Safety Class Help OSHA ect. type papers, questions etc

question_eight
    

Question 8

A recent OSHA inspection in your welding shop identified several serious deficiencies. Serious violations were issued citing 29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(B) and 1910.252(b)(2)(i)(A). Using the PDCA framework, develop a plan that will correct the deficiencies and ensure that the violations do not recur.

Your response must be at least 500 words in length

    

All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

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Question eight

A recent OSHA inspection in a welding shop identified a number of serious deficiencies. Serious violations were issued citing 29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(B) and 1910.252(b)(i)(A). According to the requirements, there are a number of basic precautions that must be abided by companies to avoid deficiencies. For them to correct the deficiencies and ensure that the violations do not recur there are a few factors that must be taken into consideration by the welding shop. The welding shop must consider basic precautions regarding fire prevention and mitigation, where if the object to be welded is not mobile, all fire hazards that are movable and close to the area should be taken to a safe place (Lewis & Thornboy, 2012). Some employers as well as employees tend to ignore the presence of fire extinguishers for one reason or the other. It is therefore important for the welding shop to maintain suitable fire extinguishing equipment, where they can be used in cases of sudden fires. The welding shop should also consider employing fire watchers who are to be placed in designated locations whenever cutting or welding is going on (Parker, 2012).

In such a welding shop, it is quite possible that the staff were not constantly sweeping the floors, which possibly had combustible materials such as wood shavings or paper clippings. To avoid future deficiencies, the shop must keep such combustible floors wet, or cover them with damp sand. It has also been observed to be a common habit amongst majority of welding shops, that there is lack of guards meant to confine the heat. If objects to be welded and/or cut are not movable or fire hazards removed, it is important to use guards to confine sparks, heat and slag, in addition to protecting the immovable fire hazards (Davis, 1992). The management of the welding shop needs to recognize the responsibility it has regarding using safely cutting as well as welding equipment in it. Unauthorized personnel should not go anywhere near the area where welding or cutting is being carried out. If need be, such persons should wear protective clothing which are non-combustible (Lewis & Thornboy, 2012). Presence of serious deficiencies in the welding shop, means that the supervisors and managers, are not performing their responsibilities are expected. The supervisor should be responsible towards safe handling of cutting or welding tools, in addition to determining the materials likely to catch fire or likely to be present in the working area (Parker, 2012).

It is also quite possible that the welding shop’s management hired staff that was not suitably trained for the job. It is therefore necessary for the management to ensure that cutters and/or welders are trained in the safe function of their tools as well as the safe use of the process (Davis, 1992). The welding shop management should reconsider the protection of all personnel. A welder or one who is working on runways or platforms need to be protected against falling. The staff need also learn the importance of safety belts and lifelines that are considered effective safeguards (Lewis & Thornboy, 2012). There are some welding shops that tend to ignore usage of helmets and hand shields when welding or cutting. This is perhaps another serous deficiency that was discovered during the inspection. The welding shop management should therefore arrange to protect its staff’s upper body from direct radiant energy emerging from the arc (Parker, 2012). By taking such precautions into consideration, the welding shop will be in a better position to avoid such serious violations in future.

References

Davis, A.C. (1992). The Science and Practice of Welding. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Lewis, J., & Thornboy, G. (2012). Employment Law and Occupational Health: A Practical Handbook. 2nd Edition. Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons.

Parker, L. (2012). Health and Safety in Early Years Setting. 2nd Edition. New York, Routledge.