Health and Safety

Company Induction

Objective

To understand the purpose of a company induction and the health, safety and environmental requirements of the workplace.

1. All new personnel must complete a company induction before starting work.
2. Induction programmes vary between companies, worksites and countries.
3. Company induction is a mandatory requirement.
4. Additional site-specific inductions may be required.
5. This unit outlines the topics commonly covered during a company induction.

Objective

To understand that most workplace accidents can be prevented through effective planning and safe working practices.

1. Most workplace accidents are preventable with proper planning and pre-work precautions.
2. Protective coatings personnel often work in hazardous environments.
3. Never make assumptions or take unnecessary risks.
4. Always remain aware of your surroundings and changing site conditions.

Objective

To understand the importance of good housekeeping and its role in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.

1. Good housekeeping is an essential part of workplace health, safety and environmental protection.
2. Poor housekeeping can increase the risk of slips, trips, falls, fire and other hazards.
3. The protective coatings industry presents a range of workplace hazards that require effective housekeeping.
4. Everyone is responsible for maintaining good housekeeping standards.

Objective

To understand the importance of first aid arrangements in the workplace.

1. All workplaces should have suitable first aid arrangements in place.
2. Trained first aid personnel should be available on site.
3. The number of first aiders will depend on the size and level of risk of the workplace.
4. First aid training enables personnel to respond effectively in an emergency and may save lives.

Objective

To understand the Health and Safety issues with the use of electricity and air supply.

1. The protective coatings applicator and general operative will use electricity and an air supply in the course of their duties.
2. Electricity and air are the most common power sources used in the protective coatings application industry.
3. Electricity and air can be hazardous in untrained hands.

Objective:
To understand when and why a permit to work (PTW) system is required during protective coatings application and to follow its requirements correctly.

1. A permit to work system is a formal safety procedure used to control hazardous work activities.
2. Protective coatings applicators and general operatives may be required to work under a permit in a variety of workplaces, such as industrial plants, construction sites, refineries, and confined spaces.
3. Permits help ensure that hazards have been identified, risks have been assessed, and appropriate control measures are in place before work begins.
4. Workers must read, understand, and comply with the permit conditions, including any restrictions, required personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency procedures.

Learning Objective

1. Understand the purpose of COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) and risk assessments.
2. Recognise that hazardous substances and work activities must be assessed before work starts.
3. Explain the roles and responsibilities of employers, managers, supervisors, and employees.
4. Understand that COSHH and risk assessments must be carried out by competent personnel before work commences.

Objective

To understand the requirements for Health and Safety data sheets, known as safety data sheets (SDS), supplied by the coating manufacturers.

1. It is a legal requirement that a safety data sheet be supplied to the product's buyer.
2. The safety data sheet should be made available to the operative at the workplace.
3. The format of the safety data sheets can vary from supplier to supplier.
4. You should not use products without having the safety data sheets available.

Objective: To understand the importance of ventilation requirements for surface preparation and coating application. Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) will be detailed in the safety data sheets.

1. Safety data sheets must be supplied with all paints, solvents, cleaners, etc.
2. Information on material safety data sheets can be complex.
3. The company must fully understand the requirements of the material safety data sheets.
4. The product user should be aware of the technical terms and phrases.

Objective

To understand PPE and RPE requirements and recognise that they may vary depending on the task being performed.

Key points:

1. Protective coatings applicators use PPE and RPE as part of their daily work activities.
2. Personnel must understand the correct PPE and RPE requirements for each task.
3. Employers have a legal responsibility to provide suitable PPE and RPE.

Objective

To understand the basic health and safety requirements for access systems used in protective coatings work.

Key points:

1. Protective coatings applicators use a variety of access systems during their work.
2. Workers should understand the basic safety requirements for working at height and using access equipment.
3. Applicators must not alter or move scaffolding or access systems unless trained and authorised.
4. Employers are responsible for providing task- and site-specific access training where required.

Objective

To understand the safety requirements associated with surface preparation activities.

1. Due to the nature of the industry, working environment, and specific tasks involved, protective coatings personnel may be exposed to actual or potential hazards that could affect themselves and others.
2. Protective coatings applicators, supervisors, and inspectors must understand and follow the relevant safety requirements when carrying out or overseeing surface preparation activities.

Objective

To understand the safety requirements associated with paint application.

1. Due to the nature of the industry, working environment, and tasks involved, protective coatings applicators may be exposed to actual or potential hazards that could affect themselves and others.
2. The protective coatings applicator must understand and follow the relevant safety requirements when carrying out paint application activities.

Objective

1. To understand why method statements are developed and who is responsible for preparing them.
2. Method statements should be prepared for all aspects of the work and clearly describe how the work is to be carried out.
3. They should be written by the supervisor or manager responsible for overseeing the work and must be clear, concise, and understood by all personnel involved.

Objective

1. The objective of this training is to review the hazards and safety requirements associated with working in confined spaces.
2. Specialist organisations provide dedicated confined-space training and should be used where personnel are required to work in or be exposed to confined spaces.

Objective

1. The objective of this training unit is to review the health and wellbeing requirements for coatings applicators and promote good general health and fitness for work.