Hazard identification and Risk assessment in wood working shops.

1. HABIB WOODWORKS
HAZARD
IDENTIFICATION
RISK ASSESSMENT
BY: MUHAMMAD UMER AZIZ
10/13/2015
M.sc OSHM
Registration # 1458-314107
“HABIB WOODWORKS” WASSTARTED THREE YEARS AGO, TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WORKING
ON MACHINESARE 10, WHILE THERE ARE 5 EMPLOYEES FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING OF WOOD.
MAIN OBJECTIVE OFTHE VISIT WAS TO IDENTIFY HAZARDS AND ASSESSING RISK THAT MAYRISE
FROM THOSE HAZARDS. FURTHER, TO OBSERVE WHAT ENGINEERING,ADMINISTRATIVEAND
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT CONTROLSARE ALREADY IN PLACE.
ADDRESS: TAILI MUHALLA ZAFAR,RAWALPINDI

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INTRODUCTION
“HABIB WOODWORKS” WAS STARTED THREE YEARS
AGO, TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WORKING ON
MACHINES ARE 10, WHILE THERE ARE 5 EMPLOYEES
FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING OF WOOD.
TYPE OF WORK: WOOD WORK
MANPOWER: 15
LOCATION: TAILI MUHALLAH ZAFAR, RAWALPINDI.
MACHINES: Main machine of 15 horsepower for cutting
large and thick woods is used. Power of machine varies
according to the type of work and size of wood being
cut. Railing was installed under the main machine on
which block of wood is placed and moved toward the
sharp blade, as shown in the figure 1. The railing is moved
using a gear motor of 2 horsepower.
There were vertical and circular saws for cutting wood in different sizes. Manual carving
machines were also installed of different powers. Almost all machines were wheel driven.
Identified Hazards
Physical Hazards:
1) Sharp sawblade
2) Rotatingwheels
3) Smoking
4) Electrical
5) FlyingObjects
6) Noise
7) Vibration
8) Dust
9) PoorHousekeeping
10) Nippoints
11) Ergonomichazards
Figure 1
Figure 2

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Biological & Chemical:
1. Wood Irritants
Risk Assessment
Risks associatedwith the SharpSaw Blades:
As observed,therewere noguardsinstalledforthe protectionof
workersfromsawblades,the likelyrisksif aworkercome intocontact
withbladesare:
 Cuts
 Injuriestohand& arm
In case if blade fails/break orpiecesof woodstrike,
 Injuryto eye
 Injuryto otherbodyparts
Risks associatedwith Rotating Wheels:
As observed,therewere noguardsinstalledforthe protectionof workersfromrotatingwheels, and
pointof operation wasjusta feetawayfrom rotatingwheel asshowninfigure 4.Risksthat mayemerge
are:
 Entanglement
 Abrasioninjury
 Hand & arm injury
In case if beltfails/break,itmay leadto:
 Damage to worker’sbody
 Uncontrolledoperation
Risks associatedwith Smoking:
Smokingisthe majorcause of fire at placeswhere there are materialsthat
can catch fire immediately,woodisone of those materials. Asobserved,
smokingwhile operatingmachineswascommonamongworkersand
cigaretteswere notproperly disposed.
Further,smokingaddingthe effectof wooddustleadstoserioushealth
problemslike,
 Shortnessof breath
 Chestdiscomfort
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5

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 Chronicexposure tosmoke andwood dustmay leadtolungcancer.
 Eye irritation
 Throat irritation
Risks associatedwith Electrical Hazard:
As observed,there wasnosafetyregardingtohazardsassociatedwithelectricity. Electriccableswere
inclinedthroughironpolesandthere wasnoundergroundwiring.All wireswereexposedandattached
withmetal platforms. Onthe otherhand,wiresthat
were passedthroughthe plasticpipeswere exposed
at the bendingpoints,there were noelbowsusedat
those points.Atthe bendingpoints,where there is
highprobabilityof crackingof insulation,wireswere in
contact withthe metal poles. Risksthatmayarise,
 Electricshock
 Electrocution
 Short circuit
 Fire
Risks associatedwith FlyingObjects:
 Eye injury
 Flyingchipscancause injurytoworker’s
body
Risks associatedwith noise:
As observed,therewere noPPEsusedtoavoid
exposure
to noise beingproducedbythe machineryandcutting
of wood.
 Noise inducedhearinglose
 Highbloodpressure
 Deafness
 Depression
 Lose of concentration
 Anxiety
Figure 6
Figure 7 flying particles

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Risks associatedwith Vibration:
As observed,workersworkingoncarving & finishingmachineswere
more exposedtovibrationhazard.
Likelyrisksfromexposuretovibrationare,
 Neuromuscularinjury
 Skeletal pathologyrisk
 RheumatoidArthritis
Risks associatedwith wood dust:
As observed,noPPEswere usedtopreventlikelydamage causedby
wooddust.
Likelyrisksowingtoacute and chronicexposure towooddustare,
 Nose irritation
 Throat irritation
 Lung diseases
 Chestdiscomfort
 Eyesirritation
 Skinallergy
Risks associatedwith poor housekeeping:
As observed,therewasnoproperhousekeepingof toolsandraw wood.
Likelyrisksare,
 Fire
 Slipsfromwooddustleadingtoinjuryandfall towardrunning
machinescausingamputation.
 Trip fromscatteredtoolsleadingtoinjuryandfall towardor
underrunningmachines.
 Buryingand injuring of workers byfallingof bagscontaining
woodpieces
Risks associatedwith Nip points & pointof operation:
Workerswere most vulnerable tobe entangledatnippoints.Theywere muchexposedtothese points.
As observed,therewasnotmore than 1 feetdistance betweenpointof operationandnippoints.
Further,workerswere wearingloose clothingmakingmore chancesof entanglement,crushinjuriesand
amputation.
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10

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Likelyrisksare,
 Entanglement
 Amputation
 Crushinjuries
 Otherinjuries
Risks Associatedwith ErgonomicsHazards:
As observed,workerswere alsoexposedtoergonomichazards,
As,there wasno healthywayof workingwasobserved,workers
workingonfinishingandcarvingmachineswerenotprovidedwith
suitable platformtoworkon.Also,there wasnoprovisionof sitting
benchor chairs,workershad towork bystandingand withbad
posture forhours.
Likelyriskismusculoskeletal disorderthatincludes,
 Chronicback pain
 Carpal tunnel syndrome
 Tendonitis
 Sprains
Risks associatedwith wood irritants:
As observed,nearpointof operationandmachine areaemployeesalsoexperiencedirritationfrom
wooddustand tinyparticleswhenexposedtothem.
Likelyrisksinclude.
 Eyesirritation
 Nose irritation
 Throat irritation
 Cough
 Skinirritation
Interaction with the employees
Most of the employeeswere ignorantof the machine hazards.Theyhave adopted unhealthyworking
practiceson belief that,everythinghappensaccordingtothe will of God.Theywere of the opinionthat,
takingsafetymeasureswon’tmatter. Further,therewere notraditionalsafetymeasure wastakento
avoidexposure towooddust. Onthe otherhand,theyalsodisclosedtwoincidents,one inwhicha
workerbroke hisankle bycontact withrunningmachine,andsecondinwhichworker’sclothes
Figure 11
Figure 12

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entangledincircularwheel,butluckilywasnothurt. These incidentsstrengthenedtheirbeliefthat
everythinghappensaccordingtothe will of God.
Interaction with the Owner
Ownerwasseemedlessconcernedaboutthe safetyof workers. He wasalsoignorantof the machinery
hazardsand its controls. So,there were noPPEsprovidedfromthe owner forthe workerssafety.
There were noadministrativecontrolsinplace.But,circuitbreakerswere installedtoavoidelectric risks
arisingfromelectrichazards.
Suggestions
 Installationof guards and barriers.
 Safe electricinstallation.
 Use equipmentwhenonlyguards are in place.
 Use of bendedpipesor elbowson bendingpointsof electricwires.
 Undergroundwiringto avoid cutting ofelectricwires from toolsor machines.
 Avoid twistingelectricwiresaround metal poles,incase there isno other way, use plastic
pipesto pass cables through to avoid contact with metal poles.
 Maintain a safe distance betweenpointof operationand moving hazard.
 Automatic feedand ejectionsystem
 Safety accessories,e.g.push blockfor saws, non kick back devicesetc.
 Replacingold saw bladesto avoid failure.
 Proper monitoringand checking ofmachines and tools
 Proper trainingof workers.
 LockOut &TagOut (LOTO)
 Provisionof suitable platform according to the job.
 Restrict access to point of operationand power of machines.
 Maintain properhousekeeping.
 Do not allowworkers to wear loose clothing.
 Use a brush or stick to clean dangerous parts of machines.
 Provisionof Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) like, gloves, safetyglasses,goggles& face
shields,earplugs, ear muffs,safetyshoeswith slip resistanttoes.