Unit 7: PROCEDURES and PRECAUTIONS

Describing health and safety precautions

1 Some engineering or industrial activities are especially dangerous. In pairs, think of
more examples to add to the following list.

 Manufacturing processes using dangerous chemicals

 Casting and welding involving high temperatures

2a In pairs, discuss what is meant by the items on the Health and Safety meeting agenda.

Dorian Food Processing

Health & Safety Meeting Agenda

Wednesday 16 April, Conference Room, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

To: RM, MA, DB, SM, BP, LJ

Chair: Rosana Martinez

1 Hazardous substances & Personal Protective Equipment

2 Harmful gases / fumes & asphyxiation hazards
3 Fire / Explosion hazards
4 Machinery: guards and safety devices
5 Access ways, guardrails and emergency exits
6 Electrical installations
7 Noise hazards

b (7.1) Rosana, the assistant manager at a Dorian Food Processing plant, is chairing the
weekly Health and Safety meeting. Listen to four extracts from the meeting and match
each extract (a-d) to an agenda item (1-7).

a ____________ b ____________ c ______________ d_____________

c (7.1) Listen again and match the words from the meeting (1-8) to the definitions (a-h).

1 confined spaces a burns the skin

2 CO2 detector b contact (with a danger)
3 exposure c sources of ignition
4 irritant d small areas without ventilation
 5 toxic e measures carbon dioxide
6 corrosive f poisonous
7 flammable g causes skin to react
8 naked flames / sparks h catches fire easily

d Which four types of PPE shown in the photos are mentioned at the meeting?

e In pairs, discuss the hazards in the following situations and the precautions that should
be taken.

1. Working inside a container with limited air circulation

2. Cleaning metal using acid that can burn the skin and which gives off fumes

3. Using a grinder to cut through a steel plate

4. Applying paint that can cause painful rashes on the hands

3 a Stephanie, Dorian’s senior safety officer, is attending a meeting on standard

procedure for some engineering work that will be carried out at several of Dorian’s plants
around the world. Before the meeting she made notes. Read her notes and answer the
following questions.

Hazard analysis & safe system of work

Operation: Maintenance to grain silos involving
welding (with oxy-acetylene)
Location: Interiors of empty silos (approx 3m
diameter x 15m deep), at bottoms
Main safety issues: Access to silos for workers
& equipment. Confined space hazards
 1. What is meant by hazard analysis?

2. What is another way to say safe system of work?

3. What type of work is going to be carried out, and where?

4. What is meant by access to silos?

5. What are the specific hazards relating to confined spaces in this situation?

b (7.2) Stephanie is discussing some of the hazards with Ben, one of Dorian’s
engineering managers. Listen to the conversation and note the hazards that they mention.

1 Access hazards : ___________________________________________________________

2 Confined space hazards : _____________________________________________________

c (7.2) Listen again and answer the following questions.

1. What safety precautions are discussed?

2. Which precaution might make one of the hazards worse, and how?

4 In pairs, discuss suitable health and safety precautions and PPE for the following
operations on an existing steel petrol storage tank at a processing plant. Student A, you are
a safety officer; Student B, you are an engineering manager. Use the phrases in the box.
Swap roles and practise again.

 An opening needs to be cut through the wall.

 A new steel outlet pipe must then be welded onto the opening.
 The existing paint must then be removed from the external surface of the tank, by shot-
blasting.
 The tank must then be repainted.

The main danger/hazard is … They’ll have to take care that …

Another danger/hazard is … They’ll have to be (very) careful …
There’s a risk of … -ing To be safe, they’ll need to …
Emphasising the importance of precautions
5 a Dorian Food Processing is currently standardising safety procedures at its plants
around the world. Read the following extract from the contents page of the company’s new
safety documentation and answer the following questions.

LV & HV ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE

OPERATIONS

Part 1 Identifying and designating Restricted Areas

(switchboards, transformer stations, areas with
exposed conductors)

Part 2 Authorising maintenance

- The role of the Electrical Supervisor
- Procedures for issuing Permits to Work

Part 3 Isolating and energising circuits

- Lock-Out Procedure
- Temporary Warning Notices on switchboards

1. What is meant by LV and HV electrical maintenance operations?

2. What kinds of electrical maintenance might be carried out in a factory?

b (7.3) Listen to Stephanie explaining the safety procedures to Lin, the plant manager
in Beijing. What is meant by the following phrases?

1. restricted areas
2. a permit to work
3. the electrical supervisor
4. the lock-out procedure

c (7.3) Complete the following extracts from the conversation by underlining the
phrases that give the strongest emphasis. Listen to the conversation again and check your
answers.
 1. Restricted areas are places where a serious danger is present. So it’s essential that these
should be kept locked at all times / all the time.
2. Under no circumstances should anyone / Nobody should under any circumstances be
able to access them …
3. … it’s important that permits are issued each time / every single time someone enters …
4. And it’s crucial that there’s just one / just a single key to each restricted area.
5. Then, while they’re working, it’s vital / it’s advisable that they keep the key on them…

d Which of the following phrases give more emphasis that it’s important, and which
give less?

1. it’s crucial 2. it’s essential 3. it’s preferable 4. it’s vital

e Rewrite the following precautions using the phrases in the box to add emphasis.

at all times every single it’s crucial it’s essential it’s vital
under no circumstances

1. The fire exit should always be kept clear.

The fire exit should be kept clear at all times.

2. It’s important to test that the circuit is isolated.

______________________________________________________________________

3. You should reset the alarm routinely when you start the system.
______________________________________________________________________

4. It’s good idea to check that the cable is not damaged.

______________________________________________________________________

5. It’s recommended that you should only store non-flammable materials in this zone.
______________________________________________________________________

6. Nobody should enter the restricted area without permission.

______________________________________________________________________

7. Before pressurising the system, make sure all the connections are tight.
______________________________________________________________________
Discussing regulations and standards
8 In pairs, discuss what is meant by regulations and standards, for example safety
regulations and design standards. Give some examples of organisations and departments in
your country and international bodies that produce these kinds of rules.

9 a Offshore oil platforms are covered by extensive safety regulations and design
standards. In pairs, discuss the main hazards that oil platform workers face and suggest
some safety precautions that need to be taken.

b (7.5) Isobel, a Health and Safety specialist, is speaking to newly recruited oil
platform technicians on a training course. Listen to the introduction to her talk and answer
the following questions.

1. What kinds of regulation will the course deal with?

2. What examples does the trainer give?

3. What important point is emphasised?

c Complete the following extract from Isobel’s talk by underlining the correct words.

The focus of the course will be on your personal (1) legislation / abligations in terms of
looking after your own safety, and the safety of others. That means we’ll be focusing on
specific safety regulations. For instance, we’ll be looking at personal protective
equipment that’s (2) compulsory / prohibited. Or activities that are (3) compulsory /
prohibited in certain areas, such as smoking. The majority of the obligations we’ll deal
with are legal (4) requirements / permits. In other words, they’re (5) permitted /
stipulated by law as part of health and safety (6) legislation / obligation. If you (7)
contravene / comply with these kinds of regulations, it’s not the same as turning up for
work late, or merely breaching your contract of employment in some way. If someone
fails to (8)contravene / comply with health and safety regs, they’re breaking the law. It’s
as simple as that. I’m sure you’re all aware of that, but it is an important point to
emphasise.
d Complete the following groups of synonyms using the words in bold in Exercise 9c.

1. illegal / banned / forbidden / prohibited

2. allowed / authorised / _____________
3. adhere to / conform to / ____________ ____________
4. stated / ____________
5. break (the law) / breach (regulations) / ______________ (regulations)
6. laws / regulations / ___________ / legal ___________ / personal __________
7. obligatory / _______________
10 Read the extract from a guide to safety in the offshore oil industry. Complete the text
using the words you wrote in Exercise 9d.

The helicopter flights that ferry personnel to and from the platform are subject to specific
safety (1) legislation. The procedures and standards that are (2)_____________ by this
regulations relate, principally, to the following areas:

 Helicopter sea crash evacuation training. Courses are (3)_____________ for all
personnel.
 Design and safe operation of oil platform helidecks
 Specialised pilot training.

For North Sea oil platforms that fall within UK (4)__________, operations must (5)_________
_____________ the legal (6) ____________ of British Health and Safety regulations, and
Civil Aviation Authority rules. They must also satisfy the additional specific (7) __________
laid down by the UK Health and Safety Executive and the Offshore Industry Advisory
Committee, Helicoper Liaison Group (OIAC –HLG).