Tecnicas de osh

July 16, 2025

A guide to OSH techniques for a safer work environment. Covers risk evaluation, hazard management, and specific methods to reduce workplace incidents.

Practical OSH Techniques for Workplace Risk Control and Prevention ==================================================================

Implement the hierarchy of controls by first attempting to physically remove the source of harm. A manufacturing facility can automate a high-risk welding process, which completely takes the worker out of the hazardous environment. This single action prevents exposure to fumes, radiation, and high temperatures with 100% reliability, a result unattainable through protective gear alone.

When elimination is not feasible, substitute dangerous materials or processes. Replace solvent-based degreasers with citrus-based alternatives, immediately reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure. Following substitution, apply engineering controls. A prime example is installing a local exhaust ventilation system directly at a chemical mixing station, capturing contaminants at the source before they enter the breathing zone of employees.

Administrative changes and personal protective equipment (PPE) are the least dependable lines of defense. Procedures like job rotation to limit exposure time depend heavily on human behavior and supervision. PPE, https://cassinopix.pro as respirators or gloves, places the protective barrier directly on the person, making it the final, and most fallible, point of protection. A failure in these measures, like an improperly fitted mask, results in immediate exposure.

Practical OSH Implementation Techniques

Adopt a tiered hierarchy of controls for every identified risk, prioritizing engineering solutions like machine guards or ventilation systems over administrative changes. Personal protective equipment should always be the final option. Document the justification for selecting a lower-tier control when a higher-tier one is feasible but not implemented.

Implement a 'Permit-to-Work' system for all non-routine, high-risk activities such as confined space entry, hot work, or high-voltage electrical tasks. The permit must be authorized by at least two levels of management and include a checklist of specific precautions, which is verified on-site before work begins.

Conduct Job Hazard Analyses (JHA) by breaking down tasks into discrete steps. For each step, identify potential dangers and prescribe a specific preventive measure. A JHA for a simple task like changing a lightbulb should list at least three potential hazards (e.g., electrical shock, fall from height, broken glass) and their corresponding controls.

Establish a leading indicator dashboard that tracks proactive measures, not just lagging outcomes like injury rates. Monitor metrics such as the percentage of safety observations closed within 7 days, the number of JHAs reviewed per month, and the attendance rate at pre-shift briefings. Set monthly improvement targets for each metric.

Utilize a 'Lockout/Tagout' (LOTO) procedure for all equipment maintenance and servicing. Each authorized employee must apply their own personal lock and tag to the energy-isolating device. The procedure must include a step to verify that the equipment is de-energized before any work is performed.

For material handling, enforce a policy where mechanical lifting aids are required for any object weighing over 20 kilograms (44 pounds). Provide regular inspections of lifting equipment like slings and hoists, maintaining a log that documents inspection dates, findings, and corrective actions.

Develop an emergency response plan that includes biannual, full-scale drills for scenarios like chemical spills or fires. After each drill, hold a debriefing session to identify at least two areas for procedural refinement. Update the plan based on this feedback within 30 days.

Conducting a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) Step-by-Step

1. Select the Job for Analysis. Prioritize jobs with a history of incidents, near misses, or those with the potential for severe harm. Focus on tasks with a high frequency of reported injuries, such as those with rates exceeding the facility average by 15% or more. Also, select newly created or recently modified procedures and complex operations where a single error could lead to a significant event. Involve the workers who perform the job directly in this selection process.

2. Sequence the Task Steps. Observe an experienced worker performing the job. Document each action in the order it occurs. Limit the breakdown to fewer than ten discrete steps for clarity. For example, a task like “Change a Flat Tire” might be broken down into: Secure vehicle, Loosen lug nuts, Raise vehicle with jack, Remove lug nuts and wheel. Describe what is done, not how it is done. Avoid combining actions, like “Remove and replace the wheel.”

3. Pinpoint Potential Hazards. For every step identified, systematically ask what could go wrong. Examine the environment, equipment, and materials. Question potential impacts: Can the worker be struck by an object? Can they be caught in or between equipment? Is there exposure to chemical mists or dust? Consider ergonomic risks like awkward postures or repetitive lifting. Document these specific dangers next to each corresponding job step.

4. Determine Preventive Measures. For each hazard, define a specific control or corrective action. Apply the hierarchy of controls. First, attempt to eliminate the hazard or substitute it with a safer alternative. If that is not feasible, implement engineering controls like machine guards or ventilation systems. Follow with administrative controls, such as changing work procedures or providing training. Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), like gloves or respirators, only after all higher-level controls have been considered and implemented where possible. The control must be specific, for instance, “Use a nitrile glove model XYZ when handling solvent ABC,” not just “Wear gloves.”

Applying the Hierarchy of Controls to Common Workplace Dangers

For mitigating risks associated with falls from height, apply controls in this specific order:

Elimination: Complete the work from the ground. Utilize extendable tools for window cleaning or drones for roof inspections to remove the need to work at height.
Substitution: Replace ladders with safer alternatives like mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) or scaffold towers for tasks requiring more stability and duration.
Engineering Controls: Install permanent guardrails and toe-boards on all elevated platforms and walkways. Implement a fall arrest system with a properly fitted full-body harness, energy-absorbing lanyard, and a certified anchor point capable of supporting 5,000 lbs (22.2 kN) per worker.
Administrative Controls: Institute a permit-to-work system for any non-routine task above 2 meters. Conduct pre-task briefings identifying specific fall hazards. Restrict access to high areas.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Mandate and provide personal fall arrest systems as the last line of defense when other controls are not feasible.

To address exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as industrial solvents or cleaning agents:

Elimination: Re-engineer the process to remove the chemical entirely. For instance, use mechanical fastening instead of a solvent-based adhesive.
Substitution: Replace a highly toxic substance with a less hazardous one. Swap a chlorinated solvent for a water-based detergent or a substance like toluene with a less volatile alternative like anisole.
Engineering Controls: Install local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems with hoods placed directly at the point of vapor generation. Enclose the chemical process in a glovebox or a vented enclosure.
Administrative Controls: Limit worker time in areas with high concentrations. Schedule chemical use during shifts with minimal personnel present. Enforce strict hygiene protocols, including dedicated handwashing stations.
PPE: Require chemical-resistant gloves (e.g., nitrile for solvents, butyl rubber for esters and ketones), splash-proof goggles, and air-purifying respirators with cartridges specific to the chemical hazard.

For hazards from machinery with moving parts, follow this sequence:

Elimination: Automate the task, removing the operator from the vicinity of the machine's point of operation.
Substitution: Replace an older machine that has exposed moving parts with a modern design that incorporates integrated guarding and safety systems.
Engineering Controls: Install fixed physical guards around gears, belts, and rotating shafts. Use interlock devices that shut down the machine if a guard is opened. Implement light curtains or two-hand control systems that prevent operation if the operator's hands are in a danger zone.
Administrative Controls: Implement a strict lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) procedure for all maintenance, servicing, and cleaning. Post clear warning signs indicating pinch points, crush hazards, and entanglement risks.
PPE: Mandate the use of safety glasses or face shields to protect from flying particles. Prohibit loose clothing, jewelry, or long, untied hair around rotating equipment.

Root Cause Analysis for Workplace Incidents: The 5 Whys Method

To identify the root cause of a workplace incident, repeatedly ask “Why?” until the fundamental process or management system failure is uncovered. The goal is to move beyond superficial causes, such as operator error, to find a correctable systemic issue. The number five is a guideline; the questioning stops when a controllable organizational process is reached.

Examine this scenario: An employee slips on a puddle of hydraulic fluid, sustaining an ankle injury.

1. Why was there fluid on the floor?

A nearby machine has a leaking hydraulic fitting.
2. Why was the fitting leaking?

Its threads were stripped. A pre-use inspection checklist exists, but it was not completed.
3. Why was the inspection checklist not completed?

The operator for that shift was a temporary worker who had not received task-specific training on machine inspections, only general site orientation.
4. Why was the temporary worker not properly trained for the task?

The company's onboarding process for temporary staff does not include machinery-specific checks, assuming the staffing agency provides this. The agency's contract has no such requirement.
5. Why does the onboarding process and agency contract have this gap?

The procedure was written by HR without operational input from line supervisors, and the contract was never reviewed by the department that uses the temporary workers.

A superficial fix is to clean the spill and replace the fitting. A systemic correction involves rewriting the temporary worker onboarding procedure to include mandatory, documented, task-specific training by a line supervisor before an assignment begins. The contract with the staffing agency must be amended to specify required competencies. This addresses the final “Why” and prevents recurrence across all departments using temporary staff.