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Maintenance of Workplaces, and of Equipment, Devices and Systems

Systems

Efficiency within the terms of this guidance is directed towards health, safety and welfare, and not to areas of productivity. It is essential, therefore, that a planned system of maintenance is installed with a suitable and adequate system of maintenance records.

There is a diverse range of required maintenance which covers all equipment. In essence, maintenance should be provided for anything and everything that if not cleaned or maintained in a proper fashion may cause an adverse effect on health, safety and welfare. As a further guide, maintenance should be carried out on all essential items to include sanitation, safety harnesses, anchorage points, escalators and automatic or powered doors, walls and partitions to include fences, ventilation and emergency power and lighting.

BSC International Diploma - Element 1A | Fundamentals of Health and Safety Management

Cleaning (Housekeeping) Cleaning (Housekeeping)

The term 'housekeeping' is used to describe the general condition of premises, and control of equipment and materials within it to avoid creation of risks to workers

The standard of cleanliness of the workplace will depend on what the particular workplace is used for. Food preparation areas, for example, would require a higher standard of cleanliness than a general warehouse. Certain issues, however, such as trips, slips and falls should be addressed in all workplaces.

In workplaces where dirt and rubbish accumulate, any dirt and rubbish not in bins or other suitable receptacles should be disposed of daily. This may have to be done more frequently to keep workplaces free from pests or decaying organic matter.

Workplaces should be kept free from offensive waste, such as from leaking drains or toilets.

Cleaning should not create, or expose anybody to, a health and safety risk.

To summarise, a suitable system of maintenance involves ensuring that:

Regular maintenance (including, as necessary, inspection, testing, adjustment, lubrication and cleaning) is carried out at suitable intervals. The frequency will depend on the type of equipment and the use it is put to.

Any potentially dangerous defects are remedied and access to defective equipment is prevented in the meantime.

Regular maintenance and remedial work is carried out properly.

A suitable record is kept to ensure the system is properly implemented and to assist in validating maintenance programmes.

BSC International Diploma - Element 1A | Fundamentals of Health and Safety Management

Ventilation Ventilation

Suitable provision should be made to ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air.

Approximately 5 to 8 litres of fresh air per second, per occupant, would be considered sufficient for removal and replacement of stale, humid or hot air from any workplace.

Equipment installed to carry out this function should, for health and safety purposes, be equipped with either an audible or visual warning in the event of failure or breakdown.

Planned maintenance should include cleaning of these systems to ensure against any formation of harmful substances or bacteria.

Natural Ventilation Natural Ventilation

Enclosed workplaces should be sufficiently well ventilated so that stale air, and air which is hot or humid because of the processes or equipment in the workplace, is replaced at a reasonable rate.

The air which is introduced should, as far as possible, be free of any impurity which is likely to be offensive or cause ill-health. Air which is taken from the outside can normally be considered to be ‘fresh’, but air inlets for ventilation systems should not be sited where they may draw in excessively contaminated air (for example, close to a flue, an exhaust ventilation system outlet, or an area in which vehicles manoeuvre). Where necessary, the inlet air should be filtered to remove particulates.

In many cases, windows or other openings will provide sufficient ventilation in some or all parts of the workplace. One problem of relying on natural ventilation is that it is reliant on the direction and strength of the wind. This gives either positive or negative wind pressure depending on the locations of the openings. Where necessary, mechanical ventilation systems should be provided for parts or all of the workplace, as appropriate.

Mechanical Ventilation Mechanical Ventilation

Workers should not be subject to uncomfortable draughts. In the case of mechanical ventilation systems it may be necessary to control the direction or velocity of air flow.

Workstations should be re-sited or screened if necessary.

In the case of mechanical ventilation systems which re-circulate air, including air-conditioning systems, re-circulated air should be adequately filtered to remove impurities. To avoid air becoming unhealthy, purified air should have some fresh air added to it before being re-circulated. Systems should therefore be designed with fresh air inlets which should be kept open.

Mechanical ventilation systems (including air-conditioning systems) should be regularly and properly cleaned, tested and maintained to ensure they are kept clean and free from anything which may contaminate the air.

BSC International Diploma - Element 1A | Fundamentals of Health and Safety Management

As previously discussed the fresh air supply rate should not normally fall below 5 to 8 litres per second, per occupant. Factors to be considered include the floor area per person, the processes and equipment involved, and whether the work is strenuous.

Ventilation control systems function by removing atmospheric contaminants from the workplace in a current of air. There are two basic systems:

Dilution Ventilation

Dilution Ventilation, also known as general or natural ventilation, which utilises normal air movement through open doors, or assisted air movement by means of roof fans or blowers.

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), in which atmospheric contaminants are trapped close to their point of generation and then ducted (sucked) away by a powered fan-assisted airflow.

Use of Air

Use of Air Conditioning SystemsConditioning Systems

Insufficient fresh air in the workplace may lead to tiredness, headaches, dry or itchy skin or eye irritation, so it is important for employers to provide a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air in the workplace.

When purified air is provided, it can involve inlets; outlets; filters and some form of heat exchanger (usually a refrigeration unit) and fan or blower. Water is presented into the system to keep the humidity at the acceptable level and to take the ‘dryness’ out of the air. The major problem associated with air-conditioning systems, apart from mechanical, is that of the presence of warm water. This gives the bacteria of Legionella a breeding ground, if suitable precautions are not taken, i.e. regular monitoring and maintenance.