De La Salle University - Dasmariñas 1

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND

TECHNOLOGY

T-MEET001 Basic Occupational Safety and Health

Final Period
Enabling Assessment
Group 3

ABAGON, DENISE AUBREY A.

ABRAHAM, ANDREI
ACOSTA, LEIGH XAMUELLE D.
AMBION, IZABELLE D.
BACOL, MA. PAULINE A.
COLINA, GERIELYN L.
CEE31

JUNE 2021
Professor Rene Rubio
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CASE 1

In a Truck Fleet Services, a worker was tasked to fit up a vehicle’s fuel tank in
the workshop. While fitting up the tank, he was short of one grounding cable.
Unable to find a terminal lug of correct size for the grounding cable, the worker
decided to use an existing lug of nearest size and enlarge its hole with a round
file. After filing for 10mins without any progress, the worker decided to use a
bench drilling machine to enlarge the hole. The worker used a self–gripping plier
to hold the grounding cable. The worker was wearing cotton gloves on both
hands. During drilling, the worker’s left hand’s glove was caught by the rotating
drill bit, thereby resulted in his left thumb being severed. What would be your
perception on the cause of accident? What is your observation and the probable
findings? What are the lessons learnt in this case?

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERCEPTION ON THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT?

LACK OF EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERIES IN THE WORKPLACE

A workshop must have all the needed tools, equipment, and machines to
operate well. Workers must not improvise and DIY when working with machines
as it will cause accidents.

NEGLIGENCE
 Employer
Employers should give proper training and information in order for workers to
be knowledgeable about the things he is not aware of, and they should ensure
the worker’s awareness and knowledge of WSH hazards and control measures.
They should also ensure that all needed tools, equipment, and machineries are
present in the workshop.
 Worker
Even if the employer did all of his duty, it is the responsibility of the worker to
take care of his safety and health. Workers should have a proper communication
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with his employers as he will be exposed to the risks posed by the work activities
carried out in the workplace. He should also wear proper PPE in the workplace.

WHAT IS YOUR OBSERVATION AND THE PROBABLE FINDINGS?

The main reason why the accident happen is the lack of tools and
machineries. As stated above, the worker decided to use tools that are not
appropriate because he was short of one grounding cable. As he’s not seeing
any progress with the improvise, he did, he decided to use a bench drilling
machine which the worker’s left hand’s glove was caught and resulted in his left
thumb being severed. The lack of equipment is the employer’s fault as he did not
provide all the needs of the workshop. In addition, it is also the worker’s fault
because he did not report that there is a short of grounding cable and he did
improvise or DIY when working with machines and equipment.

WHAT ARE THE LESSONS LEARNT IN THIS CASE?

 Employers should ensure that the needed equipment, tools,

machineries are present in the workplace.
 Workers should report first if there are needed equipment, tools, etc.
 Always wear PPE in the workplace.
 Warning notices or signages should be clearly displayed at or near
the machinery.
 Machines shall be equipped with safety guards.
 Proper communication or briefing of relevant RA and SWP to all
personnel who are liable to be exposed to the risks posed by the work
activities carried out in the workplace.
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CASE 2

A worker operated a portable cut-off saw to cut some iron rods. The
worker cut the iron rods to required lengths, and grinded the sawn ends of the
iron rods against the flat surface of the saw’s abrasive wheel to remove the sharp
burrs from the rods’ sawn ends. In the process, the worker had slipped the iron
rod he was exerting against the rotating abrasive wheel and caused his left
thumb to come into contact with the fast-rotating abrasive wheel, thereby resulted
in his left thumb being severed. What would be your perception on the cause of
accident? What is your observation and the probable findings? What are the
lessons learnt in this case?
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERCEPTION ON THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT?

NEGLIGENCE
 Occupier/ Employer
 Negligence of the occupier/ employer are one of the causes of
accidents in the workplace of its employees. It may be lack of training
and proper information on handling dangerous machineries for its
employees or the workplace itself. In an industrial establishment an
occupier/employer has the ultimate control on all the affairs that the
building relates or transacts into and its employees. According to the
Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), under Section 6
which states that, one of the duties of an occupier/ employer is to
ensure the health, safety, and wellness of all its employees at work.
This should include, under section 22, the implementation of proper
training, handling and supervision when using dangerous machinery.
Any violation of the said duties of an occupier/ employer, depending
on gravity of the violation, should implement appropriate actions or
face the appropriate consequences based on the Safety and Health
Committee.
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 Worker
 Even if the employer follows all its duties to protect the health and
safety of its workers, some causes of accidents in a workplace is the
negligence of the worker/ employee itself. Workers also have duties to
fulfill which is as important as the duties of the employers. According
to the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), under section
10, one of the duties of a worker is to take reasonable care of his
safety and health as well as others. Workers must coordinate properly
with their employer whenever doing a job that is unfamiliar to them.
Especially when handling dangerous machineries that may harm not
only himself but also others. They must be knowledgeable with the
proper equipment, tools and machineries and its intended purpose,
before handling them to do the right precautionary measures such as
wearing appropriate PPEs.

Equipment Design
 Side Grinding
 Specific power tools have different purposes which should be followed
accordingly and properly. Whereas to the given case, the tool used is
not appropriate for that specific job. It is specified that a portable cut-
off saw consists of abrasive grains is used only as a cutting tool for
hard materials such as metals, tiles, and concrete. According to ANSI
B7.1-1970 or the American National Standard Safety Code for The
Use, Care, And Protection of Abrasive Wheels Section 9.9, side
grinding on the flat sides of straight wheels Is often hazardous and
should not be allowed on such operations since insufficient support in
the equipment can’t withstand the lateral pressure exerted.

 Safety Guards
 Power tools such as a portable cut-off saw is a hazardous equipment
itself. Therefore, equipment regulations and general requirements
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should always be met at the same time redundant safety features

should always be present. According to ANSI B7.1-1970 or the
American National Standard Safety Code for The Use, Care, And
Protection of Abrasive Wheels Section 3.2, Grinding machines shall
be equipped with safety guards in conformance with the requirements.
The safety guard for portable saws has an exemption of exposure of
the spindle end, nut and outer flange.

Figure 1. Parts of a Proper Cut-Off Saw

WHAT IS YOUR OBSERVATION AND THE PROBABLE FINDINGS?

The primary reason that led to this particular workplace accident is the
negligence on the part of the worker. Since the worker is the main factor that
influence the safety of himself, others, and the workplace itself in which workers
must be knowledgeable in all aspects of what he should and should not do. This
includes the worker’s mishandling of the portable cut-off saw by operating the
equipment by side grinding in the first place which is not in accordance to the
manufacturer’s design and intended manner of use. It is his responsibility to
make sure that the tools and equipment that he will be using meets the safety
and precautionary standards set by OSHA and ANSI. The lack of protective
cover or safety guards should give enough indication that it is unsafe to use.
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Given certain circumstance like this, it is a worker’s duty to report to his employer
any unsafe conditions in the workplace.
Another contributing factor that led to the accident is the negligence of the
employer/occupier since it is their duty to conduct and implement proper training
on handling tools and equipment used in the workplace such as provision of
seminars. It is also important for employers/occupiers to supervise their
employees’ performance, monitor the safety of the workplace, and periodically
inspect equipment for repairs.

WHAT ARE THE LESSONS LEARNT IN THIS CASE?

 Workers must undergo training and seminars in order to acquire

information in proper handling of equipment at the same time develop
skills to determine proper equipment specifications.
 Occupier/employer should ensure competency of all employees that will
handle the equipment.
 To ensure safety and wellness of everyone, workers must coordinate with
their employers/occupiers to identify workplace hazards and provision of
appropriate precautionary measures, gears, and equipment.
 All equipment used in the workplace should comply with the American
National Standard Safety Code for The Use, Care, And Protection of
Abrasive Wheels
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CASE 3

On accident day, IW was operating a full-revolution type power press to

stamp metal workpieces. Method adopted: - Place the work-piece onto the
press’ die; Depress 2-hand control buttons to actuate and descend the tool to
stamp the work-piece; Retrieve the work-piece after stamping action. During
operation, the worker decided to shift his chair nearer to the power press. He
rested his left hand on the die and jerked his chair towards the power press.
During jerking, he accidentally stepped on the power press’s electric footswitch,
thereby causing the punch to descend and crush his left fingers. What would be
your perception on the cause of accident? What is your observation and the
probable findings? What are the lessons learnt in this case?

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERCEPTION ON THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT?

Negligence and Lack of Knowledge

The method adopted on the day of the accident was the two-hand control
mode and can be operated via electric foot switch. It is noticeable that the lack of
knowledge of the workers and the negligence of the employer were present in
this case’s scenario:

 The worker forgot to disconnect the electric foot switch first-hand, the
machine activated.
 During operation, the employer did not provide any safety guard to
prevent the worker's hands from having into contact with the power
press's moving punch and stationary die.
 The IW and the foreman did not attend the seminar provided for them to
be knowledgeable about the workplace and its equipment.
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WHAT IS YOUR OBSERVATION AND THE PROBABLE FINDINGS?

The probable mishap happened when the worker tried to adjust his seat
making an unnecessary movement on his feet pressing the foot switch and when
the power press machine was switched into it 2-hand control mode, the foreman
forgotten to disconnect the electric foot switch. This electric foot switch does not
have any safety covering that could prevent sudden activation from any cause.
Along with that, there is also no safety covering on the machine’s moving punch
to prevent fingers from directly getting in contact with it accidentally. To sum it up,
no protective coverings were installed to lower the risks of accident. On the other
hand, the group also observed the activity of the worker. It was obvious that he is
not knowledgeable about the risks that could arise on the usage of the machine.
It is most likely that the IW was not able to attend seminars regarding safety in
the field of metal working such as “Basic Industrial Safety” and “Health Course
for Supervisors and Safety Orientation Course for Workers.”

WHAT ARE THE LESSONS LEARNT IN THIS CASE?

 The machine’s dangerous and critical parts must have a safety covering.
As mentioned above, the moving punch and the electric foot switch must
have a covering to lower the risks when using the machine.
 The occupier/employer should evaluate the machinery in the workplace
and verify that it can be operated safely.
 Employers must supervise their employees during work and provide
safety guard to prevent any accidents from occurring again.
 Seminars regarding the safety of the workers and supervisors must be
strictly mandatory.
 Workers must be provided with instructions and demos for the machinery
that they will be using.