and refuse areas clean and free of debris.
Dispose of flammables according to established safety guidelines.
Never leave open flames unattended.
Use caution when operating welding and other spark-producing equipment.
Clean (if appropriate) or report all spills.
Report suspicious persons to security or the plant manager.
Keep fire exits/escape routes clear and well marked.
Know where alarm boxes are located.
You can also help prevent fire hazards at work by ensuring that:
electrical equipment is switched off at the end of the day
faulty and overheating equipment is not used
circuits are not overloaded
No Smoking signs are obeyed
regular fire hazard inspections are conducted
rubbish does not accumulate
heaters are placed away from flammable materials.
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Steps to follow in a fire emergency

In the event of a fire or the presence of smoke, you should stay calm. You should be familiar
with fire drills and the evacuation process through your training.
The steps to follow in a fire emergency are these:
Alert others in the immediate work area.
Sound the alarm immediately or advise the fire service
(ring 000).
Fight the fire with equipment available if it is safe to do so.
Ensure the safety of all persons in the work area.
Evacuate the building and go to a designated spot.
If you have the time and there is no danger to yourself or others:turn off any electrical
equipment in your immediate vicinity, and
shut doors to prevent smoke and flames from spreading.
Always exit the building using the stairs, never the lift or elevator! Do not re-enter a burning
building.
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The fire triangle

In order to understand how fire extinguishers work, you first need to know a little bit about
fire. Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation (burning) of a fuel.
Four things must be present at the same time in order to produce fire:
1. FUEL any combustible material solid, liquid or gas. Most solids and liquids must
vaporise before they will burn.
2. OXYGEN Sufficient oxygen must be present in the atmosphere surrounding the
fuel for fire to burn.
3. HEAT Sufficient heat energy must be applied to raise the fuel to its ignition
temperature.
4. Chemical, exothermic reaction This reaction can occur when all three of the above
elements are present in the proper conditions and proportions. Fire (rapid
oxidisation) is the result of this chemical reaction.
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Classes of fires
Not all fires are the same. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the wrong class of
fire, you can, make matters worse. It is therefore very important to understand the six
different classes of fires.
As you were shown in the fire triangle module, if any one component of the fire triangle (heat,
oxygen or fuel) is removed from the fire, then the fire will be extinguished.
The type of fuel determines which component can be removed the most efficiently; therefore
fires are divided into classes to ensure that the most efficient extinguishing method is used
for any particular fire. If you use the wrong type of extinguisher on the wrong class of fire, you
may make matters worse. For example, if water is used to extinguish an oil fire, the oil may
float on the water and spread the fire to other areas.
Fires are normally classified according to the fuel involved. However, any fire that involves
energised electrical equipment is always classified as a class (E) until the electrical circuit is
disconnected. It is then reclassed according to the type of material that is burning.
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Fire classes
Class A ordinary combustible or fibrous material, such as wood, paper, fabric,
coal, leather, sugar, rubber and some plastics.
Class B flammable liquids such as petrol, kerosene, alcohol, oil and paint
thinners.
Class C Flammable gases such as LPG, butane, acetylene, hydrogen, natural
gas and methane.
Class D Combustible metals: potassium, sodium, lithium, aluminum,
magnesium and metal swarf. Fires of this class may occur in laboratories or
industries that use these materials. Metal swarf fires may occur in machine
shops where metal turning or milling is carried out. These fires burn at high
temperatures and give off sufficient oxygen to support combustion. They may
also react violently with water or other chemicals.
Class E Electrical hazards: Fires involving live electrical equipment (e.g.
computers, switchboards and power tools). As long as it's plugged in, it would
be considered a class E fire. If the electricity supply to the equipment is
disconnected (plug pulled out), then the fire is not class E. It takes the class of
the fuel that is burning.
Class F Cooking oil or fat
Most fire extinguishers will have a pictograph label telling you which fuels the extinguisher is
designed to fight. For example, a simple water extinguisher might have a label like the one
below, indicating that it should only be used on Class A fuels.
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Types of extinguishers
The most common types of fire extinguishers are:
Water
Dry chemical powder (DC)
Carbon dioxide (CO2).
Foam (AFFF)
Wet Chemical
Water extinguisher
Water or APW (air pressurised water) extinguishers are large, red extinguishers, filled about
two-thirds with ordinary tap water and then pressurised with air. When the extinguisher is
activated, a stream of water is forced out the nozzle.
This type of extinguisher removes the heat element of the fire triangle.
Water (APW) extinguishers are designed for Class A (wood, paper, cloth) fires only.
Never use water to extinguish flammable liquid fires. The burning liquid may float and spread
out on the water surface, thus spreading the fire.
Never use water to extinguish an electrical fire. Water is a good conductor, and there is a
high risk that you may receive a severe electric shock if you use water on an electrical fire.
Electrical equipment must be unplugged and/or de-energized before you use a water
extinguisher on it.
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Dry chemical powder extinguisher

Dry Chemical Powder fire extinguishers (DCP's) are the most widely used fire extinguishers,
suitable for use on many types of fires.
These extinguishers are filled with a fine powder and pressurised by nitrogen. When
activated, they extinguish a fire by coating the fuel with a thin layer of powder, which
separates the fuel from the oxygen in the air; the powder also interrupts the chemical reaction
of fire. They are extremely effective at extinguishing fires.
Special powder is available for Class D (metal) fires, however have a limited impact upon the
other Classes of fires.
The dry powder discharged against a fire has the ability to absorb fuel molecules into the
surface thus diminishing the ability of the fire to continue. However, consideration must be
given to the location & usage due to the discharging of this fine powder.
Specific concerns include the restriction of vision for a short period, the infiltration of powder
into sensitive equipment and the creation of residue which, when dry, may be able to be
vacuumed.
Dry chemical powder extinguishers are identified by a white band on a red body.
Dry chemical extinguishers come in two types. You may see them labelled as:
"AB(E)", indicating that they are designed to extinguish class A,B,and (E) fires, or
"B(E)", indicating that they are designed to extinguish class B and (E) fires but NOT
class A.
Either one may be used for a class C (flammable gas) fire after the source of gas is
turned off, and for a class F (cooking oil or fat) fire.
It is important to identify which types of DC extinguishers are located in your area.

Read the labels and know their locations!
You don't want to mistakenly use a B(E) extinguisher on a Class A fire, thinking that it was an
AB(E) extinguisher.
An AB(E) extinguisher may have a label like this, indicating that it may be used on class A,B,
and E fires.
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Carbon dioxide extinguishers
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers are recommended for use in electronic
environments.
This extinguisher may also be used on small flammable and combustible liquid Class B fires.
CO2 is a non-conductive and non-corrosive agent which reduces the oxygen available to
support the fire. As carbon dioxide replaces oxygen, the discharge by personnel within
extremely confined spaces is discouraged. Equally, as the agent dissipates easily into the
atmosphere, the effect is limited where there is air movement.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers are filled with non-flammable carbon dioxide gas under
extreme pressure. The pressure in the cylinder is so great that when you use one of these
extinguishers, bits of dry ice may shoot out the nozzle.
They extinguish the fire by displacing the air and thus removing the oxygen. They also
provide some cooling of the fire.
You can recognize a CO2 extinguisher by its black band on a red body and a large, wide
nozzle shield on the end of a flexible hose.
These extinguishers are frequently used in laboratories and other areas where flammable
liquids are stored or used.
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Foam Extinguishers (AFFF - Aqueous film-forming foam)
These extinguishers contain a concentrate mixed with water, which produces foam when
discharged.
Foam provides a blanket covering when utilised on flammable liquid or carbonaceous fires
assisting with the exclusion of oxygen and thus reducing the ability of fuel to continue burning
Foam extinguishers are suitable for either Class A, (combustible materials) or class B,
(flammable liquid) fires.
Giving a good flame knock-down, the foam extinguisher retains the features to both
extinguish the risk and secure the hazard.
Major advantage of foam extinguisher once fire is out it will not readily restart foam
suffocates fire & seals it from oxygen in the atmosphere
Eg: if fire is extinguished by C02 it can then re-ignite as soon as the C02 dissipates if
extinguished by foam it will not reignite because the foam seals the flammable liquid from
atmospheric oxygen
AFFF extinguishers can be used on fires based on: Wood, Cloth, Paper, Plastics, Coal etc.
Fires involving solids. Liquids such as grease, fats, oil, paint, petrol, etc. but not on chip or fat
pan fires.
For fires involving solids, point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the
area of the fire. Ensure that all areas of the fire are out.
For fire involving liquids, do not aim the jet straight into the liquid. Where the liquid on fire is in
a container, point the jet at the inside edge of the container or on a nearby surface above the
burning liquid. Allow the foam to build up and flow across the liquid.
It works because the foam forms a fire extinguishing film on the surface of a burning liquid. It
also has a cooling action with a wider extinguishing application than water on solid
combustible materials.
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Wet Chemical Extinguishers
These extinguishers utilise an aqueous solution discharged in a fine spray to the surface of
Class F fires, involving cooking oils and fats.
The agent reacts with the burning oil, or fat, forming a blanket which extinguishes the flame
by creating a saionifying action and changing the burning liquid into a soap like substance.
Once used, as the solution is usually alkaline, it is recommended the surface be cleaned and
all residue removed within a reasonable time period.
Extremely effective as the wet chemical rapidly knocks the flames out, cools the burning oil.
The soap-like solution seals the surface preventing re-ignition
Gentle application helps prevent hot oil splashing onto the user.
This product should not be used on electrical equipment fires, however it will be effective on
fires involving Paper, Textiles, Wood, Plastics and Rubber.
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The Use of Emergency Equipment

Rules for fighting fires
Fires can be very dangerous.
You should always be sure that you will not place yourself or anyone else at risk if you decide
to try and extinguish a fire.
These rules will help you make a safe decision if you discover a fire at home or your
workplace.
Assist any person in immediate danger, to get to safety, if it can be accomplished

without risk to yourself.
Call the Fire brigade by dialing 000 (Australia), and activate the building fire alarm
system (or asking someone else to do this for you).
Ensure people in the building are aware of the emergency and are starting to move
out.
Only after having done these three things, and if the fire is small, should you attempt
to use an extinguisher to put it out.
If you decide to fight the fire, keep these rules in mind:

ALWAYS
Operate the extinguisher briefly as you approach the fire, to ensure that it is working properly.
With dry chemical powder type extinguishers, it is possible that when initially operated, the
powder may not allow the valve to fully close again; therefore you should be approaching the
fire when you test the extinguisher.
Obtain assistance, if possible, before you fight the fire.
Place check that there is a clear escape path behind you.
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NEVER ATTEMPT TO FIGHT A FIRE IF:

You don't know what is burning. If you don't know what is burning, you don't know what type
of extinguisher to use or what other hazards to expect. There may be something burning that
will explode or perhaps produce toxic fumes. Unless you know what is on fire, then let the fire
brigade handle it when they arrive.
The fire has started to spread rapidly. A portable extinguisher is only useful for small fires. If
the fire is already spreading quickly, it is best to simply close the doors and windows to slow
down the spread of the fire and evacuate the building.
Do not fight the fire if:

You don't have adequate or appropriate equipment. If you don't have the correct type or a
large enough extinguisher, it is best not to try to fight the fire. (Always test the extinguisher to
ensure it is serviceable before you go near the fire.)
You might inhale toxic smoke.
If the fire is producing large amounts of smoke that you would have to breathe in order to
fight it, it is best not to try. Any sort of combustion will produce some amount of carbon
monoxide, but when synthetic materials such as the nylon in carpeting or foam padding in a
sofa burn, they can produce highly toxic gases such as hydrogen cyanide, acrolein, and
ammonia, in addition to carbon monoxide.
These gases can be fatal in very small amounts.
Your instincts tell you not to. If you are uncomfortable with the situation for any reason, just
let the fire department do their job.
The final rule is always to position yourself with an exit or means of escape at your back
before you attempt to use an extinguisher to put out a fire. In case anything unexpected
happens, you need to be able to get out quickly, and you don't want to become trapped. Just
remember; always keep an exit at your back.
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How to use a fire extinguisher

Even though extinguishers come in a number of shapes and sizes, they all operate in a
similar manner. Here's an easy acronym for fire extinguisher use:
P A S S Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep
Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher that keeps the handle from
being accidentally pressed.
Aim the nozzle toward the base of the fire.
Stand approximately 3 meters away from the fire and squeeze the handle to discharge the
extinguisher. If you release the handle, the discharge will stop.
Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire. After the fire appears to be out, watch
it carefully, since it may re-ignite!
Congratulations -- you did it!
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Using the fire extinguisher

There are basic steps in operating a fire extinguisher. Training is the best way of learning, as
some differ from others.
Using a Foam Extinguisher
Summary of fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are in all buildings within Australia and are there for emergencies only.
They should never be tampered with and should always be checked for serviceability. Only
fight a fire if it is safe to do so. If the situation is assessed as too dangerous to fight the fire,
ensure everyone is clear and wait for fire fighters to arrive. Your safety, and your co-workers
safety is of primary importance. Although fires can cause extreme damage and extensive
costs to repair or rebuild, a life can never be replaced.
It is important to familiarise yourself with the location and type of fire extinguishers in your
workplace and check regularly to ensure they are serviceable. It is also necessary to
undertake regular training in order to maintain currency on fire extinguishers.
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Summary
Although preventable, accidents continue to happen at work. Therefore training in
emergency procedures is essential for all workers.
Emergency procedures are put in place for your protection. Learning what to do in an
emergency will help to protect you, your fellow workers, the plant and the surrounding
environment.
Become familiar with your workplace emergency procedures and evacuation plans and who
is in your chain of command.
Evacuation
An evacuation happens because there is a dangerous situation in the workplace.
What do you hear if you need to evacuate?
Evacuation steps
1. Shut down your machine or stop what you are doing.
2. Go straight to your department assembly point. Do NOT go to your locker.
3. Your warden will count everybody. Do everything that the warden tells you to.
4. Walk, DO NOT RUN, to the section assembly point outside the building.
5. Your warden will count everybody again. Stay at the assembly point until your
warden tells you what to do.
IMPORTANT
In an evacuation, the warden is the person in charge.
Do everything he/she tells you!
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Copyright 2008 Aviation Australia

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B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation

Identification and Reporting of Work Place Hazards

Safety Precautions Associated with Aircraft Maintenance Operations

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Issue B: January 2008

B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation

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Issue B: January 2008

B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation

To describe the nature or basic qualities of.

To state the precise meaning of (a word or sense of a word).

Specify in words or writing.

To set forth in words; declare.

To establish the identity of.

Represent in words enabling hearer or reader to form an idea of an object or process.

To tell the facts, details, or particulars of something verbally or in writing.

Make known in detail.

Offer reason for cause and effect.

Issue B: January 2008

B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation

Issue B: January 2008

B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation

Identification and Reporting of Work Place Hazards

Safety Precautions Associated with Aircraft Maintenance Operations

Personal Protective Equipment

Issue B: January 2008

B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation

Issue B: January 2008

B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation

TOPIC 7.1.1 OH&S RESPONSIBILITIES

loss of earnings, and

Their families often suffer as well.

lose a trained worker and output,

suffer damage to plant and machinery,

incur fines and prosecutions, and

be sued by workers or their families.

Resultant loss of reputation can ruin a business.

lose valuable production,

have to do extra work,

lose time doing reports, and

Issue B: January 2008

Topic 7.1.1: OH&S Responsibilities

B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation

On completion of this topic, you will be able to:

Explain the procedures when manually handling equipment and materials.

Explain the safety precautions and procedures to be observed in the workplace

Explain the potential hazards in relation to improper housekeeping practices.

Issue B: January 2008

Topic 7.1.1: OH&S Responsibilities

B-7a Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation

methods of work and work procedures are followed

mechanical lifting devices

enough staff for team lifting procedures

training and supervision for team lifting

adequate information, instruction, training

supervision to enable workers to work safely.

Discussions should be held between:

the workers carrying out manual handling work,

health and safety representatives, and

employers to set out the workplace's manual handling policy.

Issue B: January 2008