7. THEORIES AND TECHNIQUES OF HELPING RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE POSSIBLE CRITICALITIES THAT THE PERSON EXPERIENCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACCOMPANYING ACTIVITIES
Before dealing with the subject, we must point out that all the points to be dealt with are ruled by the following basic safety rules: Take orders from your manager and follow safety instructions. Correct or report all unsafe or substandard conditions. Use the proper equipment or tools for each job, within the designed safety limit. Safe use of machinery, equipment and tools Employers are legally required to ensure that all equipment supplied and used for work purposes is safe and does not pose a long-term hazard or risk to employee health. Employers are also required to ensure that those using equipment have sufficient knowledge and training to use it safely. Work equipment - your legal duties The internship students / employees must ensure work equipment is safe under the Directive 2009/104/EC – use of work equipment (EC) and R. D. 1215/1997 (July 18 – Spain). In particular equipment must be: suitable for the job it's being used for maintained to keep it safe at all times inspected at suitable intervals if wear and tear might compromise safety inspected before first use if the equipment's safety depends on installation conditions assessed for levels of noise and vibration transmitted to operators and drivers and others The rules also cover mobile work equipment such as dumper trucks and forklift vehicles. Use hand-held tools safely Anyone who uses a hand-held tool may be at risk of injury. As far as possible, use guards and provide protective clothing, e.g. masks, ear defenders and gloves. Organise the use of tools during work operations and their storage when not in use. Dealing with old equipment When dealing with old equipment, internship students / employees must ensure it is safely and properly handled, stored, transported and recovered or disposed of. This is known as the duty of care for waste. If the equipment contains hazardous components, such as cathode ray tubes or ozone-depleting substances, internship students / employees will need to follow additional requirements under hazardous waste legislation. Protect yourself and employees Workers in many roles may require special protective equipment at work. Employers are legally obliged to provide their employees with such equipment where it's necessary. Does the business need personal protective equipment (PPE)? Internship students / Workers must use PPE and clothing if their health and safety can't otherwise be adequately protected. Where PPE is necessary, employers must provide it to employees free of charge. Self-employed people are also required to obtain it for themselves. Do I need PPE? As the effectiveness of protective equipment can easily be compromised by being badly worn or used, it should be seen as a last resort. Examine whether processes can be carried out differently to minimise risk instead. Before purchasing equipment consider carefully what is needed and whether separate items are compatible. For example, do protective goggles make it difficult for a respirator to fit properly? Internship students / employees must also ensure that all PPE meets set standards. Businesses in certain sectors are obliged to provide protective equipment under above-mentioned regulations. Buy the right personal protective equipment Under Directive 2009/104/EC – use of work equipment (EC) and R. D. 1215/1997 (July 18 – Spain) the internship students / employees may need to provide: Protection for the head - crash, climbing or safety helmets, bump caps or hairnets. Internship students/ employees must provide hearing protection to all workers exposed to noise levels or 85 decibels or more or between 80 and 85 if the employee requests protection. Protection for the eyes - safety spectacles, goggles and face shields. Protection for the feet - safety boots or shoes (steel toe-caps), wellington boots. Protection for the arms and hands - gloves, gauntlets, mitts, cuffs, armlets or elbow protectors. Protection for the body - overalls, boiler suits, high visibility clothing, leggings, gaiters. Run a maintenance programme There are eight key areas that should be monitored: Assessment of need- carry out a risk assessment. Compatibility- where more than one piece of PPE is worn or used the items must be compatible. Maintenance- all equipment must be regularly maintained and replaced. The manufacturer's maintenance schedule, such as recommended replacement periods, should be followed. Storage- all equipment should be well looked after and stored properly. For example, pegs for weatherproof clothing or a dry, clean cupboard for overalls. Smaller items like goggles should be kept in a protective case or box. Use- the user should be made aware of why PPE is needed and what its limitations are. Make regular checks to ensure PPE is being worn. Internship students / employees should also learn how to spot signs of wear and tear in equipment. Training- employers, employees and the self-employed have duties to ensure PPE is used properly and does not increase the risk of an accident. Records- keep records of all PPE equipment on your premises and a schedule for when checks and replacements should be made. Reporting loss or damage- employees must notify their employer if equipment is lost or damaged. Ensure they are aware of this Check if personal protective exemptions apply The Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equip do not apply to: ordinary work clothes and uniforms which do not protect the health and safety of the wearer equipment used for playing competitive sports portable devices for detecting and signalling risks and nuisances Ensure employees are operation computers safely Under health and safety law, internship students / employees must ensure that computer screens or monitors, keyboards, non-keyboard input devices, furniture and the working environment meet certain minimum requirements and are easy to adjust to the individual's needs. Using laptops safely Some of the design features on laptops and other portable computers can make them uncomfortable to use for long periods. Employees shouldn't routinely use laptops where full-sized equipment is available or should be provided with a laptop docking station so that they can work with a full-sized keyboard and screen. Employers must provide training for internship students / employees using portable display screen equipment (DSE). Minimising security risks If internship students / employees work from home or out of an office environment - remote working - employers should take effective security measures to protect both equipment and information, such as: regularly back up files and keeping backups safe and secure keeping equipment and software up to date, including anti-virus protection maintaining information security to minimise the risk of theft Top Reasons for Having Proper Safety Equipment at Work The below reasons make it even clear why having proper safety equipment is necessary for any business or workplace: 1. Protects Health & Safety One of the major reasons to have safe work equipment is to ensure the safety and health of those whose work revolves around them. Safety equipment help employers reduce injuries and workers avoid getting injured at work. Using safe equipment at work help prevent health hazards and accidents. 2. Improves Staff Productivity Using the correct equipment for work not only ensures the safety of the user but also increases staff productivity and efficiency. Especially when a worker is involved in a high-risk task. The right equipment can make the process fast and save you from injuries. 3. Reduces Liability Getting injured at work can cost businesses expensive costs. Workers getting hurt at work without precautionary measures can pose substantial risks and liability to companies and businesses. Therefore, to avoid these penalties, employers must have the necessary arrangements to avoid these hazards. 4. Creates a Happy Workforce Workers who feel safe and protected are in turn the happier workforce. A safe and secure workplace leads to lower injuries and ill health cases which means higher employee retention. Therefore, employers should always look for ways to improve health and safety in their work environment. 5. Improves Safety Awareness Culture As mentioned above fewer accidents and injuries mean a reduced staff turnover rate which boosts the safety awareness culture within the workplace. Employers who make health and safety a priority see an upsurge in their workplace than those who do not take it seriously. Get the Health & Safety Right at Work It is under the law that employers are required to create and maintain a safe workplace for their employees and anyone involved in the work processes. One way they can ensure this is by making implementing the right health and safety procedures in their work premises and setting the right expectations to meet their safety goals. Health and safety training in this regard also plays a crucial role which involves numerous training sessions that they can offer their staff. Some of the vital training courses include work equipment safety training, abrasive wheel training, hand-arm vibration training, lifting operations training, height safety training, and many more relevant courses. Bottom Line Health and safety are crucial factors in any work to ensure everyone’s safety at work. So, this is the case when working with the equipment, tools, and machinery at work. Employers need to be accountable for the safety arrangements at their workplace to ensure that their staff is protected from any health hazards when using equipment at work and provide adequate training to make them competent to work safely.